ACTS 1:15-17, 20-26

Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, "My brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it. and: May another take his office. Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place." Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.

JOHN 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

Matthias was selected by lot to fill the place among the twelve apostles left vacant by Judas Iscariot. Today’s first reading indicates that Matthias was selected because he was a companion of Jesus from his baptism by John to his ascension into heaven, and he was a witness to Jesus’ passion death and resurrection.

The New Testament says nothing about Matthias before this mention of him in Acts. Acts mentions his name twice: he was nominated for the position and he was selected for it. Thereafter, never again is he mentioned in Scripture. Nor are there any trustworthy historical stories about Matthias. The best one historian can say is that, “later accounts (i.e., after the New Testament writings) of his activities and martyrdom by crucifixion cannot be relied upon.”

One other thing can be said about Matthias. Whereas Judas never came to understand the real meaning of Jesus and so did not remain faithful to Jesus’ ideals and values, Matthias did. The Church honors Matthias as a martyr, a person who follows in the path first trod by Jesus himself who laid down his life for his friend. Matthias found in Jesus the joy promised to those who live in Jesus’ love.

Very few of us will in our lifetime make such an impression on our fellow humans that we will be remembered after we are gone. We can however, be successful and fruitful witnesses to Christ with whom we will live forever in glory.

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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