Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Homily: May 14 - St. Matthias, Apostle - Clear Christian Witness


Matthias is mentioned only once in the entire New Testament—that short passage in the Acts of the Apostles describing that resplendent hour when he was chosen as an apostle. 

More than forty days had passed since the unforgettable events of Holy Week.  The eleven were no doubt still astonished by all that took place.  The Lord had risen just as he said he would; the Resurrected Lord had appeared to them multiple times.  He had just Ascended into heaven and promised that the Holy Spirit would descend upon them.

The eleven decided that they had to replace Judas.  So Matthias became the first apostle chosen after the death of the crucified Lord.  One author said, “the dead branch of Judas had to be broken away from the living vine of Christ, that Matthias might be grafted in its place.  What Judas squandered was now entrusted to Matthias; what Judas should have accomplished was now to be completed by Matthias.”  He would be the one, to obey the Lord’s commands and remain in his love.

In a reflection on these events, Pope Benedict wrote: “He was enrolled with the eleven apostles.  We know nothing else about him, if not that he had been a witness to all Jesus’ earthly events, remaining faithful to him to the end.  To the greatness of his fidelity was added the divine call to take the place of Judas, almost compensating for his betrayal” and “we draw from this a final lesson: while there is no lack of unworthy and traitorous Christians in the Church, it is up to each of us to counterbalance the evil done by them with our clear witness to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.” 

To counterbalance scandal and betrayal by clear witness to Jesus. 

In an age, when we have no lack of Christians who have abandoned the commandments, the clear witness of the faithful is needed.  Rather than apathy and listlessness, Jesus commands us to go forth and bear good fruit. 

God has chosen us in this twenty-first century of the Church with all of its challenges to give clear Christian witness.


Through the example and prayerful intercession of the Apostle Matthias, may we also be faithful to this divine call of ours and bear good fruit for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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