Replacement
Today we remember Saint Matthias the Apostle.
Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and `Let another take his position of overseer.' So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. - Acts 1:15-26
Why did the apostles need to replace Judas? Was it because Jesus had chosen twelve and now with one less, they needed a replacement?
We really don't know much about the work of the apostles, how it was divided up among them, or which had responsibilities apart from the others. We do know Judas was responsible for the money and with him gone, someone else had to be chosen.
But I would have thought one of the eleven would take over, since they had been together the longest. But a new person was chosen instead. And only now do we learn that others had been among them from the beginning, including Justus and Matthias.
Perhaps they had not been servants, but among the served.
Every day people gather at Caritas to have breakfast or lunch and among them are some who choose to help serve in addition to being fed. Perhaps Matthias and Justus were like them, followers without regular jobs, but eager and willing to help.
It makes sense, doesn't it, that a replacement would come from among the served? Who knows better how to serve than those being served?
After Matthias was chosen, we know very little about him. Did he go on to do great things? We may never know, but the fact that he was chosen matters.
Maybe that is the lesson here, that we can not get an opportunity unless we are present.
So, perhaps we should all take note. We may thing we are not replaceable, but that may not be true. Judas had an important job and yet when he was gone, two candidates were there ready to take his place.
That should give us pause.
More to come...