FEAST
OF ST. SIMON AND JUDE
Proverbs, Chapter 10,
Verse 24-27
24 What
the wicked fear will befall them, but
the desire of the just will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the
wicked are no more; but the just are established forever. 26
As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, are sluggards to those who send
them. 27
Fear of the LORD prolongs life, but
the years of the wicked are cut short.
We are created in the image and likeness of the
Lord; in everything we create physically it is first created in the mind. Fear
and love are the emotional engines that turn or dreams or nightmares into
reality. Yes we are created in the image of God but we are not Him. We are but
a spark from the great fire of creation
Human industry
is futile without divine approval. Joy comes from fulfillment of one’s plans,
which the righteous can count on. The opposite of joy thus is not sadness but unfulfillment
(“perishes”). A righteous person’s words create a climate of favor and
acceptance, whereas crooked words will not gain acceptance. In Hebrew as in
English, straight and crooked are metaphors for good and wicked.[1]
Many of us today are still enthralled to a Deist view of God,
whereby God is a distant and aloof first cause of the universe, uninvolved with
the world he has made. But Thomas Aquinas taught that God is in all things,
"by essence, presence, and power" and that God providentially cares
for every aspect of his creation. Therefore, we should expect to see signs of
his presence and activity in nature, in history, and in human affairs.
And once we see, we are meant to speak! In a way, followers of Jesus are not
looking at the signs of the times for their own benefit, but rather that they
might share their prophetic perspective with everyone else. So look around,
look with attention, look with the eyes of faith!
By faith we make our hearts ready, but a little chocolate
helps.
National Chocolate Day[3]
National Chocolate Day celebrates chocolate and promotes its health benefits. Chocolate is a confection made from cacao seeds, which grow on cacao trees in the tropics. Seeds are removed from the their pods and then dried, roasted and ground into cocoa powder or paste, which is then mixed with other ingredients such as butters, oils, sweeteners, milk and flour to produce chocolate. Chocolate is a staple in the American diet, with sales of over 21 billion dollars in 2014. National Chocolate Day is not an official celebration however, it was created by the National Confectioners Association. According to the Association's webpage, there are actually 3 National Chocolate Days throughout the year, on July 7th, October 28th and December 28th.
National Chocolate Day Facts
& Quotes
- There
are approximately 1.5 million cocoa farms in West Africa, producing nearly
70% of the world's cocoa.
- Cote
D'Ivoire, a country in West Africa, produces the most cocoa. The small
nation supplies nearly 40% of the world's cocoa.
- It
takes between 2 and 4 days to make one chocolate bar.
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.
-My momma always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get
. - Forrest Gump
National Chocolate Day Top Events
and Things to Do
- Watch
a movie about chocolate or a documentary about chocolate. Our favorites
are: The Dark Side of Chocolate , Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory , Nothing Like Chocolate and Coca-nomics.
- Try
a healthy recipe to make your favorite chocolate bar at home. Chocolate
bars sold on the shelves are full of artificial flavors, hydrogenated
oils, preservatives and tons of added sugars. Try recipes that offer
alternatives such as gluten free flours or cookies, unsweetened coconut
flakes or dark chocolate dips.
- Attend
a chocolate and wine pairing to learn more about how to bring out the best
chocolates for which occasion.
- Ride
the free chocolate tour at the one of the largest chocolate factories in
the world located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Take a moment and shop at
Hershey's Chocolate World and visit HersheyPark to ride the roller
coasters.
- Try
a new variety of chocolate. Milk, dark, white, or sweet chocolate are some
of the more popular varieties sold. In addition, you can purchase those
chocolate varieties with an infinite number of toppings or fillings.
St. Simon is represented in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. St. Jude's square points him out as an architect of the house of God. St. Paul called himself by this name; and St. Jude, by his Catholic Epistle, has also a special right to be reckoned among our Lord's principal workmen. But our apostle had another nobility, far surpassing all earthly titles: being nephew, by his father Cleophas or Alpheus, to St. Joseph, and legal cousin to the Man-God, Jude was one of those called by their compatriots the brethren of the carpenter's Son. We may gather from St. John's Gospel another precious detail concerning him. In the admirable discourse at the close of the last Supper, our Lord said: "He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father: and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him." Then Jude asked Him: "Lord, how is it, that Thou wilt manifest Thyself to us, and not to the world?" And he received from Jesus this reply: "If any one love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My word. And the word which you have heard is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
St.
Jude Patron:
Desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible
causes; lost causes; diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida.
St.
Simon Patron: Curriers; sawmen; sawyers;
tanners.
Daily
Devotions
Today the statue of Liberty was dedicated in NY harbor, 1886. Pray that our love for liberty may never overshadow a love for life. Protect the unborn. Remember liberty ensures life for ourselves and our posterity.
[2]Bishop
Robert Baron, October 27, 2017, gospel reflection.
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