Saint Matthias the Apostle

15In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brothers, said (now the crowd of men altogether was about one hundred and twenty): 16“Noble brothers, the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of David about Judas, who was the leader of those who apprehended Jesus. 17He had been numbered among us, and he was chosen by lot for this ministry.

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20For it has been written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let their dwelling place be desolate and may there be no one who dwells within it,’ and ‘Let another take his episcopate.’ 21Therefore, it is necessary that, out of these men who have been assembling with us throughout the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John, until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these be made a witness with us of his Resurrection.” 23And they appointed two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And praying, they said: “May you, O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, reveal which one of these two you have chosen, 25to take a place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas prevaricated, so that he might go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots concerning them, and the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.

1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, children. Praise the name of the Lord.

2Blessed is the name of the Lord, from this time forward and even forever.

3From the rising of the sun, even to its setting, praiseworthy is the name of the Lord.

4The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory is high above the heavens.

5Who is like the Lord, our God, who dwells on high,

6and who gazes upon the humble things in heaven and on earth?

7He lifts up the needy from the ground, and he urges the poor away from filth,

8so that he may place him with the leaders, with the leaders of his people.

9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my precepts, you shall abide in my love, just as I also have kept my Father’s precepts and I abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled. 12This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you. 15I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 16You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And I have appointed you, so that you may go forth and bear fruit, and so that your fruit may last. Then whatever you have asked of the Father in my name, he shall give to you. 17This I command you: that you love one another.