Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at Acts 1: 21-26 :

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Today we read about Matthias being chosen to replace Judas as one of the 12. There’s a lot going on with the number 12. There are 12 Apostles in the same way that there are 12 Tribes of Israel.  Just as Israel had a mission for God and a calling to be a light to all the world, so does the church. That is why there must be that 12 who order and shape the church at this moment.  

So, Matthias is chosen.  Let me ask you a question.  What do you really know about him?  Most likely, probably not much.  Me neither.  He isn’t the preacher like Peter or the “beloved” like John.  We don’t know much of his ministry before or after this.  Most likely he was one of the 70 that Jesus sent out to do ministry, he was a faithful follower of Jesus, but that’s about all that we know.  

He wasn’t famous.  He was faithful.  I think that’s an important word for us today.  

Most likely very few of us will be “famous.”  But we may chase fame, or as it is often known, popularity.  We can chase Facebook or Instagram likes.  Twitter follows.  TicTok tictoks or whatever it gives you (I’m old. I don’t know).  We can chase being popular and that doesn’t end after high school.  We adults are just as bad. 

And that “fame” doesn’t amount to anything.  It doesn’t fulfill us, it doesn’t give us life.  Only faithfulness to the mission set in front of us gives us life.  Only faithfulness to the call is truly life-giving. 

And the greatest mission for all of us to love God with all that we are and love our neighbor as ourselves. 

Today, what are we chasing?  Fame or faithfulness?  Today, may we chose the only thing that gives us life, to be faithful.  

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