May 14, 2013

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Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle 

Read more about St. Matthias

Lectionary: 564

Reading 1ACTS 1:15-17, 20-26

Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters

(there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons

in the one place).

The Apostles and disciples were in a bit of disarray.  They had gathered together in the upper room to pray when St. Peter stood up in office as leader of the Church to give some guidance.

He said, “My brothers and sisters,

the Scripture had to be fulfilled

which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand

through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,

who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.

Judas was numbered among us

and was allotted a share in this ministry.

St. Peter explains how Judas was elected by Jesus Christ to have a share in the ministry of the Gospel.

For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.

and:

May another take his office.

But now Judas has fallen and must be replaced.  He is here quoting Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8

Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men 

who accompanied us the whole time 

the Lord Jesus came and went among us,

beginning from the baptism of John

until the day on which he was taken up from us,

become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,

who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.

Then they prayed,

“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,

show which one of these two you have chosen

to take the place in this apostolic ministry

from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”

Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,

and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.

Then the Apostles cast lots to learn the Lord's will as to who should replace Judas in the ministry of the Gospel.

Responsorial PsalmPS 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. (8) The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise, you servants of the LORD,

praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD

both now and forever.

R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

From the rising to the setting of the sun

is the name of the LORD to be praised.

High above all nations is the LORD;

above the heavens is his glory.

R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high

and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?

R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He 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.

R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

All authority is from God.  One of the errors that powerful men make is to believe that they brought themselves to power of their own ability.  They are there to fulfill the will of God and to fulfill their destiny.  Everything in this life is a test.  Will you use your life for the glory of God or for personal gain at the expense of your fellow man?  

Therefore, always give thanks to God for all that you have and do your best to do things in accordance with His will.  Otherwise, you will pay in the end.  As the Scripture says:

Matthew 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

GospelJN 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another.”

Just as St. Matthias was chosen by God through the casting of lots, it is God who chooses us for good works in all aspects of our lives.  He calls us first and gives us faith.  We must exercise it in cooperation with His will.  Again, the Scripture says:

Romans 6:19-22

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.