FEAST OF SAINT MATTHIAS, APOSTLE - Gospel (John 15:9-17) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
FIRST READING - Acts 1:15-17, 20-26
"Matthias was counted with the eleven apostles."
A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
15 During those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, 16 “My brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry.
20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it.’
And:
‘May another take his office.’
21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, 22 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.” 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” 26 [a]Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Jn 15:9-17
"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you."
From the Gospel according to John
9 As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 [a]No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,[b] because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.
FEAST OF SAINT MATTHIAS APOSTLE - Gospel (John 15:9-17)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear people of God,
In today's Word of God, Jesus says to His disciples: “Remain in my love, as I have remained in My Father’s love; and keep my commandments, as I have kept My Father’s commandments. And that commandment is love.”
Jesus has left a good example and calls upon His disciples to imitate Him.
That is:
Being faithful to God the Father and obedient to the Word that the Father commands.
Sacrificing one's own life to love others.
Knowing how to cast aside one's selfish ego to bring love to humanity.
Abiding in the love of God so that He may grant you increase in strength.
Being united with the Holy Trinity as Jesus is united with the Father and the Holy Spirit as one.
It is this unity that provides the strength to defeat Satan and to win back love for souls.
And to be happy with God, disciples must follow the example of Jesus Christ, observing how He obeyed God so that they may follow in His footsteps.
It is God Himself who chooses and calls His disciples to follow Him. God chooses whom He wills, and the vocation God bestows upon each person is different.
When God calls someone, He sends that person forth to bear much fruit, which are souls; and to bear much fruit, one must become conformed to the image of Christ, which means sacrificing one's own life to save souls, just as Christ Himself sacrificed His life, hanging on the Cross, to bear the sins of all mankind.
And now, to bring love to souls, the disciples whom God has chosen and called must walk the path of sacrifice, the path of love that Jesus Christ traversed, which is the way of the Cross. Let every person take up their own cross and follow Him.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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