Jesus, the Capstone

Homily for the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude

The Gospel text for today, the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, presents us with St. Luke’s version of Jesus’ choice of twelve of his disciples whom he sent to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of God. Each of the synoptic Gospels record these twelve names. St. Luke also mentions a detail that might easily be overlooked. “Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” St. Luke includes this in detail before each of the most important events in the life of Jesus. Consequently, we hear that he spent the night in prayer before he approached John the Baptist at the river Jordan; before he was transfigured before Peter, James, and John; before he chose the Twelve, and before his passion and death in the garden of Gethsemane.

With this detail in mind, we realize that the Gospels are meant to convey that this is more than just a simple list of names. As we will learn in the Book of Revelation, the names of the Twelve are written on the foundation stones of the heavenly Jerusalem. When Jesus chooses these disciples and sends them to preach, to expel demons, and to heal the sick, he is laying the foundation of what will become the Church.

In the Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul tells us that the foundation of the church is the twelve apostles and that we are members of this household of God. This entire structure is held together by Jesus, who is called the capstone of this edifice.

Perhaps you have seen the monument that stands on the shores of the Mississippi River in downtown St. Louis. Beneath that monument, there is a museum. One of the features of that museum is a short film that documents the construction of that arch. Obviously, the arch was built from the ground up; but as the arms of the arch reached toward heaven; they began to lean toward each other. Consequently, as the last piece of the arch was put in place, the construction company had to place an hydraulic device between the legs of the arch that would hold the two arms of the arch away from each other. Then the last piece of the arch was lifted by a crane. Once it was in place, all of the scaffolding and the other devices that were holding the pieces of the monument and keeping them from collapsing was removed. It was that last piece of the arch that now held everything together. Though it was made of metal, it functioned as the capstone would have functioned in an arch made of stone. Jesus is the capstone of the edifice or household of God that we know as the Church.

As we give praise and thanks to God today for the gift of the apostles, especially for the gift of the Saints Simon and Jude who preached the Gospel to Syria, Armenia, and Persia, we are particularly grateful for the gift of the Eucharist which they brought to these areas as they preached the Good News.