As the Father sent me, so I am sending you

Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

Today, October 28, as our Church celebrates the Feast of Simon and Jude, Apostles, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (4:1-16), entitled “Let us imitate the Apostle just as he imitates Christ”. Our treasure, which follows, is from a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop.

The name of Saint Simon usually appears eleventh in the list of apostles. Nothing is known of him, except that he was born at Cana and his surnamed “The Zealot“. Simon was called the Zealot, before his coming to Christ, because he was one of that particular sect or party among the Jews called Zealots, from a singular zeal they possessed for the honor of God and the purity of religion. A party called Zealots were famous in the war of the Jews against the Romans.

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, was the apostle who asked the Lord at the Last Supper why he had manifested himself only to the disciples and not to the whole world (John 14:22). Saint Jude is also named Thaddeus to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jude is called “Thaddaeus”. The name “Thaddaeus” comes from the Aramaic word Taddal, which means “the broad chested (generous or courageous) man”.

Saint Cyril was born in 370 and lived a monastic life. He was ordained a priest and succeeded his uncle as bishop of Alexandria where he served from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. He had a preeminent role at the Council of Ephesus; he fought bravely against the doctrines of Nestorius, and wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic faith. Saint Cyril is counted among the Church Fathers and also as a Doctor of the Church. His reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles, “Pillar of Faith” and “Seal of all the Fathers”. Cyril died in 444.

Cyril's great Commentary on John, focuses its theological fire power against Arianism. The commentary, which is addressed to catechists, displays Cyril's breath-taking mastery of the full content of the Bible and his painstaking attention to detail as he seeks to offer practical teaching on the cosmic story of God's salvation.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.