“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” – JN 15: 16

 

In today’s First Reading, we hear how during the days after the Ascension, Peter stood up amid the brothers, about 120 of Jesus’ disciples. Now that Judas had betrayed his ministry, it was necessary, Peter said, to fulfill the scriptural recommendation that another should 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” (Acts 1:21-22).  St Matthias is the only Apostle not chosen directly by Jesus. The Apostles chose two men, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias, who had followed Christ since His Baptism to His Ascension, drew lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. Thereafter he was included among the twelve Apostles.

 

What was the holiness of St Matthias and how can we relate to it in our own life? Obviously, he was suited for Apostleship by the experience of being with Jesus from His Baptism to His Ascension. St Matthias must also have been personally a great individual, or he would not have been nominated for so great a responsibility. Must we not remind ourselves that the fundamental holiness of St Matthias was his receiving gladly the relationship with God, our Father, that had been offered to him by Jesus and completed by the Holy Spirit? This relationship is also true for all Catholics.  If the Apostles are the foundations of our Faith by their witness, they must also be reminders, if only implicitly, that holiness is entirely a matter of God’s giving, and it is offered to each of us, in the everyday circumstances of our lives. We receive, and even for this, God supplies the power of Freedom.  The question is, what do we do with this Freedom?

 

St Matthias was chosen to be the twelfth Apostle from well over a hundred people in attendance. This is the only time he is mentioned in Sacred Scriptures.  Out of that crowd there were several men who had followed Christ from the beginning; men whose names and occupations we will never know, but who, like St Matthias, embraced the Mission of Jesus and accepted even the most difficult of His teachings. They all might have gone on to be martyred in the persecutions of the early Church or they might have only brought Christianity to their loved ones and neighbors as they quietly lived out their ordinary lives. The unnamed disciples, from whom St Matthias was chosen, should remind each of us that we are called to be the same, historically insignificant disciples and witnesses of Jesus.  Our lives may not be recorded in history books but our work, as Catholics, is more important than worldly accolades and technological advances.  St. Clement of Alexandria, an early Christian Theologian, noted that St Matthias was chosen the same as other disciples, not because of what he already was but because of what he would become. Jesus foresaw the potential for all His children, including us. As Matthias was welcomed as an Apostle, so too are we encouraged to accept newcomers with open arms.  Are we willing to step up and fill the role?  

St Matthias, whose name means “gift of God”, preached in Cappadocia, Jerusalem, the shores of the Caspian Sea (in modern day Turkey) and Ethiopia, according to various traditions.  He is said to have met his death by crucifixion in Colchis or by stoning in Jerusalem. St Matthias is the Patron Saint for assistance against alcoholism, and for support by recovering alcoholics.

 

O Glorious Saint Matthias, in God’s design it fell upon you to take the place of the unfortunate Judas who betrayed his Master.  You were selected by the twofold sign of the uprightness of your life and the call of the Holy Spirit.  Obtain for us the grace to practice the same uprightness of life and to be called by that same Spirit to wholehearted service of the Church.  Help us remember that Jesus chose you, like us, not for what you were but because of what you would become through His grace.  Please help all who struggle with the addiction of alcoholism to experience this same grace and come to live in the serenity and joy of a life surrendered to God. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with you and yours!!  Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us!!  

 

Yours in Christ,

Deacon Bob

St. Clare of Assisi

Houston, TX