Augsburg Fortress (original) (raw)

The lot that “fell on Matthias” was quite a lot. To be not only a follower of Jesus, but an apostle, a “sent one,” is an enormous responsibility. It proved more than Judas Iscariot could bear. In holy baptism we too have been called to follow Jesus; we too have been allotted a share in this ministry. We can take courage, with Matthias, in the words of the Lord quoted by Isaiah: “This is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.” These are the apostolic prerequisites, and by God’s grace we possess them.