The feast of St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude (Thaddeus) are linked together probably because both of them preached the Good News in Persia and were martyred there.
And their remains were both in Saint Peter’s Basilica under the main altar of Saint Joseph.
Even their names are next to each other in the list of the apostles in the gospel passage.
They may not have known it then, that they would eventually be going to far-away lands to preach the Good News and to lay down their lives in witnessing to Jesus their Lord.
For whatever reason that St. Simon was called the Zealot, it can be presumed that he was zealous enough for the mission to be given that name.
But for St. Jude, his original was Judas son of James, and he was often mistaken for Judas Iscariot the traitor.
But St. Jude has his place in the devotional life of the church as he is the patron of desperate and even "hopeless" cases.
As we join the Church to honour these two saints, let us also ask for their intercession that in our difficulties and desperation, we will receive help from on high through their prayers.
God is love, and God loves us and wants to save us.
This is the Good News that St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus preached and laid down their lives for.
May we experience God's saving love for us in our despair and distress through their prayers.