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Minute Meditations
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St. Matthias
According to Acts 1:15-26, during the days after the Ascension, Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (about 120 of Jesus' followers). Now that Judas had betrayed his ministry, it was necessary, Peter said, to fulfill the scriptural recommendation that another should take his office. "Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection" (Acts 1:21-22).
They nominated two men: Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias. They prayed and drew lots. The choice fell upon Matthias, who was added to the Eleven. Matthias is not mentioned by name anywhere else in the New Testament.
They nominated two men: Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias. They prayed and drew lots. The choice fell upon Matthias, who was added to the Eleven. Matthias is not mentioned by name anywhere else in the New Testament.
Comment:
What was the holiness of Matthias? Obviously he was suited for apostleship by the experience of being with Jesus from his baptism to his ascension. He must also have been suited personally, or he would not have been nominated for so great a responsibility. Must we not remind ourselves that the fundamental holiness of Matthias was his receiving gladly the relationship with the Father offered him by Jesus and completed by the Holy Spirit? If the apostles are the foundations of our faith by their witness, they must also be reminders, if only implicitly, that holiness is entirely a matter of God's giving, and it is offered to all, in the everyday circumstances of life. We receive, and even for this God supplies the power of freedom.
What was the holiness of Matthias? Obviously he was suited for apostleship by the experience of being with Jesus from his baptism to his ascension. He must also have been suited personally, or he would not have been nominated for so great a responsibility. Must we not remind ourselves that the fundamental holiness of Matthias was his receiving gladly the relationship with the Father offered him by Jesus and completed by the Holy Spirit? If the apostles are the foundations of our faith by their witness, they must also be reminders, if only implicitly, that holiness is entirely a matter of God's giving, and it is offered to all, in the everyday circumstances of life. We receive, and even for this God supplies the power of freedom.
Quote:
Jesus speaks of the apostles' function of being judges, that is, rulers. He said, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28).
Jesus speaks of the apostles' function of being judges, that is, rulers. He said, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28).
Saint of the DayLives, Lessons and Feast
By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.
Presence
Dear Lord as I come to you today
Fill my heart and my whole being
with the wonder of Your presence
Fill my heart and my whole being
with the wonder of Your presence
Freedom
Your death on the cross has set me free.
I can live joyously and freely
without fear of death.
Your mercy knows no bounds.
I can live joyously and freely
without fear of death.
Your mercy knows no bounds.
Consciousness
Knowing that God loves me unconditionally, I look honestly over the last day, its events and my feelings.
Do I have something to be grateful for?
Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for?
Then I ask forgiveness.
Do I have something to be grateful for?
Then I give thanks. Is there something I am sorry for?
Then I ask forgiveness.
Reading 1ACTS 1:15-17, 20-26
Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters
(there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons
in the one place).
He said, "My brothers and sisters,
the Scripture had to be fulfilled
which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand
through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,
who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.
Judas was numbered among us
and was allotted a share in this ministry.
For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.
and:
May another take his office.
Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men
who accompanied us the whole time
the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John
until the day on which he was taken up from us,
become with us a witness to his resurrection."
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,
who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed,
"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,
show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry
from which Judas turned away to go to his own place."
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.
(there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons
in the one place).
He said, "My brothers and sisters,
the Scripture had to be fulfilled
which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand
through the mouth of David, concerning Judas,
who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.
Judas was numbered among us
and was allotted a share in this ministry.
For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
Let his encampment become desolate,
and may no one dwell in it.
and:
May another take his office.
Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men
who accompanied us the whole time
the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
beginning from the baptism of John
until the day on which he was taken up from us,
become with us a witness to his resurrection."
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas,
who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.
Then they prayed,
"You, Lord, who know the hearts of all,
show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry
from which Judas turned away to go to his own place."
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (8) The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel jn 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
Conversation
What is stirring in me as I pray? Am I consoled, troubled, left cold? I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting at my side and share my feelings with him.
Conclusion
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Saint Matthias, Apostle
... a witness to his resurrection. (Acts 1:22)"Everyone, stand up!" Peter called out. "I'm going to ask a series of questions. If your answer is yes, stay standing. If not, sit down. Is everyone ready? First, were you there when Jesus was baptized? What about when he fed the five thousand? Were you there when he healed the blind man?" And so the questions continued, as more and more people sat down. In the end, only two men remained standing.
