In the Scriptures today we heard Jesus say to us, remain in my love. We also heard mentioned the names of two men, one who remained in God’s love, Matthias, and the other who did not, Judas.
In the Acts of the Apostles we heard Peter say that someone was needed to replace Judas who “turned away to go to his own place."
The person needed to be someone who was present during the years Jesus was among them and who witnessed his resurrection. Two names were submitted. Lots were cast and Matthias was selected.
Nothing was known about Matthias, his life or work but we do know one thing. When his name was called, he was ready to witness to Christ and Christ’s resurrection. May we be so ready. We can and we will if we remain in His love and keep His commandments.
Observing the pandemic over the past year, in his letter With a Father’s Heart, Pope Francis wrote, “we cannot help but conclude that our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked, people who do not appear in the headlines of magazines and newspapers yet are surely shaping the decisive events of our history”.
He continues, "How many people each day exercise patience and offer hope, take care to spread not panic but share responsibility? How many fathers, mothers, grandparents are showing children in small everyday ways how to accept, deal with crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead, and encouraging the practice of prayer, make sacrifices and are interceding for the good of all. Most are hidden and in the shadows, but their role is incomparable."
Through their actions the love of God remains in them fulfilling the request God made of us, to remain in His love. Before the example of so many holy men and women, Saint Augustine asked himself, “What they could do, can you not also do”, as he drew closer to his definitive conversion.
So it is with love. So many people we have known past and present have evidenced the presence of God’s love in their lives and have remained in God’s love. May we be numbered among them.
- Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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