Reading for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle

On the feast of St. Matthias, we read a brief biographical devotion about him taken from Treasury of Daily Prayer.

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 66:1–2
Psalm 134
Acts 1:15–26
Matthew 11:25–30

Read the propers for today on lutherancalendar.org.

Introduction

As we remember the apostle Matthias today, we give thanks to God for calling faithful men to serve as undershepherds and continually point us to the Shepherd, Jesus.

Devotional Reading

St. Matthias is one of the lesser-known apostles. According to the Early Church Fathers, Matthias was one of the seventy-two sent out by Jesus in Luke 10:1–20. After the ascension, Matthias was chosen by lot to fill the vacancy in the Twelve resulting from the death of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:16–25). Early Church tradition places Matthias in a number of locations. Some historians suggest that he went to Ethiopia; others place him in Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as a national religion. Martyred for his faith, Matthias may well have met his death at Colchis in Asia Minor, around AD 50. The Church of St. Matthias at Trier, Germany, claims the honor of being the final burial site for Matthias, the only one of the Twelve to be buried in Europe north of the Alps.

Prayer

Almighty God, You chose Your servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Devotional reading and prayer are from Treasury of Daily Prayer, page 1236
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