Today in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we read about the first deacons in the Church:
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 at 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).
The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word διάκονος (diakonos) which means “servant”. The deacons took care of those who had no one to care for them, like the widows. The role of the deacon is a special one, a servant and a prophetic voice calling for social justice. As we know, deacons still have a vital place in our Church today.
This year at the diaconate ordination in the Diocese of Texas, the Rev. Sam Todd preached. Here is a little of what he said about deacons:
You also in your person and by your ministry will be a prophetic reminder to us priests and bishops of the core of our calling. The misguided advocates of so-called per saltum ordination think it insulting to the diaconate that some people should pass through it on their way to other orders. But in fact no one does pass through the diaconate. Because the orders are not sequential but layered, the diaconate remains the foundation of all ordained ministry. . . .
The most important cleric in my life was Deacon Merrill Hutchins who taught me in high school and introduced me to the 19th century novel John Inglesant. I was much struck by a particular passage within it. A Benedictine named Cressy says to the title character: “I put before you your life, with no false colouring, no tampering with the truth. Come with me to [Haiti, he might have said] …There you shall teach the smallest children in the schools, and visit the poorest people, and perform the duties of the household – and all for Christ. I promise you on the faith of a gentleman and a priest – I promise you, for I have no shade of doubt – that in this path you shall find the satisfaction of the heavenly walk; you shall walk with Jesus day by day, growing ever more and more like to Him; and your path, without the least fall or deviation, shall lead more and more into the light, until you come unto the perfect day; and on your death-bed – the death-bed of a saint – the vision of the smile of God will sustain you, and Jesus Himself shall meet you at the gates of eternal life” (J. Henry Shorthouse, John Inglesant, A Romance, Scholarly Press, Chapter XIX, p. 203).
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 at 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).
The word “deacon” comes from the Greek word διάκονος (diakonos) which means “servant”. The deacons took care of those who had no one to care for them, like the widows. The role of the deacon is a special one, a servant and a prophetic voice calling for social justice. As we know, deacons still have a vital place in our Church today.
This year at the diaconate ordination in the Diocese of Texas, the Rev. Sam Todd preached. Here is a little of what he said about deacons:
You also in your person and by your ministry will be a prophetic reminder to us priests and bishops of the core of our calling. The misguided advocates of so-called per saltum ordination think it insulting to the diaconate that some people should pass through it on their way to other orders. But in fact no one does pass through the diaconate. Because the orders are not sequential but layered, the diaconate remains the foundation of all ordained ministry. . . .
The most important cleric in my life was Deacon Merrill Hutchins who taught me in high school and introduced me to the 19th century novel John Inglesant. I was much struck by a particular passage within it. A Benedictine named Cressy says to the title character: “I put before you your life, with no false colouring, no tampering with the truth. Come with me to [Haiti, he might have said] …There you shall teach the smallest children in the schools, and visit the poorest people, and perform the duties of the household – and all for Christ. I promise you on the faith of a gentleman and a priest – I promise you, for I have no shade of doubt – that in this path you shall find the satisfaction of the heavenly walk; you shall walk with Jesus day by day, growing ever more and more like to Him; and your path, without the least fall or deviation, shall lead more and more into the light, until you come unto the perfect day; and on your death-bed – the death-bed of a saint – the vision of the smile of God will sustain you, and Jesus Himself shall meet you at the gates of eternal life” (J. Henry Shorthouse, John Inglesant, A Romance, Scholarly Press, Chapter XIX, p. 203).
That is the life of a deacon.
Let us pray: O God, most merciful Father, we praise you for sending your Son Jesus Christ, who took on himself the form of a servant, and humbled himself, becoming obedient even to death on the cross. We praise you that you have highly exalted him, and made him Lord of all; and that, through him, we know that whoever would be great must be servant of all. We praise you for the many ministries in your Church, and for calling this your servant to the order of deacons. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
Please let Pat Tate, Alicia Gaskin or myself know if you or others are coming so that we can get an accurate head count.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September and lasting into October. This year’s theme is “Spirit”.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
In thanksgiving for the grants received from the Anglican Compass Rose Society and First Presbyterian Church in Galveston
Joyce Merritt who is undergoing cancer treatment after surgery
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
For the intentions of everyone at St. Augustine
For all those who are traveling
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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