Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 13, 2024 - 2nd Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 6:1-7 and John 6:16-21]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." [Acts]
Although chapters 2 and 4 of the Acts of the Apostles speak to the unity and charity of the initial Christian community [2:42-47 and 4:32-37], we learn today that there were "growing pains" in the process of charity which threatened the unity of the disciples. The food pantry appears to have shown some bias in favor of Hebrew-speaking widows over Greek-speaking widows. The Greek-speakers were the result of the long Greek domination of Palestine after Alexander the Great conquered much of the area. Like many pastors I have known, the Apostles felt they didn't need the headache of administration that included fighting factions in the parish. The roots of the permanent diaconate are found in the solution the Apostles adopted.
Those of us who remember Catholic parish life prior to the Second Vatican Council can testify that one of the lasting and remarkable results of the council was the restoration of the permanent diaconate, which had fallen into disuse over the centuries and had become simply a brief step before ordination to the priesthood. Historically, however, for a long time the administration of the church was Bishop-Deacon. The middle order of presbyter (priest) developed in a similar way when bishops couldn't get to all the communities to baptize and confirm. So they delegated these tasks to some of the deacons, which led to a change in status for those deacons and the gradual development of the presbyterate in distinction from the diaconate. By the middle of the second century, the structure of bishop-priest-deacon was fairly common, as we learn from the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch, written on his way to Rome to be martyred early in the 2nd century AD. None of this happened in a neat orderly way, but it did happen. and was the result of efforts to meet the needs of the growing Christian community.
Because ecclesiastical power became so concentrated in bishops and priests over the centuries, the order of the permanent diaconate fell into disuse. Its restoration has not been without "growing pains" as permanent deacons have struggled to develop a distinct identity. They are not simply "almost-priests." Some parts of the church have still not accepted them as a regular part of Catholic ministry. The Acts of the Apostles today remind us, however, that they have an apostolic origin. AMEN