Good day dear friends.
Our text for today comes from Acts 1: 15 During this time, Peter stood up in the company - there were about one hundred twenty of them in the room at the time - 16 and said, "Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. 17 Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry. 21 "Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us 22 from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection." 23 They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose 25 to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way." 26 They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles. (The Message)
Throughout our lives we have been either a part of a group of friends or co-workers or even fans of groups, music or otherwise, and we have realized the value of working together for the common good or a common goal. If it has been a group of co-workers it has saddened us when one has left to take another job or has been re-assigned to another location or retires. We mourn that loss and then we either move on without that person or adjust when another person is assigned to be a part of that group. In the entertainment world, whenever a member of one of our favorite groups leaves or dies, we wonder if that group can continue without that person. Some groups that we may like, if they don't lose their frontman or singer, usually will find a replacement and continue on. We even hear of off-shoots of that group rivaling other groups and wonder what the point is except to continue to make money.
The disciples found themselves at a crucial point. They knew they still had much work to do and believed that staying together as a group of twelve was the best way to go. They understood Scripture and what it had said about Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus and left the group to do it. They believed they needed a replacement for him and through prayer and the casting of lots or "drawing straws" as this version has it, they chose between two candidates. We know little of these men other than they were believers in Christ and were devout and committed enough to be in a select group from which one would be selected to become a Disciple. Joseph "Justus" Barsabbas, and Matthias, were the two nominated. And the lot fell to Matthias, who was then the twelfth disciple. Nothing else is recorded of him in scripture, but legend has it that he preached among cannibals and was crucified in that region. Another legend has him stoned by Jews near Jerusalem. Both legends have him preaching the Gospel.
The disciples were first learners from the Master; called and prepared by Jesus for their work of spreading the Good News. They later were known as Apostles, or those sent by the Teacher to accomplish that which they had been taught. All, according to legend and tradition, died for their faith. More importantly, they died in the faith, never wavering or doubting Him that called them. We are called to make disciples but our starting point should be in asking ourselves if we indeed are disciples. Have we faith in He who called us? Have we learned all we could about the Gospel and the love of God which we are to share? Are we living the faith in a way that calls others to faith? If the answers are yes, then we need to move on to the next step of making disciples for Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be that today I begin the journey of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ so that I can be an apostle of His in my life. Grant me deeper and stronger faith. Let me move towards fullest of faith and life and may my life be a contagious example of what God can do in and through us. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
