A deacon sent me this e-mail yesterday, which is challenging and thought-provoking — for me and, perhaps, for all deacons: <\/p>\n
I read your column (blog) regularly and enjoy it. It is obvious that you enjoy your ministry \u2013 especially your preaching.<\/p>\n
I want to gently and lovingly challenge you \u2013 I see very very little if anything in your blog \u2013 about your service to the poor and the marginalized\u2026\u2026?<\/p>\n
It seems to me the heart of the deacon\u2019s ministry is to be this service (along with others in the parish) to the poor, the dispossessed, the marginalized \u2013 those who suffer (thus, the sick, the incarcerated, the immigrants, the poor, etc.). It seems to me that the role of the Deacon in fact, is to be the Sacramental Sign of this service \u2013 this \u201cdiakonia\u201d to the poor and marginalized \u2013 that should be the heart of your ministry \u2013 and then, which you bring to your ministries of the Word and Liturgy. The deacon models in a sense the \u2018dirty hands\u2019 of working with the poor that then bless, and baptize, pray and preach\u2026\u2026..it is such an important reminder to the Church \u2013 that we are not just another \u2018clubby fraternity\u2019 \u2013 but rather those called by the Lord to assist him in building the Kingdom \u2013 here on earth \u2013 by serving the least \u2013 as the Beatitudes suggest we will be judged on \u2013 that Kingdom that will be in it\u2019s fullness only in Heaven\u2026.<\/p>\n
The Church desperately needs that reminder \u2013 that call \u2013 otherwise, I fear you risk becoming just another cleric consumed with \u2018clerical things\u2019 — vestments, sacramental celebrations, being \u2018in front and center\u2019 of the assembly \u2013 preaching and on the altar — all of which is good, but all of which does not really differentiate a deacon (a priest can do all the above).<\/p>\n
The world is so broken, so full of the \u201cinvisible\u201d poor around us \u2013 I wanted to challenge you to embrace the fullness of your ministry. We the Church (the people) need that reminder that to approach the Eucharistic table of the \u2018broken Bread\u2019 of heaven, we must see and serve Christ in the \u2018broken lives, hearts, situations\u2019 of the poor. Again, perhaps you are very involved but I have to say then, you should bring that to your ministry of preaching and teaching (your blog). I don\u2019t see it there.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A deacon sent me this e-mail yesterday, which is challenging and thought-provoking — for me and, perhaps, for all deacons: I read your column (blog) regularly and enjoy it. It is obvious that you enjoy your ministry \u2013 especially your preaching. I want to gently and lovingly challenge you \u2013 I see very very little…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deacons","category-my-world"],"yoast_head":"\n
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