The Power of Prayer Before Important Decisions - Luke 6:12-16
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God."
On this feast day of Saints Simon and Jude, we encounter a profound moment in salvation history. Before making one of the most significant decisions of His earthly ministry, Jesus withdrew to a mountain and spent the entire night in prayer with His Father.
A Night in Prayer
Think about that for a moment. Jesus, the Son of God, knew exactly what He needed to do. Yet He still spent the whole night in prayer before choosing His twelve apostles. This wasn't a quick petition or a moment of reflection. This was an entire night devoted to communion with the Father.
What does this teach us? That even when we think we know the right path, prayer must come first. That important decisions demand more than our own wisdom. That we need to be so united with God's will that we cannot move forward without seeking His guidance.
The Chosen Twelve
When morning came, Jesus called His disciples and chose twelve from among them. The list includes familiar names like Peter, James, and John. But it also includes two men we celebrate today: Simon the Zealot and Jude, the brother of James.
These weren't the obvious choices by worldly standards. Simon had been part of a radical political movement. Jude would become known as the patron saint of lost causes and desperate situations. Yet Jesus, after His night of prayer, knew exactly who the Father was calling.
Among the twelve was also Judas Iscariot, "who was the traitor." Even knowing what would come, Jesus included him in this sacred circle. This reminds us that God's plans often include elements we don't understand, paths that seem to lead through darkness before reaching the light.
Built on the Foundation
Today's first reading from Ephesians tells us that we are "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." The men Jesus chose that night became the foundation of the Church. Their witness, their teaching, their martyrdom all stem from that prayerful night on the mountain.
Saints Simon and Jude carried the Gospel to distant lands. Tradition tells us Simon preached in Egypt and Persia, while Jude brought the faith to Mesopotamia and Armenia. They gave their lives for the message Jesus entrusted to them.
Our Call to Prayer
The gospel today challenges us with an important question: How much time do we spend in prayer before making our own important decisions? Do we rush ahead with our plans, asking God to bless them after we've already decided? Or do we, like Jesus, spend time in deep communion with the Father before we act?
We may not need to pray all night before every decision, but the principle remains. Prayer is not a supplement to our decision-making; it's the foundation of it. When we face choices about relationships, careers, finances, or any significant matter, we need to follow Jesus' example and bring it before God first.
The Message Goes Out
The responsorial psalm today declares, "Their message goes out through all the earth." The apostles Jesus chose that night carried the Gospel to the ends of the known world. Many of them died for their faith, including Simon and Jude, whose feast we celebrate today.
Their message still goes out. Through every generation of Christians, through every act of faith, through every moment someone chooses to follow Christ, the decision Jesus made after His night of prayer continues to bear fruit.
A Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, You showed us the importance of prayer by spending the whole night with the Father before choosing Your apostles. Help us to seek God's will in all our decisions, great and small. Through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude, give us the courage to follow where You lead, even when the path seems uncertain. May we, like the apostles, become foundations upon which others can build their faith. Amen.
Today's readings remind us that every call, every choice, every mission begins in prayer. As we honor Saints Simon and Jude, may we ask for their intercession in our own journey of faith.