Commontide
Liturgical Color: Red
The 2nd to Last Sunday of Epiphany (World Mission)
Almighty God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Epiphany
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who took on our mortal flesh to reveal his glory; that he might bring us out of darkness and into his own glorious light.
Most liturgical texts are from the Book of Common Prayer (2019) of the Anglican Church in North America.
The New Coverdale Psalter, © 2019 by the Anglican Church in North America. Used by permission.
The 2nd to Last of Epiphany (World Mission)
Apostle
Red Letter Day
Matthias the Apostle, chosen after the Ascension to fill the place left vacant by Judas Iscariot and numbered among the Twelve at Pentecost. His selection in Acts 1 is the sole canonical record of his life; the church remembers him as a faithful apostle whose obscurity in the New Testament is itself part of his witness.
Acts 1:15–26 provides the sole canonical account of Matthias. When the disciples gathered in Jerusalem before Pentecost to fill Judas's vacant place among the Twelve, Peter stood up and explained the need: one of the original band who had been with Jesus 'from the baptism of John until the day [Jesus] was taken up from us' must become 'a witness with us to his resurrection' (1:21–22). Apostolic office, in Peter's formulation, required both continuity with the earthly ministry and testimony to the risen Lord.
Two candidates met this criterion: Joseph Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. The assembled disciples prayed: 'Lord, you know the hearts of all; show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place' (1:24–25). Then 'they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles' (1:26).
The casting of lots was an ancient biblical practice for discerning God's will (Proverbs 16:33: 'The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord'). The custom continued in Israel (Joshua 18:8–10; 1 Samuel 14:41–42) and was practiced in the early Church for serious decisions. Notably, after Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the early Church never again employs lot-casting; the guidance of the Spirit superseded the older method.
Matthias is not mentioned again in the New Testament. He is listed among the apostles in Acts 1:13, but beyond this, canonical sources are silent. This silence contrasts sharply with the apostles who received post-canonical traditions (Peter, Paul, John, James the Elder, Thomas, etc.). Matthias remains singularly obscure.
Traditionally, Matthias preached the Gospel in Judea before being martyred. Various later sources offer differing accounts of his death: some state he was stoned by Jews, others claim he was beheaded, and still others place his martyrdom in Ethiopia or along the Caspian coast. His relics were claimed by several locations, most notably Trier in Germany, where the Abbey of St. Matthias (allegedly the only apostolic tomb north of the Alps) became a medieval pilgrimage destination. A 'Gospel of Matthias' is mentioned by Origen and Eusebius but does not survive. Some later traditions conflate Matthias with Zacchaeus or with other figures.