The feast of the lesser known apostles, such as Simon and Jude, reminds us of St Paul's teaching that God has chosen the less important people to be the channels of his grace: those who are foolish by human reckoning, those whom the world considers weak, common and even contemptible (1 Cor. 1:26-31). While we may have some reservation about his words "foolish" or "contemptible", his point is clear: When God chose Mary to be Jesus' mother, Gabriel was sent to the small unknown town of Nazareth, to a young girl, not to those who were rich and famous and great in the world's eyes. When Jesus called his first disciples, they were not "foolish" men: they were very ordinary and hard-working fishermen. Though fishing was often a hazardous and unrewarding task, the first disciples would not have considered themselves foolish. Of course, there came a day when Jesus called them, and in a manner that must certainly have appeared foolish and foolhardy to others, they left all to follow Him.

God has indeed done many wonderful things through the ministry of Jesus and his Church. Nevertheless, God has chosen very ordinary people like Simon and Jude, like us, to build his kingdom.