First Reflection of the Call (after being called)

As Ddoh was sharing at the ordination service I couldn’t help but reflect myself.

I think we as deacons are incredibly blessed to be installed in 2008. PJ has laid out the goal for this year with great clarity: “Living God’s Dream.” For most in the EM, this may be a bit difficult to discern. Yet for us, it has already been laid out. Our dream is to live out the calling which the Scriptures have set before us. The more I consider my calling the more daunting it seems and that’s exactly how it should be. It puts me in my place and that place is one of prayerful dependence on the Savior whom I serve.

Being the hands and feet of Christ means embracing what Paul lays out in Philippians 2:

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

As you know, he goes on to express the humiliation and exaltation of Christ with one of the characteristics describing him as the Servant. Our service is to emulate Christ; even more so, it needs to be a service directed towards him. Our eyes need to be focused on him and (in doing so) they also need to be focused on our neighbor. The deaconate is an office that takes the greatest commandments and binds them together perfectly: love of God and love of neighbor.

While many might be struggling to know exactly how to live out God’s dream, the abstract is very concrete for the deacon. It’s entirely tangible with every face we see and with those whom we come into contact. Ministering to every face for the glory of God is living out God’s dream in the present kingdom, deacon style. That intersection between love of God and love of neighbor is vividly described by Jesus:

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40)

We need to serve both the Head of the body and the body… love for God and love for neighbor.