The Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community. - Acts of the Apostles
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see diverse groups of the early Christians arguing, the early practitioners of clericalism saying they were too busy praying to serve at table and a group of others agreeing to serve God and the community by doing so.
In other words, they were a lot like us except that they seem to have done a better job of working out their differences than we often do. And we can learn from them.
I’m writing this on Palm Sunday after listening to Luke’s Passion narrative in which Jesus told the apostles to quit arguing about who was most important. How quickly some of seem to have forgotten!
But I’d rather focus on the men who agreed to both serve AND pray as role models for the kind of church Pope Francis is calling us to build, one that prioritizes service and de-emphasizies the power and privilege of hierarchy.
The Jesuit charism of finding God in all things provides an excellent framework for living a life of active spirituality. Whatever our work, it can become our prayer as much as formal prayer. Jobs that seem to have nothing to do with religious service done in a spirit of love have tremendous spiritual power.
I think fondly of two staffers at Creighton. One greeted every student she checked into the cafeteria with a warm smile and “hey baby” while the other ran the convenience shop and unsuccessfully tried to hide her heart of gold behind a gruff manner. She didn’t fool anyone!
And there were so many others! Some of them even wore Roman collars on formal occasions. I think especially of people like the wonderful Fr. Tom Schloemer S.J., a retired dorm chaplain and career counselor who could steer students on a path for life in one conversation. He changed countless lives including mine. Deo gratias!
So please join me in trying to notice unsung people who serve and thank them for what they do whether they’re dishing up meals at a homeless shelter, teaching junior high or carrying out the trash for an older neighbor.
You’ll make everyone – that person, yourself and Jesus – happy if you do, even more so if you emulate these unobtrusive role models who are everywhere among us.
Eileen Wirth
I’m a retired Creighton journalism professor, active in St. John’s parish and a CLC member. In retirement, I write books about state and local history, including a history of the parish, and do volunteer PR consulting for groups like Habitat for Humanities, refugees etc. I love to read, work out, spend time with family and friends including those who can no longer get out much.
Writing reflections has deepened my faith by requiring me to engage deeply with Jesus through the Scriptures. In the many years I have been doing this, I’ve also formed friendships with regular readers nationally, most of whom I have never met. Hearing from readers and what I learn by writing make the hours I spend on each reflection well worth the effort.
