If you ever wondered about those people who serve at the altar wearing stoles that go from one shoulder and across the chest, well, today’s reading from Acts tells us who these people are:
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The first deacons of the Church were selected to serve those who were being neglected. They were selected because they were filled with the Holy Spirit and people of wisdom. They could look at the community and discern what they needs were and they worked to make sure that those needs were met.
Sometimes, however, deacons suffer for their ministry because they exercise a prophetic voice, meaning that like the prophets of the Old Testament, they call us to action and accountability. Stephen is a wonderful example of that. Stephen finds himself in the middle of an argument with some people from the synagogue who do not understand the depth of his wisdom and his being filled with the Holy Spirit. In short, it sounds like he told them something they didn't want to hear. So feeling threatened, they plot to do away with him. Sometimes when we stand up for what we believe in, we find ourselves at odds with others, even family and friends. Welcome to the deacon’s world. Yet, if we rely on the Holy Spirit and persevere in doing what is right and standing up for those who have no advocates, our faces will shine like those of angels as well.
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The first deacons of the Church were selected to serve those who were being neglected. They were selected because they were filled with the Holy Spirit and people of wisdom. They could look at the community and discern what they needs were and they worked to make sure that those needs were met.
Sometimes, however, deacons suffer for their ministry because they exercise a prophetic voice, meaning that like the prophets of the Old Testament, they call us to action and accountability. Stephen is a wonderful example of that. Stephen finds himself in the middle of an argument with some people from the synagogue who do not understand the depth of his wisdom and his being filled with the Holy Spirit. In short, it sounds like he told them something they didn't want to hear. So feeling threatened, they plot to do away with him. Sometimes when we stand up for what we believe in, we find ourselves at odds with others, even family and friends. Welcome to the deacon’s world. Yet, if we rely on the Holy Spirit and persevere in doing what is right and standing up for those who have no advocates, our faces will shine like those of angels as well.
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