Thank you to Ian for this week’s MWB
Simon the zealot and Jude
The best role models for Christian living are to be found in the New Testament. In the past wise folk wrote prayers (Collects) dedicated to the memory of the apostles and other important persons of the early church; these can be found in the C of E. book of Common Worship. In each prayer, key elements of the life and character of the people to whom the prayer is dedicated are used to provide a basis for prayers for the church. For the next few weeks we will be looking at some of these New Testament people and the prayers to guide us in our prayers during this period of change for our church. The first apostles we will look at are Simon and Jude.
Jude, sometimes called Thaddaeus, was probably called Jude to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot; we know little else other than he was the son of a man called James. Simon was probably called the zealot to distinguish him from Simon Peter but his name does indicate that he had been active within a Jewish patriotic party opposed to the occupation of the Romans. These two men were called to become apostles by Jesus – Luke 6 v.13 – 16 – and anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – Acts 1 v.12 – 14.- After that the New Testament is silent; these men were servants with the vision to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, not to glorify themselves. So we become dependent upon tradition which is always a little unreliable and often elaborated.
Each of these two men had their particular ministerial gift and set out to evangelise in different countries but eventually Simon travelled from Egypt to join Jude in Persia where they served together to establish a church there. We are told that the church they founded prospered but after some time they were both martyred on the same day. Two apostles from different backgrounds bringing their individual gifts together to serve the Lord in unity of spirit under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and giving their lives for the church,
That is the focus of our prayer for our church today – that those in leadership positions will be able to bring their individual gifts to serve together in unity of spirit and under the anointing of the Holy Spirit with a shared vision to proclaim Jesus as Lord.
The Collect from the C of E. book of Common Worship.
Almighty God,
who built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone;
so join us together in unity of spirit by their doctrine,
that we may be a holy temple acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. – – – – – – – Amen