Rev. Enrique Martinez (centre) with Rev. Jordan Murray and Rev. Susan Bagshaw at the service of ordination
By Rev. Enrique Martinez
“For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
Luke 22:27
The word deacon, according to its etymology, comes from the Greek “diakonos”, which in turn is derived from the Latin “diacunus” whose meaning is “servant.”
The highest honor a Christian can receive is to be elected and ordained as deacon in the church. To be a deacon is to be a “servant of Christ,” and your job should be selfless Christian service; dedicated to the Lord.
In salvation history we consider the spiritual and human dimensions of the diaconate. For this reason, we point to Jesus Christ as the deacon par excellence, whose service is summarized in the donation of himself. We also highlight the figure of Mary as a servant who gives herself to the fulfillment of the divine plan. This is why the deacon, in terms of ordained ministry, has the distinctive note of representing and making Christ the servant present.
Taking these words, God opens the doors of heaven to those who, out of love for him and his church, give their lives to be servants. Today God gave me a new opportunity to reach everyone as the server. Jesus calls us all to be: “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5: 13-16)
But for me Jesus not only calls me to be the salt and Light of the world; He invites me to go further. Being the one who carries the light and distributes the salt to others so that we can all make our beloved Anglican church a true home where we all can meet our beloved Lord.
Today I have been called to serve without limits for the love of God and all the brothers and today more than ever I carry in my Heart and in my soul that fire that gives light and warmth to the house of the Father, which is the church of Christ our Savior.
Having received the strength of the Holy Spirit in ordination through the imposition of the hands of our Bishop Todd, I am responding to the call of our Lord Jesus Christ to give my life, to make possible the fulfillment of the greatest law that God has given us. through history: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 36-40
To be a deacon is to give every minute of our lives to the love of God in our neighbor; it is to go to meet the brother and bandage his wounds and take care of him like the good Samaritan: “and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” (Luke 10:33-34)
Being a deacon gives me the responsibility of caring for the Faith, the hope of each one of God’s saints, so that each of our beloved brothers see the light of Christ and feel the warmth of the Father’s love, and through the Holy Spirit so we all may say with one voice: “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4: 6); “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
There is no greater desire in my heart than to be able to serve Christ our Lord in all the saints of God.
Rev. Enrique Martinez is the deacon-in-charge of the Parish of Long Point Bay (Port Ryerse, Woodhouse, Port Rowan, Turkey Point and Vittoria. December 10, 2020