The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 327 – Origin of the Diaconate (2025)
Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz | Ascension

Episode Overview

On Day 327, Fr. Mike guides listeners through a critical moment in early Church history—the origin of the diaconate, as recounted in Acts 6. Alongside readings from Romans 9 and 10 and Proverbs 27:10–12, Fr. Mike delves into the evolving structure of the early Christian community, the profound sorrow and longing St. Paul expresses for his fellow Israelites, and the transformative power of faith and proclamation. The episode is rich in both theological significance and practical reflection for modern Christians.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Acts 6: The Origin of the Diaconate

• Division in the Early Church

  • The “Hellenists” (Greek-speaking Jews) felt their widows were being neglected in daily distributions, highlighting early cultural divisions within the Christian community ([04:30]).
  • "They had their own synagogues in Jerusalem and read the Scriptures in Greek... There’s already this cultural division happening." – Fr. Mike ([04:45])

• Apostolic Solution: Birth of the Diaconate

  • The apostles recognize the need to delegate the ministry of service without neglecting the proclamation of the Word.
  • Seven men, “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,” are chosen—the first “deacons.”
  • “This is the beginning of the diaconate... the Greek word here... is diaconoi or diaconos. That’s where in the Catholic Church we have deacons.” – Fr. Mike ([06:00])

• Ordination and Mission

  • The apostles lay hands on the chosen seven, clearly pointing to ordination and ecclesial order.
  • “It wasn’t like someone chose themselves and said, ‘I’ll do it,’... no, this is actually an order in the early Church.” ([06:35])

• Stephen’s Example

  • Stephen, one of the deacons, immediately begins a public ministry marked by miracles and preaching.
  • “Wait a second, bro. You just were ordained to serve at table, but here you are doing this supernatural ministry… Maybe that wasn’t what the apostles had intended, but it seems like that was what God had intended.” ([07:10])

2. Romans 9–10: Paul’s Anguish and the Mystery of Faith

• Paul’s Sorrow for Israel

  • St. Paul agonizes over his fellow Israelites not recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
  • “I have great sorrow, unceasing anguish in my heart. I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren…” ([09:10])
  • Fr. Mike likens this to the pain many feel for loved ones fallen away from the faith.

• Inheritance and Promise

  • Paul lists the manifold blessings given to Israel: "sonship, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, the promises."
  • “We know all this… they’ve been given so much and yet aren’t recognizing Jesus.” – Fr. Mike ([10:55])

• The Mystery of God’s Mercy and Election

  • Paul addresses the sovereignty of God in election, referencing the “potter and the clay.”
  • “So it depends not upon man's will or exertion, but upon God's mercy.” ([12:15])
  • Fr. Mike clarifies this isn’t a denial of free will but highlights the mysterious interplay of grace and human response.

3. Romans 10: Salvation Through Faith

• Confession and Belief

  • Paul affirms salvation comes from confessing Christ as Lord and believing in the Resurrection.
  • “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” ([14:04], Romans 10:9)

• Catholic Perspective on Faith and Salvation

  • Faith is not simply an intellectual assent or verbal claim, but a lived, obedient response.
  • “We are saved by grace through faith working itself out in love… not merely profession of lips or believing in heart, but it actually gets to the point of obedience.” ([14:55])

• Importance of Preaching and Hearing

  • Paul insists on the power of hearing the Word proclaimed (“Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ”).
  • “There is something different about hearing God’s word than just me reading it on the page… I think there’s something there.” ([16:28])
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes the necessity of evangelization and the mystery of how hearing the Word deeply affects faith.

4. Proverbs 27: Practical Wisdom

• Value of reliable friendship and prudence:
  • “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away… A prudent man sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” ([18:35])
  • Fr. Mike notes the enduring relevance of these truths for daily Christian living.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early Church Division:
  “Already there are some issues. There are people, there are factions… while the Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, so it’s divine, the Church still is made up of human beings who can fail, who do fail.” – Fr. Mike ([05:00])

• On Service and Ordination:
  “Let’s choose seven men who are of good faith. Basically, this is the beginning of the diaconate. The Greek word here... is diaconoi or diaconos. That’s where in the Catholic Church we have deacons.” – Fr. Mike ([06:00])

• On Bearing Spiritual Sorrow:
  “That’s a heart of a true follower of Christ... to long for, to be desperate for those people who don’t know Christ. I would do anything, I would give anything.” – Fr. Mike ([09:45])

• On God’s Mystery:
  “It’s the mystery of having faith or not having faith... God never does evil... but the potter gets to be in control.” – Fr. Mike ([12:35])

• On Salvation Through Faith:
  “We are saved by grace through faith working itself out in love. That we live as we believe, that we belong to the Lord.” – Fr. Mike ([15:03])

• On the Power of Hearing Scripture:
  “Isn’t this fascinating, that St. Paul... talks about not just the power of God’s Word, but the power of hearing God’s Word? I don’t know what it is, but I think it’s there.” – Fr. Mike ([16:55])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:30] – Explanation of the Hellenists and introduction of cultural divisions in the early Church
• [06:00] – The establishment and meaning of the diaconate
• [07:10] – Stephen’s ministry expands beyond original diaconate role
• [09:10] – St. Paul’s anguish for Israel
• [10:55] – Paul’s catalog of Israel’s blessings and spiritual privilege
• [12:15] – Reflection on God’s mercy, human freedom, and the mystery of election
• [14:04] – “If you confess with your lips…” (Romans 10:9) and discussion of the path to salvation
• [14:55] – Catholic synthesis of salvation: “by grace through faith working itself out in love”
• [16:28] – Power of hearing God’s Word and its effect on faith
• [18:35] – Proverbs wisdom applied to daily life

Conclusion and Ongoing Reflection

Fr. Mike ends with a prayer of gratitude and a heartfelt plea for prayers from and for the community, especially those struggling in faith or with loved ones distant from the Church. The episode serves as a reminder of the Church’s human and divine dimensions, the importance of structured ministry, the universality of the call to faith, and the continual invitation to proclaim and hear the Good News.

“Please pray for me that I have that grace today so that we can all be united in saying one giant yes to the Father who loves us.” – Fr. Mike ([19:55])

For those journeying through the Bible in a Year, Day 327 offers both a window into the early Church’s struggles and structure, and a profound personal challenge: to pray, love, and proclaim with passion, trusting in the mystery and mercy of God.