St Matthias

St Matthias

May 14 was the feast of St Matthias, Apostle and Martyr for the Lord.  After the Ascension of Christ, the first thing the Apostles did was to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot, the Betrayer.  

Despite the trials the Apostles were facing, they chose to devote time to finding a 12th Apostle.

Why was this important? 12 was a very important number to Jews.  It is the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Christ, a twelfth Apostle was needed.

But The Lord had chosen the original twelve. How could they know whom He would choose as a replacement? 

According to the Book of Acts, there were 120 people as potential candidates.  But St Peter had a criteria.  The replacement must be a follower of Christ, a righteous person, someone who had witness Christ's death and resurrection, someone who had witness the institution of the Eucharist.  

Two men were narrowed down as a replacement -- Matthias and Joseph called Barsabbas. They knew that both these men had been with them and with Jesus through his whole ministry. But which one had the heart to become a witness to his resurrection. 

The Apostles knew that only the Lord could know what was in the heart of each. They humbly trusted in God and it was God that chose Matthias.  He was the 12th Apostle and the group was whole again as they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  

Clement of Alexandria says that Matthias, like all the other Apostles, was not chosen by Christ for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. 

He was elected not because he was worthy.  But because he would become worthy. Jesus chooses all of us in the same way.  We are not chosen because we are worthy, but because of what Christ wants us to become.  What does Christ want you to become?

Also, have you ever felt like afterthought, a latecomer? Or have you ever resented someone new who was added to your group? Try to see the community as not complete without the newcomer, whether you or someone else. 

Welcome any newcomers to your parish, work, or family community this week as someone chosen by God.  

Prayer:

Saint Matthias, help us to value one another and show it by our hospitality.  May your prayers help us to be good and loving disciples of Christ.  Praise be the risen Lord.