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Feast of St. Matthias the Apostle

February 24, 2024

Acts 1:15-26  |  Philippians 3:13-21  |  John 15:1, 6-16  |  Psalm 15

February 24 is the Feast of St. Matthias in the Episcopal church and the readings for today celebrate him. Many may wonder who is St. Matthias? St. Matthias is the apostle who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after Judas betrayed Jesus and died. We have very little record of St. Matthias in the New Testament besides what we read today in Acts. From the testimony of Peter in Acts we learn that two men had closely followed Jesus “beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” These were Matthias and another man, Joseph called Barsabas, both deemed worthy to join the apostles. The disciples cast lots to choose between them and the lot having fallen on Matthias, he joined the other eleven. There is little official record of Matthias activities as an apostle, although legends abound. 

Perhaps the most important theme in today’s readings is Jesus’ commandment that we love one another. In this reading, Jesus is teaching his disciples soon before his death. The disciples are now the remaining eleven who are true believers. John quotes Jesus, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15: 12-13).” Jesus’ love for his followers, who he refers to as friends in this passage, is the example for this love. 

This theme follows from the teaching in Psalm 15 which begins with the question, Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? The answer is given in the psalm:

Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
who speaks the truth from his heart.

 

3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.

The one who may dwell in the Lord’s tabernacle is the one who loves another as described in the Psalm.  In the gospel, Jesus’ teaching mirrors this sentiment with the important addition that Jesus’ love for us is the model for our love for one another. While it may seem a tall order for the disciples (and us) to love one another as Jesus has loved us, this is his commandment. 

Patricia Morokoff