The Election of St. Matthias

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Feast of St. Matthias, Saturday 14th May, 2022 Texts: Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26; Psalm113:lb-8; John 15:9-17 

Today is the feast day of St. Matthias who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. The account of his election tells us that he was involved in the ministry of Jesus Christ. St. Peter says, “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” To have been nominated as a candidate and won in the election it is clear that he must have been actively involved in the ministry of Jesus. This gives credence to the claim of Clement of Alexandria that Matthias was among the seventy-two disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel of God’s Kingdom and repentance. He must have also been among the group of disciples saw Jesus Christ after resurrection. This reminds us that by the virtue of our baptism we are called to participate in the ministry of Jesus Christ as prophet, priest and king. Do we live as prophets at all? Which kind of message do we give to the world as prophets? Do we ever live as priests? As priests, do we make sacrifice? Which kind of sacrifice do we make? Perhaps, we make sacrifice for disunity, disorder, hatred, robbery, etc. We all know what we make sacrifice for. We are to make sacrifice for good, sacrifice for justice, sacrifice for peace, sacrifice for life, sacrifice for love, etc.  

The account of election of Matthias shows that the disciples of Jesus prepared to witness to the resurrection before the advent of the Holy Spirit. It is said, “one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” They were already convinced of the truth of resurrection. This tells us that the faith in resurrection calls for action. Our faith in resurrection must manifest in becoming a witness to it. Our faith in resurrection bears no fruit until we become witnesses to the resurrection.  

The election of Matthias also reminds us of our own election. Today’s psalm gives an insight into this divine election: “Who is like the Lord, our God, who dwells on high who lowers himself to look down upon heaven and earth? From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the ash heap he raises the poor, to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people.” The election of Matthias raised his status to that of apostles. Our election in Jesus Christ gives us higher dignity than we had at creation. Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, speaks of this thus: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” Our election in Jesus Christ raises us to the position of sons and daughters. By our election we become coheirs with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  

O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke