Make known to us, Lord, the one you choose.

Today, May 14, as our Church celebrates the Feast of Matthias, Apostle, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the Acts of the Apostles (5:12-32), entitled "The apostles in the primitive Church". Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily on the Acts of the Apostles by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop. Saint Matthias, whose name means "gift of God",  was the disciple chosen by God through the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot following the latter's betrayal of Jesus and his subsequent death. His calling as an apostle is unique, in that his appointment was not made personally by Jesus, who had already ascended into heaven, and it was also made before the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church.. The Acts of the Apostles state that he was also one of the 72 disciples that the Lord Jesus sent out to preach the good news. Matthias was with the Lord since His Baptism, and was "a witness to Christ's Resurrection," according to St. Peter in Acts. He remained with Jesus until His Ascension. Saint John Chrysostom was an important, fourth century, Early Church Father who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, and for his denunciation of abuse of authority of both ecclesiastical and political leaders. He was among the most prolific authors in the early Christian church. The word 'Chrysostom' means 'golden-mounted'. This name was given to him after he died because all his sermons were eloquent and lovely to hear.   In today's treasure Saint John Chrysostom teaches that the Church must rely on prayer, humility, and God's guidance when making important decisions. Reflecting on the apostles choosing Matthias to replace Judas, Chrysostom emphasizes that they did not act out of ambition or personal preference, but sought the will of God for the good of the Church. The main takeaway is that Christian leadership and service are not about power or status, but about faithfully accepting the mission God gives and trusting His wisdom above human judgment. The first reading today from Acts of the Apostles 5:12–32 explains how the power of the risen Christ was working through the apostles, and no earthly authority could stop the spread of the Gospel. The passage shows the apostles performing healings and miracles, courageously preaching despite persecution, and refusing to remain silent when ordered to stop. Peter's declaration, "We must obey God rather than men," expresses the central message: faithful discipleship requires trust in God and courage to witness to Christ even in the face of opposition or suffering.