Today is a special day for my secretary, Maryanne.  It’s her Birthday.  Unfortunately we can’t celebrate it properly but we wish her a beautiful day as I know all of you do as well.

My Friends,
     Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Matthias.  He was the person chosen by the Apostles to replace Judas.  One of the most interesting things about the first reading is that the Apostles pray before choosing Matthias.  
     Prayer was an extremely important part of their life; they learned that from the Master.  You and I as inheritors of this great faith are called to do the same.  Prayer should be an integral part of our everyday life and most importantly during these most trying of times.  
     All of us have decisions to make regarding a vast number of issues in our lives.  Some are more difficult than others but all of them need to be addressed.  We need to place them at the feet of the One alone who can help us in our decision making.  Jesus is there for each of us to give us the strength and stamina in those decisions that are more difficult and also help us along with more minor ones.  

    We bring everything to Christ and He will help us; there’s no doubt about that. 
 

The person whose feast we celebrate today, St. Matthias, was chosen to replace Judas as one of the Apostles.  Notice that the Apostles pray before they make their final decision.  Two people are presented as a possibility and after much prayer, they choose Matthias.  
     This reading reminds us of the importance of prayer in our lives, especially when making important decisions.  Sometimes we might be at our wits end and not know what to do or what action to take.  It’s especially during times like these that the Lord wants us to turn to Him and ask His advice and counsel.  To do that, we need to be open to the Lord and we also have to allow the Lord to speak to us.  We need to listen to Christ.  Too often we do the talking; the Lord needs us to stop our talking and listen with our hearts to what He is trying to tell us.  
     The advice that the Lord gives us in the Gospel today is to remain in His love.  The Lord tells us that He wants our joy to be complete.  He wants us to love Him and very importantly, to love one another.  He tells us that there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends.  This is what the Lord did for you and me and this is what the Lord asks each of us who bear His name to do for others.  
    It doesn’t mean literally dying for someone.  What it does mean is that we are to give our lives in service for others.  Service encompasses a litany of things and includes everything that would help make a person’s quality of life better.  
     Jesus tells us that He has chosen us as His followers.  It was not you and I who chose Him.  The Lord has given us much in choosing us; may we in turn show our appreciation by living lives that reflect His love and mercy to others.