Thursday of 5th Week of Easter
Feast of St. Matthias
Acts 1: 515-17, 20-26; John 15: 9-17
Dc. Larry Brockman
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose youâ€. Have you ever thought about it that way?Â
I often preach about having Faith and choosing to do God’s will. But this morning’s readings put an entirely different light on our salvation journey. Because both readings point to the fact that we have been chosen, not just in a generic sense, as the Jews were the chosen people. But in a specific way. We have all been chosen for a particular time and place and mission. Most likely it is the one you find yourself in at this moment, whatever it is; married, single or religious; or student or boss, or worker, or stay-at home caregiver; Whatever it is, you have been chosen for it.Â
The apostles were told that in the Gospel. Of all the people Jesus could have chosen, these 11 men were it-   And they were an unlikely group of fisherman and common folk chosen to build the Church. Likewise Matthias was chosen by lot, not by the discretion of his associates, in Acts- a clear symbol that God had directed the choice. Matthias is a prototype of all of us in that sense. Because our roles in life, when you think about it, largely seem dictated by circumstances beyond our control.Â
It seems to me that this is something we can all rejoice over. Because if we do our best and trust in God, as we live our lives, then we can be assured that we will be chosen for the mission in life into which we find ourselves. Sometimes we have a tendency to worry too much about where we end up. We wonder whether we would be better off doing something else; we think the grass may be greener in another occupation of life. But if we have trusted in God, and tried to follow his will, then most likely we have been chosen to do precisely what we are doing.Â
And our attention now should center on just one two things:Â Loving as best as we can, thereby giving Glory to God by doing it as best as we can; and Bearing the fruit he intends for us.Â