May 14 2025 - St. Matthias - Apostolic Succession

 In the Creed each week, we profess, our belief “in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church”. Today, we might say, is one of the great feasts of Apostolicity. For St. Matthias was the first to be appointed an Apostle after the death and resurrection of Jesus showing that apostolic mission would continue through the ages until the Lord’s return. 

In the first reading, we read that following the death of the fallen Apostle Judas, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the remaining eleven apostles elected Matthias to join them and share in the apostolic mission to tend the flock, to shepherd the People of God. 

St. Matthias was the first bishop of the Church named after the ascension. 

Some protestants will argue that the Catholic Church’s hierarchy was not intended by God, but Scripture is clear that the appointment of Matthias, and therefore every bishop after him, was due to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

The naming of apostolic successors is implicit in the Lord Jesus’ mandate to the apostles at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when he says: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations... And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." The command to preach and teach until "the end of the age" implies a continuous apostolic mission—one that is meant to persist through successors.

The apostles understood clearly from Christ’s teachings and actions that their role was an office with specific authority and responsibilities that must persist. Matthias’s appointment thus illustrates the apostles’ understanding of their ministry as an ongoing office, not limited merely to their original twelve.

That apostolic ministry continues unbroken from the apostles to every Catholic bishop throughout history.  Hence we believe that "the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such a way that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ."

We commend to God, today, all of the bishops, that through their preaching and teaching, the Christian faith may be spread and deepened, and that we may persevere in being faithful coworkers with them, in witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus, that we may be counted among the elect of heaven for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and inspired by the apostolic witness of St. Matthias, we lift our prayers to our Heavenly Father.

For Pope Leo and all bishops, successors to the Apostles, that they may shepherd the Church with wisdom, courage, and fidelity to Christ’s teachings

For Christian unity, that the apostolic foundation of our faith may inspire greater unity among all who profess belief in Christ.

For our parish, that we may actively participate in the Church’s mission, joyfully witnessing to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in word and deed.

For those who experience doubt or confusion regarding Church teachings, that through the apostolic witness and clear guidance of Church leaders, they may find clarity, truth, and peace.

For the sick and the suffering, those in nursing homes and hospice care, those undergoing surgery, and all of the poor and afflicted, for the grace to carry their crosses with faith, hope, and love.

For the faithful departed, for the departed members of our families friends and parish, for deceased bishops, priests, and those who dedicated their lives to apostolic service, that they may share in the eternal joy of heaven…

Loving Father, through the prayers of St. Matthias, hear our petitions and guide your Church in steadfast fidelity to Christ and the apostolic mission. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May 14 2024 - St. Matthias - The apostolate of all the faithful

 Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthias, and the first reading explains the election of this thirteenth apostle who would take the place of Judas.  

After the Lord’s Ascension, but before Pentecost…kind of like, today…the Apostles gathered in the upper room.  Peter, prince of the Apostles, explains the qualifications Judas’ replacement.  The new apostle above all was to be a witness; he was to have accompanied them the whole time that the Lord Jesus was among them from the baptism of John until his death.  He was to also have been a witness to the resurrection.  

There were two men of equal merit. And so after praying, they cast lots and the choice fell on Matthias. So Matthias was chosen to take up that ministry of going out and teaching all nations. 

 Of the rest of his life we know very little except that he persevered in his vocation—that he was an untiring preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We do not really know the details of his martyrdom; one account states that Matthias was arrested and brought to trial in Jerusalem.  When threatened with being stoned to death like St. Stephen, Matthias professed that he would rather die than renounce the faith.  So, he was put to death, and legend says that his relics were preserved in Jerusalem until St. Helen had them brought to Rome.  

While not all of us are called to be members of the Apostolic College, that is, a bishop, like Matthias or Bishop Malesic, all Christians have a share in the Church’s apostolate. Apostolate comes from the same word as “apostle” which means—sent. We are all sent by God on a mission to witness to Christ.

The Catechism, specifically speaking about the laity says, “like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth. This duty is the more pressing when it is only through them that men can hear the Gospel and know Christ. (CCC 900)”

Each of us is tasked of bringing the Gospel into whatever spheres in society and the church that we occupy. We are chosen and sent by God to bring the divine message into the workplace, into our families, into our neighborhoods, into our political associations, into our friendships, more deeply into parish groups. There are gifts given to us uniquely, individually, that God hasn’t given to anyone else, that we are to put into the service of building up the Church.

And like St. Matthias, we are to be faithful to the apostolate when we are resisted, arrested, and even put to death.

Through the holy example and heavenly intercession of the apostles and martyrs may we be faithful to our apostolate—witnessing to Christ in every dimension of our life—for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.

As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.

For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

May 14 2018 - St. Matthias - Counterbalancing evil

Matthias is mentioned only once in the entire New Testament—that short passage in the Acts of the Apostles describing the 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.”

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.  To counterbalance their apathy and listlessness, we go forth to bear good fruit.  To counterbalance their idolatry of worldly vices, we fast, do penance, and purify our heavenly worship. To counterbalance materialism, we practice generous self-giving. Pope Francis himself said recently, that we must heed the call to offer the total commitment of our lives to Christ in order to be a “counterbalance to evil.”

Jesus chose the twelve personally.  But he also chose Matthias through the apostles.  And he has chosen us to be clear witnesses in this twenty-first century of the Church, to be a source of goodness the world so desperately needs.

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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May we join the Holy Apostles in our prayer for the world and the Church.
As the Apostles witnessed to the Resurrection of the Lord, may we be his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.
For the bishops, the successors of the apostles: That they may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.
For all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. We pray to the Lord.
For all who long to see the face of the Father, for all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord