14 May 2021
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
“The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.”
During the Easter Vigil, there is a beautiful aspect of the liturgy when the Paschal candle is lit, and then – from this candle – all the people receive a light from this candle. We receive the light from one, and we turn and give the light to another. It is a powerful image of Christ conquering the darkness of death and sin with his unifying light. It is also a great symbol for the passing on of the faith between people – our faith is not taught, it is caught. It is caught interiorly from the Holy Spirit, and it is caught exteriorly from those who offer it to us by their words and actions.
In today’s first reading, we hear the Apostles passing on – not just their faith – but their apostolic office to another, Matthias. As the Apostles have received this office from Christ – the source and light of all faith and ministries – so too they turn and give it to another to keep alive until his death when his office and ministry will be passed on to another. Matthias office was a unique gift to him, but this act of passing on a gift that is received is not.
This is a model for each of us to embody: as we have each received the gift of faith from another, so too, we are called to turn and light this flame in the hearts of others. This image, while beautiful, is not always easy or effortless in practice. Before something can be lit, it must be prepared, and oftentimes this preparation requires sacrifice, patience, humility, and charity. The greatest of saints were often the worst of sinners first. They changed through the warm and light of God’s grace acting through those around them, which helped cause a new light to spring up and warm others. Today, let us pray for the grace of gratitude for those who set us ablaze for Christ, and for the wisdom and zeal to go and do likewise.