From zeal to hope in Christ
Tears aren’t the end of the story because the story always leads to hope
By Ron Bruni
Psalm 19 tells us that creation itself declares the glory of God; every sunrise, every starlit night, speaks of Him. The message is universal, beyond words. The apostles lived this out. Tradition tells us Simon and Jude carried the Gospel to distant, difficult places—Persia, Mesopotamia, Armenia. Their mission embodied what Psalm 19 says: God’s glory is not limited to one nation or one people. It’s a message of universal love.
Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Ephesians 2:19-22
Luke 6:12-16
Have you ever felt ordinary or maybe even overlooked? Perhaps you weren’t a star athlete, nor the class valedictorian, nor the most polished speaker at work. Perhaps you wonder, can God really use me?
As a pediatrician for 50 years, I witnessed this truth in action every day in my practice. I remember several instances when a quiet, unassuming child had a significant impact. It wasn’t the strongest or loudest child who made the difference, but the quiet one, the overlooked one. God delights in using ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. In this feast of Saints Simon and Jude, apostles, we celebrate two men who weren’t household names but became the foundations of the church itself.
Luke tells us that Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing his apostles. He chose fishermen, a tax collector, and Simon the zealot, among others. Zealots were fiery revolutionaries who sought to change the world through force. Yet Jesus took that zeal and gave it a new purpose.
That reminded me of a young boy I once knew who was constantly in trouble, always running around, knocking things over, and arguing with other kids. He probably had ADHD. His parents were exhausted, but when he joined a sports team, that same boundless energy became a gift. He learned discipline, teamwork, and the importance of encouragement. His “troublemaking zeal” became a strength. That’s what Christ did with Simon, turning restless energy into holy mission.
You know, working with children has a way of teaching you what really matters. It’s not always the medicine or the charts—it’s the moments of quiet compassion that stay with you. Like the time … I once had a mother walk into the examining room, trailing three little kids behind her. I recognized one of the little patients who was always shy and quiet; she never answered any questions out loud. But on this day, when her sibling was crying loudly, this little one quietly walked over and held the other child’s hand. No words, just presence, and the tears stopped. That moment reminded me that God doesn’t need the loudest voices; he calls those who will show up with love. Simon and Jude were precisely that, ordinary men who showed up when Jesus called.
Psalm 19 tells us that creation itself declares the glory of God; every sunrise, every starlit night, speaks of Him. The message is universal, beyond words. The apostles lived this out. Tradition tells us Simon and Jude carried the Gospel to distant, difficult places—Persia, Mesopotamia, Armenia. Their mission embodied what Psalm 19 says: God’s glory is not limited to one nation or one people. It’s a message of universal love.
You know, a newborn doesn’t understand language yet, but when you smile or hum softly, the baby knows love. Communication goes beyond words. In the same way, God’s presence is sensed even where his name is not yet known. That’s what Simon and Jude did: they carried the gospel so that what creation whispers, the apostles declared clearly. Just as children, we love a smile; people read God’s message in the way we live. Your life may be the only “Bible” someone ever reads.
Paul reminds us we are no longer strangers but members of God’s household, built on the apostles with Christ as the cornerstone. Simon and Jude were not the most famous apostles, but without them the household of God would be incomplete. Likewise, each of us, big or small, is a vital stone in God’s temple. You may feel like a “small stone,” and your name may never be remembered in history books. But in God’s temple, every stone matters.
As a grandfather of 11 grandchildren, I often watch them building with blocks. Some blocks were big and flashy, others small and plain. I often wondered how they develop a sense of balance to make the tower so high. Whenever I tried to do it, I didn’t get up very far before the towers would topple. One of my grandkids told me, “Grandpa, the little blocks are more important than the big blocks, they hold up the rest!” Hmm, wisdom from the experts!
A little girl once asked me, “Doctor, why do you smile even when kids are crying?” I told her, “Because tears aren’t the end of the story.” That’s the Gospel message of Simon and Jude: zeal doesn’t end in anger, despair doesn’t end in hopelessness. In Christ, the story always leads to hope.
The cross itself seemed like the end, the final, brutal punctuation mark in a story of betrayal and loss. Yet it was only Friday. Resurrection morning was already on God’s calendar. The same is true in our own lives: the broken relationship, the diagnosis, the loss, the unanswered prayer; all can feel final. But in Christ, endings are never truly endings. God writes resurrection into every chapter of faith. When we see only tears, He is already preparing joy. When we see only pain, He is already beginning to heal. Hope, not sorrow, is always the last word in God’s story. He is truly never done with us!
So, do you still feel ordinary? So did Simon and Jude. You may feel like a small stone. But remember, even the smallest stones are crucial in building God’s house. You may feel hopeless. Jude reminds us: in Christ, there is always hope. And in Christ, you have a significant role to play in His plan.