In the weeks after Easter, prior to Pentecost, the Sunday readings and
Gospels introduce us to multiple ways of how best to be a disciple of Jesus.
In the Second Sunday of Easter it involved believing without having physical proof to help one believe. The Third Sunday was about overcoming the truth about scriptural references to Jesus’ resurrection. The Fourth Sunday was listening to God’s call for us as a shepherd calls His sheep.
This, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, is about truly believing what Jesus said about Himself: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6) “Whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)
In essence, God offers us multiple ways to understand who He is and what He does for us as His creation so we can trust that His promise of eternal life is available to us. For our part, we need to choose what works best for us since all of us learn in different ways.
St. Peter’s Letter to the Christian community tells us how we must become a holy nation, a people set apart through our Sacrament of Baptism, united in Christ. This is how we grow in the faith, by establishing Jesus as our foundation. By understanding this, we recognize discipleship as a selfless calling which the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles explains in the establishment of the Diaconate in which holy men were initially selected to perform specific tasks as disciples in line with St. John’s Gospel.
For me, it is a nostalgic reminder that began in 1983 when I was asked by a deacon who I greatly admired to consider becoming an active disciple in the Diaconate in addition to my marriage. Though I was aware of who deacons were, I didn’t quite understand what they did. It took 15 years to respond to that call by being accepted into formation followed by my ordination on April 30, 2005. And here I am 40 years later and 18 years a deacon.
In general, deacons are ordained for three purposes: Serving at the altar; proclaiming the Good News; and working in charity and social justice venues either or both in a parish and outside of church. They report to the bishop and work with pastors and priests usually at a parish from which they were ordained, at least for the first year.
An unpaid position, though sometimes they receive stipends for witnessing marriages or mileage for facilitating committal services at times, they are present for whatever the need is.
What I have learned mostly as a deacon is how to be present to the people you serve, whether it is a time of happiness or sorrow. My wife often reminds me one needs to listen to a person you are meeting before sharing what might be helpful and to be aware you are representing God and His ways. That is how we identify with Jesus and His mission.
Whether we are called to be a disciple in the Diaconate or in some other area of our life, we have been chosen as holy people to proclaim that Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life. Let us take this week to reflect on the opportunity God has given us to be an active participant to reach out beyond our comfort zone and spread the Good News that Jesus shared while on earth and currently through the Holy Spirit. That is what we promise at our Baptism as holy disciples of God and His ways.
Reading 1: Acts 6: 1-7
Reading 2: First Peter 2: 4-9
Gospel: John 14: 1-12
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