Feat of St. Matthias, apostle
(Acts 1:15-17; 20-26)
Eleven men make up a football team, and there are “twelve apostles.” No coach would think of sending only ten players onto the field, but is it incomprehensible that there would be only eleven in the inner group directing the early Church? Since each member of the group has basically the same function, some people may think “no,” twelve is rather arbitrary – a number whose virtues are both substance and balance. However, in the first reading today the whole community of disciples in Jerusalem obviously sees something critical about twelve. One of their first decisions after Jesus’ ascension is to name a replacement for Judas.
Jesus was definite about choosing twelve men for his core group of disciples. Although one characteristic of this base is their exemplary readiness to follow him, Jesus had more in mind than a balanced showcase of discipleship. He chose no more and no less than twelve in order to execute his mission of reuniting the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus' purpose was to inaugurate the Kingdom of God by gathering together all Israel as a magnet to attract all peoples of the earth. There would be one judge or leader of each of those tribes.
The New Testament does not mention Matthias other than in this passage. His significance is to indicate that Jesus had a definite vision of his mission and of the community he founded. This realization should fill us with confidence and joy. The Church, to which we have committed ourselves, is no happenstance but the deliberate design of Jesus. Even more significantly, our Church continues Jesus’ work of establishing the Kingdom of God with all its hope and promise.
Showing posts with label Twixt Twelve and Twenty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twixt Twelve and Twenty. Show all posts
Homilette for Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, XXXIV Week of Ordinary Time
(Luke 21:20-28)
In 1960 when the first of the baby-boomers were growing up, the popular entertainer Pat Boone addressed himself to them. Twixt Twelve and Twenty was the title of both a song and a short book Boone wrote. In these works he gave sound advice for navigating these often difficult years between childhood and adulthood. The song asks whether teenagers are old enough to understand the devotion that love entails. Of course, it answers its question positively but also notes how faith and trust must accompany love to avoid calamity.
When Jesus speaks of “the times of the Gentiles” in the gospel, he is also referring to in between years. He sees the time of the Jews as passing away with the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, an event which takes place in the year 70. But we should not take this to mean that God has abandoned the Jews. Rather, Jesus’ envisions what his apostle Paul writes to the Romans: God has turned His attention to the Gentiles or non-Jews so that their conversion will move the Jews to also recognize Jesus as Lord.
In these in between years before the fulfillment of time with the coming of Jesus, we are also to love faithfully as Pat Boone suggests. When we truly care for others, we do not have to worry about getting mud on our faces from the difficulty of it all. Indeed, we can lift our heads high at the signs of Christ’s coming because he means to save us.
(Luke 21:20-28)
In 1960 when the first of the baby-boomers were growing up, the popular entertainer Pat Boone addressed himself to them. Twixt Twelve and Twenty was the title of both a song and a short book Boone wrote. In these works he gave sound advice for navigating these often difficult years between childhood and adulthood. The song asks whether teenagers are old enough to understand the devotion that love entails. Of course, it answers its question positively but also notes how faith and trust must accompany love to avoid calamity.
When Jesus speaks of “the times of the Gentiles” in the gospel, he is also referring to in between years. He sees the time of the Jews as passing away with the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, an event which takes place in the year 70. But we should not take this to mean that God has abandoned the Jews. Rather, Jesus’ envisions what his apostle Paul writes to the Romans: God has turned His attention to the Gentiles or non-Jews so that their conversion will move the Jews to also recognize Jesus as Lord.
In these in between years before the fulfillment of time with the coming of Jesus, we are also to love faithfully as Pat Boone suggests. When we truly care for others, we do not have to worry about getting mud on our faces from the difficulty of it all. Indeed, we can lift our heads high at the signs of Christ’s coming because he means to save us.
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