Simon the Deacon

By DEACON ROBERT YERHOT, MSW

Deacons soon learn they must remain in communion with God through prayer, with the Church through obedience, and, if married, with their wives through fidelity. Communion is essential to all a deacon is and does. A breakdown in communion erodes his vocation. Communion is a hallmark of good diaconal ministry and life. It roots a deacon in prayer, gives him his identity, and sends him on a mission of suffering with, and having compassion for, those to whom he is sent.

Let me give you a good image of what all that means, an image all deacons may use for fruitful meditation. Let us consider Simon of Cyrene.

Simon demonstrated what diaconal ministry is all about. He carried the Cross in communion with Jesus as he walked to Golgotha and the crucifixion. Jesus was the High Priest who offered himself as the sacrificial victim, but Simon prefigured the deacon who assisted in the sacrifice. Simon helped prepare the altar in communion with Jesus the High Priest. He walked with Jesus step by step, cheek to cheek, all the way to the altar. Simon remained so close to Jesus that he felt the same whip Jesus felt, smelled the same sweat that Jesus smelled, tasted the same blood that Jesus tasted, and breathed the same air as they walked along the way. Simon went all the way to the altar that day. He assisted the High Priest. He no doubt spoke to Jesus, prayed with Jesus, encouraged Jesus every step of the way. These are the very things we deacons must do with and for our bishop and his priests. Deacons are to walk with their bishop and his priests to the altar and assist them in offering the sacrifice. Deacons do not offer the sacrifice, but we do accompany our bishop to the altar where the sac rifice if offered. We must also carry the crosses of our bishop and our pas tors. We must encourage people, be in communion with them, know their struggles, their distress, the particulars of their lives, and then bring them all the way to the altar.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Simon had said, “I have had enough. I have gone half-way; now it is time for someone else to step in.” Can you imagine what would happen if we were to say to someone in need, to the Church, or to our families, “I have had enough. I have gone half-way. Someone else must fin-

No, deacons; we must go the distance. We must be in communion with our bishop, his priests, the one in distress, and the one in need. We must walk step by step with the poor, the oppressed, the outcast, and the mocked ones. We also must walk alongside our bishop as his emissary in works of mercy and compassion, assisting him in carrying his crosses, just as Simon walked with Jesus, in communion with him under the weight of his Cross.

Deacon Robert Yerhot serves the parishes of St. Mary in Caledonia and St. Patrick in Brownsville.