Satide, May 14, 2022
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Peter talk say… “So, e dey necessary make one of di men wey follow us all di time wey di Lord Jesus dey come and go among us, from di baptism of John reach di day wey dem take am up from among us, join us as witness to His resurrection.” So dem bring two men forward: Joseph wey dem dey call Barsabbas, wey dem still know as Justus, and Matthias. Then dem pray say, “You, Lord, wey know everybody heart, show us which one of these two You don choose to take di place for this ministry of di Apostles wey Judas turn away from to go im own place.” Then dem cast lots for di two of dem, and di lot fall on Matthias, and dem count am among di Eleven Apostles. Acts 1:21–26
And na so we get di first new bishop!
Di Feast of St. Matthias na celebration say di ministry of di Apostles still dey continue. As we dey honour St. Matthias, we dey honour di fact say Jesus give His first Apostles di ability to pass di sacred power of their ordination to other people wey go succeed dem. St. Matthias take Judas place. And as di Church continue to grow, dem choose other people and give dem di grace of ordination as bishops. Today, every one of our bishops dey for one direct line of succession wey reach back to one or more of di Apostles. This succession wey never break na wetin connect us directly to di priestly ministry of Jesus as dem dey pass am on to di Church.
Wetin a wonderful gift this one be! Na true say no be every bishop or priest be saint. All of us know that one well. But na true too say every bishop and priest get share for di wonderful gift of Christ priestly ministry. And this ministry no be for dem; na for you.
Jesus want make He continue His ministry for way wey dey real, personal and human. He want make He dey present for every Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. He want make He Himself dey there to give His people these graces. And He dey there, through di ministry of di bishop or priest.
Di main thing na to see Christ for that ministry. Every priest or bishop dey represent Christ for im own special way. Each of dem dey show Christ through im human personality and holiness. But wetin matter pass na say dem dey represent Christ as dem dey act for His very Person. Na through dem Jesus dey speak His words of absolution and consecration. So we need to look beyond wetin eye fit see and see Christ Jesus. This one dey fully possible if we approach God ministers with faith.
Today, think deeply about di way you dey approach God priests and bishops. How you dey talk about dem? You dey look for Christ inside dem? You dey open to make Christ minister to you through dem? Di ministry of di Apostles wey dem get share for na true gift from Christ, and we must love and accept am as if na Christ Himself we dey accept…because na exactly wetin we dey do be that.
Lord, thank You for di gift of Your ministers wey dem don ordain. Thank You for di bishop and for all di priests wey don preach Your Word to me and give me Your Sacraments. I dey pray for dem today make dem continue to be holy instruments of Your love. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Matthias di Apostle
Main Picture: St. Matthias wey Pierre Paul Rubens make, from Wikimedia Commons
