An Unexpected Calling

After the suicide of Judas Iscariot, the remaining Apostles gathered to choose another to replace him. They had some criteria:

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.

(Acts 1:21 – 22)

They narrowed it down to two men, “Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus” and Matthias.

Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs”.

Matthias’ number came up. He’s sort of the poster child unexpected callings from the Lord.

So on today’s feast of Saint Matthias, keep an ear out for what the Holy Spirit is calling you to – because you never really know what that might be.

Tradition holds that Matthias preached the Gospel in what is now modern-day Georgia before being crucified, possibly in the Roman garrison town of Apsaros.

And as for the other guy with his three names? Was he upset that he was passed over? Saint John Chrysostom didn’t think so when he wrote,

[B]ut the other candidate (Joseph) was not annoyed; for the apostolic writers would not have concealed [that or any other] failings of their own, seeing they have told of the very chief Apostles, that on other occasions they had indignation (Matthew 20:24; Matthew 26:8), and this not once only, but again and again .

He eventually became Bishop of Betaris, and tradition holds that he was martyred in the Emperor Vespasian’s slaughter of the Jews and Christians of that town in AD 68.