TUESDAY MAY 14, 2024
TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER B
FEAST OF SAINT MATTHIAS
Acts 1:15-17,20-26
John 15:9-17
TAKING AND MAINTAINING OUR OWN PLACE IN GOD’S FAMILY
In history, many people have out of their carelessness missed or abrogated their position in life. Their actions or inactions have made them loose their rights and position in life and others have taken or filled their place.
Saint Matthias, whose feast we celebrate today was one that became a lucky man to fill in the position of Judas Iscariot who out of carelessness and greed sold Jesus and thereafter committed suicide.
But the mandate of God as stated in the scriptures, to the effect that the apostles must be twelve and as such Peter reminded the disciples and apostles of this injunction of God which prompted the process of making choices to fill in the gap left by Judas Iscariot.
The process of making choices or being chosen or called to a mission reveals that God alone gives positions and allows people to take positions in life. It began with the choice of the twelve apostles. They were all called and appointed to these positions. As stated in the gospel reading of today, Jesus reminds us that he chose us and we did not choose him.
Again, His choice of us is for a purpose and for a mission dear to him and precisely for the salvation of man and glorification of God.
In attending to our choices in God, there is no need to clamour for positions in life, or to begin to fight for positions or want positions of authority. But this is very much the bane of man. The appetite to be appointed into positions of authority is so strong a tendency in man. And these have led to so much rancour, fighting, even to the extend of some committing murder and going diabolical.
The fact that God gives positions or appoints people into positions which offer us opportunity to serve in different capacities must be told ourselves. If one finds himself in any position of authority, it is given by God and meant to be for service and never for self gratification and aggrandizement. The ideal of lobbing for position or fighting to it must be eschewed from our minds.
By finding oneself in any position, there is always a task or mission to be fulfilled. Since positions are assigned by God and designed for special services. We must be guided to fulfill these mission and special tasks and strive to protect our position not to be fighting or working for personal gains as Judas did but by working in consonant with the desires will, objective and understanding of God who gives us this position.
To maintain our positions in life therefore, we must strive to understand our mission and task assigned us and work to fulfill such task and mission. We must be contented with what we are and get focused on our mission. We must never be overbearing, selfish or self seeking. Rather we must be humble, faithful and sincere in fulfilling our tasks and Mission as assigned.
Saint Matthias was chosen to fill in the gap left by Judas Iscariot because Judas abrogated his position out of carelessness and greed. And again God made his choice of Matthias through casting of lots. Not so much can be said of Saint Matthias other that he was chosen and assigned the position of Judas Iscariot. Though tradition has it that he preached and worked assiduously in the mission land and carried out his mission faithfully and later was martyred.
Heavenly Father, you chose and called us to your mission. Grant us the docility of the spirit to submit and follow in humility our callings, working assiduously for your glory and our salvation. May we never loose our calling and your choice of us through selfishness, insensitivity, self gratification and aggrandizement. May your choice of us in our calling be fulfilled adequately and purposefully and leading us to happiness, peace of mind and eternal life in heaven through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
