Deacons assist at the altar, proclaim the Word, and serve where the world often forgets to look. Their ministry reminds each of us that there are no sidelines in the Christian life: by our baptism, we are all called to seek out those left out and make room at God’s table.
The most primitive of Holy Orders - from the Last Supper
The Diaconate is the order of Deacons in the Church.
It is the order to which I belong. Deacons are men who live out the most primitive form of Holy Orders. By primitive I mean fundamental - basic, universal. All men in Holy Orders share the mission of the Deacon - which is to be the Servant of Christ. Some theologians posit that the heart of the Diaconate was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper when Jesus chose to wash the feet of the Apostles, and then commanded them to go and do likewise. Deacons first and foremost are ministers of service - to those in need.
The Apostles obeyed Christ’s Commandment in Acts 6
This sacrament was then shared by the Apostles by the first 7 Deacons as St. Luke recounts in the 6th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The Apostles chose 7 men and laid hands on them to confer to them part of their ministry to care for the needs of the Church. That is what we do. Deacons preach the Gospel, they Baptize, they witness Christian Marriages and they perform Christian burials as well as serve the parish to which they are sent by their Bishop.
Gift of Diakonia - Proclaiming the Gospel
The readings are so beautiful that I am in awe and have to ask the question - How did I come to be in this place?
The readings lead us into the heart of the Church along 3 avenues.
The Eschaton - our ultimate end.
The Incarnation and,
Living out the incarnation as a Minister of Christ
Isaiah - On this Mountain…
The first reading speaks both of the Eschaton, and of this place - this Liturgy. The Prophet Isaiah says “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth;”
Where is this mountain? The Mountain that the Prophet Isaiah speaks of is the Mountain of Calvary - where Christ ascends the Cross to destroy death forever and to remove the reproach of his people from the whole earth.
Where is this mountain? [[POINT TO THE ALTAR]] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and pure, choice wines.
[[POINT TO THE ALTAR]] On this mountain He will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations;
[[POINT TO THE ALTAR]] - On this mountain he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth;”
This is what happens here in the Mass today - here on this mountain.
When you stop to think about it - that is simply amazing, awesome, overwhelming. How did I come to be in this place?
[[PAUSE]]
Wedding Feast = Celebrating the Incarnation of Christ
If that was the only reading it would be awesome yet the Gospel leads us even deeper into the mystery of God’s love. In the Gospel today Jesus tells a parable to the Chief Priests and the Elders of the people about a king who had a wedding feast for his son. St. Augustine and Pope St. Gregory the Great teaches us that the King is God the Father, and the Wedding Feast to which all are invited is the feast of His Son, who chose to become incarnate and take on flesh.
We are all invited to the Feast
At first, the king sends his servants to those who are invited, and multiple times he invites them in. Some find excuses and others abuse the King’s servants so that he sends his troops after them.
Once the feast is ready the King says. 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.
There 2 uncomfortable parts of the Gospel
The reality that not all those for whom the feast was prepared come - rather they choose other things.
Not all those who make it into the feast are worthy to be there and some are cast into the darkness where there is wailing and grinding of teeth.
In the Mass today we considered these things when we prayed for mercy during the Act of Penitence before the Gloria. The Priest invites us to call to mind our sins - and then we pause…
For the ones who had a business or a farm to attend to we should consider
What things have I placed above or before Christ?
The reality is none of those things will last - that is the effect of the King’s troops burning them. Compared to what happens in this Church - those things are lesser.
The Servants invite the Good and the Bad
Notice that the Servants invite into the wedding feast both the good and the bad. The same is true here today. There are people here who have come to this liturgy, and yet are not ready to be in communion with God.
This is who the man without the wedding garment represents. This also leads us to consider if we have clothed ourselves in deeds that reflect the Christian life.
Have I lived a life of love?
Have I let my conscience be formed so as to not lead me away from God?
Have I allowed my conscience to purify my heart?
Is my faith in God sincere?
A question we all need to ask - Am I in some way holding Christ at a distance, saying “this is all I am comfortable with”? Am I unable to grow deeper with God because I am living a life of persistent sin?
It does not matter where we are today - it is where we are going that is important.
The great thing about God is that he continually invites us to a greater sense of adventure. It does not matter what excuses I used yesterday to avoid His will - today he invites us into a deeper communion with Him anew.
30 Years ago I first considered the call to Diakonia
30 years ago the Lord first put into my heart the possibility of studying to become a Deacon. It took him 11 years to prepare the way for me to enter into Holy Orders - but that is how I came to be in this place and I am filled with awe at the wonders God has worked in my sight.
A Litany thanking God
In my ministry as a Deacon many times I am in awe of God and ask - How did I come to be in this place?
At the Ambo - mandated by Christ to proclaim His Gospel - His Good News. To share with you the words and deeds of Christ.
To offer up the prayers of the people to God.
To accept the gifts of the people and prepare them to be offered to God the Father in the heart of the liturgy.
To bring the faithful the precious gift of the Blessed Sacrament.
To be with the poor who live in shacks made from packing crates, plastic and dirt.
With the sick in nursing homes whose family have forgotten them.
In houses with those who have just lost loved ones.
At cemeteries with families that are being torn apart by the unresolved conflict and with families drawn together in love and their grief.
Celebrating with a joy that only those with downs-syndrome know.
Before the Altar with a couple to accept their profession of love to one another and thereby enter into matrimony
With those suffering the loneliness of a divorce.
With the youth - playing a game, teaching them to juggle or witnessing to God’s love.
At the Baptismal font - pouring the life of the Blessed Trinity into the soul of a 5 year old who can’t get baptized fast enough.
It is good for us to reflect on how the Lord has led us to today and to ask him - where do you want me to go next?
