Discernment Assignment 2

“Why” the diaconate was

The title of deacon was originally established out of necessity.  The early Church, rightly, had its focus on prayer and evangelization.  The apostles identified an area of need in the ministry of the church, that being providing for the needs of the Greek widows.

In attempting to follow Jesus’s example, the early church’s singular focus on prayer and evangelization could be viewed as incomplete. Jesus’s public ministry includes both corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  The diaconate should not have ever been seen as something that was formed to meet a specific need at a specific time.  It is a necessary aspect of the church’s mission throughout church history, because “the deacon is compared with Christ, specifically, Christ the Servant." (Ditewig, 2007, Loc 722)

If this was a necessary aspect of the church’s mission, was this mission not being met during the time in which there was no permanent diaconate?  The diakonia mission of the church is not the responsibility of a few, but of the whole church militant.  Through baptism, we are anointed priest, prophet, and king.  We also need to be deacons for the world.  “Christians have deacons because Christians are deacons” (Ditewig, 2007, Loc 463).

“Who” the deacon is

A deacon is one who gives his life in service to God.  One for whom  “an effort is made to carry out what Jesus stated about his mission: “The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve—to give his life in ransom for many” (Mk 10:45; Mt 20:28).” (John Paul II, 10/20/1993, para. 2).  A deacon is not made through ordination, because the diaconate “involves a mind-set, a way of life, and a perspective on life that serve to connect people together. (Ditewig, 2007, Loc 561).  Ordination seeks to sacramentalize what is already there.

The deacon is a man that serves the bishop to bring the church and God’s love to the people.  God’s people are not always found in church, so the deacon seeks them out in the world.  God’s people are in hospitals, prisons, places of business, children’s sporting events, and even worshipping with other religions.  The deacon must seek out God’s people wherever they are so they can be reminded of God’s love for them.

The deacon is a man whose life of service brings him inevitably into participation in the liturgy.  This manifests itself through proclaiming the Gospel, preaching and instructing, and service at the altar.  This participation in the liturgy is not just another responsibility among many.  “Even for the deacon, liturgy should be the center of his life." (Ditewig, 2007, Loc 1070).

“What” a challenge is for the deacon in today’s world.

One of the biggest challenges facing the deacon today is one of identity.  The re-establishment of the permanent diaconate is still very young and many people do not know what role the deacon serves in the church.  This is not limited to only parishioners, but pastors as well.  The deacon can be seen as a junior priest or a professional layperson, neither of which is an apt description.

    Some people may see the renewed diaconate as the ancient order brought back to life.  This thought has some unusual characteristics that are probably acceptable to consider but need to be avoided in order to further clarify the deacon’s role.  Despite any evidence of ancient female deacons, the permanent diaconate is now an ordained minister.  Discussions that would lead to further participation by women in the diaconate could be very fruitful, but the diaconate is not that path.

    The ancient order also developed in a society very different from modern times.  Ancient Rome was a patristic society, so titles begot further titles.  In modern times, such a view could lead to a level of clericalism that should probably be retired.  “The renewed diaconate was never intended to recreate the patristic diaconate.”  (Ditewig, 2007, Loc, 850-851).  The deacon should demonstrate leadership not through authority, but through his service.  His service is what gives him the authority to proclaim the gospel.  His service is why he can preach and instruct.  His service is the reason that the deacon has a place at the altar.   The diaconate  “was not seen in the early Church as something one did, but as something one was." (Ditewig, 2007, Loc 595).  Continuing to develop the definition of this role to the priests and parishioners will continue to be a struggle for the foreseeable future.

Sources

John Paul II. (2014). Audiences of Pope John Paul II (English). Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

William T. Ditewig. (2007) The Emerging Diaconate: Servant Leaders in a Servant Church. Kindle Edition.