Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
May 14, 2021
Daily Reading from the USCCB: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
Audio file
Today is the feast of St. Matthias–the disciple chosen to fill the place of Judas among the apostles. We don’t know much about Matthias except that he was with Jesus from the beginning, and had witnessed the risen Christ. Yet his election has several lessons for us.
First it highlights the place of Peter in the apostolic college. Peter is clearly in charge of what’s going on. Secondly, it demonstrates that there was a reason for having a central group of twelve. They were to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. When one was missing he had to be replaced.
Thirdly, the election of Matthias illustrates the necessity of personal contact with Christ for apostleship, both during his public life and after his resurrection.
