The Deacon as Icon of Christ:The Deacon as Icon of Christ:KenosisKenosis,, Theosis Theosis and Servant-and Servant-

LeadershipLeadership

Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.Deacon William T. Ditewig, Ph.D.Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Secretariat for the DiaconateSecretariat for the DiaconateSecretariat for EvangelizationSecretariat for Evangelization

United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Overview Of PresentationOverview Of Presentation

Explore two Explore two foundational foundational theological ideastheological ideas

Impact on all Impact on all disciplesdisciples

Particular relevance Particular relevance and expression for and expression for the Order of the Order of DeaconsDeacons

Goal: to encourage Goal: to encourage additional thought additional thought and refinementand refinement

Part One: Part One: Kenosis Kenosis andandTheosisTheosis

I’m going to need more I’m going to need more coffee. . . coffee. . .

Out of His infinite Out of His infinite love, God desired to love, God desired to draw near to man draw near to man and walk with him. and walk with him. He also wanted to He also wanted to free him from the free him from the snares of the snares of the “father of lies” and “father of lies” and to open the way to to open the way to intimacy with intimacy with Himself. . . . Himself. . . .

Congregation for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Doctrine of the Faith, “The Ecclesial Faith, “The Ecclesial Vocation of the Vocation of the Theologian,” 1990.Theologian,” 1990.

““Draw near” – sense Draw near” – sense of of KenosisKenosis

““Intimacy with God” Intimacy with God” – sense of – sense of TheosisTheosis

““Faith and Reason” (1998)Faith and Reason” (1998)

The prime commitment The prime commitment of theology is seen to be of theology is seen to be the understanding of the understanding of God’s God’s kenosiskenosis, a grand , a grand and mysterious truth for and mysterious truth for the human mind, which the human mind, which finds it inconceivable finds it inconceivable that suffering and death that suffering and death can express a love can express a love which gives itself and which gives itself and seeks nothing in return.seeks nothing in return.

““Deus Caritas Est” (2006)Deus Caritas Est” (2006)

Being Christian is not Being Christian is not the result of an ethical the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with but the encounter with an event, a person, an event, a person, which gives life a new which gives life a new horizon and a decisive horizon and a decisive direction.direction.

I wish to speak of the I wish to speak of the love that God lavishes love that God lavishes upon us and which we upon us and which we in turn must share in turn must share with otherswith others

Philippians 2:5-8Philippians 2:5-8((KenosisKenosis))

Who, being in the form of God,Who, being in the form of God,Did not count equality with GodDid not count equality with God

Something to be grasped.Something to be grasped.But he emptied himself,But he emptied himself,

Taking the form of a slave,Taking the form of a slave,Becoming as human beings are;Becoming as human beings are;

And being in every way like a human being,And being in every way like a human being,He was humbler yet,He was humbler yet,

Even to accepting death, death on a cross.Even to accepting death, death on a cross.

Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11((TheosisTheosis))

Therefore God also highly exalted himTherefore God also highly exalted himAnd gave him the nameAnd gave him the name

That is above every name,That is above every name,So that at the name of JesusSo that at the name of Jesus

Every knee should bend,Every knee should bend,In heaven and on earth and under the earthIn heaven and on earth and under the earth

And every tongue should confessAnd every tongue should confessThat Jesus Christ is Lord,That Jesus Christ is Lord,

To the glory of God the Father.To the glory of God the Father.

KenosisKenosis: Essence of Divinity: Essence of Divinity Who is God in light of Who is God in light of

the kenosis? Kenosis is the kenosis? Kenosis is not a process of de-not a process of de-divination but rather as divination but rather as an attribute of God’s an attribute of God’s love disclosed in the love disclosed in the compassionate compassionate existence of Jesus. . . . existence of Jesus. . . . God is absolute God is absolute letting-be, self giving, letting-be, self giving, self-spending. Kenosis self-spending. Kenosis is understood as the is understood as the way God relates to the way God relates to the world; creation is a world; creation is a work of love, of self-work of love, of self-giving. giving.

Lucien Richard, Lucien Richard, OMIOMI

Christ: The Self-Christ: The Self-Emptying of GodEmptying of God (Mahwah: Paulist (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1997)Press, 1997)

KenosisKenosis: Essence of Divinity: Essence of Divinity

Hans Urs von Hans Urs von BalthasarBalthasar

Love Alone Love Alone (New (New York: Herder & York: Herder & Herder, 1969)Herder, 1969)

It is precisely in the It is precisely in the kenosiskenosis of Christ of Christ (and nowhere else) (and nowhere else) that the inner that the inner majesty of God’s majesty of God’s love appears, of love appears, of God who ‘is love’ God who ‘is love’ (1 John 4:8) and a (1 John 4:8) and a ‘trinity.’‘trinity.’

