St. Stephen, Minister of Good Works
This is the second in a five-part series on the ministry of St. Stephen, our parish patron.
Our parish patron St. Stephen is uniquely situated within salvation history as the first generation of disciples who were not apostles but chosen to carry on their mission. If we look to the Scriptures for Stephen’s presence, we read in Acts 6 the growing community strained the resources of the early Church. Specifically, the Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists) complained to Hebrew speakers that their widows were being neglected. The early Church practiced a radical sharing of goods that meant that each entrusted all his possessions and received what was needed (Acts 2:42-46). Trusting that the Lord through his Church would provide, these Hellenists were dismayed that their widows were not looked after like the others. So the Apostles decided to create a separate group of men who would be commissioned to care for the poor, widow, and orphan. These seven men needed to be “filled with the Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3) to perform this task with the strength of God. So they chose from among the disciples Stephen and six others, who were presented before them and had hands laid on them to be ordained deacons (Greek for ‘servants’).
The deacon shows forth in his particular ministry a model for all disciples. He is called first and foremost as a minister of good works to show God’s love to the world. As Christ stated to those who loved others in his Last Judgment Parable (Mt. 25:31-46), “whatsoever you did to the least of my brothers you did for me.” So the deacon (like all disciples) is called to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and care for those in prisons and hospitals. These corporal works of mercy are the precise way to respond to God’s grace of faith and enter into his heavenly kingdom. They are the Church’s special witness to the broader society that God is alive and wants a relationship with them. We love because he loved us first (1 Jn. 4:10). Good works without faith are good but incomplete expressions of love, for they are not anchored in the divine love that transcends this earthly life. Whereas faith without works is also incomplete since we neglect the neighbor who we see while pretending to love the God we cannot see (1 Jn. 4:20). Deacons like St. Stephen are called to good works with the faith that attracts others to Christ and his kingdom. Contributing to and volunteering with the Family Life Center here at our parish, helping out at the St. Vincent de Paul meal program, and visiting/bringing communion to those in hospitals and care facilities all fulfill the servant-like work of the deacon and the disciple at large. May St. Stephen inspire us to give generously of our time and talents to care for the least of God’s children whom he loves the most!
Ever thought about being a permanent deacon? Give me a call if you’ve ever had that thought and we can see if you’re being called!