Matthias is the Apostle who was chosen to take the place of the traitor, Judas. Like the others, he had been a witness to all that Jesus had said and done and was a witness to the Resurrection. He was in a position, then, with the other Apostles to pass on the message of the Gospel with authority. The Gospel reminds us that he holds this position not because he carved it but because he was called by God. And this call implies that he has a responsibility to spread the Gospel, "to bear fruit, fruit that will last". Our being disciples of Christ 2,000 years later shows how well they did their job. But the mission continues and we are the successors to the Apostles. And our central mandate is to pass on, especially by the example of our lives, the commandment to love each other as Jesus loved us - by giving His life. It is the greatest love that one can show for another. Am I ready for this?