Today, the Church celebrates and prays with two saints - Simon (also referred to as the Zealot) and Jude. Both are mentioned in the scriptures at the naming of the twelve (cf Lk 6:12-16). Actually, there were two of the disciples who had the name Simon and there were two who had the name Judas.
One of the Simon's was the one who was re-named Peter, but that is not the one who is celebrated today. Today, we focus on Simon the Zealot. The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. For them, the messianic promise of the Old Testament meant that the Jews were to be a free and independent nation. God alone was their king, and any payment of taxes to the Romans—the very domination of the Romans—was a blasphemy against God. Simon is not mentioned in the scriptures except as part of the complete list of the apostles.
Like the Simons, there were also two of the disciples named Judas. The first and more well-known was the one who ultimately handed Jesus over to the authorities, but the second one is the one who is celebrated today. Perhaps out of shame over the outcome of Judas Iscariot, this second Judas is more well-known by the name Jude.
Simon and Jude are considered among the minor apostles, yet today we ask them to pray with us. May they who witnessed the love of Jesus first-hand intercede for us so that Christ's love may be made known in our lives and in our hearts.
Have a great day.
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