Mass readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter:
Acts 6.1-7 Psalm 33.1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Peter 2.4-9 John 14.1-12
We heard a story from the Book of Acts of a crisis in the Church: so many coming to believe in the Lord that the Apostles were being overwhelmed with the burden of care for the fast-growing community.
And so, special servants were appointed – the famous seven deacons (diakonoi in Greek, it literally translates into English as “servants”). It’s pretty significant because this is the first ordained office instituted according to the New Testament. Not bishops or priests (they are mentioned, but in working out the chronology, deacons come first). So, we had Apostles, and don’t have them any more – their successors are the bishops. And we had deacons then and still do. The ministry of service is then the most ancient continuous office of the Church, and it became and still is the practice of the Church that bishops cannot be bishops until they are first ordained as deacons. Indeed, in the ancient Church, into the Middle Ages and a little beyond, a bishop’s vestments, what he would wear to celebrate mass would be both those of deacon and priest. He would wear first the alb, the white garment we see the clergy wearing for the celebration of the Eucharist, then over that he would wear the Dalmatic, and that is a sleeved garment that deacons wear in the mass; and then over that would be worn the chasuble, the outer garment you see me in now. I can’t imagine how warm that must have been, how uncomfortable in the mediterranean climate of the ancient Roman world. But it was important to do it. It signified to the community of believers, it reminded the bishops, that the foundation of the Church’s ministry was that of outreach and service to the least, the materially poor, the sick, the elderly, the orphan and the widow. All these have a dignity that is guarded by the Church. And while we may not have a serving deacon in our parish, that ethic of service is to be maintained even here in Dundas: figuratively speaking, we should all dress ourselves first in the garment of the servant beneath whatever we wear, be that the business suit, the uniform, or the casual attire allowed at our place of work… or of study.
Today is the beginning of Catholic Education Week, and we might be inclined to celebrate that as merely a system of schools that teach reading, writing and arithmetic, with a dose of religion and a helping of prayer, but a proper Catholic education is really a spiritual formation for service. The world makes of schooling a preparation for work, for career, for a trade or a profession to be pursued. And yes, it is that, but in our tradition, it is the lesser aim. We should be forming our children and youth according to their vocation of service to God; to God in prayer and worship, to God in service to His people, to God in our charity to the least of our society.
The materials prepared for this year’s “education week” make extensive mention of St. Francis of Assisi. If you know his story, it was in the ruins of one of many neglected churches in Italy in a time of general spiritual neglect by the people, that Christ spoke to him from the cross and said, “Rebuild my house.”
And that was not glamourous work Francis was being called to. It was not prestigious; it was dirty and backbreaking. Indeed, people thought him a bit mad as he rebuilt the church as San Damiano, begging for materials, working other jobs as a labourer to get the money to buy what else he needed. And in terms of religious vocation, he wasn’t told to “go and be a priest.” No, rather, go and do the work. And you may know this, he was ordained a deacon. And that was important, because as important as the work was, it also required the discipline of a vow of obedience, a recognition of his connection to the Church and an accountability to it. And in Francis’ case it was a special accountability, because as a deacon he was given license to preach, and teach on behalf of the Church. And here he does the work of gathering the living stones that St. Peters spoke of, that is, us, the real material from which a church is built… and rebuilt.
Yet, we all as baptized people should recognize that accountability, as we affirm ourselves as part of a priesthood of all believers, as we receive into ourselves the Blessed Sacrament (as some will do so for the first time at this mass), and by that profess a faith and trust in Christ for which we must answer… answer not just at life’s end, but every day as we examine ourselves and ask if we are rebuilding the Church, serving the poor, the widow, the orphan. And by that, I don’t mean you pay your taxes and support a soulless bureaucracy and a public policy that frankly traps people into a closed cycle of poverty, mental health crisis, unemployment, family dysfunction, and so on. What do we do that truly brings people to Christ, reminds them of the God’s love and mercy for them, lifts them out of poverty of both spirit and body?
And of course, we cannot forget that it is May, Mary’s month, and we inaugurated this with her crowning. This should bring to mind Our Lady’s famous words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord…” – I am the servant of the Lord. Yes, she said other things, “my soul magnifies the Lord.” But that, and all of what she would say and do hinges upon that first assent she gave to God’s plans, his plans for her, for us, to be his willing servant in the difficult work that comes of being part of the work of Redemption in Christ Jesus.
Our Lord says, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these…”
Let us do the work then, as a community of believers, as individuals of faith, and know by this work who we are, servants of God, handmaids and deacons, following Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.
Amen.