Do you ever feel like you are overlooked, forgotten by those who should recognize your value? Do you wonder if history will remember you? One of the twelve apostles might be a good model for you!
After the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus into heaven, St. Peter spoke to the other apostles and disciples, and said that someone should be chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed the Lord. They nominated two men, Joseph Barsabbas and Mattias, and then prayed. They asked the Lord to reveal the one whom He had chosen. They didn’t choose. They asked the Lord God to reveal the one whom He had chosen! And Matthias was chosen.
Who was St. Matthias? He was a disciple who had lived with the Lord Jesus and apostles from the beginning of the public ministry (John’s baptism) until the Crucifixion. St. Clement of Alexandria (early 3rd century) says that Matthias was one of the 72 disciples who had been sent out on mission by Christ. And he was, most importantly, a “witness of the Resurrection.” Our Lord’s public ministry, his preaching and his miracles, were witnessed by thousands of people. But the Resurrection was witnessed by a much smaller number. And it is the most important miracle of all! Jesus Christ was not only crucified and buried, but He rose, body and soul, from the tomb! He is truly alive, and has ascended to the right hand of the Father!
When most people name the Twelve Apostles, they miss St. Matthias. He is often left out in artistic depictions, which show St. Paul as the 12th apostle. But St. Matthias is important. He bore witness to the resurrection of Jesus in Judea (Israel) until the apostles were scattered by persecution. After that, tradition says that he preached in the Roman province of Cappodocia (later the home of the great Eastern Fathers, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, and St. Gregory of Nyssa). Then he proclaimed the Gospel along the shores of the Caspian Sea. Eventually, he was martyred for his faith in Christ. But he bore faithfully bore witness to Christ.
You and I might be simple people who the world says don’t really matter. We might be overlooked by those around us, even by family and friends. But that doesn’t matter in the long run. We are called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, and what He has done in our lives. Jesus Christ has saved us from our sins! He has brought us healing from the deep wounds of our past sins. Jesus is the Answer to the questions that people are asking, and we are his witnesses!
Just like St. Matthias. It doesn’t matter if the world recognizes you, if it remembers you. But make sure that it remembers Him — because people saw Jesus living in you!
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