May 14th - Saint Matthias, Apostle
Matthias was one of the 72 disciples of Our Lord; he was chosen to replace
Judas
Iscariot in the College of the Twelve Apostles. There is not much
information
about him.
According to a Greek tradition, he preached the Gospel in Cappadocia and
in
regions bordering the Caspian Sea. Tradition tells us he suffered
martyrdom
in
present day Ethiopia, where he was stoned, and then beheaded.
Some parts of his doctrine were conserved by Clement of Alexandria. This
sentence is attributed to the Apostle:
"We must combat the flesh, taking what advantages we can without
giving
it
blameworthy delights. Regarding the soul, we should develop it through
intelligence and faith."
Comments of the late Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira: (died 1995)
We can imagine what was, or what could have been the life of St. Matthias.
There
are many persons in the Gospel about whom little is said. However, by
examining
the nature of the mission of the person, we can reconstitute his or her
personality. So, the little that is said about them invites us to compose
their
personalities.
The most illustrious example of this is St. Joseph. There is almost
nothing
said
about him. We know his mission, however, and that he accomplished it
successfully. Essentially what the Gospel tells us is that he was a just
man,
nothing else. But there are a thousand things that we can envisage
regarding
St.
Joseph by the fact that he was chosen to be the worthy Spouse of Our Lady.
We
can understand, therefore, much about him, even though the Gospel is
silent.
An analogous sketch can be made of St. Matthias. The Apostolic College
suffered
an enormous blow with the treason of Judas. It was, perhaps, the most
significant blow ever received by the Catholic Church throughout the
centuries.
The place of Judas became empty. It was necessary to replace him with
someone
who, by his virtue, would make reparation to Divine Justice for the sin
and
evil
committed by Judas. This new Apostle needed to be excellent along the same
lines
wherein Judas was evil; he should be the anti-Judas. He should be
admirable
and
laudable in those very points where Judas was execrable and abominable.
So,
to
achieve this contrast, we should picture St. Matthias as the Apostle of
detachment from material goods, the Apostle of honesty and loyalty.
Considering
him in opposition to Judas reveals some aspects of his mission and of his
character.
He left a beautiful statement regarding the kind of combat we should make
against the vices of the flesh. He says that we should take advantage of
the
correct tendencies of the flesh and avoid making any concession to what is
evil.
It is a consideration that primarily applies to the lay Catholic who is
turned
to a normal life in the world. He is not called to lead the life of an
austere
religious man, but to enjoy the honest pleasures of life, without any
dishonest
concessions.
These words translate what St. Matthias saw in the example of his Divine
Master.
Indeed, Our Lord used to go to refined banquets such as at the wedding of
Canaan
or at the house of Lazarus, or at the Last Supper. He also took pleasure
in
the
exquisite perfume that Mary Magdalene poured on His Feet. He partook of
these
pleasures, of course, with an extreme temperance, giving to each the
correct
place it deserved for the glory of God, without any concession to evil.
That
is
to say, the words of St. Matthias describe Our Lord's behavior in face of
life.
It provides a very good orientation for Catholics.
In this balanced attitude toward life to which St. Matthias counsels us,
we
can
also see the opposite of Judas who had an unbalanced craving for money, a
strong
avarice. By yielding to this vice, he became a thief, pilfering money
destined
for Our Lord and the Apostles as well as for the poor. This vice went so
far
as
to induce him to sell his Lord and his God for thirty silver coins. This
is
one
example that shows us St. Matthias' vocation as opposed to the actions of
Judas.
It does not give a complete picture of his life, but pierces the veil of
silence
that surrounds him. Only at the Last Judgment shall we know how he fully
accomplished his vocation, which before God wiped out the stain left by
Judas in
the primitive Church.
Let us ask St. Matthias to intercede for us and give us loyalty, honesty,
detachment and equilibrium in face of the sufferings and pleasures of
life.
Taken from
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j212sd_Matthias_02_24.html
Saint Quote:
"As to ... the avoidance of sin, there is no more efficacious means of
subduing
the passions [desires], of resisting temptations, and consequently of
avoiding
sin, than the remembrance of God's presence."
-St. Alphonsus de Liguori (Useful Doctor, 1696-1787)
Bible Quotes:
"Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from heaven the
Lord
hath
looked upon the earth" - Psalm 101:20
"And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on the
multitude of my sins. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his
wrath
looketh upon sinners. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it
not
from day to day. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of
vengeance he will destroy thee" (Ecclesiasticus 5:69)
<><><><>
A prayer to Mary, and an triple invocation:
O dearest Lady, Sweet Mother mine, watch the hour
when my departing soul shall lose its hold on all earthly
things, and stand unveiled in the presence of its Creator.
Show thyself as my tender Mother then, and offer to the
Eternal Father the precious Blood of thy Son Jesus for my
poor soul, that it may, thus purified, be pleasing in His
sight. Plead for thy poor child at the moment of his (or
her) departure from this world, and say to the Heavenly
Father: Receive him (or her) this day into Thy Kingdom!
Amen.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in
peace with you.
Imprimatur: +John Farley, Archbishop of New York,
Sept 19, 1908.
|
