14 May 2021 – feast day of St Matthias – Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

      We always have some questions come up about our Masses on this sixth week of Easter, as the Ascension of the Lord is normally celebrated on the Thursday of this week.  However, in our diocese and in most dioceses in the United States, this feast day has been moved to this upcoming Sunday, in order for more of the faithful to be present for this celebration. Today, on May 14 each year, we celebrate the feast of St Matthias the Apostle.  

         Through our reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as one of the apostles.  He was chosen before the descent of the Holy Spirit, but this choice was not made by the risen Christ, but by the other 11 apostles.  Tradition has it that the apostles were sent to different parts of the world to spread the Good News.  Tradition reports that James went to Spain, that Thomas went to India, and that Matthias was sent to spread the Gospel in Ethiopia and that he died a martyr there.  Just as pilgrims believe that James' remains are laid to rest in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, it is believed that the remains of Matthias are located at the Abbey of St Matthias in Trier, Germany, having been brought there by Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.  Just as the remains of St James were rediscovered by a hermit in the 9th century in Spain, the remains of St Matthias were rediscovered there in the 13th century, at which time the abbey became a popular place of pilgrimage.  

        Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have challenged us as modern believers to undertake a new evangelization in the world.   We hear this term “new evangelization” so often, we might not really know how to undertake this new evangelization.  As I understand it, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis see this new evangelization as an attempt to evangelize our own corner of the world, especially those of us who live in the traditionally Christian countries were our faith is coming under attack by the secular elements of our society and where a lot of people have left the faith or have become inactive in practicing their faith. Pope Francis sees all Christians called to this new evangelization, as he states: “Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.”

        St Matthias faced many unknowns and many challenges as he preached the Gospel throughout the world.  We also are faced with challenges as we bring the Gospel to others.  May we be inspired to live in the spirit of the Early Church and to energetically witness to our world.