5th Sunday of Easter – Year A
Service at Table and Service of the Word (Acts 6:1-7)
In the first reading of today we have an interesting story of conflict resolution in the early church. Earlier in the Acts of the Apostles we read (Acts 4:32-35): “The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, as everything they owned was held in common.”
Soon, this ideal communal life was threatened by selfishness of individuals and clannish mentality among groups (see Acts 5). In Chapter 6, as we heard in the first reading of today, we have a story of neglect of the minority group in the access to the resources of the community. Hebrews, of course, being the majority in the community in Jerusalem, and priding themselves that Jesus himself was a Hebrew, seemed to have had the lion’s share in the daily distribution of the common goods, neglecting the minority – the Greek speaking Christians. This situation is brought to the attention of the apostles, who realise that they were busy with “the service of the Word”. So they want to delegate the administration of goods to a team of 2nd level managers (‘the deacons’). It is important to note that even in the selection of these candidates the criteria used are not merely temporal: “men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom” (Acts 6:4). The apostles themselves will continue to fully devote themselves to “prayer and the service of the word” (Acts 6:6).
What always intrigues me about this story is what follows immediately. “Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people” (Acts 6:8-10). In short, though Stephen and his companions were basically appointed for “service at table” – for the administration of the temporal goods – they are not just tied down to administration. We see Stephen entering powerfully into the “service of the word”. And because of this, he will become the first martyr. A bursar becomes the first martyr for Christ.
Against the backdrop of this story I ask myself some serious questions: while I have been ordained for the service of the Word and Sacrament, why do I spent most of my time in the administration of temporal goods? As I keenly observe all the developmental work carried out by the Church in India and Africa, I wonder: when our governments will be able to provide what the church is now providing, would the people still come to our churches? In a sense, can we not learn from what perhaps happened in the church in Europe? These questions are also directed to every Christian: what do we expect from our ordained ministers: financial support for education, development of buildings in the parish property, efficient management of the projects? Or, spiritual presence and accompaniment? And what is our own share, as Christians, in the service of the Word?
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