14 May 2020
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Matthias, who followed Jesus “from the baptism of John until he was taken from us.” That is, longer than other apostles, such as Matthew. And why did Jesus overlook him in preference to Judas, the man he judged it would have been better had he never been born? That is part of the mystery of a particular vocation, of how we respond to the call.
Then, there is the selection process that made Matthias an apostle. He held the lucky card; Barsabbas lost. No! God our Father lets us use what is passing to know and put into effect his will.
Jesus, in today’s Gospel, puts it in another way: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” That is the mystery of my vocation, of every vocation. And its purpose: “to go and bear fruit that will remain.”
So, Christ not only calls, gives vocations to the twelve and their successors, but to each person, whose responsibility is to use the gifts he has received “to bear fruit” on the vine. Again, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us how we are to fulfill our particular vocation: “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.”
Today, I’ll pray in thanksgiving for the vocation he has given me, and for the different vocations he has given to those who come into my life; that we all learn to love one another as he has loved each of us.