May 14 – Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
St. Matthias (d. 80) was an Apostle. As he could bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. He preached the Gospel for more than 30 years in Judaea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Ethopia. He is remembered for preaching the need for mortification of the flesh with regard to all its sensual and irregular desires. He was martyred in Colchis in AD80 by stoning.
- Patron Saint Index
Acts 1:15-17,20-26
Jn 15:9-17
…who accompanied us the whole time…
My husband and I started watching The Chosen series just before Easter. We have just a few episodes left of Season 3 and are awaiting Season 4 to stream. Watching this series has given me new insights and wonder about Jesus and his ‘inner circle’. Without ever really thinking about it, I imagined the 12 Apostles always getting along together like perfect brothers – but this series has opened my thinking to the reality of human beings. I believe the series captures the reality of what it must have been like for these 12 ordinary men, most of them strangers. It would be a fascinating contemplation to imagine all the dynamics of the group, from their first meeting with Jesus through to His crucifixion and resurrection. In the series, we see scripture brought to life with many others following Jesus alongside the Twelve. I love seeing the women, seeing Mother Mary come and go depending on where Jesus is leading everyone.
In the first reading today, scripture states, “there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the place” as Peter is beginning to request…instruct…a ‘replacement’ for Judas so that the inner circle would again be 12. Peter says we must choose someone who has been with us the whole time. We are not sure the exact process of that deliberation, but we know it has similarities to how we elect a pope, which I find heartwarmingly typical of God’s working hand visibly in the life of the Church.
Can you even begin to imagine the private thoughts and feelings of all those gathered there? Were they all thinking/wondering/hoping to be chosen to fulfil this opening? Did some feel called and ready, and perhaps some not so much? I imagine YES to both. And I imagine Barsabbas/Matthias was overcome with being chosen for the mission.
Matthias chose to follow Christ – to be among those who walked with Jesus and the Twelve – not really the inner circle, but nonetheless a follower, a disciple. Then, Matthias is chosen – chosen from the disciples to be an Apostle. Matthias is chosen – but so were all the others. Though they didn’t take the twelfth seat, per se, they too had a mission. They too, were chosen to spread the GOOD NEWS. They too, were chosen to share Jesus, share this New Way, share this transforming love. They too, were chosen to be part of the plan of rescue for the world.
And I am chosen. And you are chosen. It may be over 2000 years later, and we are not part of the inner circle that literally walked and sat at the feet of Jesus, but we too are His Chosen. We have been chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus – to spread the GOOD NEWS – to share Jesus – to share THE WAY – to share His transforming love.
Jesus has made His choice to choose you every second for all of eternity. Will you make your choice to choose Jesus?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.
Thanksgiving: Father God, thank You for choosing to save us through Jesus. Thank You for giving us the free will to choose You — every minute of each of our days.
OXYGEN 
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