So they proposed two... Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:23-26
I've been thinking about Matthias the Apostle.
At this time in the church calendar, we find ourselves between Ascension Day and Pentecost. Jesus has ascended into heaven, and we are waiting for his promised Holy Spirit.
In the Bible, this waiting period is recounted in Acts Chapter 1. It was during this time that the community of Jesus called Matthias to be added as one of the twelve apostles, as a replacement for Judas. We don't know much about Matthias - the Bible tells us very little. But as we read the story of how Matthias was selected,
what jumps out is the community's prayer for the wisdom and direction of God.
The Bible says, "Then they prayed and said, 'Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen.'" This is a powerful prayer! They prayed that God would direct the decision, for indeed God is fully wise, knowing everyone's heart.
Looking back on my life, I see how God in His wisdom directed many major decision points. For example, as a senior in high school, He led me to Trinity College in Connecticut. It was in college that my nascent call to the priesthood began to (slowly) develop. More importantly, Trinity is where I met my amazing wife, Danielle.
Looking back, I also see times when I relied too heavily on my own wisdom in making decisions. Instead of praying for God's direction, I made quick choices based on what I wanted or needed at the time. This often turned out poorly.
The good news is that God is a fount of wisdom. Plus, He knows our hearts, fully. So when we pray to Him for guidance and direction, good paths will open up. It worked for the choosing of Matthias; it will work for us too.
God bless you!
Fr. Matthew
