Festival of St Matthias, Apostle

This Sunday coincides with a minor church festival first recorded in the 11th century – The Festival of St Matthias the Apostle. It was celebrated on the sixth day to the Calends of March (24 February). The Greek name Matthias is derived from Mattathias, Hebrew Mattithiah, signifying “gift of Yahweh.” The early Christian writers Clement of Alexandria and Euesbius of Caesarea, places Matthias as one of the seventy disciples of Jesus. Acts 1:21-22 tells us that Matthias had been with Jesus from the time of Jesus baptism to his ascension. In the days following the ascension, Peter proposed to the assembled brethren, numbering one hundred and twenty, that they choose one to fill the place of the traitor, Judas. Two disciples, Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias were selected, lots were drawn, the result favouring Matthias, making him an apostle with the other eleven. According to Acts 2:1-4, Matthias was also present on the day of Pentecost and received the Holy Spirit. His calling as an apostle is unique, in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus. Although Matthias is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, tradition locates his missionary labour in Ethiopia. The Augsburg Confession (XXI) notes three purposes for remembering the saints:

• Thanksgiving – remember the blessing that they have been to the
church and the world, all thanks and glory goes to God alone.
• Examples of Mercy – In the saints we see how God used sinners just
like us, as His servants. Moses, David, Peter, Paul and the rest were
forgiven for their many failings, and that gives us hope too.
• Examples of Faithfulness – God gives us examples to follow through
The faith shown by the saints and by their acts of service.

Of course, the role of the saints is never to distract or detract from the work of Christ, but to give examples of where we can see Christ at work throughout the history of His church.

Pastor Darryl