MIND THE GAP

Acts 1:20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’

In today’s reflection, let’s take a closer look at the word ‘gap’. This is defined as the break or the interval between two objects or a break in continuity. Among the many aspects of the homily at Mass this morning, one question was thrown out there but not expounded on: Why did the gap have to be filled? The background of the question stemmed from the text which focused on the selection of Matthias to take the place of Judas Iscariot in the apostolate.

That question kept playing on my mind even after service. Besides the scriptural profession that this was expected, why did another have to take his place and why did the gap have to be filled? In the context of the text read today, the gap highlighted  was for a man’s position, however, there can be many other gaps that can be related to this: gaps in knowledge, emotion, position, etc.

Gaps like these need filling because of specifity and intentionality of the  purposes attached to them. Let’s break this down: when gaps are not intentionally filled with the things that need to be there, other things take that place. As an example, when qualified persons do not apply for a position, alternatives are drafted in. When the right emotions are not held, alternatives take over. That is the truth about gaps.

Beloved, when not filled up early enough, even the tiniest of gaps can become chasms which require a greater deal of effort and harder work to successfully fill up so let us ‘mind the gap’.

#sly