ST. MATTHIAS’ DAY: (February 24) CHURCH OF NIGERIA

Liturgical Colour: RED
Old Testament:1 Sam. 2:27-35
Epistle: Acts 1:15-26
Psalm: 16:1-6
Gospel: John 15:1-11

Collect

Almighty God, Who in the place of the traitor Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the Twelve: preserve your Church from false apostles, and by the ministry of faithful pastors and teachers keep us steadfast in your truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 This day in Christian Calendar Worldwide, we remember the first election by the power of the Holy Spirit which led to the replacement of Judas with Matthias.

Also the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) use this day to remember the day they separated from communion of the Church of England. Note that the Canterbury still remains the traditional home of the Anglican Church Worldwide.

Lessons and Significance of St. Matthias day

Judas among Jesus disciples was notorious for helping himself from the treasures which he was made to keep. He was not just greedy but connived with the Scribes and sold his Master Jesus. Act. 1:16

Maybe he taught he could use Jesus to make more money by selling him; hoping that Jesus will perform magic and escape arrest but to his greatest shock he was just aiding Jesus fulfil His mission here on earth. 

So I believe it was that frustration that made him to hang himself at the field he bought with the reward of his wickedness. 

Remember that in the book of psalm 20, the prophecy that brought the end of Judas and the election of Matthias as his replacement has been long prophesied even before the birth of Christ. 

Two men were nominated ie. Barsabbas and Matthias, the believers prayed and cast lots and it fell on Matthias. Therefore Matthias made up the number of the disciples to 12.

Alot of us today are like Judas, we go to church, hear the goodnews of Christ yet still cheat and betray Christ and our neighbours. 

To some of us, love for money and desire to acquire material things has stolen our hearts from Christ. 

They are people in our lives we call our friends, we laugh with them, play with them and even share things with them but still go to they back and stab them.

There are some in Churches claiming to be working for the master but the truth is that they are just there to help themselves with they pocket! "Those whose belly is they god."

Some no longer teach and preach the gospel of Christ but has now embraced cunningly device fables and philosophies of men that comes to nothing. Working for God but not walking with God.

Today, don't think of those that have cheated you because it's a serious call today been St. Matthias day for us to re- examine our lives and purge ourselves of all wickedness and greed of all sort. It's not a day to apportion blames. It's a day you sit down and re- examine your walk with Christ. Judas has been with Jesus Christ; watch Him heal the sick, raise the dead, perform all sorts of miracles yet his mind and whole heart has been on how to use Jesus and make more money. 

I don't know about you? Is Christ really the Love of your heart or you are just following him just to get firm, or maybe you just need a husband or wife, or you just need to get your CGPA to 4 points and after that you go your way. What is really your driving force in following Jesus? Think about this.

Prayers 

Almighty God our Loving Father. Thank you for the grace to witness another St. Matthias day. Lord we pray for the Church and Christian Faithfull Worldwide; Lord cause our hearts and mind to love you, not for what you can give but for who you are. Every traitors among your fold, Lord expose them and grant us the Zeal to love you and love our neighbours to the end that we will live a quiet and peaceable life to the glory of your Holy name JESUS Christ the Righteous! Amen.