A Witness from the Beginning: Matthias came late to be numbered among the apostles. Saint Peter’s words describe the role of this apostolic substitute, who appears in Scripture almost as briefly as his fellow candidate, Joseph. The essential requirement for selection was that he be one of “those who have been in our company all the time that the Lord Jesus moved among us.” This qualified him to become a witness to the resurrection. Matthias had followed Jesus from the beginning.
Perhaps, like some of the other apostles, he had earlier belonged to the group around John the Baptist. Certainly, he left his home and occupation when Jesus entered his life and followed our Lord on His travels. He heard the words spoken by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount and the further teachings given from the boat drawn out from the shore. He saw the sick being healed, evil spirits cast out, the dead raised, the lame walk, and the crowds fed through the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes.
Faithful in Obscurity
Apparently, he remained faithful to Jesus even when some other disciples “turned back and no longer went about with him.” He may have heard Jesus say that one of the Twelve would betray Him. But while Matthias persevered, listened, and believed, he could not foresee that he would be the one to replace the traitorous Judas. The Church historian Eusebius wrote that Matthias was enrolled by the Lord Himself into the group of seventy-two disciples, from which the smaller group of Twelve was later chosen as apostles.
Discerning God’s Will through Tradition
What is striking about the selection of Matthias is the method by which the apostles sought to discover the divine will. They cast lots, a traditional practice among believing Jews. Casting lots was well established in the Old Testament. The Promised Land was divided by lot among the various tribes and families. The choosing of Saul as king was also determined by lot.
The One Chosen by God
Of the two candidates between whom the decision was to be made, Matthias was noticeably placed second. Joseph, called Barsabbas—the son of Sabbas—as unknown to us as Matthias, was listed first, bearing the honorable Roman surname Justus. From the Latin justus, meaning “the righteous or upright one.” One might conjecture that there were those present at the election who, had the decision been left to them, would have chosen Joseph as the apostle. But the will of God was otherwise. Why? “You, Lord, know the hearts of all.” Humble and serious, the pensive Matthias took the place abandoned by Judas. Now he was one of the Twelve. An apostle chosen by Christ to continue and perpetuate His work on earth until the end of the world. For all humankind. He belonged to the Twelve—modeled on the twelve tribes of Israel, the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem.
Apostolic Life without Spotlight
As soon as Matthias was chosen as an apostle, he faded back into obscurity. He experienced, along with the others, the fiery and joyful grace of Pentecost. And with them, he suffered arrest and scourging by the Jewish authorities. He rejoiced that he “had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.” And he journeyed, preached, and healed, but not a single additional word is dedicated to him in Holy Scripture. He was simply one of the Twelve.
A Parallel in Our Time: The Election of Pope Leo XIV
In this story, we see a striking parallel with the Church’s ongoing journey, especially in moments when leadership must be discerned anew. The selection of Matthias reminds us of the Church’s careful process of discerning divine will. A process that continues even today. We think, for instance, of the election of Pope Leo XIV. As with Matthias, the process was not merely about qualifications or popularity, but about openness to the Holy Spirit. The cardinals, like the apostles, sought God’s will through prayerful deliberation—trusting that God sees the heart, not just appearances.
Just as Matthias, though previously unknown, was chosen to bear witness to the resurrection, so too was Leo XIV, who may have emerged from relative obscurity, entrusted with continuing Peter’s ministry. The Church has often found its leaders not among the most prominent, but among the most faithful. Those whose lives have quietly echoed the Gospel. In this way, Leo XIV’s papacy mirrors Matthias’ calling: a reminder that God continues to raise up humble and willing servants to guide the Church.
Called to Serve, Not to Be Seen
Whether chosen by lot or by conclave, the calling to lead is never about status—it is about service. It is about being part of the unbroken chain that stretches from the Twelve to today. A, bearing witness to Christ in every age. You too, are a disciple.
