Brothers in Christ,

At a quiet weekday Mass, a young man once approached a deacon friend of mine and said, “I don’t know why, but when you were serving today, I felt like God hadn’t forgotten me.” The deacon had no stirring words to recall, no dramatic gesture to point to, only faithful presence. Later he reflected, “I realized then that my yes to God mattered more than I would ever see.” That moment captures the heart of today’s readings and our diaconal vocation.

In Isaiah, the Lord speaks to His servant: “I have formed you from the womb… I will make you a light to the nations. “Our diaconal call did not begin on ordination day. God has been shaping us long before, through joy and suffering alike, so that our lives might become instruments of His light. St. Paul reminds us that this call rests not on our worthiness, but on God’s will: we are called to be holy in Christ.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist stands firmly in his role and points beyond himself: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” This is our identity as deacons. We are not the center; Christ is. At the ambo, at the altar, in hospitals, jails, homes, and streets, we are heralds, directing every heart toward Jesus.

Our ministry draws us into the real struggles of life. We suffer with those we serve, yet never without hope. We live from the Eucharist, where the Lamb gives Himself completely. From that sacramental encounter, we receive the strength to serve with joy, perseverance, and humility.

Finally, we are brothers. Our diaconate is lived together; supporting one another, sharing burdens, encouraging fidelity, and walking in obedience to God’s will.

May our lives quietly but powerfully proclaim: Behold the Lamb of God.

In Christ the Servant + Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Receive + Believe + Teach + Practice