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CHRISTIAN APOSTLE MATTHIAS
Strengthen the soul by faith and knowledge
The first act of the apostles after the Ascension of
Jesus was to find a replacement for Judas. With all the
questions, doubts, and dangers facing them, they chose
to focus their attention on finding a twelfth apostle.
Why was this important? Twelve was a very important
number to the Chosen People: twelve was the
number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel
was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth
apostle was needed.
But Jesus had chosen the original twelve. How could they
know whom he would choose? One hundred and twenty people
were gathered for prayer and reflection in the upper
room, when Peter stood up to propose the way to make the
choice.
Peter had one criterion, that, like Andrew, James, John,
and himself, the new apostle be someone who had been a
disciple from the very beginning, from his baptism by
John until the Ascension. The reason for this was
simple, the new apostle would must become a witness to
Jesus' resurrection. He must have followed Jesus before
anyone knew him, stayed with him when he made enemies,
and believed in him when he spoke of the cross and of
eating his body -- teachings that had made others melt
away.
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Two men fit this description -- Matthias and Joseph called
Barsabbas. They knew that both these men had been with them and with
Jesus through his whole ministry. But which one had the heart to
become a witness to his resurrection. The apostles knew that only
the Lord could know what was in the heart of each. They cast lots in
order to discover God's will and Matthias was chosen. He was the
twelfth apostle and the group was whole again as they waited for the
coming of the Holy Spirit.
That's the first we hear of Matthias in Scripture, and the last.
Legends like the Acts of Andrew and Matthias testify to Matthias'
enthusiastic embrace of all that being an apostle meant including
evangelization, persecution, and death in the service of the Lord.
It is believed that Matthias evangelized in regions of Armenia
and great peril befell him in the cities of Colchis, Sebastopol and
elsewhere. It is also believed that he at one time, was aided by the
apostle Andrew.
He along with the apostles Jude (Thaddeus), Bartholomew,
Simon the Zealot (Peter) and Andrew are credited by
tradition as the apostles who evangelized Armenia. There are several
places mentioned as to where he suffered martyrdom, one being
Phaleaon, a city of Judea and another Jerusalem.
Symbol - Sword Chopping Block
St. Matthias' Day is February 24. He is said to
have been stoned and then beheaded hence the sword emblem.
Lord, you know everyone's heart.
Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this
apostolic ministry,
which Judas left to go where he belongs.
Acts, 1:23-26
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