The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to possible nudges from the Holy Spirit to transform how we live as followers of Jesus.
Transformation nudges
The reading from The Acts of the Apostles explains how the lot fell on Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.
* [1:26] The need to replace Judas was probably dictated by the symbolism of the number twelve, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. This symbolism also indicates that for Luke (see Lk 22:30) the Christian church is a reconstituted Israel.1
Psalm 113 praises God as the helper of the needy.
* [Psalm 113] A hymn exhorting the congregation to praise God’s name, i.e., the way in which God is present in the world; the name is mentioned three times in Ps 113:1–3. The divine name is especially honored in the Temple (Ps 113:1) but its recognition is not limited by time (Ps 113:2) and space (Ps 113:3), for God is everywhere active (Ps 113:4–5) especially in rescuing the lowly faithful (Ps 113:7–9).2
In the Gospel of John, Jesus reminds “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
* [15:13] For one’s friends: or: “those whom one loves.” In Jn 15:9–13a, the words for love are related to the Greek agapaō. In Jn 15:13b–15, the words for love are related to the Greek phileō. For John, the two roots seem synonymous and mean “to love”; cf. also Jn 21:15–17. The word philos is used here.3
Gladyce Janky imagines that Matthias’ prayer was interrupted by the memories of Jesus telling those gathered in the upper room, “You are my friends, it was not you who chose me, but I who chose you, go and bear fruit that will remain (John 15:15-16).” Matthias heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him. “Matthias, I choose you to be my apostle, share my message and my commandments with everyone. Tell them to love one another.” Reaching into the small bag offered by Peter, Matthias inhaled deeply and whispered, “Lord, I love you. According to your will, not mine.” Opening his hand, he saw the white lot that indicated God had chosen him.
Even if we are not sure we have what it takes to respond to God’s call, we are all chosen. Remembering this can be especially challenging if we perceive that God is inviting us to a new path that seems filled with unknowns. We might forget that our journey forward always takes place on an uncharted and unseen path in those moments. But, like Matthias, or any follower of Christ, we only need to keep his commandments to remain in his love (John 15:10). He laid down his life for us, his friends, and will never abandon us. “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 (John 15:16-17).”4
Don Schwager quotes “Alleluia will be our whole joy,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"I trust I will not weary you if I mention what you know already: that we say ALLELUIA daily and that we take delight in it daily. For you know that ALLELUIA means "Praise God" and by this expression we, agreeing in speech and thought, exhort one another to praise God. Only the one who displeases God in no respect praises God in security. Furthermore, in this time of journeying we say ALLELUIA for solace on our way. ALLELUIA is the song of the traveler for us; but we are advancing through a laborious path to a peaceful country where all our activities will be laid aside and nothing will remain for us except the ALLELUIA. Let us sing now, not for the delights of peace, but for comfort in our labor. Sing as travelers are accustomed to sing; comfort your labor by singing; do not love inactivity; keep singing and keep progressing. ...If you are advancing; progress in well-doing, progress in good faith, progress in good deeds. Keep singing and keep advancing. While we are here let us sing ALLELUIA though we are still beset with cares, so that in the future we may sing it there (in heaven) in tranquility. After the labors of this world there will be unceasing repetition of ALLELUIA. ..There ALLELUIA will be our food; ALLELUIA will be our drink; ALLELUIA will be our peaceful action; ALLELUIA will be our whole joy." [excerpts from Sermon 255 (1); Sermon 256 (1 and 3); Sermon 252 (9)]5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 comments that this story tells us two things. First, that everyone who has encountered the Lord is qualified to become a witness to him. Every one of the disciples on Peter’s list had their own unique story to tell about Jesus. Each one of them had something to share, and they probably did share it—with their families, their neighbors, and their friends.
That means you have a story to share, a story that belongs only to you. It also means you have a unique role to play in God’s kingdom. Take some time over the coming weekend to think about your story. Are there people you know who haven’t heard about your encounters with Christ? Can your story give them confidence that something similar can happen to them? Think about your role too. You too are a disciple, called to be a witness to the risen Christ, and God has a job for you to do that no one else can fulfill. “Jesus, show me how to witness to your resurrection and your love.”6
Friar Jude Winkler describes the process used by Peter to select Matthias to replace Judas. Urim and Thummim were objects used by the High Priest to ascertain the Will of God. The guidance of the Church by the Holy Spirit is underlined in Acts. Friar Jude reminds us that our witness to Love is the main commandment in the Gospel of John.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that few people understand the love poetry and mysticism of John of the Cross (1542–1591) better than James Finley. Fr. Richard offers a few stanzas of John’s poetry with nothing more to guide you than Jim Finley’s conviction that God’s “infinite love” is in all in us.
O soul,
most beautiful among all creatures,
you who so long to know the place
where your Beloved is,
so as to seek him
and become one with him,
now it has been stated:
you yourself are the home in which he dwells.
Here is a reason to be happy;
here is a cause for joy:
the realization that every blessing
and all you hope for
is so close to you
as to be within you.
Be glad,
find joy there,
gathered together
and present to him
who dwells within,
since he is so close to you;
desire him there,
adore him there,
and do not go off
looking for him elsewhere . . .
There is just one thing:
even though he is within you,he is hidden. [2]7
The Love we experience through the Holy Spirit is the transformation that we share with others as followers of Christ.
References
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