Simon and Jude are listed among the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus in today's Gospel passage. In fact, apart from their names being mentioned here, there is very little we know about them although, of course, there were many legends connected with their names in the early Church. We have in the New Testament a Letter of Jude which warns the reader to beware of false teachers who claim to be true believers. But its real author is in doubt.

The first reading is a lovely passage from the Letter to the Ephesians which tells us that we are no longer strangers but fellow citizens with God's people. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus himself as the cornerstone. As cornerstone, Jesus holds the whole building together making him and us one temple, one dwelling place of the Lord.

We can today thank God for the Apostles, including Simon and Jude, who so faithfully passed on the message of Jesus which now reaches to the furthest corners of our globe. May people be able to continue seeing in our lives together as Christians a clear and convincing witness of the Gospel message and its relevance to people's lives.