“The Chosen One”
Have you ever been in the position where someone is desperately needed, and you fit the bill perfectly? It is almost as if all your miscellaneous qualifications that never made much sense before now make PERFECT sense and you have a feeling that you might have been chosen by God for the task …
If so, then Matthias is most definitely the Patron Saint for you! Matthias came into the picture shortly after the suicide of Judas; with the early Church missing an apostle, the remaining eleven apostles prayed for guidance on who to choose as a replacement for this key role.
The qualifications for the job were specialised: the person had to have been a follower of Christ from His Baptism to His Ascension, and a witness of the Resurrection. There were two possibilities: Joseph Barsabas and Matthias. How to choose?
Again, Matthias’ experience may mirror yours. The decision was out of his hands, and up to others. In this case, the apostles drew straws, and the ‘lot’ fell to Matthias. He had been chosen to replace Judas! The tragedy of Judas’ betrayal had led to an opportunity for service by Matthias, and he was well prepared for the task. Are you prepared for any task that God might suddenly open before you?
Like the other apostles, Matthias had been in Jerusalem and had received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and he went on to do a good job. It is said he preached the Good News first in Judea, and then maybe in Cappadocia and by the Caspian Sea. It is thought he was martyred by the axe or halberd, and his relics eventually ended up being taken to Rome by the Empress Helen.
Matthias is an encouragement to us to be faithful in small things, because you never know what the future might hold!
The Collect for Saint Matthias
O Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles : Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
PP
Feature Image: Rubens, Matthias (Cropped from), WikiCommons Images