I Choose You May 14

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

By Beth De Cristofaro

You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry (Acts 1:24-25)

He raises up the lowly from the dust…To seat them with princes. (Ps 113:7-8)

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain (John 15:16)

Piety

Dear Loving and Mighty God, out of our great need you sent your son to become like us. In my great need, help me to be worthy of that loving gift. Help me be a worthy friend to your son and worthy as your beloved. Help me to understand that to be worthy is not to be measured in human measure but in how I follow your commandments, love my neighbor and bear the fruit which you ask of me. In all things I thank you, Lord.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/051407.shtml

Earlier in this chapter of Acts, the Apostles ask the risen Jesus who has again appeared to them: "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. (Acts 1:6-7) Jesus then ascends and they are left “alone”. They are still uncertain how things will play out…what does the ministry of Jesus mean?

What they do know with certainty is that they have been chosen and they have accepted Jesus’ call. One of their first acts is to replace Judas, to bring the number back to twelve, “recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (Luke 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel.” (http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/acts/acts1.htm#v15 ). In prayer, Matthias is chosen from among the men who, as Peter states, accompanied us (the apostles) the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us…(and was)…a witness to his resurrection (Acts 1:21-22)

This is the only time we see Matthias other than in legend. He might be little known but he was chosen by God to further the Kingdom. “Clement of Alexandria says that Matthias, like all the other apostles, was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. He was elected not because he was worthy but because he would become worthy.” (www.catholic.org)

We get up each day sometimes with a well set agenda, sometimes with a to-do list which will fall by the way. Sometimes we awake in pain or mental anguish over misgivings about our health or livelihood. We are uncertain how things will play out. What we can be sure of is that we have been chosen. Jesus is calling us to become worthy as he knows we can, as he offers us the chance to be. He has presented us this potential which is both awesome and beautiful; it is both fearful and wonderful.

Action

How am I accepting the potential Jesus has in store for me? Look over the past day. Give thanks for the places in which you saw Jesus and welcomed him into your actions. Today, live each moment in its rich and holy fullness – it is here that Jesus’ potential is realized. You will be worthy if you love one another as he loves you.