Feast of Saint Matthias Apostle

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Day of Prayer, Fasting, and Works of Charity

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 2:23-29
Mass: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Resp Ps 113; Jn 15:9-17

Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

MARY, QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES,

PRAY FOR US.

One thing we can do today to celebrate Saint Matthias, oh he who "was counted with the Eleven Apostles" (Acts 1:26), is to take a look at Caravaggio's Calling of Saint Matthew, another one of my favorites. I used to stop by the French national Church in Rome, San Luigi dei Francesi near Piazza Navona, now and then to take a peek at it. Every time I saw it, (and now too in my trusty Caravaggio picture book), I see Matthias who says, "Who, me Lord?" Yes, says Jesus, it is not you choosing you, but I who choose you and appoint you to go and bear fruit that will remain (Jn 15:16). Jesus speaks to you; Jesus speaks to me; Jesus speaks to all of us. Let us be about bearing fruit that will remain.

Here is one way we can be about bearing fruit. As promoted by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, all believers of different traditions, together, are asked to make this a day of prayer, fasting, and works of mercy to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic. We do what we can, in whatever way, small or big. It's not about quantity, it's about quality, making whatever we do come from a heart of love, mercy, and compassion. Here's a little encouragement by Thomas Merton, The Sign of Jonas: "To love God is everything. And love is enough. Nothing else is of any value except insofar as it is transformed and elevated by the charity of Christ. But the smallest thing, touched by charity, is immediately transfigured and becomes sublime."

We join the Holy Father in this brief, mighty, and far-reaching prayer:

May God put an end to this tragedy-this pandemic-and have mercy on us. And may He put an end to other terrible pandemics of hunger, war, and uneducated children. This we ask as brothers and sisters, all together. May God bless us all and have mercy on us.

(Pope Francis, homily May 14, 2020)

SAINT MATTHIAS,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020