“A replacement strategy”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, February 24, 2023
Acts 1:15-26 (Forward, p. 26) CEV p. 1133
It is interesting, and instructive, to note what the apostle Peter does almost immediately upon the departure of Jesus ‘from the scene.’ Having lost one of the Twelve through the death of Judas, he immediately sets in motion a plan to come up with a replacement. There is a sense of urgency, a sense that they need to be up to their full strength, up to their full capacity, but also a sense that they need to be back up to the number of 12 as the new patriarchs, the new Israel of God. Leadership, then, seems to be uppermost on his mind—as it should for all of us, and especially in the church.
And notice the qualifications that he sets forth. The successful candidate is not to be some ‘newbie’, some recent convert or greenhorn, some baby Christian, still wet behind the ears. He must be someone with experience, someone who has been tested in the nitty gritty of actual ministry. Furthermore, he is to be someone who has been with Jesus ‘all along’, right from John’s baptism up until the Ascension. He must have seen and experienced the whole gambit of Jesus’ ministry on earth, from first to last. That means that no one could accuse him of having ‘missed out’ on something that the rest of the Twelve had experienced. He was uniquely qualified, ‘part and parcel’ of ‘the works.’
Now, the rather instructive and note-worthy thing here is, for all the fanfare and fuss and bother on the part of Peter and some 120 followers who were present in that room, nothing more in heard—at least in the Scriptures themselves—of this important individual. But, sad to say, it is here that the story ends. There are other apostles who get but scarce coverage within the Scriptural records but for whom tradition has much to say and fills in the details. But of Matthias, there is virtually nothing, except to say that he was a virtuous and excellent apostle. But perhaps, maybe this is enough. Maybe it is a great model and example for all those Christians who appear on stage, appear in just one scene, for yet a single moment as it were, play their important role and then are heard or seen no more. Isn’t this exactly as it is for many people, for many of us. We have our part to play but then are seen or heard of no more. And yet, that doesn’t mean that we didn’t have a contribution, didn’t do our part. What mattered about Matthias is that he was a witness to Jesus’ life and ministry, and in particular a witness to His resurrection—that was enough! And, if we do the same, that too is enough. Amen.
Forward notes: “The lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles” (verse 26b).
Commemoration: Saint Matthias, Apostle
“The kids and I decided to adopt cats. We were matched with two sets. How on earth do you decide between sweet furry babies that need a home? I prayed, and the kids looked at the photos and videos. What should we do? Cast lots for cats?
“After looking at the names, my son exclaimed, ‘Mom! We have to get the black ones! Grandaddy Fred sent them!’
“So, the lot fell on Corvus and Duckie, and they have become loving members of our family. I don’t know if my deceased grandfather sent them or not, but those kittens sure have brought another element of joy and surprise to our family.
“When the disciples cast lots and Matthias was chosen, I believe God was there. God works in and through us in marvelous and mysterious ways, in the selection of a twelfth disciple and even in the addition of new companions for our family.”
Moving Forward: “Have you ever considered casting lots to make a difficult decision? Why or why not?”