Acts 6: 1-7 shows us that, although all in the Church are equally Christ and equal members of his body, there are many different roles and functions in the Church, some of them incompatible with others.  One role was that of the “Twelve,” who were those apostles who had been chosen as special witnesses out of the disciples who had been with Jesus, “beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” They had the function of “overseers,” but they could not be everywhere and oversee everything. (See Acts 1:20-22.)  

So when an argument broke out over the distribution of food, they “called together the whole community of the disciples” and asked them to “select from among yourselves seven men… whom we may appoint to this task [of serving at tables], while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” Both functions are “service,” diakonia. One is food service, the other “word service,” but both services are equal, as are the persons chosen for each. They are like the hosts brought up in the Presentation of Gifts: they are all distinct, but they are all one bread. All look alike, are treated alike, and all become the “Bread of life” equally. St. Paul is clear about that: 

I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think…. For as in one body, we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another. 

We respect each one’s role—in the Church and in civil society—without seeing anyone as “higher” or “lower” than anyone else: “Pay to all what is due them—taxes… revenue… respect… honor….” But what should dominate and characterize every relationship is love. 

Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. (See Romans 12:1-10, 13: 7-8. This is also the clear message of 1Corinthians, chapters 12-13.) 

When persecution in Jerusalem caused the Greek-speaking Christians to flee to Samaria while the Twelve remained behind, those chosen for ministry at the table took on the ministry of the word. Philip, especially, the first named, is described as preaching, baptizing, and “proclaiming the good news to all the towns.” (Acts 8:4-40.) As we saw in yesterday’s Gospel (John 6:9), when there is a need, the gifts are present in the community; we just have to use them.  

In John 6: 16-21, as soon as the disciples “wanted to take Jesus into the boat,” they found they had already arrived where they wanted to go. We may wonder sometimes if we really are the kind of Christians we need to be—or if the Mass has any “meaning” for us. We need to be clear about the significance of desire. If we want to take Jesus into our hearts, want to “get something” out of the Mass, want it to have meaning for us, we are already “there.” This is the value of “affective prayer” in the Presentation of Gifts: just willing and offering to be what Baptism made us, the body of Christ.  

Today’s Psalm (#33): “Lord, let your mercy be upon us as we place our trust in you.” 

Prayer Prompt: Pray to “be what you are” and for the desire to become all God wants you to be. 

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #272, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.