St Matthias

We don’t know many things about Matthias. The only thing that Luke
says about him in the Acts of the Apostles is that he is one of the
men who have accompanied the Apostles during the life of Jesus from
his baptism until the ascension and that he is a witness of his
resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). In fact, Luke, thanks to the person of
Matthias, says more about what it is to be an Apostle. Because
Matthias is indeed an apostle, added to the eleven others after the
death of Judas.

First, the Apostles were ordained twelve, with an eye to the twelve
tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve patriarchs; they were the
twelve stars that make up the church’s crown (Rev 12:1), and for them
twelve thrones were designated. After Judas’ death, one was missing.
But the Scripture has to be fulfilled, as Peter said (Acts 1:16).
Therefore another has to take his position. To some extent, the more
important about the number ‘twelve’ is that it fulfils the Scripture.
As Jesus interpreted to the disciples of Emmaus the things about
himself in all the scriptures (Lk 24:27), the institution of the
Apostles has been fulfilled according to the same scriptures. This is
God’s plan of salvation and this suffers any purpose of its to be
frustrated.

Secondly, the great thing which the apostles were to attest to the
world was Christ’s resurrection, for this was the great proof of his
being the Messiah, and the foundation of our hope in him. The
Apostles were not ordained according to a secular dignity but to
preach Christ and the power of his resurrection. Again, what matters
is God’s plan of salvation. Matthias and the Apostles are instruments
of God’s hands for our own salvation today. In our turn, by our hope
and by preaching Christ, we can be part of God’s plan of salvation
for others.