An extract from the Dean's sermon for the Feast of Saint Matthias on 24 February 2019:
Whatever happened to Matthias and Joseph?
For that matter, whatever happened to the other 102 persons whose names are not even mentioned in Acts 1?
We have no idea, but we do know that because of their faithfulness the legacy of Jesus did not vanish after Easter but became a social movement that challenged, confronted and defeated the Roman Empire.
Two hundred and ninety-five years after that first Extraordinary General Meeting of the Jesus movement in Jerusalem, the Christian Emperor Constantine summoned the bishops of the Roman world to a council in Nicea. The creed they agreed upon is what we shall stand to say together after this sermon ends.
It all began with Matthias and the other 119 people who Luke says were gathered in the secret room between the Ascension and Pentecost.
From little things big things grow.
Thanks be to God.
The full text of this sermon is available online along with a video of it being delivered.