December 2nd - Reflection

Acts 1:12- 17, 21- 26 (NRSV)
Beginnings of the apostolic ministry

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." ...

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Reflection
They wanted to choose a replacement that has seen it all. They wanted to pick a person that was as close to an eyewitness as possible. They needed someone willing to spread the Gospel first hand. Someone was needed that stuck through the entire ordeal with Jesus, from baptism, ministry, persecution, death and resurrection. And then they cast lots.

Cast lots? Seems like guess work! But in the Old Testament the Urim and Thummim were used to make decisions to find out what the will of God was in unique situations. So why not cast lots? This moment was the first and probably the last time that the apostles would cast lots. Along with casting lots there was deliberate selection of the candidates and much prayer. The Holy Spirit had not yet come. The apostles probably felt all alone and in need of direction, so I'm sure the prayer was intense at this time.

The lot fell to Matthias. I have to wonder if Matthias doesn't represent each new child of God that comes along. It seems to me that each one of us discovers sometime along the way that we have been intensely prayed over, we have witnessed the life of Jesus through the Word, and that Jesus presence has become personal and intense in our life time. I wonder if you, and if I, perhaps are Matthias presence with the apostles throughout time.

So as we await the coming of God into our lives. As we await, like Matthias and the apostles the coming of the Holy Spirit...likewise we reflect on our call from God. We prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus to this earth and into our hearts. We wait... we pray... we cast lots... we listen... in peace we know the Truth. God is coming! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Come Lord Jesus...Come... --- Amen