May 15th St. Matthias

 

 Today is the feast of St. Matthias, who was chosen to be an apostle. After Jesus’ Ascension, Peter rose to the task in the act to replacing Judas to strengthen the brethren and look after the flock. The successor of Peter today carries on the same task of healing scandal, binding on earth, strengthening the brethren and looking after the flock.

Peter had prayed, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two, you have chosen to take the place in the apostolic ministry, from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” When St. Peter prayed this prayer, he wanted the Lord Himself to choose the apostle to replace Judas. As head of the apostles, Peter set out the necessary prerequisite in order to be chosen. Peter said, “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.” Peter is clearly stating that the man must have been with them from the beginning and that the man, who would replace Judas, should also be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus.

The apostles decided to select two, who were witnesses to the resurrection, and with them, from the beginning of the baptism of Jesus. They therefore chose Joseph and Matthias. They then prayed and beseeched the Lord, “You, Lord who know the hearts of all, show which one these two take the place in the apostolic ministry.” And so, by way of their prayer, they left the decision up to the Lord. They then drew lots, and the lot fell to Matthias, who was counted with the Eleven Apostles, and became one of the twelve.

Today, we see Peter, the first Pope, immediately having to deal with scandal in the first days of his ministry, the scandal of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and the manner of Judas’ death, the scandal - we could say- of the one of the first twelve bishops fallen from grace as Peter rises to the task we see him fulfilling the ministry bestowed upon him by Christ.

The election of Matthias, by way of lot, is great proof of apostolic succession. He became numbered with the other apostles. The apostles handed on to him what they themselves received.

Although he was the last chosen, he was the second, of the twelve to die. Before he was martyred, he converted many in Palestine. It was believed he lived a very austere life, as he told converts not to serve two masters: pleasure and the Lord. Hostile Jews stoned him to death.

Let us rejoice that the Church today is the same as the Church, which Jesus established. Our bishops are the successors of the apostles.

With Mary our Mother, queen of apostles, let us pray for our bishops, who are the apostles today. We pray that they too may be filled with the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the truth and defend the faith even to the point of death if necessary.