Capstone of Community

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, challenge us to join the mission initiated by Christ and tasked to the Apostles.

Christ the Capstone

The Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians declares us One in Christ.

* [2:11–22] The Gentiles lacked Israel’s messianic expectation, lacked the various covenants God made with Israel, lacked hope of salvation and knowledge of the true God (Eph 2:11–12); but through Christ all these religious barriers between Jew and Gentile have been transcended (Eph 2:13–14) by the abolition of the Mosaic covenant-law (Eph 2:15) for the sake of uniting Jew and Gentile into a single religious community (Eph 2:15–16), imbued with the same holy Spirit and worshiping the same Father (Eph 2:18). The Gentiles are now included in God’s household (Eph 2:19) as it arises upon the foundation of apostles assisted by those endowed with the prophetic gift (Eph 3:5), the preachers of Christ (Eph 2:20; cf. 1 Cor 12:28). With Christ as the capstone (Eph 2:20; cf. Is 28:16; Mt 21:42), they are being built into the holy temple of God’s people where the divine presence dwells (Eph 2:21–22).

* [2:12] The community of Israel: or “commonwealth”; cf. Eph 4:18. The covenants: cf. Rom 9:4: with Abraham, with Moses, with David.

* [2:14–16] The elaborate imagery here combines pictures of Christ as our peace (Is 9:5), his crucifixion, the ending of the Mosaic law (cf. Col 2:14), reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18–21), and the destruction of the dividing wall such as kept people from God in the temple or a barrier in the heavens.

* [2:15] One new person: a corporate body, the Christian community, made up of Jews and Gentiles, replacing ancient divisions; cf. Rom 1:16.

* [2:20] Capstone: the Greek can also mean cornerstone or keystone. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 19 proclaims heavenly elements that bespeak the power and wisdom of their Creator.

* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem.

* [19:4] No speech, no words: the regular functioning of the heavens and the alternation of day and night inform human beings without words of the creator’s power and wisdom.

* [19:5] The sun: in other religious literature the sun is a judge and lawgiver since it sees all in its daily course; Ps 19:5b–7 form a transition to the law in Ps 19:8–11. The six synonyms for God’s revelation (Ps 19:8–11) are applied to the sun in comparable literature. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus initiates The Mission of the Twelve, Ministering to a Great Multitude.

* [6:12–16] See notes on Mt 10:1–11:1 and Mk 3:14–15.

* [6:12] Spent the night in prayer: see note on Lk 3:21.

* [6:13] He chose Twelve: the identification of this group as the Twelve is a part of early Christian tradition (see 1 Cor 15:5), and in Matthew and Luke, the Twelve are associated with the twelve tribes of Israel (Lk 22:29–30; Mt 19:28). After the fall of Judas from his position among the Twelve, the need is felt on the part of the early community to reconstitute this group before the Christian mission begins at Pentecost (Acts 1:15–26). From Luke’s perspective, they are an important group who because of their association with Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension (Acts 1:21–22) provide the continuity between the historical Jesus and the church of Luke’s day and who as the original eyewitnesses guarantee the fidelity of the church’s beliefs and practices to the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4). Whom he also named apostles: only Luke among the gospel writers attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name apostles upon the Twelve. See note on Mt 10:2–4. “Apostle” becomes a technical term in early Christianity for a missionary sent out to preach the word of God. Although Luke seems to want to restrict the title to the Twelve (only in Acts 4:4, 14 are Paul and Barnabas termed apostles), other places in the New Testament show an awareness that the term was more widely applied (1 Cor 15:5–7; Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1; Rom 16:7).

* [6:14] Simon, whom he named Peter: see note on Mk 3:16.

* [6:15] Simon who was called a Zealot: the Zealots were the instigators of the First Revolt of Palestinian Jews against Rome in A.D. 66–70. Because the existence of the Zealots as a distinct group during the lifetime of Jesus is the subject of debate, the meaning of the identification of Simon as a Zealot is unclear.

* [6:16] Judas Iscariot: the name Iscariot may mean “man from Kerioth.”

* [6:17] The coastal region of Tyre and Sidon: not only Jews from Judea and Jerusalem, but even Gentiles from outside Palestine come to hear Jesus (see Lk 2:31–32; 3:6; 4:24–27).

(CCCB) (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Suzanne Braddock comments that the fact that Jesus chose people like you and me to become his “most favored” lends a great consolation. These were human beings and definitely not saints, at least not yet. Their characters, flaws and foibles are well described elsewhere. We know we share their weaknesses and pray we can  share their strengths. 

