The Word of God Increased Through The Grace of His Laying On of Hands
A Study of Acts 6:1-7
In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
RSV Acts 6:1-7
Christ is risen!
Within today's Epistle reading, we are presented with the institution of the order of the priesthood we know as the Diaconate. It is fitting that this is the reading for today, given that Deacon in Greek means servant or minister, for this reading is connected with the feast of the Myrrh-Bearing Woman, who were the first to witness the resurrection of our Lord and were servants in their own right. So, in mirroring their service, it seems that in her wisdom, the Church has chosen this reading of service for today's Epistle.
First and foremost, we see within today's Epistle that it is an example of the role of diaconal service in the Chruch. We also see that the institution of the office of Deacon serves a purpose in the community, for when the need to wait tables arises due to the ever-increasing number of members, the body of Christ, led by the Apostles, comes together to fill this need, guided by the Holy Spirit. So this week, in our reflection, we will focus on how the Church addresses the needs of the body, the role of the Deacon, and the succession of the Church's servants through the laying on of hands.
As the number of Christians increases, disputes inevitably arise. This was the case in the early Church, where some of the flock were neglected in the daily distribution of food and goods.
The mention of widows in this context is significant, as it serves as a reminder of the constant critique of the Kings of Judea for neglecting to care for the widows and orphans among their people. Widows and orphans, the most vulnerable among the people, are used here as examples, connecting this text to books such as Chronicles and Kingdoms. The lesson we learn is that all leaders, regardless of the size of their flock, must care for all entrusted to their care, even the least of these, for all leaders are called to lead as God leads us.
Yet a real problem arises here, for as the Chruch increases, the Apostles who fill the role of being sent out to preach the Gospel no longer have the manpower to serve to the best of their abilities. Yet it is here that we see the wisdom of the Apostles guided by the Holy Spirit, for rather than admitting defeat and giving up on service, they are guided to appoint servants to aid the body.
The Apostles see that it is not right for them to give up their role of preaching, for, as mentioned previously, it is their role to spread the word of salvation, so they put the onus upon the people to select from among them deacons who will serve the ever-increasing needs of the Church.
No one person can fill all of the Church's needs, for only God can do this, and we are His co-workers in this great labor. Remember, we are all members of the same body, and each has a role to play, for none of us is God; instead, we are all called towards unity in the presence of God. So, in recognizing their limitations, the Apostles command that seven men of good reputation and full of the Holy Spirit be selected from among them to fill this need of service.
So, what does the narrative tell us about their role? We are told that their role explicitly is to serve tables, that is, to ensure that the less fortunate are fed. Yet, in the title of these deacons, we see that they are servants of more than just food.
Yes, food is a fundamental need of the people, and the role of the Deacon is to minister to all the needs of the people. When these seven men are chosen, they are selected to serve the entire Church physically, allowing the Apostles to continue their mission of preaching the Gospel. The role of a deacon, even to this day, is to serve the physical needs of the Church. This underscores the Church's commitment to supporting and caring for its members, ensuring their physical needs are met while the Apostles fill the community's spiritual needs.
Later, we see a role for the Bishop and the Presbyter or Priest instituted within the Church. The bishop's role is to serve the Church, as seen in his geographical titles, such as Bishop, Archbishop, or Metropolitan. Each of these titles refers to how large the sea, or community, is being served. The Bishop offers sacrifice in all of the sacraments, and in his self-sacrificial role, he shares the sacrifice of Christ.
As time passes and the Church continues to grow, one Bishop cannot serve all the communities entrusted to him. So, the order of a Priest comes along to serve a specific community on behalf of the local Bishop. The Bishops are responsible for offering sacrifice along with Christ for their flock, and the Priest is then responsible for doing this for the flock appointed to him by the Bishop.
