FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, CYCLE A, 2008

In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we find the apostles faced with one of their first problems as leaders of the Church, after the Ascension of Christ.

We hear that the Hellenist women were being neglected in the daily distribution of food and supplies, and they brought their concern to the apostles.

During this time in history, a widow had no means of support if she did not have a son to care for her. The widows and widows with small children were in a desperate situation. They were dependent upon the charity of the community for their lives. Being neglected could be life threatening.

As in the story of the feeding of the thousands with five loves and two fishes, the apostles are charged with not only the spiritual needs of the people, but also with the other needs of the community.

Both of these tasks were monumental. The apostles soon realized that they could not do it all, otherwise they would spread themselves too thin, and their ministry of the word would suffer.

In order to meet the material needs of the community the apostles needed help. So they set out to find seven reputable men filled with the Spirit, and with wisdom to serve the community with their physical needs.

The seven men presented to the apostles were ordained by the apostles through prayer and the laying on of hands. These seven men were the first deacons of the Church.

These men were filled with the Spirit, which means among other things they were loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, humble, good, faithful and possessed self control. They possessed the FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

There was in their eyes neither Jew of Gentile, woman or man, free or slave. All were their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were entrusted with the task of serving the people of God.

Today, as in the time of the apostles, Deacons are called to be servants, to be spirit filled men and to have wisdom.

One of the first deacons, Stephen, was "a man richly blessed by God and full of power, {he} performed great miracles and wonders among the people." (Acts 6:8) The members of the synagogue opposed Stephen, and through false witnesses he was accused of blasphemy and was stoned to death. Stephen was the first martyr of the church after the Ascension of Christ into Heaven.

The office of Deacon was revised in the church by the Second Vatican Council as a means to once again provide service for the people of God. Today Deacons serve the Church at the pleasure of the Bishop or Archbishop. Deacons serve in churches, jails, prisons, as parish administrators in regions where there are few priests. They teach RCIA, prepare couples for marriage, and preside at marriages, baptisms and funerals.

The call to be servants is not limited to the Priests, deacons and religious. We all have been called to be servants by our Baptism. We hear in Matthew 25:35-37 that we are called to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, give shelter to the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison.

Jesus, the Son of God, became man and showed us how we are to live our lives. Last week we celebrated Jesus as the Good Shepard.

The Good Shepard goes after his lost sheep, he protects them, and he gave his life for us.

As Baptized Catholics we are called to do the same, we are called to be holy and spirit filled people who live our faith by loving and serving those around us.

I challenge you this week to perform some act of service to someone around you. This person may be your, husband, your wife, your children, your parents, a relative, a friend, a person in need, or someone at work that you do not see eye to eye with.

Jesus came as a servant, he showed us this when he washed his disciples feet. We, his followers, are called to do the same. Let us live our faith and be servants.