Winner? Or Loser?

14 May

They gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.  (Acts 1:26)

On this, the feast of St. Matthias, we remember his selection as one of the apostles.

The remaining apostles felt that they needed someone to take the place of Judas, whom they lost.

They narrowed the selection down and then drew lots.

The lot “fell” to Matthias.

Remember, in the Old Testament, the “winner” of lots was often very much a loser.  It was in lots that they discerned that Jonah was running from God and the cause of a storm and they threw Jonah overboard.  Other people in the Old Testament fared just as poorly as lots singled them out.

Matthias was not a winner by the world’s standards.  No, he became one of the apostles and,therefore, was a marked man.  He would face death on a daily basis just like the other apostles.

Being a marked person is not an easy thing to do in this world of ours.

However, God has marked each and every one of us.

At our baptism, we were given an indelible mark on our souls.

We were set aside.

The lot fell to us.

What a wonderful legacy!

FAITH ACTION:  Quiet yourself in prayer today.  Take pride in the fact that you have been called and marked by God!