Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Scripture:
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
John 15:9-17
Reflection:
Today is the feast of Saint Matthias, the disciple who replaced Judas and filled the place of the 12th apostle. We know little about him beyond reading in Acts that he was voted in and ultimately chosen by lots.
Let’s imagine what was going through his mind and what are some of the things he might have done.
Indeed, he would’ve wanted to be the opposite of Judas, promoting honesty and loyalty.
He might’ve become a peacemaker among the apostles when there were disagreements.
As a fellow evangelist, he may have wanted to visit regions that others wouldn’t.
Maybe he was so moved by the words and actions of Jesus that he would want to help people meet the needs of the struggling, suffering, and disenfranchised.
He could’ve been a teacher and mentor for new converts. Because he had the new status of an actual apostle, he might have enjoyed requests to share personal testimonies about his experiences with Jesus and the thousands of other disciples who gathered around him.
A new Pope is taking on the throne of Saint Peter. Any new pope must feel like Saint Matthias for quite a while until he gets his bearings. Let us pray for gifts from the Holy Spirit to shower on him and, while we’re at it, on ourselves since we must choose how to be better disciples every day.
.Jack Dermody is President of Share Our Gifts, Inc., a Passionist alumni organization dedicated to assisting those who live in poverty; he is also editor of CrossRoads, the Passionist Alumni Association’s newsletter.