While it probably didn't look exactly like this, this passage describes the apostles searching for a person to take the place of Judas Iscariot. In the end, they asked the Lord to help them choose, and he picked Matthias.
So what was this new position about? When all was said and done, Matthias was called to be a witness—a witness to everything he had seen Jesus say and do.
You may not be called to be an apostle or an apostle's successor, as your bishop is. But at the same time, God has called you to be a witness. He wants you to testify about what it's like to walk with the Lord through all kinds of experiences, through tough times and times of blessing; through times of great joy, deep sorrow, and the everyday life in between. Maybe you have seen someone healed through prayer. Maybe you have had a particularly powerful experience of his presence. Or maybe you have run to him for wisdom or comfort in a challenging situation. No experience is too big or too small for you to share it.
Today is a good day to work on your witness. Take a few minutes to remember the special times of your journey with the Lord. Think about the way he is with you in ordinary situations. Recall the miracles you've seen him do in other people's lives. No doubt, you have a story to tell.
Now, ask the Lord to bring to mind someone you can share your story with. It doesn't have to be long or complicated. It just has to come from the heart. You never know how the Lord will use you to touch people and change their lives!
"Lord, give me courage to be your witness today!"
Psalm 113:1-8; John 15:9-17
my2cents:
There is no greater commandment, if there is no greater love, than this commandment, love one another as Jesus, God, Loves you. And how much does He love you? Taste and see. He is asking for us to remain in His love because it is already there, and where is ours? Where is your love of God? That is the most impacting question I have in my daily life as a follower of Christ. Where is your love of God? I can't see it when you are bickering and fighting and divorcing and separating and putting one another down. I can't see it when you are complaining about finances or troubles and misfortune. I can't see the love of God when I don't see you at Church. I can't see your love of God if for years and years and more years pass and those loved ones around you are not affected by the love of God! This is study of the environment...the effects and how we affect the environment. This area is for those called. Did you read the love letter from God today to you? Do you recall the part where it says you did not choose Him but He has chosen you!? OOPS, sorry darling, you're in for it now! LOL. It's on you to do what He has commanded! Lay down your life for your friend. Is Jesus your friend?
OOOOHH!! Suddenly everything is being put into perspective huh? Will you lay your life for your friend? Is He your friend? Do you invite Him everywhere you go? Don't you invite your Best Friend to the best parts of your life and into the not so good parts of your life? Well, if it is a true friend, yes. Yet, this is the call, to take our friend to the world and bring Him into their lives. We make friends for Christ, and we are friends for Christ. There was an empty seat among the 12 Apostles. Isn't there an empty seat in your friendship group? Sometimes in friendship group, we leave an extra chair on purpose...for Christ, the representation that He is among us. In your family, Jesus. At your work, Jesus. Everywhere you go, Jesus. How amazing a thought that He is everywhere, even where you don't want Him to be. In my life, I do not know what it is like to have a blood brother. I've had many friends, and I wonder if that is what it's like to have a brother. My mom's sister and dad's brother married and so I have a real close cousin I guess in blood line. I asked someone a week or two ago, "so what does it feel like to have a brother?" and he could only explain it as a friend that you grew up with. Ahh, Ok. Well, I grew up living with cousins, I lived with them in Mexico and they lived with me in the U.S., so maybe that's what it's like. But you know, I've never had a more intimate friend than Jesus. He must be the dream friend and dream brother. Because I hear and see brothers at each others' throats, some have even shot each other. But that's not a true loving friend and lover. I have a friend that went beyond being there for me. He has looked beyond all the hurts I have thrown at Him. I can't do that or pay back. I have a friend that I would like you to meet. I just whisper and He is there. A drop of tears flows and by the time it leaves my eyes He is there. My heart burns when I speak of His love. I can not contain what He has done to a twisted soul to make it right. This friend is awesome and wants to be your friend too. What He does for me, He will do more for you. Come and see. He even gave me His body to eat when my soul was starving to death. His mouth opens and things happen. His eyes look and the world changes. His hand reaches into the heart and He shares His soul with His friends. Soul mate? Yes. Beyond brother, beyond sister, beyond mother, beyond fathers, He is true blood and true friend, and true drink, and true God. When He seems far away, I miss Him. I confess and He is there. Never again do I want to be taken away. This friend I can go on forever, and this is good, because that's where He wants to meet
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