FEAST OF ST MATHIAS APOSTLE ( 14th MAY 2022)

ST. MATTHIAS (APOSTLE) (14th May) Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John 15:9-17

Matthias, whose name means “gift of God,” was the disciple chosen after the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the 12 Apostles following Judas’ treacherous betrayal and subsequent death. St. Jerome and the early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea attest that Matthias was among the 72 disciples paired off and dispatched by Jesus. Sequel to this, in Acts of the Apostles 1:20-26, following the address of Peter to the congregation, that one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-one of these two must become a witness with us to his resurrection. This they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas also known as  Justus, and Matthias. Then, after prayer to God and casting of the lot, the lot we are told fell on Mathias who was then listed as one of the twelve.  Soon after his election, in Acts of the apostles (2:1-4), Matthias received the Holy Spirit with the other Apostles. The modality of the election of Mathias informs us significantly that vocation is from God. God is the giver of vocation. Every Christian vocation is a call from God. The disciples left the choice of the election of the apostle primarily to God alone to determine and abandoned themselves as mere instruments in the hands of God in the process for, “they prayed and said, Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen” (Acts1:24). This also significantly exposed the ‘Apostles conformity to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ in the gospel of John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I Chose you”.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes in life for one reason or the other we tend to forget the place of God in our decision making so much so that we become so self centered to the effect that God is displaced, disregarded, ejected, ousted and dethrone from the centrality of our judgments. No appeal is made to God for guidance and enlightenment through prayer.  Beloved in Christ, the process laid down by the apostles for us to follow is theocentric (centred on God) and not otherwise. Let's always lay before God in prayer every step and decision we make in our daily lives.

Another significant point worthy of consideration is the criterion administered by the apostles in appointing those to be elected.  They insisted on one who had been with them right from the beginning, the baptism of John until the day of Jesus’ ascension, one who must be a witness to his resurrection. Knowing fully well that Resurrection is a central truth of Christianity. They opted for someone who had been profoundly immersed through the thick and thin of the mission of Jesus. One who is not alien to the plight of the gospel. 

Friends in Christ, one of the problems there are within the political corridor is that leaders are not in the words of Pope Francis “Shepherds with the smell of the sheep”. Many leaders are disconnected, detached from the reality of their people. They are alien to the plights of the people. They feel unconcerned about the situation of their citizens or followers because they had not been profoundly immersed in the reality of the people and had not been with them through the thick and thin of life. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, through the intercession of St Mathias, we pray that we may be readily available at the service of God at all times, and pledge our commitment to be ministers of the good news of the kingdom of God to the utmost bounds of the world. 

God bless you all

Fr Remigius Okafor, osj