We are called by baptism to be the first apostles of Jesus

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Feast of St. Matthias, apostle, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ On this feast of St. Matthias, apostle, we have two very different types of writings in the word.

In Acts, we get one of those very historical narrative kinds of writings in which Matthias was chosen by lots. This process is similar to people drawing from some container toothpicks or anything in which all are of the same size, and there is one that is shorter than all of the others. Whoever gets that shorter one is the lucky or unlucky person — depending on the reason for their selection.

In this case, it was to replace the apostle and traitor, Judas.

There were two contenders: Joseph (also called Barsabbas, and also known as Justus); and Matthias.

St. Matthias.

Well, it fell upon Matthias, and he was so chosen. This is the only time he is mentioned in the New Testament. So little is known about him, and practically all that is known are multiple legends. There are many different legends, even about where he died and how he died, and where his remains are even in the present day. His feast day is different in the Eastern and the Western churches.

For someone who is mentioned only one time in the scriptures, yet was chosen for one of the most significant positions in the early church, namely apostle, there is a lot of difference of opinion regarding the facts of his life and even his death.

In contrast to this writing, the Gospel gives us another portion of this extended address that Jesus is giving to his apostles at the Last Supper, in John’s Gospel. It is intimate. It is probing. It is, indeed, a revelation; and Jesus makes several things quite clear.

He tells that the Father loves himself: that is, Jesus. He compares the love that the Father has for himself to be the same as the love that Jesus has for his apostles. He speaks of remaining in his love by keeping his commandments, most specifically, the command to love.

He gives the reason for loving, that is, to find his joy within themselves and discover that it is not only joy, but a joy that is complete!

He called them to love one another as he has loved us. He reminded them that they have been chosen to bear fruit, and even more precisely, it was he who did the choosing, not us!

Although Matthias filled the position, or shoes or sandals of Judas, he was not so fortunate as to have been at that supper and to have heard these very words of Jesus.

But we, once again, have the distinct privilege of watching and hearing this Gospel story and witnessing all that was said to the apostles as this supper.

And as we are kind of peeping Toms and watching all of this take place with and for them, we get the double pleasure of witnessing a kind of them-and-us experience.

None of us were chosen to be among the Twelve — neither by Jesus nor by lot. But all of us were chosen, by baptism, to be first disciples and to develop into apostles — that is, first called to follow, then to be sent.

And as Jesus says so clearly to love so that we will have his joy, and it will be a joy that is complete; we will bear fruit, this fruit will last, and we will remain in his love and the Father’s love — and all of that love will remain in us. Yikes! Double yikes! Triple yikes! Quadruple yikes!

Actually, eternal yikes! We are soo blessed!