Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Acts 1:15–17, 20–26; John 15:9–17
We know almost nothing about Matthias.
He is not one of the famous names. He does not stand out in the Gospel story. He does not speak any recorded words.
And yet, he is chosen.
That already says something important.
In the eyes of the world, the important people are the visible ones, the loud ones, the talented ones, the ones who stand in front.
But in the eyes of Jesus, something else matters first:
Have you stayed with me? Have you walked with me? Has my word taken root in you?
Matthias had done that.
He had been there from the beginning. He had followed Jesus for a long time. He had remained when others might have drifted away.
And when the time came, he was ready.
That is how many real callings grow.
Not in noise. Not in self-promotion. Not in trying to be seen.
But in quiet faithfulness.
After Judas is gone, someone must take his place among the Twelve.
So the community prays.
They do not treat this like a popularity contest. They do not ask, “Who is more impressive?” They ask, “Lord, whom have you chosen?”
That matters too.
Because the Christian life does not begin with choosing ourselves.
It begins with being chosen.
Jesus says it clearly in the Gospel:
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”
That is not meant to make us proud. It is meant to make us grateful.
We are not here by accident. We are not forgotten. We are not random lives floating through the world.
We are wanted. We are called. We are chosen by love.
Chosen for what?
To become witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.
But how do you witness to the resurrection?
Jesus gives the answer:
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
That is the real witness.
To live in a different way. To refuse the logic of rivalry, envy, self-protection, and using others.
The world teaches us to compete, to compare, to push forward, to win.
Jesus teaches something else:
remain in my love. Receive my love. Then give that love away.
That love is not just a feeling.
It becomes real in loyalty, in obedience, in sacrifice, in staying true when love costs something.
That is what Jesus did.
He loved to the end. He gave himself completely. And that love was stronger than death.
Perhaps that is why Matthias matters.
His life says: you do not need to be famous to be faithful.
You do not need to be seen to be chosen.
You do not need to be extraordinary to help make the world new.
You only need to stay close to Jesus, to let his love shape your life, and to be ready when he calls.
Scripture Attribution
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993
the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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