Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 7, 2011 - 2nd Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 6:1-7 and John 6:16-21,898]As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Anyone who has ever been a pastor of a new and growing parish will find himself (or herself) nodding at this story with a rueful smile. The early Christian community experienced "growing pains!" There were more than Aramaic-speaking Jews in the Holy Land. There were Greeks, Romans and Palestinians, etc.etc. As the preaching attracted new believers, the traditional internal welfare system that cared for widows and orphans and the poor began to break down! Any pastor knows the headaches that parish administration can bring, and dealing with a bunch of angry widows is enough to send any pastor running for cover! So, a valuable lesson is taught here in the form of delegation and the result is the early development of diaconal ministry in the church, which was restored from its gradual disappearance to importance in the church after the Second Vatican Council.
One of my preaching ministries is that of preaching retreats for Permanent Deacons (and their spouses). I am continually inspired by the faith of these folks. If one were to read the current program of formation for the permanent diaconate, one could easily get the impression that it is like studying for the priesthood on the weekends! The process is challenging for both deacon candidate and for spouse! This program itself had growing pains in its initial stages before the 2004 "directory" created a more effective formation program. The American church has more than half the world's Permanent Deacons!
The vocation of Permanent Deacon has a certain built-in flexibility. They are both pew people and altar people! This can give them a unique perspective, but it also carries with it the dangers of power. Like priests, deacons are subject to the same temptations to power that exist in any parish or ministry. Their role is still in the process of development because one may find deacons at almost any level of the church's organization in this country. The Permanent Diaconate was not restored to create semi-priests but to broaden the ability of the church to meet the vast array of needs that confront it. The passage from Acts today shows this fact. In other parts of the world, the development of catechists who perform many of the same tasks that deacons do in America is another example. Pastors who cannot delegate are going to have to deal with the angry widows! AMEN