(Day Three) St. Jude, Suffering Christian Apostle of Prayer
Like the other apostles, St. Jude suffered a martyr's death because he was committed
to carry out the mission of our Lord. He accepted Jesus challenge, "If any want to follow
me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me." (Lk 9:23)
In the midst of his difficulties St. Jude trusted the Lord, who said, "Come to me all
you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and
learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden light." (Mt
11:28-30)
St. Jude undoubtedly understood that his sufferings were joined to those of Jesus and
therefore were also redemptive. St. Paul declared, "I am happy to suffer for you, for by
means of my sufferings, I help complete what still remains of Christ's sufferings on behalf of his body, the church." (Col 1:24)
St. Jude was human. He felt pain as we do. But he remembered the suffering of Jesus,
his sense of abandonment on the cross, when he cried out "My God, my God, why have
you abandoned me?" (Mt 27:46) These memories helped St. Jude endure his pain because he knew he suffered in union
with the Lord.
In our sufferings we reflect on those of our Savior, Jesus. He was spit upon, beaten,
and nailed to the cross where he hung in agony for three hours. Perhaps the most painful
suffering that pierced his heart was the rejection by the people's leaders and the abandonment by his friends. Nevertheless, Jesus
was faithful until the end when he cried out, "Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit." (Lk 23:46)
Prayer
St. Jude, you remained faithful to our Lord, even unto death. You gave your life so
that others might live. You endured physical pain and emotional abandonment. But you
gladly joined your sufferings to those of our Savior, Jesus, and thus shared in the redemption of the world. We ask you now to
intercede with our brother, Jesus Christ, so that we too might be faithful in the face of our
suffering. Help us to trust in God and put our life in his hands. Amen.
Commitment
I will join all my sufferings to those of Jesus for the redemption of the world, and I
will encourage someone who is suffering.
