The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate our mission of Love as it is presented to us through the action of the Spirit.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the choice of Judas’s Successor, 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. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
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). (Psalms, PSALM 113, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus proclaims “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. (John, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Edward Morse comments that today’s gospel reflects the concept of choosing in a discourse of Jesus with his disciples, which also extends to our own lives as well. He chose us; we do not choose Him. But at the same time, we demonstrate our choice to follow Him by keeping His commandments, which include the new commandment of loving one another.
Lord, help us to come to your seat of mercy and to seek out your forgiveness when we fail to love others and when we fail to love you through keeping your commandments. Remind us of your choosing and your persistent love, which draws us always back to you. Grant us the mercy and forgiveness we need, so that it overflows from our hearts to share with others who need it, too. Thanks be to God. (Morse, n.d.)
Living Space comments there is only one mention of Matthias in the whole of the New Testament and that is in the Acts of the Apostles, whose author is always understood to have been Luke, the author of the gospel bearing his name.
The main qualification for the candidate to replace Judas was that he would be someone “who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us.” Two possible candidates were then chosen – Joseph, called Bar-Sabbas, and Matthias. The gathering prayed that God would indicate which of the two was his choice. They then cast lots, leaving the outcome to God, and the choice was Matthias who was now included among the Twelve Apostles. (Living Space Saint Matthias Apostle | Sacred Space, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 15:9-17 asks how could Matthias live up to such an important calling? By doing no more—and no less—than what every Christian is called and empowered to do: love as Christ loves. It’s extremely simple. But of course, it’s also extremely difficult.
Matthias found the courage to take up his calling and preach the gospel because he knew that Jesus didn’t love only him; he loved everyone, especially those who hadn’t heard about him yet. And so he longed to make Jesus and his resurrection known to anyone who would listen. It’s that desire that led him to lay down his own life, in imitation of Jesus, by preaching and by serving the early believers. (Meditation on John 15:9-17, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the structure of the apostles in the early Church to reflect the twelve patriarchs in the twelve apostles for the new Israel. The choice of Justus or Mattiasis by drawing lots connects to the role of the High Priest to seek the guidance of God by a similar invocation of the Holy Spirit who guides all the acts of the Church. Friar Jude reminds us that our faith is a response to the Gift of God calling us to share that Love with others.
James Finley and Mirabai Starr present “Song of the Soul” or “Noche Oscura” by John of the Cross.
Mirabai Starr: Y en mi pecho florido, que entero para el solo se guardaua, alli quedo dormido, y yo le regalaua, y el ventalle de cedros ayre daua.
Jim Finley: Wind blew down from the tower, parting the locks of his hair. With his gentle hand he wounded my neck, and all my senses were suspended.
Mirabai Starr: El ayre de la almena, cuando ya sus cabellos esparzia, con su mano serena en mi cuello heria, y todos mis sentidos suspendia.
Jim Finley: I lost myself, forgot myself. I lay my face against the beloved’s face. Everything fell away. And I left myself behind, abandoning my cares among the lilies, forgotten.
Mirabai Starr: Quedeme y oluideme, el rostro recline sobre el amado, ceso todo, y dexeme, dexando mi cuidado entre las açucenas olvidado. (Luminous Darkness, Deepening Love: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation, 2022)
Our encounters with the guidance of the Holy Spirit are invitations to increase the Love we show for God and others on our journey.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/1?15
John, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?9
Living Space Saint Matthias Apostle | Sacred Space. (n.d.). Living Space Sacred Space. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/f0514s/
Luminous Darkness, Deepening Love: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. (2022, May 14). Richard Rohr. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/luminous-darkness-deepening-love-weekly-summary-2022-05-14/
Meditation on John 15:9-17. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/05/14/381482/
Morse, E. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051422.html
Psalms, PSALM 113. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved May 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/113?1
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