Each year, the Christian community observes the Feast of St. Matthias, a day set aside to honor the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot following his betrayal of Jesus Christ.
St. Matthias's story is found in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:15-26). After the Ascension of Jesus, the remaining eleven apostles, led by Peter, decided to fill the vacancy left by Judas. The criteria for Judas's replacement were specific: it had to be someone who had accompanied Jesus and the disciples from the time of John the Baptist until Jesus’s Ascension. Two men were proposed: Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. The apostles prayed for divine guidance and cast lots, and Matthias was chosen, restoring the group to the symbolic number of twelve.
After his selection as an apostle, little is known about Matthias’s life and ministry. However, various traditions hold that he preached in Judea and then carried the Gospel to Ethiopia.
Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Matthias
Read Acts 1:15-26
Make Dabo Kolo—an easy-to-make, crunchy, spicy snack that is common in Ethiopia. Scroll down for the recipe.
Since St. Matthias spread the gospel in Ethiopia, I wanted to feature incredible ministry happening in Ethiopia through the Anglican Relief and Development Funds' Love the World Campaign. I'm sharing the links if you'd like to contribute your Lenten alms to the work that they are doing.
Here are 2 incredible projects happening in Ethiopia right now through ARDF -
In Gambella, Ethiopia
Clean Water For An Entire Community
In a region where contaminated water results in sickness and death, the church is building a deep borewell which will provide life-giving water. They hope this well is one of many, promoting a source of peace-building in a region where water scarcity has led to conflict. This gives the Church a clear testimony of the good news of Christ who offers the living water of the Gospel! The Church is excited to offer this water to everyone - regardless of faith or tribe - extending the love of Christ to all people. Our partner Bishop Jeremiah reports that a revival is sweeping the community and many young people are coming to faith. “This water is part of preaching the gospel, preaching the love of Christ.” - The Rev. Jeremiah Maet Paul, Bishop of the Diocese of Gambella.
In Tigray, Ethiopia
Trauma Healing Training Brings Hope
Two years of war in the Tigray region of Ethiopia ended in November 2022, leaving the population traumatized by the brutality of the conflict. More than two million people were forced to flee their homes, and roughly 600,000 lives were lost. The people’s normal patterns of living have been replaced by poverty, uncertainty, and even more violence, while the emotional and spiritual wounds left have created a cycle of trauma, especially among women and children. The Anglican church there is focused on trauma care and healing, bringing hope to the entire community. They seek to train church, healthcare, and educational leaders, with a vision to reach up to 525,000 people in 2 years. “Trauma pain that is not transformed is transferred. Without intervention, those who have experienced hardships and suffering often experience lasting trauma.” - Frederick Barasa, Senior Research Analyst
Recipe for Ethiopian Dabo Kolo
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cayenne, or more to taste
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
Pour the vegetable oil into the bowl and use your hands to mix it in. The mixture will still seem dry.
Pour the water into the dough, little by little, kneading in between. The dough should not be sticky or crumbly. Once all the water has been added, use your hands to knead for 5 minutes.
Flour a dry, flat surface and use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it’s about ¼ inch thick. Then, cut the dough into strips lengthwise and horizontally. The pieces should be about ½ inch on all sides.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat with no oil or grease. Add the pieces to the skillet and mix occasionally for about 20 minutes until they’re toasted on all sides.
Recipe from www.foreignfork.com