Today is the feast of Saint Matthias. He is mentioned in the first reading for mass today because he was chosen to replace Judas. It is interesting to note how he was chosen though. Peter belonged to a group of one hundred and twenty Christians, and they decided from amongst themselves which two men would make a good replacement for Judas. It’s worth noting that this was not a decision Saint Peter made on his own, but allowed the entire Christian community to decide together, who would replace Judas.
These early Christians didn’t just pick a replacement for Judas and leave it at that, though. The secular world would have held an election in much the same way our presidential elections are held now. However, this is the difference between how things are done in the secular world and how we are supposed to live as Christians.
Before Peter and the early Christian community decided between the two men that would replace Judas, they prayed and then listened for the Lord’s decision. What is really the deciding factor for all Christians, is the heart. In today’s first reading they began their prayer with, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all”. Major decisions in our lives should always be made through serious time in prayer, and then by listening to our hearts, where the Holy Spirit speaks the truth to us.
Today’s Gospel is so beautiful because of the way that Jesus tells us that he loves us. His Father loved him and so Jesus loves us. There is a saying that you can not give what you have not received, so God must love His own son very deeply.
Jesus kept his Father’s commandments because he loves his Father though, not because anyone made him do it. Jesus remained in a close, loving relationship with his Father because of the fact he kept his Father’s commandments. The commandments, or the teachings of our Church that we live by, are not imposed upon us to restrict our freedom, happiness or ability to experience love. The commandments, or the teachings of the Catholic faith, are like lights that light up the path to heaven that we are all traveling on. In the long run, the commandments and the church’s teachings bring us genuine and lasting, peace, security and happiness in our lives if we trust in them.
It is only when we veer off the path of the commandments, and the teachings of our faith, and sin, that turmoil and heartache erupt in our lives. The commandments, and the teachings of our church actually work to preserve love, and reduce, or eliminate much of the suffering in life that we inflict on ourselves, through our sins.
It is important to note though, that our feelings of love alone are not enough. Feelings are really beside the point, if we do not follow through with these feelings, by our actions. Love is about a great deal more than just sentimental feelings. Jesus’s entire life was a living, physical, testimony to his love for us. His actions, (most especially his death on the cross), spoke for themselves.
Jesus said in today’s gospel that, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He didn’t mention our feelings. It’s what we do with those feelings that matters. Our actions speak louder than our words.
And that’s actually a pretty good thought for the day. Jesus said in today’s gospel that, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.”
Do we bear any fruit that will remain? What do we actually do with our lives, that will be of any lasting value?
Daily Mass Readings:
Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26 / Psalm 113: 1-8 / John 15: 9-17
