Deacons
Before there were priests in the church, there were deacons.
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. - Acts 6:1-15
Deacons may have the least understood role in the church.
Everyone knows what the priest does. The priest is responsible for the congregation. It is the priest who guides people in their faith, teaching Christian formation and providing the sacraments.
And the Bishop, descended from the Apostles, is responsible for the diocese of many congregations. The Bishop ordains the clergy, including the priests and deacons.
In the beginning of the church, when the apostles were just starting to develop a following from among the people, it became clear that the needs of the community were great.
They needed more than healing, both physically and spiritually. They were hungry and thirsty, like the many who had gathered to hear Jesus.
The first deacons were charged with serving the community of the faithful, and they would go out among them, assessing their needs and finding ways to meet them.
Like the priest, the deacon works for the bishop, but most deacons work alongside priests, based in their parishes.
From the beginning, deacons saw to the physical needs of the people, while the priests who came later, saw to their spiritual needs. Today, it is the deacon who sets the table for the people to eat, while the priest administers the sacrament of the Eucharist, participating in the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
Many deacons begin their ministry in the world and function in the church part of the time. They find ways to take the Word out to the people where they live and work.
It is up to the deacons to be creative in difficult times, like during the pandemic, when it is not as easy to reach the people.
So, today, as we remember the first deacons, let us also remember all who came before us, all who served in the world and may only have been noticed when they set the table at the altar.
More to come...