Every year this day passes and I remember it as I remember my wedding anniversary, or my wife's birthday, or my daughters' birthdays, or other significant days on the calendar. Each year, this day comes and it causes me to pause and reflect on the gifts of God in my life, and the opportunity that he has given me to be present for others.
There are times, I have to admit, when I wonder how it is that the Lord intends to use this wonderful Sacrament and vocation of service that he has given me, and that is now four years on. I often ponder this because I now have two beautiful daughters and a beautiful and wonderful wife who sacrifices much and puts up with a lot out of me. My weekdays are often covered over dealing with young children, while I sometimes see and hear of my brother deacons taking the time to engage in many ministries that I love and find that I don't currently have the time to do those things that many of them do. I find that I sometimes ask God "how can you use me to serve others in the midst of everything that we have going on?"
I have found, however, that the Lord has often made some use of me in ways that I am not expecting, often would not think of, and I certainly wouldn't ask.
There have been the times that parishioners have stopped me after Masses or when I was on my way to the car to share with me that I said or preached something on a particular day that spoke to their heart and mind. People will sometimes stop me and ask if I will bless their holy reminder or their religious object for them. To be honest, I don't often think about this, but the times when I have been able to give the gift of presence and blessing to people when they have needed it didn't seem like much to me, but maybe it meant something to the people who asked for that blessing.
When our present crisis of pandemic first hit, in the first couple of weeks, all the clergy of the parish took the time to divide up the parish list and make a phone call to each parishioner to check in on them. I didn't realize how much I could serve someone with a simple phone call or text until we (all of our Parish clergy) did this and I heard the thank yous from parishioners and others who terribly missed sacramental life or the fellowship of their church family. The people of God were pleased to know that their priests and deacons were still there and still praying for them and thinking about them.
"What can I do to be of service to the people, Lord?" Sometimes I will ask Him that question and He will give me answers I don't expect. I certainly didn't expect to be able to help someone find a place to live, but I was able to do that once with a simple letter. "Make me an instrument, Lord..." I will ask Him, and He will do it. It is usually not in the ways I am expecting, it is very often not in ways that the rest of the world, and sometimes even the rest of the parish, can see. However, a long time ago I asked the Lord to grant me the gift of greater humility, and I am slowly beginning to learn what that really looks like. I will freely admit that I have a long way to go, so pray for me that the Lord will bring the good work he has done to fulfillment, and that will be the best deacon, husband, and Dad that I can be.
Four years ago, Bishop Stika laid his hands on me and bestowed upon me the Sacrament of Holy Orders as a deacon. I am truly blessed, the Lord has given me a great gift of Ministry, and the rare precious treasure of all seven sacraments. I pray that I may be able to minister to others in some small way for a great many more years to come, and I am so thankful for everyone who is blessing me with their kindness and encouragement. (A particular note of thanks to my friend Stephanie Richer, who took these wonderful photographs, and regularly uses her God-given talent for the sake of the Kingdom.)
Ad multos annos to my brothers in the Diocese of Knoxville diaconate class of 2016, and all of my brother deacons and priests everywhere who celebrate the anniversary of their ordination this month. Let us all remember that like Christ the Servant, to whom we are configured, we come not to be served but to serve, and may we, like Christ, give our lives in service for the sake of others.