KenosisKenosis: Essence of Divinity: Essence of Divinity

J. B. MetzJ. B. Metz Poverty of Spirit Poverty of Spirit

(New York: Paulist (New York: Paulist Press, 1968, 1998)Press, 1968, 1998)

God ‘became human’ God ‘became human’ and took on our flesh. and took on our flesh. We say this all too We say this all too casually. . . .casually. . . .

Satan wants to make Satan wants to make Jesus strong, for what Jesus strong, for what the devil really fears is the devil really fears is the powerlessness of the powerlessness of God in the humanity God in the humanity that Jesus has that Jesus has assumed.assumed.

Satan fears the Trojan Satan fears the Trojan horse of an open horse of an open human heart. . . .human heart. . . .

But. . . WHY? But. . . WHY? TheosisTheosis

Out of divine Love, God wants us to be Out of divine Love, God wants us to be one with Godone with God

Theosis – movement toward Theosis – movement toward communion with the divine – is the communion with the divine – is the reason for kenosisreason for kenosis

2 Peter 1:4: Through Christ, we 2 Peter 1:4: Through Christ, we “become partakers of the divine “become partakers of the divine nature.”nature.”

““Divinization”Divinization”

““Divinization”? Sounds Divinization”? Sounds Dangerous!Dangerous!

St. Ephrem, deacon and St. Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the Church: doctor of the Church: “The Deity imprinted “The Deity imprinted itself on humanity, so itself on humanity, so that humanity might also that humanity might also be cut into the seal of be cut into the seal of the Deity”the Deity”

St. Athanasius of St. Athanasius of Alexandria, deacon and Alexandria, deacon and bishop: “God became bishop: “God became human so we might human so we might become God.”become God.”

More recently. . . .More recently. . . . JPII: “The Spirit enables JPII: “The Spirit enables

us to share in the us to share in the Divine nature. . .” (1998 Divine nature. . .” (1998 General Audience), General Audience), citing Thomas Aquinas:citing Thomas Aquinas:

““The Only-begotten Son The Only-begotten Son of God, wanting us to of God, wanting us to be partakers of his be partakers of his divinity, assumed our divinity, assumed our human nature so that, human nature so that, having become man, he having become man, he might make men gods.”might make men gods.”

Lex Orandi, Lex CredendiLex Orandi, Lex Credendi

West: “By the mystery of this water and wine, West: “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”humanity.”

East: “You have united, O Lord, your divinity East: “You have united, O Lord, your divinity with our humanity and our humanity with your with our humanity and our humanity with your divinity; Your life with our mortality and our divinity; Your life with our mortality and our mortality with Your life. You have assumed mortality with Your life. You have assumed what is ours and you have given us what is what is ours and you have given us what is yours for the life and salvation of our souls. yours for the life and salvation of our souls. To you be glory forever.” To you be glory forever.”

Impact on All DisciplesImpact on All Disciples Through Baptism: Through Baptism:

“By sharing our “By sharing our human nature, human nature, weakened through weakened through Adam’s sin, you Adam’s sin, you enabled us to enabled us to share in your share in your divinity, and to divinity, and to receive the gift of receive the gift of life.” (Maronite)life.” (Maronite)

Impact on All DisciplesImpact on All Disciples Through sacramental initiation disciples are immersed Through sacramental initiation disciples are immersed

into the life of the Trinity, who is “absolute letting-be, into the life of the Trinity, who is “absolute letting-be, self-giving, self-spending,” then so too must be those self-giving, self-spending,” then so too must be those who share in this life through grace. who share in this life through grace.

It is in and through the disciple’s own It is in and through the disciple’s own kenotic kenotic self-self-donation, in sacramental “imitation of Christ,” that the donation, in sacramental “imitation of Christ,” that the disciple finds the door open to the divine. In recalling disciple finds the door open to the divine. In recalling the the kenosis kenosis of Christ, the disciple recognizes God’s of Christ, the disciple recognizes God’s self-emptying into Christ, who images this kenotic self-emptying into Christ, who images this kenotic divinity in a perfect and unique way. divinity in a perfect and unique way.

KenosisKenosis in itself reveals something about God and, in itself reveals something about God and, likewise, about ourselves. likewise, about ourselves. TheosisTheosis, on the other hand, , on the other hand, gives gives kenosiskenosis purpose and direction. One cannot seek purpose and direction. One cannot seek God without emptying oneself; one empties oneself to God without emptying oneself; one empties oneself to find God.find God.

