Discerning God's Will

Homily for the Feast of St. Matthias

I have often wondered at this particular event from the Acts of the Apostles. Luke records that the event took place while the disciples were gathered together, that there were about 120 present at the meeting. The action is recorded as having taken place sometime between the Ascension (Acts 1) and the descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Of course, we cannot take this literally since the sequence of events in the Acts of the Apostles differs from the way the evangelists speak of the events of the Paschal Mystery in the Gospels.

However, we might be able to say that this is the first instance of "discernment" of God's will, a process that continues to occupy a place of importance in the life of the Church.

Discernment comes down to a very simple yet daunting exercise. Can I choose what God wants rather than what I want? In other words, it requires that I set aside my own agenda, not an easy task. Yet it can be accomplished if we approach the decision in prayer and in humility, remembering that God is in charge. I am not sure how Joseph, called Barsabbas, must have felt. However, he has always stood for me as someone who willingly faded into the background because his faith told him that he was called to follow rather than to lead. So while the Church remembers St. Matthias today, it does so in the context of another saintly man who, I am sure, went on to bring the Good News to others through the example of his life.

Also, because this feast is celebrated in May, we are reminded of the Blessed Virgin. She was the first person in the New Testament to discern what was being asked of her by God when the angel brought the news of God’s favor in calling her to be the Mother of the Savior. With St. Matthias, St. Joseph Barsabbas and Mary as examples, we conform ourselves to God’s will.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator