Sequence for St. Mathias
Matthias, chosen as a saint—
a warrior through victory—
yet not before the Lamb’s bloodshed
was he chosen,
but late to conscience came,
as starts the man who did not keep
the watch full wakefully.
God’s gift shook him awake, and then
for joy he leapt,
a giant in his strength,
for God foresaw this man
just like that Man whom once from mud
he formed when first the angel fell
who God denied.
That human saw his chance, his chosenness—
alas! He fell!
The oxen and the rams he had,
but from their sacrifice he turned his face
and sent them empty away.
And so he wandered in the pit of coal,
his own desires raised—
sealed with a kiss—
with zeal he mounts
Olympus.
And then Matthias—the Godhead’s choice—
arose, a giant,
for God set him into that place
that fallen man disdained.
O wonder of wonders that thus in him
shines forth!
For God foresaw this man within his wonders—
he had not yet
the merit of his work, but God’s mysterious way
took joy in him,
though this was not what he
had planned.
O joy of joys,
that God would so enact
to spend his grace upon a man who knew it not—
the little child knows not where the grown man flies,
yet to the little one
God gave his wings.
For God enjoys the man
who thinks not of himself,
because his voice
cries out to God, as did Matthias
when he said:
“O God, my God, who didst create me, all
my works are thine.”
Therefore rejoice now, all the Church,
in St. Matthias, whom God chose
thus in the dove’s cleft rock.
Amen.