His Word Today: Saint Matthias

Saint Matthias, by Peter Paul Rubens

Good morning everyone,

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthias.  According to the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:23, 25) Matthias was chosen by the other disciples to replace Judas Iscariot after Judas' betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death.  The calling of Matthias to join the apostles was unique because his choosing was not made personally by Jesus, but rather by consultation with the followers of Jesus (cf Acts 1:15)  In addition, Matthias was appointed after Jesus' ascent into heaven and before the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Jesus' lessons, shared with the twelve disciples were also shared with Matthias, for he was one of the men who accompanied the disciples the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among them (cf Acts 1:21).  In fact, the lessons Jesus taught have also been passed on to us, including the words that are recorded in today's gospel: As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love (Jn 15:9).  This is the heart of the key lesson that all disciples must learn and strive to perfect.  At the heart of every call, we are invited to discover Jesus' love, his personal love for each of us.

When we remain in Jesus' love, we are always mindful of the fact that he never leaves us alone, that he constantly seeks to be part of our lives and to share the joy of his love with us.  Once we have experienced the thrill of being called by Jesus to follow in his footsteps, life is never the same.  Today, let us ask Saint Matthias to inspire within our hearts a renewed desire to discover and celebrate Jesus' love for each one of us.

Have a great day.