While these two orders of leaders minister to spiritual needs sacramentally, we see that the Deacon serves the physical needs. The deacon cannot consecrate the body and blood of our Lord nor any sacrament. Yet the Deacon can distribute the sacraments, so the Deacon fills this role as the hand of the Priest or Bishop.
We see here that in the hierarchy of the Church, each order fills a specific role of servant in the image of God. Each role has interrelation and distinction, for we see these orders fill a service role as Christ came to serve rather than be served. Yet it is also important to note that as Christians, each of us has a role that we are called to play as members of the body. Thus, service is not for the Deacon Priest or Bishop alone, for we are all servants in the image of God. Each of us has a role to play, and this is what we see unfolding here in Acts.
Keeping with what is proper and right, we see an order for how the deacons, and later all clergy, are appointed. First, they are chosen from among the people by the people. The same is done today with those who become clergy, for they are raised and appointed by the people. This process highlights the importance of the congregation's role in the Church's leadership, making us realize that we are responsible for raising our leaders and continuing to serve them as they are called to serve us.
Finally, the ordination of clergy is done within the context of the liturgy, our common labor in the Lord. Thus, we bring forth those who will serve us as one body. When we cry Axios, worthy, at their ordination, we give them our blessing while recognizing that God is filling all that is lacking in them. This is finally why we see ordinations contain, to this day, the laying on of hands. In the placement of the hands of the Bishop on the head of the clergymen, we see that the same blessing given to them for this service is being passed along.
Literally, as we see here in Acts, this is what we know as apostolic succession, for the Apostles are given this blessing by Christ. Then, all the leaders who come after them, fueled by the Holy Spirit, pass down this blessing, as is seen with the patriarchs and kings of old. So, in the laying on of hands, we see that through His people, God continues to pass along His blessing to His servants so that they can fill the role of service He calls them to.
Finally, we see the result of this laying on of hands. Rather than having further disputes and the Church dissolving, we hear that the Church flourishes. What greater proof is there that God is at work in His Church?
Human error is a reality we all face, and it is for this reason that God does not abandon us. Yes, at times, all of our leaders will miss the mark, but if we look closely enough at our lives, we will also see that we do this as well. So, rather than looking at the failures of leaders, which in a sense is inevitable given we are all human, we need to look towards the grace of God that is poured out on us, as unworthy as we may be. This emphasis on 'God's grace' is intended to make the congregation feel comforted and supported, knowing they are not alone in their imperfections.
We are all members of the body of Christ, and each of us has a role to play as ministers to His vineyard. So, regardless of our call, what is important is realizing that we are all called to serve at some level. The Church, in her wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit, adapts to the needs of her people. This is evident in today's Epistle, for when human limitations are met, the Holy Spirit guides the Apostles to increase the needed servants. Thus, each servant is given a role so that none of the body may be left behind.
It is easy for us to criticize our Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, for they are on public display for us to see, yet we must not forget that they, too, are human. We all fall sometimes and miss the mark, yet we must remember that God is constantly filling all that is lacking in us. None of us is perfect; only God is, and it is here that we see the beauty of our faith. The only perfect one is always with us, ministering to our every need.
God does not abandon His people; instead, He works with us and through us to offer the whole of His people salvation. Thus, it is our call to fall before Him in repentance in all moments of our lives, allowing Him to fill all that is lacking in us. This reality is passed down from generation to generation through the laying on of hands, as the blessing of God's grace is given to all who are called to serve Him.
So, rather than focusing on the negative of what we see in our leaders, we need to remember that we are all, first and foremost, called to be servants, regardless of how fallible we may be. Each of us has a role to play, and it is not our call to focus on the roles of others. Instead, we must stay in our lane while recognizing that God will always provide for His people. This is the reality we are proclaiming now as we cry Christ has risen, for even in the grave, we see He will never abandon His people. So it is our call to discern how He is calling each of us to serve, and when we see our weakness, we are to offer it to Him so He can fill all that is lacking in us. Truly, this is our sign that the Lord is risen, for He will never abandon His people!
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