Living Stones

Deacon Jerry Klement, back when he was the Deacon Director of the Diocese of Austin, spoke to my class (2000) about “being” rather than just “doing.”

If I remember correctly, it was about making sure that we were not so busy doing our new deacon stuff that we forgot how important it is to just BE the deacon, be the minister, and live according to His way. To be the Christ Follower, the one who follows the way of Christ first and then turns toward others to show them the way. To be the rock as Christ was the rock.

The rock’s primary characteristic is being. It testifies by being, by existing. As living stones, we too need to remember that our first task is to BE living stones for Christ on which to build his church.

We preach, we teach, we instruct, and we guide. Often times we are faced with people who have said “no” to life and “yes” to a road that leads to death and the evil one. We see this when we meet with the newly engaged and learn they are cohabitating. We see this when our own children and grandchildren make poor choices, such as not going to mass or turning away from the faith. When we find ourselves facing those who relentlessly deny God’s very existence, it is up to us to respond as a Christ Follower, whether it is at home, preparing others for marriage, or when we engage with others outside of the faith.

What we do next tells us and others who we really are following. If we are Christ Followers we remember how Jesus approached sinners. He ate with them. He spent time with them. He did not seem to spend all his time beating others about the ears with doctrine or arguments. Yes, he preached the truth, but when he faced an individual it seems he spent more time being than doing or preaching. When he was asked a question directly, he never hesitated to answer. He used parables and stories to help others understand. Sometimes, this was not enough and some, like the rich man, turned away.

This is hard for us. When we face less than faithful family, friends, or others whom we love, we desperately want to reach them, to convince them, and to show them the way. The desire is commendable, yet the way we go about it may not be Christ’s way, but our own impatience or prideful righteousness leading us down a path of being a condemner or judge.

I challenge all my brother deacons and everyone this month to ask themselves: are we approaching others as Christ did or as we think or feel is necessary?

It is time we turn back to our roots. For us, our roots are the rock . We are asked to be living stones upon which a good foundation can be built.

How’s it going for you?

Each year, like many of my brother deacons, I help interview candidates who are on their journey in formation. When I hear about their prayer life, their devotion to Mary, and the time they spend in contemplation and meditation I find I am lacking in my own prayer life. The deacon candidates seem to be striving hard to achieve that balance between spirituality, work, and family.

If I can make any suggestion, it is for each of us to reevaluate our own relationship with God, our own state of BEING, and our prayer life. Most of us have been working in the vineyard for years. We can too easily make assumptions, stereotypes, and settle for ways of living and ministering that are not His way. As I prepare for my homily for the 5th Sunday of Easter, I recognize that I need to make sure I am on His way. Not my way. Not the world’s way which leads to death. But His way. Have I loved God with all my heart, soul, and mind? Have I loved others as myself?

When we are living stones for Christ we will see others we love stumble on the rock that is Jesus Christ. We may want to compromise, meet them halfway maybe, give in, or give up a little bit of Christ’s teaching, but this allows others to dilute His message. That is not His way. The world believes that Jesus is just one option among many. The world believes that how we follow Christ is up to the individual. But we know, that as living stones, formed in His image by baptism and faith to the one living rock, there is only one way, and that is to follow Christ’s teaching and His way.

If we are “being” deacons and Christians, living stones, with our focus on Christ, with our love first for Christ, with our strength and mind and soul first for Christ, we will not fail to “be” our part of the foundation he is building. Our impact on others will be greater than our own words can muster. It will be Christ speaking through us when we live as we follow Christ on His way.