Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle and Martyr and also the Monday of the Sixth week after Easter, May 14,2007

Readings for Feast of St. Matthias: Acts 1:15-17.20-26. Psalm 113.
John:9-17: Lectionary # 564

Let me preface my reflection about St. Matthias by this important
commentary by the scholarly Benedictine, Fr. Henry Wansbrough, O.S.B., "
Luke shows the importance of the apostolic office by depicting this scene
alone between the Ascension and Pentecost, and by giving us Peter's speech
on the qualifications and duties of an apostle. Their chief duty is to
witness to the resurrection, but also to provide a thread of continuity
between Christ's lifetime and the era of the Church. They must be twelve in
number as the patriarchs of the new Israel cf. Luke 22:29-30; one function
of the account is therefore to stress that initially the apostles still
hoped to convert Israel, turning to the gentiles only when this hope was
disappointed. The number 120 is given perhaps because this was the minimum
number required for a sanhedrin to have jurisdiction; it therefore
indicates the legitimacy of the election." (A New Catholic Commentary on
Holy Scripture, p.1080). St. Matthias was chosen as an apostle to take
the place of Judas Iscariot. The Jerusalem gathering in the upper room
discerns with the help and guidance of the Spirit that Matthias is to be
chosen over Joseph called Barsabbas. Matthias was most likely a follower
or disciple of Jesus during the days of his active ministry and probably
was among those who experienced the risen Lord Jesus Christ. He would also
be among the 120 in the upper room who would experience the promise of
Jesus to send the Holy Spirit upon this gathering. Matthias' name means
"the gift of God" as does Matthew's, but they are not the same person. The
Gospel selection is quite fitting for it shows that the love of Jesus is
had by those who remain with him and it is he who chooses those who were to
be his friends and disciples. I like to think of Jesus as the Apostle who
is sent from God in this Gospel of John. John does not approach the title
of "apostle" in the careful way that Luke gives with his criteria for an
apostle. Jesus, however, never works alone but always is inviting others
to be followers and disciples. Matthias would have been among them in this
abiding with Jesus and listening to his words and following his example.
Jesus calls us to abide with him in prayer and in our activities for the
sake of the kingdom. We are to continue being disciples and apostles in
bringing Good News to others through our unselfish love for those coming
into our lives and our ministries and work. May Matthias the apostle
martyr who is, according to tradition, also crucified, intercede for us
this day. May we rejoice in his being one of the chosen apostles of the
primitive Christian community in Jerusalem. Amen.

Monday of Sixth Week after Easter
Scripture: Acts 16:11-15. Psalm 149:1-6,9. John 15:26-16:4. #291:

We are now within the framework of a narrative about Paul's missionary
activity in Europe. He now is at Philippi where as he and his companions
seek a place of prayer along the banks of a river. There they find some
women who probably were impressed as they gathered in prayer. They begin
to preach to the women and one of them, Lydia is led by the Spirit since
she is a God-fearing woman. She comes from the area after which she is
named and is a merchant for the famous purple dye of Thyatira (mentioned
also as one of the seven city churches of the Book of Revelation). Lydia
is moved to listen to Paul and accepts his message which leads her to ask
for baptism. She then offers hospitality at her home for the missionaries
and they accept. Thus from the beginning we see that Paul has some success
as he enters Europe and that the community of believers at Philippi will
become his most beloved. We can read about his love for them within the
first chapter of his letter to the Philippians. I believe that Lydia was
influenced by the Spirit to accept Paul's witness to Jesus. This same
Spirit is spoken of in our Gospel for today where we learn that it is the
Spirit which gives testimony to Jesus and his relationship to the Father.
We have the beginnings of Trinitarian thought in these scriptures
especially in Paul's letters. I imagine that Lydia's home became the
first house church for the other converts of Paul They in turn, influenced
their families to be a part of the Christian community. It was the prayer
of Paul and then his preaching that led them to accept Jesus and to commit
themselves to him through baptism. I suggest a good reflective and
prayerful reading of the first chapter of Paul to the Philippians will be
of great comfort to us as we read today's liturgical scriptures. We may
want to use it for an evening prayer that brings to mind what we heard
earlier in the day at Mass or in our personal reflection on the readings of
the day. Amen.