Hey Y’all,

Last week, we took a little stroll down memory lane, looking back at the roots of Saints Simon and Jude Parish and some of the people, places, and moments that helped make this wonderful parish family what it is today. And what a history we have! But this week, I’d like us to turn our attention to two fellas who have been part of our story from the very beginning, at least in name, and who still have a whole lot to teach us about what it means to follow Jesus. I’m talking, of course, about our patron saints, Simon and Jude.

“How is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” (John 14:22)

Now, here’s something worth thinking about. Of all the Apostles our parish could have been named after, we ended up with two who don’t exactly get a whole lot of attention in the Scriptures. We hear plenty about Peter, James, John, and even dear ol’ doubting Thomas. But Simon and Jude? Well, they’re a little more behind-the-scenes, so to speak.

Simon is called the Zealot, which tells us something about his passion and conviction. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, gives us a rather wonderful little moment at the Last Supper when he asks Jesus a question that, quite frankly, I suspect a few of us might have asked ourselves. He wants to know why Jesus is going to reveal Himself to His disciples and not to the whole world It’s a fair question, isn’t it? And Jesus, in His usual way, gives an answer that goes a whole lot deeper than the question itself. He says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word…and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” In other words, Jesus isn’t interested in simply being someone we know about, admire from a distance, or remember from a story told a couple thousand years ago. Nope. He wants to make His home right smack in the middle of our lives. Our ordinary, sometimes messy, sometimes joyful, sometimes downright difficult lives.

So, what’s all that got to do with Saints Simon and Jude Parish here in Huntington Beach? Well, quite a bit, actually. You see, Simon and Jude weren’t necessarily the fellas getting all the headlines, but they answered the call. They followed Jesus. They gave their lives to something far greater than themselves. And I can’t help but think that’s a pretty fitting example for a parish like ours.

For generations now, folks have walked through the doors of Saints Simon and Jude carrying just about everything life can throw at a person. Young couples getting married, parents bringing their babies to be baptized, children making their First Communion, teenagers being confirmed, families celebrating wonderful milestones, and others quietly carrying heartaches and burdens that the rest of us may never know about. And through it all, people have come together around the Eucharist, prayed with and for one another, rolled up their sleeves to serve, and done their best to pass along this beautiful Catholic faith to the next generation. That’s the Church, y’all. Not simply a building or a collection of programs and ministries, but a whole bunch of imperfect people doing their best to follow a perfect Savior. And, thanks be to God, doing it together.

Now, our Catholic tradition has long remembered Simon and Jude together, and we celebrate their feast day on October 28. While Scripture doesn’t give us a detailed account of their missionary adventures, later Christian tradition tells us of their preaching and martyrdom. We may not know every detail of where they went or what they did, but we do know this: they belonged to Jesus, they answered His call, and they helped carry the Good News out into the world.

And here we are, some two thousand years later, still carrying that same Good News. There’s something pretty remarkable about that, don’t ya think? Simon reminds us of zeal, that our faith ought to have a little fire in it, enough to get us up out of our comfortable chairs and actually do something with it. And Jude reminds us that asking questions isn’t necessarily a sign of weak faith. Sometimes those honest questions are precisely how we come to know Jesus a little better. And together, these two Apostles remind us of something else that’s awfully important for parish life: we aren’t meant to do this alone. Working together, sharing our gifts, encouraging one another, and keeping our eyes on Christ, we can accomplish far more than any one of us could on our own.

And isn’t that really the story of Saints Simon and Jude Parish? I hope we’ll remember that our history isn’t simply a collection of old photographs, familiar names, and stories about the good ol’ days. Those are wonderful things, to be sure, but they’re reminders of something much bigger. The same Lord who called Simon and Jude, and who inspired the generations that came before us, is still calling you and me today.

We’ve inherited a beautiful legacy, y’all. And now it’s our turn to carry it forward.

Fr. Reynold