Seventh Sunday of Easter, June 1, 2003
Acts 1:15-26 or Exodus 28:1-4, 9-10, 29-30; Psalm 68:1-20 or Psalm 47; 1 John 5:9-15 or Acts 1:15-26; John 17:11b-19.
All of us want our lives to count for something, and we often assume that history will remember us at some level. The reality is usually quite different. Our culture has an extremely short memory, and the number of individuals remembered for their lives of faith is relatively small. As the writer of Ecclesiasticus says: “Let us now praise famous men ... There are some who have left a name so that men declare their praise and there are some who have no memorial who have perished as though they had not lived” (44:1, 8-9). Most of us fall into that latter category.
We should not lose heart, however, because the value of our life is not determined by our impact on written history. The value of our life is based on our faithfulness in our walk with God. So it is with Matthias.
Our lesson from Acts happens between the Ascension and the day of Pentecost. The disciples are awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit and their numbers are very small. Luke tells us about 120, but they have work to do. They must complete the number of the disciples by replacing Judas, who betrayed the Lord and who ultimately took his own life.
As the remaining 11 consider the candidates’ qualifications, Peter announces the requirements. It must be someone who accompanied them from the baptism of John through the Ascension. It is remarkable that there are apparently a number of individuals who fit that description — men who have been with Jesus through his entire public ministry and yet whom the gospel writers never mention. One wonders how many others besides Joseph and Matthias might have been with Jesus for those three years. The decision is between the two men previously mentioned. When lots are cast, it is Matthias who is selected. And this is the last we hear of him.
While there are a variety of confused traditions about this late addition to the apostolic band, nothing of any substance about his life is recorded. However, the importance of his life is not in what was written about him but in what he wrote upon the hearts of those to whom he ministered. While we have no recorded story of his subsequent ministry, we can safely assume that he was faithful to the call upon his life and that the result was seen in the lives which changed around him. His life, ministry, and love of God were conferred to those who came to know Jesus. While the events may be unrecorded, the results are with us today. Who knows if our own coming to Christ might not have its origins in the ministry of Matthias?
So we are to be encouraged. We are to be faithful, continuing the tradition of the apostles, being faithful to the Lord, and influencing the generations to come.
Look It Up
Luke 6:12-16 gives a list of the original 12 disciples. How many of them are familiar to you?
Think About It
Can I be satisfied with being faithful?
Next Sunday
The Day of Pentecost, June 8, 2003
Acts 2:1-11 or Isaiah 44:1-8; Psalm 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or Psalm 33:12-15, 18-22; 1 Cor. 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17.
