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You who have followed me

Today is that Feast of St Matthias and the Communion Antiphon is a text from the Gospel according to St Matthew (19: 28).

Vos qui secuti estis me, sedebitis super sedes,
iudicantes duodecim tribus Israel, dicit Dominus.

You who have followed me, shall sit upon thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel, says the Lord.

The promise of future glory is made in the context of having followed Christ. Our reception of Holy Communion is a pledge of future glory, as the antiphon “O Sacrum Convivium” reminds us. It is also at the same time, our commitment to follow Christ. Of course, the apostles, and perhaps St Matthias too, were not very good followers – they understood little and deserted Christ in his Passion. Consolation perhaps for us in our weakness. Yet we ought not to forget how they were transformed on the day of Pentecost, which we celebrated on Sunday, into fearless witnesses, following Christ, even to death, in imitation of their Lord and Master. There is hope yet for us, that we may be better followers, for the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to us too in the sacraments of initiation.