Saint Matthias
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 (KJV)
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
This is interesting Scripture for next Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter, sometimes called Ascension Sunday. So called because it follows Ascension Day when nobody goes to church, the fortieth day after Easter Day, a Thursday, this year May 17. More about that later this week, perhaps.
The fact is, although this will be my Sunday to preach at Holy Nativity, I’ve not looked at the Lectionary sheet, which, if they’ve done what they well and truly should, regardless of the rubric on BCP p15 (which only addresses All Saints’ Day) will have transferred the Ascension Day (one of the seven Major Feast Days of the Church) readings from Thursday to the following Sunday, as most dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church already have done. So, here’s Monday morning and me with no idea yet what to preach about. But enough of the admin nonsense.
Symbolically, in Jewish tradition, Jesus had twelve apostles, after the twelve sons of Jacob and twelve tribes of Israel. When Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord, he was no longer numbered among the twelve, and so had to be replaced and the body of apostles restored to perfection, which is to say, whole and complete. This was done by drawing lots or casting lots. Maybe they drew straws or tossed dice, or tossed a coin heads or tails, we don’t know exactly; but it was a “game of chance” so to speak, in which the results would have been considered the action of the Holy Spirit, the will of God. Two men who had been witnesses to Jesus’ ministry were chosen for the competition. Matthias won and became the new twelfth apostle.
Any number of Episcopal churches are named after St. Matthias; and my thought was always that this was out of feeling sorry for him because he was an add-on and basically unknown. For the same reason Charley Brown chose that pathetic, scruffy little Christmas tree.
In RC tradition, Matthias is the patron saint of alcoholics and carpenters. Of various legends, some hold that Matthias preached in Judea and Galilee, perhaps modern day Georgia and that he was either crucified or stoned and beheaded.
TW+