A podcast that I sometimes listen to insists that this
reading records a huge mistake and a sign of disobedience from the Apostles.
The presenter asserts that Jesus intended Paul to be the twelfth Apostle. I see
his point. It is not like we ever hear anything about Matthias after this.
On the other hand, the reading shows the Apostles and,
indeed, the whole Church, united in prayer and seeking God’s will. They were
guided by the Scripture. They sought out candidates who could fulfill the role
they themselves were called to fill – to be Jesus’ witnesses. They prayed some
more. In the end, the lot fell to Matthias and he was numbered among the
Apostles.
Might the Apostles have been wrong about Matthias? Could
God have intended Paul to be the twelfth Apostle?
To be honest, the text itself does not rule out either
conclusion. Perhaps the early church goofed, jumped the gun, and appointed the
wrong guy. Perhaps God’s plan was to appoint twelve Apostles for Israel and one
man to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles.” Or perhaps neither of those
conclusions is the point of this reading.
What if the point is something like this: God appoints
people to share the message of Christ crucified, risen, and coming again so
that we can believe in Jesus and be saved from sin and death.
I like that message. It reminds me that my pastors who
baptized me, preached to me, catechized me, and represented Jesus to me were
blessings from God to give me God’s gifts. It reminds me that the Church is
called to such a ministry and it has carried out that mission all the way down
to today. It reminds me that we, too, are part of that mission, and that there
are times that the lot falls to us to be Jesus’ witnesses. It reminds me that
the mission is God’s mission, and he uses us to reach others with the Good News
that Jesus died to atone for our sins and that he is risen from the dead as our
glorious savior.
How has God used people in your life to bring Jesus’
salvation to you? Has he ever used you to bring his blessings to others?
Lord God, you are
Lord of the Church and the mission to save sinners through Jesus’ death and
resurrection is yours. We give you thanks for Matthias, for Paul, for the other
Apostles, for the women, and for all the people across history whom you have
used as your witnesses to bring faith, life, and salvation, all the way down
through time to us today. Forgive us for times we have been slow to be your
witnesses. Forgive us for the times that we faith to see your salvation at work
in us and through us. Fill us, O Holy Spirit, and strengthen our faith, give us
joy in Jesus’ salvation, and make us witnesses of God’s love in Christ. Amen.
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