The school of humility

Permanent Deacons assist the Holy Father on the Feast of the Mother of God.

(Hat Tip: Roman Catholic Vocations) 

Matthew 23:1-12:

Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat;
so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.
They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.
They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,
and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,
and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ.
He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;
whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 

There are a few passages in the New Testament which give people the best possible description of the role of the Deacon, and I think the last few verses of this weekend's Gospel are in the top two or three. It might be that there are Deacons somewhere who have made it through to ordination who have some sort of crude predisposition to self-promotion, but I have yet to meet any like that in the Diocese of Knoxville. Perhaps it is because the discernment process needed in order to become a Deacon teaches a man to be more humble-at least it has done this so far for me.

I have learned to admit to myself and others that I do not have all the answers. I have re-visited my own vulnerability, and the Holy Spirit has opened me up to the idea that it is alright to ask for help, and in my case, for a lot of it-after years of struggling to prove I could be independent. The Lord is teaching me dependence-total dependence and reliance on Him, and on the respect and love of my Brother Aspirants, because I have always needed Him (and do now more than ever).

I have learned to trust God completely, for no matter how impossible it may seem, if it is God's will, He will make provision for it. And that teaches a man to humble himself, and learn what Christ meant by humility.

Pray for me, as I continue to learn humility in the discernment process.