St Matthias, Apostle

While choosing between Matthias and Joseph Justus (also known as Barsabbas), Peter had one criterion, that, like Andrew, James, John, and himself, the new apostle be someone who had been a disciple from the very beginning, from his baptism by John until the Ascension. The reason for this was simple, the new apostle must become a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. The above piece of information opens a window into understanding the large group of unnamed disciples who stuck to Jesus during his lifetime. Matthias (and many others) followed Jesus, and believed in him, went around with him.

Clement of Alexandria says that Matthias, like all the other apostles, was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. He was elected not because he was worthy but because he would become worthy. Jesus chooses all of us in the same way. He does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called. What does Jesus want you to become?

Do you feel unprepared, or not fully equipped for God’s work? Then you are completely okay to start working for God. The very weaknesses and radical insufficiency of our lives are those that lead us into larger life and love.

So let us not be afraid of our weaknesses and woundedness. Every prophet, every disciple of the Lord felt unworthy for God's work. Our emptiness and our nothingness can in fact be a great blessing. Only thus can we allow the Lord into our lives, and through us into others' lives. What the Lord wants from us is mere surrender. But complete surrender of yourself!

As Richard Rohr writes, "It is as though everything that seemed disappointing and 'fallen,' all the major pushbacks against the flow of history, can now be seen as one whole movement, still enchanted and made use of by God's love. All of it must somehow be usable and filled with potency, even the things that appear as betrayals or crucifixions."