Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (15: 9-17) in which Jesus says, ‘As the Father has loved me so I have loved you. Remain in my love’.  After reading the Gospel, Fr Paul shares a little about St Matthias, whose memorial we celebrate today.Fr Paul says Matthias was not one of the original disciples but was chosen after Judas betrayed Jesus, which we heard a little of earlier this week. We know that two candidates were put forward and that lots were drawn. As we are told in the Gospels, the lot fell to Matthias.The drawing of lots is a recognised Jewish custom, random events independent of any natural or human cause was seen as a direct expression of God’s will.So today Fr Paul says, we might remember that when we attain a position that we have got there because of the people we have met and the things we have done and, more fundamentally, because of the gifts and talents God has given us.
So, in the tradition our church, Fr Paul invites us to ask, ‘St Matthias, pray for us!’