I shall not call you servants anymore, because servants do not know what their master is about. Instead, I have called you friends, since I have made known to you everything I
learned from my Father. You did not choose me; it was I who chose you and sent you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And everything you ask the Father in my name, he will
give you. This is my command, that you love one another.

Reflection:

Here are two men who qualified to fill in the vacancy
left by Judas Iscariot in the college of apostles: Barsabbas
and Matthias. Both of them were equally qualified. But
ultimately, Matthias was chosen. What happened to Barsabbas?
How would he have felt at his non-selection? Given the order
of the mention of names and the length of description, you
cannot but doubt that Barsabbas had greater popularity –
“Joseph, called Barsabbas, also known as Justus” (= the just
one). But, as always, God chose the second in line, who was
simply mentioned by Peter as “and Matthias.” [As per tradition,
Barsabbas later became Bishop of Eleutheropolis, died a martyr,
and is venerated as St. Justus of Eleutheropolis.] The choice
of one over the other is no rejection of the latter; it is simply
that God has his plans for each one. Whatever be the position
assigned to us, it never robes us of doing the most important
work: Keep on loving.

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