General
God
My deacon mentor recently gave me an article about the four dimensions of diaconal formation. In my previous post, I wrote about how the first three-- human, spiritual, and intellectual-- flow one from the other, and lead to the fourth one, which is pastoral.
The author of this article adds additional clarification to my understanding: he describes how the first three really integrate with each other: for example, if one was pursuing human formation without spiritual, it would be more like a simple "self help" program and someone would wind up "like the guy in the TV commercials."
He also mentions that Matrimony and Holy Orders are the two Sacraments which make us "community organizers", hopefully able to lay down our lives for the salvation of others. I paused at this part initially, but as I reflected on it more it made sense: a family-- husband, wife, and kids, are essentially "little communities"; and of course, a deacon is called to serve as Christ in the parish and broader community.
The author warns though: while service is critical, it must be mission-oriented for us to be "envoys of the bishop", as he puts it. My sense is that it would be like serving in a soup kitchen just to feed people, versus serving in a soup kitchen to lead others to God.
On an unrelated note, I read through some "digital literacy research tutorials" for St. John's, and I felt myself getting emotional just browsing through their library catalog. To think I have access to all of this-- I could spend lifetimes studying and teaching others with just a subset of this knowledge!
They even have entire video sets! I just about lost an evening in a "History of Baroque Music" documentary; after ten minutes I had to force myself to close the tab. I'm so grateful to God for giving me this opportunity to learn, so I can teach others and help them grow closer to the Lord as well. What an almost unfathomable blessing!
The author of this article adds additional clarification to my understanding: he describes how the first three really integrate with each other: for example, if one was pursuing human formation without spiritual, it would be more like a simple "self help" program and someone would wind up "like the guy in the TV commercials."
He also mentions that Matrimony and Holy Orders are the two Sacraments which make us "community organizers", hopefully able to lay down our lives for the salvation of others. I paused at this part initially, but as I reflected on it more it made sense: a family-- husband, wife, and kids, are essentially "little communities"; and of course, a deacon is called to serve as Christ in the parish and broader community.
The author warns though: while service is critical, it must be mission-oriented for us to be "envoys of the bishop", as he puts it. My sense is that it would be like serving in a soup kitchen just to feed people, versus serving in a soup kitchen to lead others to God.
On an unrelated note, I read through some "digital literacy research tutorials" for St. John's, and I felt myself getting emotional just browsing through their library catalog. To think I have access to all of this-- I could spend lifetimes studying and teaching others with just a subset of this knowledge!
They even have entire video sets! I just about lost an evening in a "History of Baroque Music" documentary; after ten minutes I had to force myself to close the tab. I'm so grateful to God for giving me this opportunity to learn, so I can teach others and help them grow closer to the Lord as well. What an almost unfathomable blessing!