October 28
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
First Reading
EPH 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm
PS 19:2-3, 4-5
R. (5a) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
LK 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Give a Mass Offering
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
“Their message goes out through all the earth.”
Readings & Reflection
Prayer should be central to our lives as Christians. Today, in the Gospel of Luke, we see Christ remove himself from his followers and “went up to the mountain to pray.” This demonstration of prayer in solitude is important because it reminds us that we must be focused in order to pray.
The result of Christ’s intense prayer is the naming of the Apostles, the first priests who will carry forward Christs healing work in the world. This demonstrates that Christ did not take the selection of Apostles lightly. We too, should not take lightly the major decisions of our life. We must ask ourselves if we truly take time to pray about those issues that are most important to us. This day, let us take one issue and take some time to pray for guidance. We may be surprised that God will inspire an answer within us.
Peace,
Fr. John Kurgan
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