Friday, May 14, 2010

Homily – May 14, 2010 – St. Matthias

+ We celebrated yesterday the feast of the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, wherein he told the Eleven to go to Jerusalem and wait for the coming promised Gift of the Holy Spirit. While they were waiting they were to pray, to open their minds and hearts for the fullness of the coming gift and to choose a replacement for Judas – the one among them who went his own way, to his own destruction. Our saint for today, Matthias, was chosen to be such a replacement because he was one of the men who accompanied the apostles the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from them, and could be a witness to his resurrection. Two men were selected but one was chosen: Barsabbas and Matthias were proposed, but the Holy Spirit chose Matthias for the apostolic ministry. The lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the Eleven. Matthias preached in Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt and Ethiopia. He is remembered for his preaching the need for mortification of the flesh in regard to all its sensual and irregular desires. He was stoned to death at Colchis in the year 80.

The election of Matthias is a prime example of how the Lord continues to provide leaders for his people. It is also an example of how it is God who does the choosing in the apostolic ministry rather than men. He chooses those who he knows can bear fruit – if they cooperate with the graces given them at their "ordinations!" All candidates are potentially a Peter, a John, a Judas and a Matthias. Cooperation with the gifts of God and his graces are essential to the life of the minister. May we pray today for all shepherds in the Church – that they may witness the life, death and resurrection of Jesus for their own salvation and for the good of all in the Church. As Jesus lay down his life for his friends, so they are called to do: may God give them strength to attain even a martyr's death for his glory! I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

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