Location: St. Jude Parish
My dear brothers and sisters, today we gather with great joy to celebrate the Feast of Saints Jude and Simon, Apostles. This feast reminds us of our belonging to the Church, built on the foundation of the apostles, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. It is important to reflect on the deep spiritual meaning of Saint Jude’s mission and the legacy he leaves us as apostles of hope, especially in times of difficulty.
The readings of today’s liturgy remind us that the Church is not just a building, but a living community of believers. The Letter to the Ephesians tells us that we are “no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God” (Eph). As I said, this household, this Church, is built on the foundation of the apostles, and Christ Himself is the capstone. We are living stones, each playing a unique role in this divine structure.
The Holy Spirit is the cement that holds us together, giving us the grace to remain united as one body in Christ.
Devotion to Saint Jude has always been deeply rooted in the Church’s tradition. He is known as the patron of hopeless cases, but our prayers to him are never based on superstition. Superstition represents a lack of trust in God’s infinite mercy. Instead, our devotion to Saint Jude must be grounded in the rich spiritual tradition of the Church, recognizing God’s sovereignty and grace in every aspect of our lives. It is through faith in Christ, not magic or mere ritual, that we experience His saving power.
Pope Francis has said: “It is always thanks to the communion of saints that we feel that the men and women saints who are our patrons – because of the name we bear, for example, because of the Church to which we belong, because of the place where we live, and so on, as well as through personal devotion – are close to us.
And this is the trust that must always animate us in turning to them at decisive moments in our lives. It is not some kind of magic, it is not superstition, it is devotion to the saints. It is simply talking to a brother, a sister, who is in the presence of God, who has led a righteous life, a holy life, an exemplary life, and is now in the presence of God. And I talk to this brother, to this sister, and ask for their intercession for the needs that I have.”
From the very beginning, the apostles were not perfect men – they had weaknesses, just like you and I. Yet, Jesus chose them, just as He chooses us, to be signs of His persistent presence in the world. This reminds us that while the human element in the Church may falter, the divine mission remains unshaken. Bishops and pastors, despite our humanity, carry a ministry that is divine in origin; we are called to shepherd the flock with love and care.
As we continue to welcome this new chapter with Fr. Julio, let us all renew our commitment to be living stones in this parish, working together to build up the Body of Christ. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Jude, may we grow in faith, hope, and love, trusting in the power of Christ, who is our cornerstone.
