It is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles. (Acts 1:15-17, 20-26)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051425.cfm
Choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot or choosing a successor to Saint Peter calls the church to reflect on the needs of the church and the qualities necessary for the ministry. Thanks to medieval and modern technology in the election of Pope Leo, all of us felt we were involved in the process.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saint Matthias, May 14
