“For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 3:13.
The word ‘Deacon’ comes from the Greek word ‘διάκονος’, meaning a servant or minister. Jesus says of the servant – “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (John 12:26). In Orthodox theology, the Deacon is called to imitate Christ the Servant, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45).
In a world full of noise and chaos, our father Saint David the Psalmist teaches us the importance of quieting our souls:
“ For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation … For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1,5-6).
The Bible says that the Voice of God is a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12). To hear His voice that brings forth comfort and peace, we must go within our inner room of the soul (Matthew 6:6) through silence and prayer – free of distraction and worldly cares. “Blessed is the intellect that, undistracted in its prayer, acquires an even greater longing for God.” (St. Evagrios the Solitary, On Prayer, Section 117-120).
It is a bud that blossoms into a beautiful and colorful rose in the sun ,as undistracted prayer is a light of the soul that illumines the intellect – a pure Sacrifice ascending to our Heavenly Father. “Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”(Psalm 140:2).
St. Hesychios The Priest teaches us – “ If we have not attained prayer that is free from thoughts, we have no weapon to fight with. By this prayer I mean the prayer that is ever active in the inner shrine of the soul, and that, by invoking Christ, scourges and sears our enemy.”
Let us, therefore, take our Lord’s example (John 6:15), to take time to escape the noise of the world and to spend quiet time with our Heavenly Father.
Below is an excerpt from a video His Grace Bishop David – beautifully explaining the oneness of the Church founded by Jesus Christ; the Orthodox Church.
May God grant many years and blessings to our beloved Shepards! Let us continue to pray for the unity of all non Orthodox to the One Church.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father I of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Faith Unto Ages 