Weekly Bulletin -- May 12, 2002AD

Sunday, May 12, 2002AD

Who Decides?

In our 1^st reading today, Luke tells us that the Group to become the Primitive Christian Community re-assembled in the upper room (where the Last Supper had occurred) and prayed for 9 days after Jesus’ Ascension. The Group consisted of the 11 and His mother as well as His brethren and the women who had come up from Galilee with Him. This was the group upon whom the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost.

This is why we ask the Catholic community to wear red clothing on Pentecost Sunday. If you or I were there on Pentecost in 30 AD in the upper room, the Holy Spirit would have been given to us as well. The coming of the Holy Spirit is, indeed, a democratic experience for all in our baptism. All, not some, are included by God. Think about it!

There is some food for thought. In the very next section of Acts, Peter addresses the 120 (!!!!) gathered in the upper room and speaks of the predicament caused by the treachery of Judas. Since the 12 represented the original 12 patriarchs (the sons of Jacob), Jesus meant to reestablish the True Israel. Now the 12’s ranks were thinned. Therefore, it was necessary to select one who had been with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry.. Two were selected as possible candidates. First, Joseph (called Barsabbas as well as Justus) seemed to be the one since he is set up with all his nicknames. The other possibility was the totally unknown Matthias.

It was the group of 120 who prayed and then, cast lots (picked out of a hat) and Matthias was the winner. Notice what Luke tells us in the story. It was the entire group of 120 who prayed and then, picked out of the hat.

This notion is known as the “Matthias principle”. What is important is the entire group’s choice of the 2 candidates, the entire group’s prayer involvement and, then, the entire group’s leaving it up to God symbolically through casting of lots.

It appears a bit simplistic, but it is, nevertheless, quite biblical and quite within Jewish tradition. We know that in ancient Rome, the Christians gathered together and prayed and selected a layman, St Fabian, as Pope. We know that in ancient Milan, the people of Milan selected a non-Christian catechumen, St Ambrose, as their bishop. He was one of the most important bishops of the early Church. The people made a good choice.

Our second reading has been excerpts from 1^st Peter, a letter to strengthen all Christians in Northwest Asia Minor harassed for their faith in Jesus Christ. It was the entire group that was addressed as the “priestly people, the holy nation, the people set apart.” In these times, in which there are already calls for structural changes within our Church, recall the Matthias principle, the selection of St Fabian and St Ambrose. It was legitimate then. Can it not be legitimate once again? 051202 AD jfq