Today is May 14, the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle and Martyr.
We read at today’s Mass, “They prayed, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.’ Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles” (Acts 1:23-26).
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthias, the apostle chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot. This is a remarkable moment in the life of the early Church. The apostles understood the symbolic and theological importance of restoring the number twelve — representing the fullness of God’s people, just as there were twelve tribes of Israel. So they sought the Lord’s guidance to choose one who would carry on the apostolic ministry. In his providence, God chose Matthias.
This event also marks the beginning of what we call apostolic succession — the handing down of authority from the apostles to their successors. Every bishop today is a successor of the apostles. Not in a biological or hereditary way, but in a spiritual and sacramental sense. Each bishop is entrusted with a share of the Holy Spirit to shepherd and govern the Church, just as the apostles once did.
Praying before choosing
There are two striking lessons I want to highlight today.
First, we hear that Judas turned away and went to his own place. That phrase has always haunted me. It’s a powerful reminder of what it means to reject God. Hell is not so much a place we are sent but a place we choose — a state of radical isolation from God. To go “to one’s own place” is to insist on one’s own will over God’s, to prefer self to grace. Judas, tragically, made that choice.
Second, consider the beautiful discernment of the apostles. Before choosing Matthias, they prayed. They asked God to reveal his will. And this is something each of us is called to do in our own lives. We may not be casting lots to elect bishops, but we are all invited into an ongoing conversation with the Lord. That’s what discernment is — the art of listening and responding to God’s will.
Fr. Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange, a great Dominican spiritual master, once wrote:
“As soon as a man seriously seeks truth and goodness, this intimate conversation with himself tends to become conversation with God. Little by little, man begins to seek God in everything and to substitute love of God for egoism.”
An example of discernment
That’s what discernment looks like — the transformation of self-centeredness into God-centeredness. And that only happens through prayer, through the kind of familiarity with God that grows over time.
Because of his unique call and selection, St. Matthias is a wonderful patron for those discerning their vocation, especially young men considering the priesthood. Today, I’d like to invite you to pray for vocations in a special way. Think of a young man in your life — maybe a nephew, a godson or a student — who you believe would make a good and holy priest. Let’s entrust him today to the intercession of St. Matthias.
Let us pray,
O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
