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
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