Part Two:Part Two:The Kenotic-Theotic Leadership of The Kenotic-Theotic Leadership of

DeaconsDeacons“Ministers of the Chalice”“Ministers of the Chalice”

Deacons in a Diaconal Deacons in a Diaconal ChurchChurch

We stress that the teaching of We stress that the teaching of the Council is channeled in one the Council is channeled in one direction: the SERVICE of direction: the SERVICE of human kind, of every human kind, of every condition, in every weakness condition, in every weakness and need. The Church has and need. The Church has declared herself a servant of declared herself a servant of humanity at the very time humanity at the very time when her teaching role and her when her teaching role and her pastoral government have, by pastoral government have, by reason of this Council, reason of this Council, assumed greater splendor and assumed greater splendor and vigor. However, the idea of vigor. However, the idea of SERVICE has been central.SERVICE has been central.

Paul VI/John Paul IIPaul VI/John Paul II ““The permanent diaconate. . . A driving force for the The permanent diaconate. . . A driving force for the

Church’s service. . . .” (Paul VI, Church’s service. . . .” (Paul VI, Ad pascendumAd pascendum)) ““The service of the deacon is the Church’s service The service of the deacon is the Church’s service

sacramentalized.” (John Paul II, sacramentalized.” (John Paul II, Address to US Address to US DeaconsDeacons))

Benedict XVIBenedict XVI

““Love needs to be organized if it is to be an Love needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community.”ordered service to the community.”

The Seven: “decisive step. . .for putting this The Seven: “decisive step. . .for putting this fundamental ecclesial principle into practice.” fundamental ecclesial principle into practice.” With the Seven, With the Seven, diakoniadiakonia became part of became part of fundamental structure of the Church.”fundamental structure of the Church.”

Benedict XVIBenedict XVI

The Church’s deepest nature expressed in three-The Church’s deepest nature expressed in three-fold responsibility [word, sacrament, charity]. fold responsibility [word, sacrament, charity]. “These duties presuppose each other and are “These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable.” Charity is not “a kind of welfare inseparable.” Charity is not “a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, activity which could equally well be left to others, but is. . . an indispensable expression of her very but is. . . an indispensable expression of her very being.”being.”

Nathan MitchellNathan Mitchell Professor at University Professor at University

of Notre Dameof Notre Dame The restoration of the The restoration of the

diaconate is thus diaconate is thus important not because important not because it resurrects an it resurrects an ancient order that had ancient order that had all but faded in the all but faded in the West, but because it West, but because it affirms the principle affirms the principle that that recognition of recognition of pastoral leadership is pastoral leadership is the fundamental basis the fundamental basis for calling a Christian for calling a Christian to ordained ministryto ordained ministry..

Cardinal Walter KasperCardinal Walter Kasper

““Renewal of diaconate is Renewal of diaconate is first of all a spiritual task. first of all a spiritual task. The basic spiritual The basic spiritual attitude of the deacon attitude of the deacon must make it clear that must make it clear that the Christian paththe Christian path is not is not an ascent or a triumphal an ascent or a triumphal march in glory, but march in glory, but a a path that looks path that looks downward, following downward, following Jesus ChristJesus Christ, who , who descended from descended from heaven.”heaven.”

Max DePree, “Servant-Max DePree, “Servant-Leadership: Three Things Leadership: Three Things

Necessary”Necessary” An understanding An understanding

of the fiduciary of the fiduciary nature of nature of leadership.leadership.

A Broadened A Broadened Definition of Definition of Leadership Leadership CompetenceCompetence

Enlightenment by Enlightenment by Moral PurposeMoral Purpose

Fiduciary Nature Of Fiduciary Nature Of LeadershipLeadership

1.1. Leadership is not a Leadership is not a position. Fiduciary position. Fiduciary leaders design, build, leaders design, build, and then serve inclusive and then serve inclusive communities by communities by liberating human spirit liberating human spirit and potential, not by and potential, not by relying only on their own relying only on their own abilities or experience or abilities or experience or judgment.judgment.

Fiduciary Nature Of Fiduciary Nature Of LeadershipLeadership

2.2. ““Organizations Organizations become centers of become centers of learning and learning and collaboration.”collaboration.”

3.3. Fiduciary leaders Fiduciary leaders balance two balance two essential ideas: essential ideas: individual individual opportunity and a opportunity and a concept of concept of community.community.

Fiduciary Nature Of Fiduciary Nature Of LeadershipLeadership

4.4. ““Fiduciary leaders, Fiduciary leaders, seeing the seeing the importance of trust, importance of trust, work to build it.”work to build it.”

Kasper: “The task Kasper: “The task [for the deacon] is to [for the deacon] is to bring a healing that bring a healing that sets people free and sets people free and empowers them to empowers them to trust and so to serve trust and so to serve and love others in and love others in their turn.” their turn.”

