Invisible Servants

A few weeks late, but this is the sermon I preached on my final Sunday at my home parish. I am now off for a (school)year's internship.

I wanted to call this "What use are deacons, anyway?", but the Rector thought that was a bit unfriendly for the notice board.


Jeremiah 1:4-9
Psalm 84
Acts 6:2-7
Luke 22:24-27

Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations"

Then I said, "Ah, LORD God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD."

Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." (Jeremiah 1:4-9)

This morning's readings are taken from the Ordination Rite for deacons. As most of you know, I am beginning my 3rd year of preparation for the diaconate. This is my last Sunday with you for the next nine months. The Diocese requires that all those in the ordination process serve an internship in a parish other than their home parish. During this time I will be given some hands on training to be a deacon. What exactly is a deacon, though?

The ministry of deacons is one that can be hard to explain. Deacons are often described by what they CAN"T do. Deacons can't do the "ABC's" - absolve, bless, consecrate. Deacons can not pronounce absolution of sins in the name of the Church. Deacons can not bless a marriage in the name of the Church. Deacons can not consecrate the Holy Eucharist.

Deacons can read the Gospel. Deacons can set the Altar Table. But can't a priest do that? Well, yes. Deacons can administer the Chalice. Deacons can take Communion to the sick & house-bound. But can't Lay Eucharistic Ministers do that? Well, yes.

What does a deacon do that either the priest or laity can't do? Just what use are deacons, anyway? In my journey through the ordination process, I have struggled with this question.

In the Old Testament lesson appointed for the Ordination of Deacons, we get a glimpse of just what deacons are good for. In the calling Jeremiah, God tells Jeremiah that he is called to be a prophet to the nations. God promises to put His words in Jeremiah's mouth. That is part of the calling of all deacons, to speak the Word of God to the nations. Who are the "nations"? The nations are those who are outside the Household of God. Deacons are to be evangelists, proclaiming the salvation of God to all people, especially "the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely". Deacons are to live in the nations, work in the nations & carry the needs of the nations back to the church. Most deacons don't have church jobs; they work in colleges, schools, businesses, just like you.

Deacons are to be students of Scripture. In this diocese, the clergy and all those in the ordination process follow the ancient custom of praying the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer every single day. Prayers and Scripture shape and form the day. Scripture becomes part of you when you immerse yourself this way. You begin to find that God has put His words into your mouth and heart and mind.

Deacons are to be servants, doing what they are commanded to do by God. Jeremiah protests that he is only a "youth" - inexperienced; how can he be a prophet? He hasn't gone to the prophet seminary! But God tells him, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth', for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak." Deacons don't need to be experts; they need to be willing to follow the call of God.

But wait a minute, aren't all Christians called to spread the Good News of Christ, to pray & study the Scriptures and to serve God? Yes! Now we get to what a deacon is for. A deacon is a living reminder, an icon, of the servant ministry of Christ that all Christians are called to participate in. When you see a deacon, you are supposed to remember your calling, your gifts and your ministry to the world. Deacons serve by empowering you to find your ministry, to answer the call of God on your life. They do this in as many ways as there are deacons. Some preach & teach, opening up the Word of God to your life, some work in soup kitchens, visit prisons, work with addicts. All seek to draw in other Christians to serve with them. Deacons start new ministries and give them away to others; deacons assist already established ministries, serving in whatever way they can.

I said that deacons are an icon of Christ's servant ministry. What is an icon? In this parish, we are blessed with many holy icons, but when most people hear that word, they think of those little pictures on their computer. You know, click on the tiny house and you go right to Google's homepage. That's what an icon does - it takes you through the image to the real thing. The icon disappears and the reality appears. When you look at a religious icon, you aren't supposed to see just the pictures, but to look through it to the reality it represents. The painting of Jesus is more than a two-dimensional image in paint; it's a device that can take the faithful into the presence of the Lord himself.

The calling of a deacon is to fade into the background, to be invisible, to be among you as one who serves. When you see the deacon on Sunday morning setting the altar table, look through him & see Christ preparing to feed you with His Body & Blood. When you hear a deacon read the Gospel, don't stop at hearing her voice, but listen for the voice of Christ, speaking to your heart.

God willing, and you the people of God consenting, when I stand before the Bishop to be ordained, in a very real way I will disappear. My calling is to show forth Christ and to assist you in your ministries. The passion God has placed on my heart is to serve at His altar and to teach the Scriptures. Through the Scriptures we come to know God and grow closer to Him. At His altar we are fed.

When you see me clothed as a deacon, my prayer is that you will look through me & find a passion in your soul for the Word and Sacraments. That with the Psalmist, you will say: "How dear to me is our dwelling, O LORD of hosts! My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD, my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God." (Psalm 84:1)

AMEN