THE FEAST OF ST MATTHIAS, APOSTLE.
THE FEAST OF ST MATTHIAS, APOSTLE.
"The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 16 - 20).
Thursday May 14 in the 6th Week in Easter Season is the Feast of St Matthias, the Apostle.
Jesus said to the Apostles during the Last Supper:
"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain."
Matthias, our saint for today was not among the original Twelve Apostles.
Like St Matthias, each of us is called, chosen and anointed for a specific mission in the Kingdom. This is true whether we are soldiers, teachers, accountants, lawyers or housewives. Your day job is the field for your ministry. We are called to be friend and companion of Jesus who will carry on His ministry through us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthias who had followed Jesus since His Baptism at the Jordan became a witness to the Resurrection and saw Jesus ascend into Heaven. He was present with the disciples in the Upper Room at Pentecost.
Matthias met the criteria established by the Apostles to be qualified to replace Judas Iscariot.
Matthias must have been deeply surprised by his call to join the Apostolic College. This is the way of God:
"God raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people." (Psalm 113: 7 - 8).
Ancient tradition placed St Matthias' ministry in Jerusalem, Cappadocia and Ethiopia. He was martyred in Jerusalem.
Matthias is the patron saint of Alcoholics.
"I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord." (John 15: 16).
As part of the Farewell Catechesis to His disciples, Jesus further enjoined them:
"And he [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24: 26 - 28).
"You are witnesses of these things."
What things are we to be witnesses of? Consider the following:
#1 The Death of Jesus.
#2 Testimony of Scripture to the suffering and death of Jesus: (Luke 24: 44 - 46).
#3 The Resurrection of Jesus.
#4 The power of the Name of Jesus.
This is the core of the apostolic catechesis. It has not changed. We bear witness to these truths by the witness of our daily lives.
"And he [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24: 26 - 28).
"You are witnesses of these things."
What things are we to be witnesses of? Consider the following:
#1 The Death of Jesus.
#2 Testimony of Scripture to the suffering and death of Jesus: (Luke 24: 44 - 46).
#3 The Resurrection of Jesus.
#4 The power of the Name of Jesus.
This is the core of the apostolic catechesis. It has not changed. We bear witness to these truths by the witness of our daily lives.
The Apostles' mission:
(858) "Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired; . . . . And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach." (368) From then on, they would also be his "emissaries" (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: "
As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." (369) The apostles' ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: "he who receives you receives me." (CCC 370).
Brothers and sisters, let us reflect on our Call, Mission and the Mandate.
The Church teaches us:
(863): "The whole Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin: and in that she is "sent out" into the whole world. All members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways. "The Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well."
Indeed, we call an apostolate "every activity of the Mystical Body" that aims "to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth." (CCC 377).
The Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Month of May.
Mary's "Yes" is the blueprint for our own; she is the first and most perfect witness who directs all glory back to the Son.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open our hearts to believe in You more deeply.
Grant us the grace to follow You faithfully, to trust You in trial, and to love You with all our hearts.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints, keep us strong in faith and joyful in hope.
Amen.
Honor Mary through the Holy Rosary, Litany, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consecration to The Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pilgrimages, etc.
For the Litany, 15 Promises of Mary, Consecration Prayer, etc and Prayer intentions click the link below:
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