Saint Matthias

May 14, Friday

 

Sixth Week OF Easter

 

Matthias was elected by the apostles to replace Judas, the traitor, because he had been a disciple of Jesus from the very beginning, from the time when Jesus was baptized by John until the ascension. His qualification was, then, that he could witness to the risen Christ. And so should we.

 

First Reading: Acts 1:15-17,20-26

During this time, Peter stood up in the company—there were about 120 of them in the room at the time—and said, “Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry.

Let someone else take over his post.

“Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection.”

They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way.” They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.

 

Gospel: John 15:9-17

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

“But remember the root command: Love one another.

 

Prayer

Lord God,
your apostle Matthias was a witness
to the life and death of Jesus Christ
and to his glorious resurrection.
May also today your people bear witness
to the life of your Son
by living his life as best as they can,
and radiating the joy
of people who are rising with him
to a new and deeper life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Love 

Today’s Gospel is about love and selection. God choses whom he loves. On the feast of Apostle Matthias, who was chosen to take the place of Judas who killed himself after betraying Jesus, the Church gives for our reflection the theme of love and choice. It takes us to the heart of Christian life. The Gospel first speaks to us of the commandment, the only commandment: “that you love one another as I have loved you”. But, can love be a commandment, a law, or an order? Can we be commanded to love? In reality, love is something that comes from within a person and it cannot be ordered or commanded. In the military, the commanders give orders and the subordinates obey. The same thing happens at a workplace – the employers give orders to the employees. But no one can order us to feel what we have to feel!

God who is love, created us in love, to live and to remain in his love. That is why the Gospel is categorical: “Remain in my love.” We have not totally understood the source of our lives and love. And love of God is manifested only through one’s love of one another.

God loves and cares for us. From that experience, our own love, our capacity to love and to give life to those around us, spring forth. It is something similar to trying to convince someone that not going to Mass on Sundays is a sin. It is much better to invite them to come to our community, to make them enjoy the celebration of the Eucharist with songs, with brotherhood, with the encounter with Jesus. It is possible that he or she will come back. But if we threaten with sin, it is very easy for them to turn away.

With love, something similar happens. Love cannot be demanded or forced. If you want to have more members coming to your Church community, make them feel loved and welcomed. If you find members of the Church not coming to the Church anymore, do not blame them, instead do an introspection to see if your behaviour has driven them away from the Church. In practice, this is what it means to be a Christian.

For your reflection

What concrete and practical signs do I have of that love of God? Is it possible that the love I receive from those around me is the best sign of God’s love? How do I transmit that love of God to those around me?

 

Video available on Youtube: Love