Saint Matthias, Apostle (Feast)

Matthias was one of the seventy-two disciples, but our Lord had not conferred upon him the dignity of an apostle. Matthias was chosen to be a disciple of Christ and fill the place of Judas the traitor after the Ascension of Jesus (40 days after the Lord's Resurrection) but before and the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Feast of Pentecost - 50 days after the Lord's Resurrection). This was fixed by the Lord, so that so that there might be the twelve on that solemn day, when the Church, filled with the Holy Spirit. Matthias was and ambassadors of Christ to Cappadocia and the provinces bordering on the Caspian Sea. St. Matthias is the patron saint for Alcoholism, carpenters, reformed alcoholics, smallpox and tailors.

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; 

and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26

God replaced Judas easily when Judas gave up his prominent rank as an Apostle and betrayed God. God has a mission for each one of us. He has a plan for your life and a plan for my life. But if we choose not to follow God, we can be replaced. When we serve God, it is not because he needs our help, but in order to give us dignity.

O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Wednesday, 14 May, 2014
St. Matthias, Apostle (Feast)

Reading

Acts 1: 15 - 17, 20 - 26
15	In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said,
16	"Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17	For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.
20	For it is written in the book of Psalms, `Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and `His office let another take.'
21	So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22	beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
23	And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as.
24	And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen
25	to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."
26	And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Psalm

Psalms 113: 1 - 8
1	Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2	Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore!
3	From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4	The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5	Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6	who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth?
7	He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8	to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

Gospel

John 15: 9 - 17
9	As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
10	If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11	These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12	"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13	Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14	You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15	No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16	You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17	This I command you, to love one another.