What really stood out to me - the beginning words of the reading:

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

Even though Jesus’ task was to choose the men who would lead his Way, he left them and went alone, in the dark (physically and, in a way, spiritually), and communed with his Father while discerning this very important path. I take from this a guide for myself. When trying to find my way through life, especially in those dark times when I am anxious or confused, the remedy lies in seeking “the mountain,” a place alone, silent, still. Just me and my Father. 

I wait in silence for the Father’s word, and I trust what is given to light my way. (Braddock, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.

"It says, 'He called his disciples, and he chose twelve of them,' whom he appointed sowers of the faith, to spread the help of human salvation throughout the world. At the same time, observe the heavenly counsel. He chose not wise men, nor rich men, nor nobles, but fishermen and tax collectors, whom he would direct, lest they seem to have seduced some by wisdom, or bought them with riches, or attracted them to their own grace with the authority of power and nobility. He did this so that the reasoning of truth, not the grace of disputation, should prevail."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.44) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today.  The passage from Ephesians is chosen today to present how Gentiles and Jews are formed into a new structure with the apostles as the foundation and Jesus as the capstone to create the building of the Church. In Luke, the calling of the Apostles occurs after Jesus is going to the mountain. Jesus prays often in Luke a sign that He seeks to discern the will of the Father and fulfill it. Judas Iscariot is at the end of the list of the Apostles. Friar Jude suggests that Jesus is not making a mistake, but to fulfill the Father’s will that one of those called would betray Him.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Ephesians 2:19-22 comments that we can also trust that the Lord is at work, building us into “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).

Because Christ is working in you, nothing that you do is small—not your voice raised in worship or your hands raised in service, not a single intercession or your years of quiet fidelity, not your welcoming hospitality or your care for the vulnerable. God receives everything you offer and uses it to craft something that belongs to eternity. The cathedral is being built, and you are part of it!

“Lord Jesus, use my gifts to build a place where you can dwell!” (Meditation on Ephesians 2:19-22, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, in summarizing the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King reflects on how we define our neighbor:

More than ever before, my friends, [people] of all races and nations are today challenged to be neighborly. The call for a worldwide good-neighbor policy is more than an ephemeral shibboleth…. No longer can we afford the luxury of passing by on the other side. Such folly was once called moral failure; today it will lead to universal suicide. We cannot long survive spiritually separated in a world that is geographically together. In the final analysis, I must not ignore the wounded man on life’s Jericho Road, because he is a part of me and I am a part of him. His agony diminishes me and his salvation enlarges me.

In our quest to make neighborly love a reality, we have, in addition to the inspiring example of the good Samaritan, the magnanimous life of our Christ to guide us. His altruism was universal, for he thought of all [people], even publicans and sinners, as brothers. His altruism was dangerous, for he willingly traveled hazardous roads in a cause he knew was right. His altruism was excessive, for he chose to die on Calvary, history’s most magnificent expression of obedience to the unenforceable. (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the course of our journey as we continue with gratitude and affirmation of our desire to attend to the Prompting of the Spirit in our decisions for Christian Action.

References

Braddock, S. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-28-2026 

Ephesians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2?19 

Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6? 

Meditation on Ephesians 2:19-22. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/28/1703179/ 

Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). An Obedience to Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-obedience-to-love/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Chose Twelve Apostles. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 28, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2026&date=oct28a 

Relationship Reverence and Reality

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the seed of relationship that has initiated our experience of love as a reality in our life journey.

Love as Mustard Seed

The Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians exhorts Wives and Husbands to mutual love.

* [5:21–33] The apostle exhorts married Christians to a strong mutual love. Holding with Gn 2:24 that marriage is a divine institution (Eph 5:31), Paul sees Christian marriage as taking on a new meaning symbolic of the intimate relationship of love between Christ and the church. The wife should serve her husband in the same spirit as that of the church’s service to Christ (Eph 5:22, 24), and the husband should care for his wife with the devotion of Christ to the church (Eph 5:25–30). Paul gives to the Genesis passage its highest meaning in the light of the union of Christ and the church, of which Christlike loyalty and devotion in Christian marriage are a clear reflection (Eph 5:31–33). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 128 proclaims that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent.

* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast.

