A deacon sent me this e-mail yesterday, which is challenging and thought-provoking — for me and, perhaps, for all deacons:

I read your column (blog) regularly and enjoy it. It is obvious that you enjoy your ministry – especially your preaching.

I want to gently and lovingly challenge you – I see very very little if anything in your blog – about your service to the poor and the marginalized……?

It seems to me the heart of the deacon’s ministry is to be this service (along with others in the parish) to the poor, the dispossessed, the marginalized – those who suffer (thus, the sick, the incarcerated, the immigrants, the poor, etc.). It seems to me that the role of the Deacon in fact, is to be the Sacramental Sign of this service – this “diakonia” to the poor and marginalized – that should be the heart of your ministry – and then, which you bring to your ministries of the Word and Liturgy. The deacon models in a sense the ‘dirty hands’ of working with the poor that then bless, and baptize, pray and preach……..it is such an important reminder to the Church – that we are not just another ‘clubby fraternity’ – but rather those called by the Lord to assist him in building the Kingdom – here on earth – by serving the least – as the Beatitudes suggest we will be judged on – that Kingdom that will be in it’s fullness only in Heaven….

The Church desperately needs that reminder – that call – otherwise, I fear you risk becoming just another cleric consumed with ‘clerical things’ — vestments, sacramental celebrations, being ‘in front and center’ of the assembly – preaching and on the altar — all of which is good, but all of which does not really differentiate a deacon (a priest can do all the above).

The world is so broken, so full of the “invisible” poor around us – I wanted to challenge you to embrace the fullness of your ministry. We the Church (the people) need that reminder that to approach the Eucharistic table of the ‘broken Bread’ of heaven, we must see and serve Christ in the ‘broken lives, hearts, situations’ of the poor. Again, perhaps you are very involved but I have to say then, you should bring that to your ministry of preaching and teaching (your blog). I don’t see it there.