In today’s First Reading the Church is faced with wonderful problem: too much work and not enough people to do it. The Twelve see a pastoral need that they don’t have time to fulfill, so they ask that seven men full of Spirit and wisdom be chosen to help them in their ministry. In Luke’s Gospel we see, even in Jesus’s earthly ministry, the sending of the Seventy-Two to help the Twelve fulfill their mission. Now the men in today’s First Reading, known as the Seven, are also entrusted with a participation in the mission of the apostles and in tradition are believed to have been the first deacons.
The Church’s mission is not just for the clergy. Everyone is called to help according to their possibilities and state of life. As needs increase, each member of the Church must be dedicated to doing his or her part: bishops shepherding their dioceses, helped by priests and deacons, consecrated persons contributing according to their charism, and laity, ordering the world’s affairs in accordance with the Gospel and helping the Church in matters where they may have more expertise.
Let’s pray today that every member of the Church heads the call to spread the Gospel however and wherever the Lord has led them.
Readings: Acts 6:1–7; Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19; John 6:16–21. See also 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Thursday and 2nd Week of Easter, Saturday.