Chosen to Bear Fruit: The Unexpected Apostle

Voice over by Angeline Chue Chue

Acts 1:15-17.20-26, Psalm: 112, Jn 15:9-17

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthias, an apostle chosen not by popular acclaim, not by political maneuvering, but by the quiet, sovereign will of God. He was not among the Twelve from the beginning. He was not present at the Last Supper. He did not walk with Jesus through Galilee for three years. Yet when the need arose, the Church prayed, cast lots, and the Lord chose Matthias. His story is a testament to a profound truth: God’s plan is not limited by our past, and His call can reach us at any moment.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter stands among the brothers and sisters, a crowd of about one hundred and twenty. He declares that Scripture must be fulfilled, that another must take the place of Judas. Two names are put forward: Joseph called Barsabbas, and Matthias. They pray, “Lord, you know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen.” Then they cast lots, and the lot falls to Matthias. He is numbered with the eleven apostles. This is not a gamble; it is a surrender to divine providence. The Church does not vote; she prays and discerns. Matthias did not campaign for the position; he was simply faithful, and God lifted him up.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to the Eleven on the night before He dies. He says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” The initiative is always God’s. Matthias did not choose to be an apostle; God chose him. And the purpose of that choice is mission: “to go and bear fruit.” The fruit is not success measured by worldly standards; it is love, joy, and the transformation of hearts. Jesus commands, “Love one another as I love you.” This is the fruit that remains.

Saint Matthias, about whom we know almost nothing, is a figure of hope for all who feel like latecomers, outsiders, or second choices. He was a witness to the Resurrection from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, yet he was not one of the celebrated Twelve. But when the moment came, he was ready. His faithfulness in obscurity prepared him for a calling he could not have foreseen.

Pope Francis reflects on this: “God calls us by name, but He does not always call us to the most visible places. He calls us to be faithful where we are, and then, in His time, He may call us to something more.” St. Augustine, commenting on the choice of Matthias, wrote, “The Lord chose Matthias not because he was better than the other, but because He knew his heart.”

For us today, the message is clear. Do not despair if you feel overlooked, if your gifts seem unrecognized, if you have not been part of the “inner circle.” The Lord knows your heart. He is the one who chooses, not for our glory, but for His mission. Remain faithful in the ordinary. Pray with the Church. And when the call comes—whether to a great task or a hidden one—respond as Matthias did: with quiet availability, trusting that the one who chose you will also equip you.

This Easter season, let us ask Saint Matthias to intercede for us. May we bear fruit that remains, and may we love as Jesus loved, for this is the only fruit that endures to eternal life. Amen.

May God bless you all!