“And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Tuesday 14th May 2024 – ACTS 1:15-17, 20-26.
So, some of us that indulge in gambling, when we pick our betting numbers, we would go back home, put the ticket inside the Holy Bible and pray on it for about three days. Then, we would return the ticket and play our bet.
On such days that we are lucky enough to be part of the one millionth person to so win, we would quickly attribute such winnings to the supposed prayer ritual that we undertook. It could or couldn’t be true.
Then, we would also supposedly attribute it to the aspect of casting lots in today’s teaching☝️above from the Scriptures.
Nevertheless, some of us would agree that the act of putting our betting ticket in the Bible and praying over it is just an exercise in futility.
God cannot be bottled up and used whenever and however at our whims and caprices just as if we like some magician. God is bigger than such rituals.
Nevertheless, casting lots was a way of life during the time of Christ’s earthly life.
The Roman soldiers that crucified Christ Jesus also cast lots to decide who shall take his inner seamless garment – “so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” – JOHN 19:24.
So, my dear friend, casting lots is not a completely prohibited issue, neither is it somewhat of an exclusive practice of pagans.
Christians too, still cast lots. Just as it was🔺️above with the apostles of Jesus Christ in today’s teaching.
When we are faced with the situation of making a choice out of the remaining best, like the early Church did. We too, must pray fervently about it.
When the Holy Spirit ministers to us on the best choice, then, good. However, if not, and, when we run against time, after our prayer, we can, and we should cast lots.
By the way, haven’ we been doing that already?
When we are going to fill vacant office(s), having prayed and possibly fasted about it, don’t we go ahead to conduct election to elect people into the office(s)?
That is it! It is equally akin to casting lots.
Casting lots, notwithstanding, the cardinal point to note is PRAYER. First, we must pray about it. This is very, very important. As matter of fact, it is more ‘importanter’ that election or casting lots.
The Apostle Matthias, the second twelfth apostle, the subject matter of today’s teaching therefore, wasn’t a product of casting of lots, rather, he was a product of prayer.
My dear friend, that thing we want to do, or are doing right now, or that which distresses us, we should pray about it. prayer changes things. Prayer is the key.
#SAINT_MATTHIAS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo.