Thursday, May 14, 2009

On the Feast of St. Matthias: Make a Splash!

At Mass today our pastor's homily centered on St. Matthias.

He observed that the apostles wanted to choose a good man to replace Judas, and that the 12 apostles paralleled the 12 Tribes of Israel from the Old Testament.

He also observed that we know very little about St. Matthias, the man who was chosen to replace Judas after Jesus' death and Judas' suicide. All we know about him is that he was picked. He's not famous like Peter and Paul. But he was picked to carry on the ministry, to "go out to all the world and tell the Good News."

Our pastor commented that we are very much like St. Matthias. We're ordinary people. We'll probably not make a big splash in the world. But we can--and should--make a little splash in our own little corner of the world. We can--and should--live our lives with the intention of doing good for others, doing good in the name of God. We can--and should--take the opportunity to perform works of mercy--both spiritual and corporal.

Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the Hungry
Give Drink to the Thirsty
Clothe the Naked
Welcome the Stranger
Visit the Sick and Imprisoned
Bury the Dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Counsel the Doubtful
Instruct the Ignorant
Admonish the Sinner
Comfort the Sorrowful
Bear Wrongs Patiently
Pray for the Living and the Dead

While we have time, let us do good!

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