Festival of St. Matthias, Apostle
Posted on February 24, 2023 by under
Scripture: Proverbs 6:12-19 (NKJV)
6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.
Devotion
St. Matthias was the one who was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot, who committed suicide in despondence over his betrayal of Jesus Christ. Scripture does not say anything more about Matthias than that he was numbered with the other Apostles.
This passage seems to apply more to Judas, who serves as a warning to us. Judas showed many signs of his eventual betrayal of Christ. As the disciples’ treasurer, he used to steal from their common funds (John 12:6). He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Who knows what lies and false witness he must have spoken in that process? And yet, we must remember that Christ died for Judas, and for us. The sins that Judas committed were great, but so are the sins we commit. The difference is that Judas despaired, while we acknowledge the sins that we have done, repent of them, and pray the Holy Ghost to amend our lives to do better.
Meanwhile, the despair of Judas did not prevent the preaching of God’s Word. The Lord caused Matthias to be chosen to replace Judas, and we give thanks for the faithful ministry that Matthias gave in Judas’ stead.
Prayer: O Almighty God, Who by Thy Son Jesus Christ, didst give to Thy holy Apostles many excellent gifts, and commandest them earnestly to feed Thy flock: Make, we beseech Thee, all Pastors diligently to preach Thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
