Today we celebrate the feast of the election of Matthias to replace Judas as one of the twelve so that the number could be complete. This occurred shortly after the ascension of Jesus into heaven (which we will celebrate next Thursday) and before Pentecost: the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the launching of the evangelizing missionary activity of the Church. The maintaining of the number twelve was important at the beginning of the Church because of the twelve tribes of Israel: if the new Israel (the Church) was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed.'
Now, since Jesus chose the original twelve, how would this eleven know whom to choose? The best way was to find out through the method of prayer and action. And so, it is thought that one hundred and twenty people were gather for prayer and reflection the upper room (where Jesus had his Last Supper with the twelve) – it was here that Peter stood up to propose the way to make the choice.
Peter had one criterion: that like all of the rest of the eleven, including himself and his brother Andrew; and James and John, the new apostle would be someone who had been a disciple from the very beginning, from Jesus' baptism by John until the Ascension. The reason was simple: the new apostle must become a witness to Jesus' entire ministry. By witness it meant that he would be willing to tell others about Jesus in the face of the wide variety of acceptance of the message delivered: all the way from enthusiastic welcome to the threat of, and actual act of, being killed for the cause!
The new apostle must have followed Jesus before anyone knew him, stayed with him when he made enemies, and believed in him when he spoke of the cross and of eating his body – teachings that made others turn away with dismay, disgust and disbelief.
Two men fit this description – Matthias and Joseph (Barsabbas). Both were equally qualified, for the most part, but only Jesus knew which one had the heart to witness fully and fearlessly on his behalf. Only Jesus knew who ought to be chosen. And so after the prayer to discern this will of Jesus (which of course was the will of the Father – because Jesus would never will anything apart from his Father's will, and that of the Holy Spirit) – lots were cast – and Matthias was chosen! Obviously, if used in this carefully guarded formula playing the lottery is fine by the Church! For when one prays NOT to change God's mind, and NOT to manipulate him to see and do things our way – but simply to find out which of two apparently equal choices ought to be made: a simple blind-straw drawing will work just fine!
In any event, as far as apostles and disciples go – it is God who does the choosing – he sends out to do his will, those whom he wants to send out – to bear fruit that will last. All we (the sent) need do each day is to prayerfully discern what that "fruit-bearing activity" for the day entails and then actually go out and do it – because we love God – because it is our way of witnessing to the truly awesome life, death and resurrection of Jesus, his Son.
St. Matthias indeed was the correct choice: he did his job very well as apostle, and ended his life by selflessly giving all of it for Jesus and the new Israel: the Christian Church by a martyr's death sometime in the latter half of the first century! May we each, be edified by his example and strengthened by his prayers and bear fruit in the vineyard of the Lord this day and every day – and if we come to a fork in the road: let's close our eyes, pray to the Spirit, draw straws and then proceed confidently on the Way!
No comments:
Post a Comment