Deacon Tom Writes,
“All Is
Well”
The first lesson we
hear in today’ readings gives us profound insight into a distinguishing
characteristic of the calling we have
received. The Apostles find themselves in a crisis. The material needs of some
of the members of the fledging community are being ignored. It just so happens
(doesn’t it always seem to be the case!) the needs being overlooked are those
of a minority group composed of Greek widows. At that time, you may recall,
widows were outcasts; they had no standing in the community, and were left on
their own to fend for themselves and their children. This was a horrible
situation, of course. We read today that this did not sit well with the Apostles.
They knew they had to respond in a way that was consistent with the teachings
Jesus had left them. Their logical solution...get some help. And thus we read that
after some discernment, the Apostles chose the first six deacons upon whom the
imposed the laying on of hands. The word deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos, which literally means “through the dust” and is often
translated as “servant” or “waiter”. This ministry arose out of need to provide for both the
spiritual and material needs of the community. Overcoming our worries about our
temporal needs provides much comfort for our anxious and troubled hearts.
In the gospel, Jesus
aims at soothing a much deeper worry that troubles our hearts that comes with
the death of a loved one. I find this particular passage we hear today utterly
amazing. This is part of the “Last
Discourse” of Jesus we find in Chapter 14 of John’s gospel. Take some time
to read it and reflect on it with this thought in mind: Jesus knows he is about
to die. His own words to His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem where he
would, “suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the
chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (LK 9:22) were coming to fruition
soon. Yet,
with this unimaginable,
overwhelming burden plaguing His own spirit, Jesus comforts His disciples; He tells them “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. These are powerful words from
a man on death row whose concern is not about Himself, but about the well-
being of His followers. Jesus’ hope is that His words put our troubled hearts
at rest. We do not have to worry or be concerned about what will happen to
Him...or us when we face the most significant worry of our lives... what lies in
store when we die.
There is no taking
away the heartache we experience when someone we love dies. These words today
are a comfort to east this grief by teaching us that God’s plan is to bring us
home. Home, such a comforting word, symbolizes where we are all headed when
this earthly life is over. In this Holy Thursday – Good Friday experience Jesus
teaches us to follow His example. From His washing the feet of His disciples as
an humble act of service to His placing His trust in and surrender to the divine
Will of His Father, to his death upon the Cross, Jesus, the consummate teacher,
gives us the best example possible on how to live life to the fullest, as we
read last Sunday, and how we are to die: by placing our trust in God and living
each day with the certainty that we are all on a journey and our final
destination is our heavenly home.
So, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. All
Is Well!
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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