Acts 1:21-26

What just happened and what do we do now?

The first chapter of the Book of Acts may help us sort through the election this week.  Jesus just ascended to the heavens and he was gone.  What did the disciples do?  They remembered his last words:  “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” and with that commission ringing in their ears they returned to be with their friends and devoted themselves to constant prayer.  Then, knowing their number was not complete (how can you be known as the Twelve if you have only eleven since Judas betrayed and died?) they set about selecting a new disciple.

If you don’t remember his name it’s not important (OK, it’s Matthias) because it might as well be me or you, or better yet, both of us because we are called to carry on Christ’s ministry, or as Acts says, “become a witness to the resurrection.”  Matthias took this on in the worst of times, in the midst of violence and death and sorrow and anger and disbelief.  He didn’t balk at it, or say it is too hard.  He simply got on board with the eleven and made their group of Twelve complete again, and their ministry extended through the next 27 chapters.  I say it’s high time and the right time for all of us to take it from there.