The Ascension of the Lord
Today’s Feast of the Apostle St. Matthias provides a perfect opening to ponder the place of chance or fate in our lives. “The roll of the dice” must surely have been a common expression dating back to the earliest times of humanity, for good or ill.
St. Peter explained to the assembled group of disciples that they needed to find a replacement for the former apostle Judas. Notice that St. Peter’s first move was to ask the community to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They prayed and then proposed two worthy candidates, Justus and Matthias. They cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. It turned out to be a good choice since tradition tells us that he, the Apostle Matthias, preached the Gospel in ancient Cappadocia and Turkey and eventually died as a martyr.
So, how do we understand and accept fate as it appears in our lives? Can we not say that fate is a valid, unknown part of our relationship with God? Notice that St. Peter had the people pray first. That rescues fate from fatalism. Within that healthy relationship of deep trust and faith, we are open to ongoing surprises of formative grieving or rejoicing. Stepping into the surprise of God’s will requires a depth of humility that can draw us to a greater response of love and trust. It is there we step into the unknown and the unfinished part of our lives. It is there we find our most honest prayer, “Lord, show me your way!”
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections