Matthias: Chosen for Love, Called to Obedience, Witness to Resurrection
May 14, 2025 - Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; John 15:9-17
We know very little about Saint Matthias. Luke tells us that he belonged to the larger circle of Christ's disciples and followed Jesus "beginning from the baptism of John" (Acts 1:22). It was from this larger group that Jesus chose the Twelve to represent a renewal of "Israel" within the community of the Church. The number "twelve" held significance, as after Judas' betrayal, someone needed to be added to maintain the inner circle of Jesus' apostles. Perhaps this related to Jesus' promise that the Twelve apostles would "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt. 19:28).
From those who qualified, two were presented: Joseph and Matthias. The election was preceded by prayer. Just as Jesus chose the Twelve before, the apostles sought the Lord's guidance in indicating who should replace Judas. They believed the Lord would reveal His choice through casting lots. William Barclay described this method in his commentary on the Acts of the Apostles: "The names of the candidates were written on stones. The stones were put into a vessel and shaken until one stone fell out; the one whose name was on that stone was elected to office."
Matthias was chosen to become a witness to Christ's resurrection. But what does this mean? The Gospel provides the answer. To witness Christ's resurrection means to love one another as Christ loves us. Often, we're taught to compete for limited resources, leading to conflict and destruction. However, to witness Christ's resurrection means creating a world of cooperation, mutual support, and selfless love.
The Gospel of John emphasizes love, portraying God's love for humanity and Jesus' love for his disciples. Love is more than an emotion; it's an act of obedience. Just as Jesus obeyed the Father out of love, our love for Jesus is expressed through obedience to his commands. The ultimate demonstration of love is self-sacrifice, seen in Jesus' death on the cross. This love led to victory over death and offers a glimpse of new creation.
Psalm 113 invites us to praise the name of the Lord, desiring His name to be praised "both now and forever" and "from the rising to the setting of the sun" (Ps 113:2-3). While we don't know much about Matthias after being chosen and "numbered with the eleven disciples" (Acts 1:26), various ancient traditions offer differing information. What we do know is that, together with others, Matthias powerfully witnessed to the resurrection of Jesus by dedicating his life to the service of the Gospel, thereby making our world a better place.