Unsung Heroes

Written by Sr. Rosemary, O.P.
Readings from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051419.cfm

Matthias is the unsung hero we honor today.  He rose to the occasion and answered the call when the new church needed a leader after Judas departed.  Peter outlined the qualifications needed for this leadership role:

  • someone who’d been with them from the beginning, and
  • someone who’d seen the risen Jesus. 

That narrowed the field considerably to two.  Then the whole group prayed, cast lots, and Matthias was chosen.

His selection was unique in that he was not chosen personally by Jesus who had already ascended to heaven, and it was made before Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the assembled group in the Upper Room.  Aside from a few legends about him, his name, Matthias, is the only thing we know about him.  Exactly what he did in the history of the church will remain a mystery.  His virtues, labors and sufferings have not been handed down to us.  In the end, the reality is, he is remarkable only to God.

Remembering and honoring Matthias today reminds us to also reverence the many other ‘unsung heroes’ who likewise lived and shared their faith in the church throughout the ages.  We don’t know their names or works, either, but the mission of Christ has survived and thrived because of their commitment to God and the Church.  In the end, the reality again is, they are remarkable to God alone.

And then there’s us.  We’re just regular, ordinary folks as well doing the best we can to live our Christian lives as witnesses.  More than likely our names won’t be recorded in any history books, or on any church websites, for the incredible deeds we did.  But that doesn’t stop us each day from trying to do good where we can and helping those we should. 

Just like Matthias and all those before us, we will be remarkable only to God and remembered by God for eternity…and, in the end, that’s all that matters.