Matthias

Acts 1:15-17,20-26; Psalm 113 The Lord will give a seat with the leaders of his people; John 15:9-17

Do you remember your first kiss?
Most people remember their first kiss. These are big moments in the life of a child becoming a man. I was in 4th grade when i shared my first kiss in the closet of the classroom in Catholic School.

I often wonder if the girl remembers it as I do?

First kiss! IT was a big deal.

Kisses are memorable. Some are good memories and some are not so good.

It is an infamous kiss that brings us to the first reading today. Where Peter stands up and announces that the church must now replace Judas, the one who with a kiss betrayed Jesus in the garden. This kiss certainly has left a lasting memory.

Two questions come to mind
Why did Judas do this?
There are two answers that come to mind.

For Judas, things were not going his way. Jesus wasn't doing what Judas wanted fast enough. Perhaps he got a little impatient and tried to rush head, taking matters into his own hands.

How often have we betrayed JEsus because we felt things weren't going our way fast enough. How often have we been impatient with God's plan in our life and we took matters into our own hands? How often have we left a kiss of betrayal in our wake as we rushed ahead making demands where simple obedience was required?

Secondly, the Scriptures mention that Judas gave into temptation. Temptation is always a clear and present danger for us all. As St. Peter warns us, the devil is prowling seeking to devour souls. We must be attentive and alert. We have to keep our eyes peeled and our ears open, lest we be deceived and carried away.

Second question is how did Jesus handle this kiss of betrayal?

Jesus took the kiss of betrayal and transformed it into a gift of love. The passion of Christ takes the act of betrayal and transforms it. This is the real power of the resurrection. Every act of betrayal does not have to remain an act of betrayal. We, by the power of the resurrection living in us, can transform it into something beautiful for God.

It takes work. The cross was no easy feat, but it was a work well worth it.

If only Judas had remembered this then perhaps he would not have committed suicide. Judas repented from his betrayal but his repentance degenerated into an act of self-destruction for he lost sight of the mercy of God.

We should never underestimate the mercy of God.

In today's reading Matthias is selected to replace the one who betrayed Jesus, to replace the one who betrayed love itself. Jesus seeks to do this in our life at every moment. He wants to replace our old self of betrayal with a true self that gives witness to the power of the resurrection.

It is never too late.

Every time we celebrate the Eucharist we celebrate the power of God to transform an act of betrayal into salvific love, a gift that changes everything. May we give witness to this power daily.