The events of our first reading, the choosing of Judas’ replacement, happens naturally very early on in the Acts of the Apostles. It takes place soon after the Ascension of Jesus, but before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost according to this first book after the Gospels.
Matthias is now entrusted with the same responsibility of the apostles—to teach, whole and entire, the gospel message which Jesus entrusted to them. The Incarnation, Passion and Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus would be the focal points of their ministry, as wonderful signs would accompany them.
This succession of apostles is something which began with Jesus laying his hands and anointing the first twelve, and in doing so, gave the twelve the authority and the charism to be able to do the same thing so as to ordain new bishops, some of whom would replace their “office”… so Saint Peter who died in Rome, has always had a bishop assume his office, up until our current pope. It is really a supernatural grace and miracle that the Holy Spirit would raise up such a fragile group of men who could continue to hand on Christ’s teachings whole and intact, from one generation to the next, without interruption. This is what we call the Tradition of the Church, as opposed to those beautiful traditions with a small “t” we have in our cultures, like processions and devotions and certain foods etc.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells us exactly what it was, that would be their guiding light through the Holy Spirit. It is part of the long discourse at the Last Supper which is recorded for us in John. It begins with Jesus saying:
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”
The kind of love Jesus is speaking of is not just any kind of love. The word for ‘love’ throughout the passage in the original Greek is agape. It is not the kind of love that works on the premise of justice – I give to you, and you give to me.
Rather, it continues giving, even if never acknowledged, or reciprocated. There’s nothing wrong with the kind of love that expects an equal treatment and reciprocity, to be sure, but it’s not the kind of love we’re talking about. On the contrary, it is an outreaching love, unconditionally wanting the other’s good. It is the kind of love that puts self-interest aside. It’s not the kind of love given in a contract, because more often than not it is extended to a less fortunate individual, someone in need, who can’t be expected to compensate the selfless act. It’s the more heroic love which sacrifices the self, for the well-being of the other and this is why Jesus places it as the “greatest” in the eyes of God and will be rewarded as such. Jesus invites us to imitate this love then, which was manifested in an absolute and infinite manner in his passion and death for us:
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Jesus goes on to say that if we love in this way, sacrificially, he considers us his friends. How many times have we worried if Jesus will recognize us when we knock at the door as he describes in the parable? Remember? Some will knock saying, “Lord, Lord” and he will say, “Sorry, I do not know you.” How many of us worry that might be us one day, God-forbid? Well if we love sacrificially, Jesus assures us, we are his friends! He says it plainly in today’s gospel: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” And what he commanded us to do, is to love one another as he loved us.
He also told us that this would be the trait that identifies his true followers:
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It must be the distinctive mark of our communities. Would it describe ours? Would it describe our evangelization efforts?
Can we say that we are looking after others and their needs? You see, the kind of greatness Jesus is looking for, is the greatness of service. “Whoever among you wishes to be the greatest in heaven, let him be your servant.”
This is the message that Matthias and his fellow-Apostles inherited and which they passed on by preaching in word and more importantly in deed. We all know how much importance Saint Francis placed on this because to him, the good Lord could not have made it any clearer. Let us have this spirit within us… to rise in the morning and think to ourselves, how will I be of service today? Do not forget, however, that to have the energy to do this, you too will need good rest. You will need to find your peace and your rhythm in life, so that you don’t burn yourself out, and then depleted of energy you have nothing to offer. You also do not want to make your life excessively burdensome… that is, the Lord still desires you to enjoy this life to the full, yet, at the same time to make sacrifices for your brothers and sisters. Be at peace knowing, that where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the Lord will the grace he’s placed in your heart, come to completion. May Saint Matthias, the Apostles, together with their and our Queen of Heaven and Earth, intercede for us and lift us up to Jesus. Amen.
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