If you remember the story, after Judas was dead the eleven remaining apostles felt the need to replace him so that their symbolic number of twelve would remain. After a discernment process, Matthias was chosen. St. James was the next of the twelve to die — martyred ten or so years after the death of Jesus. At this time the remaining apostles did not feel a need to replace him. They had fulfilled their role as apostles — witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Now a new form of leadership was needed for the nascent Jesus movement to prosper and grow. A good reminder that style of leadership in the Church changes in response to the changing times to deliver the gospel the effectively.
JULY252017
By Church Staff
