The Contemplative Deacon

I was ordained as a deacon over a decade ago and served as a director of deacons for six years. Prior to that, I was involved in volunteer and professional ministry for over 25 years, many of which were spent ministering to young adults in high school and college.

I found the most success in my ministry practice when the lessons and beliefs of our Catholic faith were witnessed through concrete actions and examples. I learned that the practical expressions and understanding of our faith have the most significant evangelistic impact. The Gospels reinforce a practical Catholicism through Jesus’s use of parables and his constant activity among the people. Jesus demonstrated God’s purpose, love, and wisdom toward people through practical actions and examples.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines the word “practical” as: “Acquired through practice or action rather than theory or speculation. Manifested in or involving practice. Capable of or suitable for being used or put into effect; useful.”

Exercises in Practical Catholicism:

1. What things do I do and experience that make Jesus present to people in tangible and relatable ways?
2. In my daily prayers, I reflect on two opposing mantras grounded in practical Catholicism: “How can I be Jesus today?” and “How was I Jesus today?”
3. I intentionally review every significant moment of the day, challenging myself to see Jesus within it.
4. I also focus on times when I was not like Jesus, exploring the obstacles or distractions that kept me from being like him.
5. When I participate in Mass and other rituals and events, I reflect on what I am seeking from my participation in these activities and focusing on the context that I want to do these activities, instead of feeling like I have to do these activities.

These reflections have been a powerful aid in making my Christian witness more practical.

In the Letter of James 1:22-25, it says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.