John 15:9-17

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you

and your joy might be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing.

I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer me the gift of eternal life through your Son. I welcome that gift today and promise to care for it and pray that it flourishes into works of love. Save me from the darkness of sin and death and bestow on me the light of faith and life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Royal Love: Why should the Church celebrate a yearly feast in honor of the apostle, Saint Matthias? We don’t have any of his words or his apostolic actions recorded in the Bible. What the yearly celebration of his feast calls to mind is how God wants the threefold ministry of episcopal love to continue throughout the centuries until the end of time. Matthias replaced Judas as one of the twelve and was called to be a bishop, an overseer of the people of God. He was called to exercise the royal ministry of love as a king and shepherd, as one who prudently guides his sheep to eternal pastures. According to tradition, Matthias went to modern-day Georgia and ministered on the shores of the Caspian Sea. While only a few are called to be ordained bishops, every Christian has a royal and kingly role. We are all called to participate actively in Christ’s reign and exercise pastoral leadership in our own lives and our respective spheres of influence. We are called to exercise dominion over our own desires and passions and align our actions with the Father’s will, overcoming sin and temptation, and striving for holiness of life.

2. Priestly Love: Matthias was also a priest, called to conform his life to Jesus Christ. Every Christian, through their baptism, is called to be a priest. There are several key priestly actions: offering sacrifice on behalf of God’s people, prayerfully interceding for God’s people, and taking upon themselves the sin of God’s people. Every Christian is called to offer their lives as a pleasing offering to the Father in union with Christ. Every Christian is called to pray for their brothers and sisters and intercede for them. Every Christian is called to do penance for their sins and even for the sins of their brothers and sisters. Priestly love, then, is to “lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

3. Prophetic and Servant Love: Although we do not have any record of Matthias’ words, we know that he preached the Gospel. He was a New Testament prophet who communicated the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection to others. While the royal love of a bishop concerns leading and the sacrificial love of a priest concerns offering oneself, the prophetic and servant love of a deacon concerns the service of the Word, the service at the altar, and the service of charity. Now, since every Christian is a king, a priest, and a prophet through their baptism, we can, on this feast of Saint Matthias, ask ourselves the following questions about being prophets: How can I prophetically witness to Christ? How can I prophetically proclaim the Good News? How can I prophetically encourage others to follow Christ? All of this involves sharing the truth about God and humanity, encouraging people to repentance, and proclaiming God’s salvation through words and actions.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, through your passion, death, and resurrection, you have gained eternal life for all peoples and enabled them to become children of God. Help me to see how I can bring more people to know you and believe in you so that they may enjoy eternal life in your name.

Living the Word of God: Has my faith become lukewarm, or is it living and active? What does a living and active faith look like in my daily life? How can I be attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and fearless in the proclamation of the Gospel?