Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and
said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at
table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy
Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
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Commentary on Acts 6:1-7
This account from Acts is considered to be the institution of the
diaconate or the Order of Deacons. There is a clear delineation of roles. The
Apostles retain their pastoral role as shepherds of the faith (through “prayer and ministry
of the word.”) while
assigning the service role (distribution of food and material to the needy) to
Stephen and his six brother deacons. It is noteworthy to observe that Stephen
and Philip especially began their own service of the word as well.
Understanding the roots of the imposition of hands is key to
understanding the rationale for its use in the ordained function. While this
was a Hebrew tradition for designating a person for a task, it was later
adopted by the Church as a mark of ordination and sacramental selection by God
("From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ's will,
imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of hands the gift of the Spirit
that completes the grace of Baptism.”[4]).
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we
place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the Lord;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let
your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Upright is the word of the Lord,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R. Lord, let
your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let
your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Psalm 33 is a hymn of praise.
In these strophes we hear the note of thanksgiving for God’s salvation
and complete faith in God’s mercy. The
final strophe (v. 18-19) harkens to a time of great tribulation where the
Lord’s saving hand was clearly seen. (“The eyes of the Lord
are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness”)
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Reading 2: 1 Peter 2:4-9
Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those
without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone, and
A stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises” of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
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Commentary on 1 Pt 2:4-9
St. Peter begins this selection
exhorting the Christian reader to build the spiritual house of God, being part
of that house and strengthening it through prayer and sacrifice (the reference
here seems to point to the Eucharistic sacrifice common in the homes of the persecuted
Church).
The passage continues with the
“building” analogy, the use of the foundation and cornerstone simile. ”Christ
is the cornerstone (cf Isaiah 28:16) that is the
foundation of the spiritual edifice of the Christian community (1 Peter 2:5).
To unbelievers, Christ is an obstacle and a stumbling block on which they are
destined to fall (1 Peter 2:8); cf Romans 11:11.”[5]
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Gospel: John
14:1-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
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.”
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Commentary on Jn 14:1-12
This dialogue with the disciples is taking place at the Last
Supper. Jesus has already responded to Peter and now Thomas chimes in with; “Master, we do not
know where you are going; how can we know the way?” To which Jesus
responds with a phrase known to all Christians “I am the way and the truth and
the life.” He ends with another phrase that has been used and twisted
throughout the history of Christianity; “No one comes to the Father except
through me.”
Also in this passage from St.
John’s
He concludes this passage with a clear statement about the power
of faith in himself saying that whatever is asked for in his name will be
granted. Note especially that Jesus says these prayers (requests) will be
granted for the glory of the Father.
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Reflection:
There
is a long standing debate among the clergy as to whether permanent deacons
should be dispensed from wearing the Roman Collar [clerics] (as priests,
bishops, and seminarians do). We use the word “dispense” here because Church
Law says clerics are obliged to wear the Roman Collar in public at all times. Some dioceses do not dispense them, most
do. In fact most dioceses request that
permanent deacons not wear clerical garb to avoid confusion as to their status.
On
the side of those who feel deacons should wear “the collar” are those who
believe that an obvious and visible sign that a member of the Catholic Clergy
is present in the world is a valuable symbol.
It tells those who see this symbol that there is a person present who
represents the Church and is available for spiritual guidance or help at need.
On
the side of those who believe “the collar” is not necessary and is in fact
confusing are those who believe that it should be the actions of the individual
that proclaim a person dedicated to the service of God is present, not the
outward symbol. They argue that like
another deacon, St. Francis of Assisi, we should “Proclaim the Gospel always
and use words when we have to.” (as an aside, I recently read a scholarly article
that says St. Francis probably never actually said that but rather it is extracted
from his first Rule for the Franciscan Order.)
On
whichever side of this debate one comes down, one principle is clear. As Christians, we are called to take our
faith into the world and not hide it under a bushel (Matthew 5:15).
In
the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles we see the Church appointing
its first deacons to insure that the mercy and fidelity of Christ are carried
to all the members of the believing community.
They were selected, we are told, because they were “filled with the Spirit and wisdom.”
One might ask, “Well, how did the Apostles know they were “filled with
the Spirit and wisdom”? Did they go
around asking the members of the faith community; “Excuse me, are you filled
with the Holy Spirit and wisdom?” Probably
not, they selected these men because they had been observed by others to act in
ways which told the community that they had the heart of the servant Christ.
In
the second reading, St. Peter tells the community; “…like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house”. The quote goes on with “…to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
God through Jesus Christ.” This
spiritual building that St. Peter calls for is an interior faith that manifests
itself in an external way. It is only by
the external actions of individuals that the community, depending upon the
united actions of its entire membership, is built into the spiritual home that
is the Church.
Finally,
ultimately, in St. John’s
Today,
five weeks following our Easter of Joy, we are reminded again what it means to
have faith in the Risen Lord, Jesus. We
are called to act in His Name to reveal the love of God the Father to all we
meet so there will be no confusion about who we are and what we stand for. Challenging times lay ahead for us.
Pax
In other Years: Optional
Memorial for Saint Isidore (readings may be taken from the Common
of Holy Men and Women. Additional Information about
St. Isidore.
[1]
ALTRE
[2]
The picture is “Saint Stephen” by Bernardo Zenale, 1502-07
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
[4]
CCC
1288
[5]
See NAB Footnote on 1 Peter 2:4-8
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