Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 6:1–7
Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19
1 Peter 2:4–9
John 14:1–12
Easter revealed two major surprises to the early Christian community.
First, the promise of resurrection is true. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and forever put an end to that doubt. In many ways, Jesus showed that He is alive and that He is the same Jesus Who suffered and died. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. He is risen indeed! We must grow in our faith in that truth and come to understand its many implications.
The second, perhaps even more difficult truth is that the promise of resurrection and Christian living is intended for everyone. Language and customs that are different can get in the way of communicating the needs of diverse members of the community, and misunderstandings occur. It has been so from the beginning. The account of the challenge of the Greek-speaking widows is only the first of many such tales.
All we have to do is to look at our parish experiences today, and we find many who complain that their needs are neglected. Even though we tend to “speak the same language” in our usual communities, we still find differing expectations and ways of communicating what is perceived to be missing in the life of the Church. During COVID times, we missed being together and celebrating liturgically and socially.
Now, we seem to have lost the lesson that this time was meant to teach us. Pastors hear parishioners complain that things are not happening as they once did. Current generations are measured against “remembered standards” often without real attention to their situations.
It is wrong to judge anyone on the basis of “the way we were.” If we think about it honestly, we tend to have a “nostalgia for the never was.” The folks of past generations are our pioneers, and they gave us a legacy, but they did not face some obstacles that we experience.
Pay attention to what the Apostolic generation did. They acknowledged the complaints as expressing real needs. But they did not “neglect the Word.” Instead, they kept their eyes fixed on the proclamation of the Gospel. They found a creative way to extend the ministry by choosing the first deacons, helpers at the table, who were entrusted by the Apostles with a ministry of service, charity and the Word.
In our time, the renewal of the diaconate has shown us that deacons are still a great grace to the Church. Every priest who has worked with the deacons in his parish has discovered that they are a great help in the ministry.
Deacons may not have to speak Greek to help a particular subgroup in the community, though those who speak Spanish are invaluable to both the priest and the growing Latino population. Yet, deacons often serve as a bridge between the people and the shepherds who are entrusted with them. This is especially true when the priests are moved around, and the deacons, due to their family and job situations, are more stable presences in the community.
Often the best way for priests and deacons to discover what can be done as members of a pastoral team is to sit at the table together – eating breakfast between Masses on Sunday mornings, sharing a meal once a month, getting to know each other informally, perhaps even playing board games together. It is fun to invite deacons’ wives to join this and hear their insights as well.
What about those who have complaints that are new? We can learn from the choices of the Apostles. Keep our eyes fixed on the goal. Put the Word at the center. Then we can invite those with baptismal ministries and the power of the Spirit that flows from their confirmation to discover new forms of service, responding to new needs or to old needs in new ways.
Here is something to take to your heart: Before you complain to your pastor that someone is not doing his or her job or according to your expectation, think how you could do something about it or suggest someone with a particular skill who could make a difference.
Jesus promises us: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”