1. Acts 1:15-26 The apostles chose Matthias to take the place of Judas, to join those who accompanied Jesus and witnessed His Resurrection. Excerpts from The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval ofthe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

2. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. 18 (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 3. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it; and His office let another take. 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from usone of these men must become with us a witness to His resurrection. 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, so which one of these two have you chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship 4. from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place. 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. 5. Peter Continuesin His LeadershipRole We are told that the number of the disciples was about 120. That is one of the most promising statements in the New Testament. There were only 120 loyal to Christ but they would bring Christianity to the world. At the time there were about 4,000,000 Jews in Israel, this means that fewer than 1 in 30,000 were Christians. 6. This reading provides another example of Peters leadership role as the head of the Apostles or Bishops. After praying to the Lord to show them who should fill the office of Judas, they cast lots. That same type of procedure is followed when the Cardinals come together to choose a new leader of the Church or Pope. God answered the Apostles prayers by having the lot fall on the one who should be chosen, in this case, Matthias. God still guides His Church on Earth when guiding the Cardinals voting when selecting a Pope, or when the Universal Church teaches the people of God. 7. Excerpts from The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval ofthe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.