Doing My Part

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, May 3rd, 2026:
Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Acts
​6.1-7

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”

What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert of Antioch. They had these men stand before the Apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

“Twenty-five years ago I became an Apostle of Christ.” 

I heard these words spoken by a retired bishop a couple months ago at the celebration of his 25th anniversary of becoming a bishop. I was struck by the truth of his words and the fact that I had never truly considered the elevation from priest to bishop to be such a transformation. But indeed it was, and is – from disciple to apostle, from being a follower of Christ to one who has a very particular and specific role in building up the Church Christ founded. After all as Catholics we believe bishops to be linked to the first apostles through apostolic succession. It is how the tradition and teaching of our faith is passed on from generation to generation. The bishops of today are successors of the first bishop, Peter, upon whom Jesus built the Church. To be a bishop is an important and daunting task with the immense responsibility to teach, sanctify, and govern the people of God.  Bishops are chosen and called by the Holy Spirit to continue the mission entrusted to Christ by the Father, that is to spread the gospel and make disciples. 

But they are not to do that alone! As a disciple of Christ, I am a follower and, although I may not become an apostle like a bishop, the mission is also entrusted to me. There is a role and a place for me in this Church. In fact, there are many roles needed to help our Church become all it is meant to be. This passage from the Acts of the Apostles gives a glimpse of the evolving early Church; as the community grows, more needs to be done to support the community and ultimately help it continue to grow. Two key actions have to happen: 1) recognize the need for help; and 2) ask for that help from within the community. 

The Church is not solely the bishops, which includes the Pope, as the bishop of Rome. Nor is the Church simply the people who attend worship in the millions of church buildings around the world. The Church is both bishops and people – and even more than those. It has existed for over 2000 years because each generation has in their time and place acknowledged that they need to help one another, encourage one another, and do their part to live out the mission Christ entrusted to them. The very same mission is entrusted to us today. If our Church is to grow it is incumbent on me to discern what my part is, to recognize my God-given gifts, and to hone and use those gifts to grow our Church. My role may not be as daunting as that of a bishop, but it is just as important. The Church needs me as much as I need the Church.



Aurea Sadi

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