2nd Day of Easter, Monday April 13: Acts 1:12-26

Easter Monday is not a religious holiday, but some people take it as a fourth day of a long weekend that starts less festively than others. We could all do with a pause, a let-down to get ready to go on. The disciples huddle back in the city, not ready to rush off – noticing who and what they’ve lost, who and what’s left.

Acts lists 11 disciples - notes the company of women, and of Jesus’ mother and brothers – about 120 people in all, hardly a small upper room. Peter sums up Judas’ role, and Acts adds the tradition of the field of blood. Is it all Judas’ fault, or was it his part of making the inevitable or ordained occur?

How’d we get the replacement? Sure, there is a standard of persistence, and the candidates were qualified by sticking with Jesus from baptism to empty tomb. Sure, the whole crowd prays for God to show them the right choice. But in the end, they just draw straws – as good as the way we choose church leaders?