* [13:18–21] Two parables are used to illustrate the future proportions of the kingdom of God that will result from its deceptively small beginning in the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus. They are paralleled in Mt 13:31–33 and Mk 4:30–32. (Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ, comments that the mustard seed, though seemingly small and insignificant, grows into a place of shelter, while the leaven quietly transforms the entire batch of dough. So, too, the Kingdom of God grows wherever love becomes a commitment and respect becomes a way of life— in listening without interrupting, apologizing without making excuses, expressing gratitude, sharing responsibilities, and choosing tenderness over resentment.

Hence, let us ask ourselves:

How faithfully do I live Christ’s conditions of love and respect in my marriage/relationships, especially when doing so demands patience, forgiveness, and sacrifice?

What small act of love and respect could I practice today to become like a mustard seed of hope and leaven of transformation within my marriage/family?

What changes do I need to make in my marriage/relationships/daily work-life to become a better leaven and mustard seed, living Christ’s example of love and respect for others? (Fernando, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Word of God operates in us like leaven”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"The leaven is small in quantity, yet it immediately seizes the whole mass and quickly communicates its own properties to it. The Word of God operates in us in a similar manner. When it is admitted within us, it makes us holy and without blame. By pervading our mind and heart, it makes us spiritual. Paul says, 'Our whole body and spirit and soul may be kept blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The God of all clearly shows that the divine Word is poured out even into the depth of our understanding... We receive the rational and divine leaven in our mind. We understand that by this precious, holy and pure leaven, we may be found spiritually unleavened and have none of the wickedness of the world, but rather be pure, holy partakers of Christ."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 96) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts for today. The passage from Ephesians called the household instructions describes how husband and life are to treat each other. Stoic teaching in the society of the time called for the wife to be obedient and the text today exhorts the husband to love and respect his wife. Today we expect a mutual obligation, but in the time when women were badly treated Christians were called to live differently. In the Gospel of Luke, the Kingdom is compared to a mustard seed and yeast in dough. It is an example of a man' s work followed by a reference to a woman's work. Friar Jude links “the butterfly effect” to the impact of small kindness to others. He notes that mustard was a very invasive plant and Jesus may be saying the Kingdom is invasive and will conquer the whole world a little at a time.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Ephesians 5:21-33 comments God that designed his creation so that, by a covenant between a man and a woman, the human race would be fruitful and multiply and form a people who would live in union with God himself. Not even sin could thwart that plan! Not even the death that followed sin could impede his grace! God’s grace is deeper than sin, and his love is stronger than death.

Paul uses this earthly imagery of marriage to help us understand Christ’s love for the Church, and he also gives us a vision for married love. In love, the Son of God united himself to us by becoming “one flesh” with his people and coming among us as a man. In that flesh, he offered himself up for us on the cross. And in the waters of Baptism, Jesus has cleansed us and clothed us in holy splendor so that we can be united with him forever. Can you imagine what the world would be like if every married couple loved each other just as fully?

“Lord, thank you for your faithful love! Pour out a spirit of selfless love on us all!” (Meditation on Ephesians 5:21-33, 2026)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, maps the expansion from self-love and group love to the gospel call of universal love. As we see in politics, in our country, and throughout the world, at best most people just get to the second stage of knowing how to love people who are like them: their race, their nationality, their religion, their political party. When we stay at this second stage of group love, we clearly don’t create a healthy society. We can look at countries and politics the world over to witness how this is true. 

In Acts 10, we discover that even Peter had to be taught by the Holy Spirit how to grow in love. Peter was at the stage of group love, believing that God only loved the Jewish people. And then this strange thing happened where the Holy Spirit fell upon gentiles! Peter looked around and said, “Oh my gosh! God seems to be for everybody and not just for the Jewish people!” He understood that it was okay to include gentiles into what eventually became known as the church. In spite of this, most of church history has not really imitated Peter’s insight. We pulled back into group think and group love.

Peter said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. In any country, whoever fears God and acts uprightly is acceptable” (Acts 10:34–35). At that moment he became both a Jewish and Christian heretic! Peter himself began to recognize that God works with all people of goodwill—not just people in his group. But he had to be pushed there. Little by little, God leads him to universal love.  (Rohr, 2026)

We implore the Spirit to build on the Love we have experienced and lead us to practice loving concern for all the people we encounter on our journey.

References

Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5?21 

Fernando, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-27-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/13? 

Meditation on Ephesians 5:21-33. (2026, October 27). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/27/1702613/ 

Psalms, PSALM 128 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1 

Rohr, R. (2026, October 26). Expanding Our Capacity to Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/expanding-our-capacity-to-love/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). What God's Kingdom Is Like. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/