Saint Matthias, a faithful Disciple

 

We bear witness with others.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle, Tuesday 14th May, 2024
Texts: Acts 1:15-17, 20-2; Psalm113: lb-8; John 15:9- 17 

We celebrate, today, St. Matthias, the Apostle. Today’s first reading is the account of how the apostles chose him to replace Judas Iscariot. The criterion for nominating candidates for the office of apostle speaks of Communion and faithfulness.  

Simon Peter mentions the criterion: “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.”  

The word, “the men who have accompanied us”, speaks of communion with others. Men like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus cannot be apostles of Jesus. The loved and appreciated Jesus Christ from afar; they did not walk with other disciples. They cannot bear witness to resurrection.  

Faithfulness to Christ

Faithfulness to Christ is clear in the words: “beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us”. These are men who continued to follow Jesus even when others abandoned Him. Some left Jesus because of His teaching. They followed Jesus in spite rejection from the religious leaders. They continued to follow Jesus in spite of the abusive names people gave to Him. People called Him glutton and friends of sinners. 

These two virtues – faithfulness and communion - are very important to bear witness to Christ as Christians. We bear witness with others and among the people of God. This is also clear when Jesus sent out the seventy-two in pairs. He did not send them out one by one. 

Love one another as He has loved us

Jesus also asks us to love one another as He has loved us. He says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. He adds, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” The mandate to love one another is a mandate to be in communion with one another.  

Faithfulness is also very important. Without faithfulness we cannot endure in our relationship with Jesus. The wise says, “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart in the sight of God and of people” (Prov. 3:3).

Prayer 

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     

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke