Word to the Wise
Monday, May 14, 2007 - St. Matthias, Apostle
[Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 and John 15:9-17]"Therefore it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.
One could have a biblical trivia field day with this account from Acts about the selection of Matthias as an apostle. How many apostles were there? (Fourteen if you count Judas and Paul, who claimed the title of apostle.) How many of the fourteen were personally chosen by Jesus? (Thirteen if you consider St. Paul's post-resurrection experience.) The fourteenth? Well read up above. An apostle, Matthias, was chosen by lots (Throwing dice? Drawing straws? We're not sure! If that method of picking bishops is still used, nobody in the Vatican will admit it!) I sometimes wonder if the process was rigged because the other guy had three names and it was easier to remember Matthias who had only one! Why was it important to pick someone to take Judas' place? Scripture scholars speculate that the title of THE TWELVE had symbolic importance to the early community which saw itself as a continuation of Judaism but also as a New Israel. The old Israel had come from twelve tribes. Hence the New Israel had to have twelve founders. It is clear from the text that the candidates had to have been in the group from the very outset of Jesus' public ministry right up to the day they were proposed. This continuity is what mattered the most. Continuity with the TWELVE is what our tradition calls the "apostolic succession." This is one those four "marks" of the Church that we learned in catechism: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. The apostolic character is what links us historically with the ministry of Jesus. We are linked, of course, in faith (as the witness of those who had to live without bishops or clergy in communist lands demonstrates) with Christ, but the structural historical manifestation of that link is in the witness of the Pope and bishops. Whether they are chosen by the Pope or by lots, they're a necessary part of the church. The mitres, crosiers, rings, etc. are "add-ons" but the role has been there from the time Jesus called the Twelve. (Or, if you're playing trivia: 13 or 14) AMEN
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