In 1973, during The Who’s concert at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, drummer Keith Moon collapsed twice after overdosing on tranquilizers and brandy. Guitarist Pete Townshend finally stepped to the mike and asked the crowd, “Can anybody play the drums?”

In fact, someone could. Who fan Scot Halpin, 19 years old, was right in the front row, and his friend’s frantic yelling caught the eye of the concert promoter, who had him brought up on stage.

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Go back about 1,940 years. The apostles are in Jerusalem, having just witnessed Jesus’ ascension. They realize they need to regroup and move forward, and in order to do so they need to replace Judas.

Matthias is the one who gets called up to the big stage. He’s been a follower all along, says Peter, “one of the men who has accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us” (Acts 1:21).

What happened next was the rush of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Surely Matthias was as unprepared as all of the apostles for the power of that moment and the change it brought to his life.

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St. Matthias has a day on the Church’s calendar, which is cool, but Rolling Stone magazine named Scot Halpin “Best Pick-Up Player of the Year” in 1973.

What practice do you need so that you’ll be ready to step onstage when your time comes?