Fiduciary Nature Of Fiduciary Nature Of Leadership:Leadership:Five PathsFive Paths

5.5. ““Fiduciary leaders leave Fiduciary leaders leave legacies.” DePree cites legacies.” DePree cites Vatican II “the future is in Vatican II “the future is in the hands of those who can the hands of those who can give tomorrow’s give tomorrow’s generations reasons to live generations reasons to live and hope” (GS, 31). “A and hope” (GS, 31). “A Native American saying Native American saying tells us that the world does tells us that the world does not belong to us; we merely not belong to us; we merely borrow it from our borrow it from our grandchildren.”grandchildren.”

A Broadened Definition of A Broadened Definition of Leadership CompetenceLeadership Competence

““The competent leader perceives, defines, and The competent leader perceives, defines, and expresses reality.” Deacon: “Eyes, ears, heart, soul”expresses reality.” Deacon: “Eyes, ears, heart, soul”

““A competent leader knows that the future lies in A competent leader knows that the future lies in the selection, nurture, and assignment of key the selection, nurture, and assignment of key people.”people.”

““A competent leader bears personal responsibility A competent leader bears personal responsibility for knowing, understanding, and enabling the for knowing, understanding, and enabling the creative people in an organization.”creative people in an organization.”

““Competent leaders are transforming leaders”: to Competent leaders are transforming leaders”: to new levels of learning and performance, new levels of learning and performance, transforming the present into a “reaching toward transforming the present into a “reaching toward potential.”potential.”

““Competent leaders discover, unleash, and polish Competent leaders discover, unleash, and polish diverse gifts.” diverse gifts.”

Enlightenment by Moral Enlightenment by Moral Purpose:Purpose:

“God’s presence in our “God’s presence in our leadership” leadership”

““The first sign of God’s presence is a whole-The first sign of God’s presence is a whole-hearted acceptance of human authenticity: every hearted acceptance of human authenticity: every person is creature of God”person is creature of God”

Because of this all “are entitled to certain rights. Because of this all “are entitled to certain rights. Leaders with a clear moral purpose work to make Leaders with a clear moral purpose work to make these rights real.”these rights real.”

TruthTruth ““Leaders with clear moral purpose are vulnerable Leaders with clear moral purpose are vulnerable

– a gift of all true leaders to their followers.”– a gift of all true leaders to their followers.” ““Share the results” – He cites 1 Corinthians “Who Share the results” – He cites 1 Corinthians “Who

plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of its Who tends a flock without getting some of its milk?”milk?”

LG29: “…supremely necessary LG29: “…supremely necessary for life of the Church.”for life of the Church.”

““The goal of diaconal The goal of diaconal activity is not simply activity is not simply help, help, but the but the empowering of lifeempowering of life, so , so that those who lie that those who lie prostrate may get to prostrate may get to their feet. . . . In some their feet. . . . In some situations, situations, the deacon the deacon can and must become can and must become the public advocatethe public advocate of of the weak and powerless the weak and powerless and of all those who and of all those who have no other voice or have no other voice or lobby.”lobby.”

Concrete tasks….Concrete tasks….

The deacon = “contact partner” for all The deacon = “contact partner” for all those in need & they must be able to look those in need & they must be able to look confidently to him for help. confidently to him for help.

Since his ministry includes word-worship-Since his ministry includes word-worship-charity, deacon can make others aware of charity, deacon can make others aware of connection between faith and life.connection between faith and life.

““In his ministry of the altar, he lays the In his ministry of the altar, he lays the needs of human beings on the eucharistic needs of human beings on the eucharistic table, and naturally he also speaks of table, and naturally he also speaks of these needs when he preaches. He must these needs when he preaches. He must make the parish aware of urgent situations make the parish aware of urgent situations of need, motivating them to share with of need, motivating them to share with one another and to give practical help.”one another and to give practical help.”

More concrete tasksMore concrete tasks

One essential task consists One essential task consists in finding, training, and in finding, training, and guiding volunteers, guiding volunteers, concentrating more on concentrating more on accompanying them accompanying them professionally, personally, professionally, personally, and spiritually….and spiritually….

Ideally, the deacon should Ideally, the deacon should initiate and support self-initiate and support self-help groups, e.g., for single help groups, e.g., for single parents or drug addicts. parents or drug addicts. Note that this cuts across Note that this cuts across church boundaries!church boundaries!

Conclusions:Conclusions:Understanding Understanding kenosiskenosis

A reading of John A reading of John 1313

Washing of feet is Washing of feet is more than simple more than simple or menial serviceor menial service

It is a sign, a It is a sign, a foretaste of foretaste of Christ’s passion Christ’s passion and deathand death

Diaconal Diaconal kenosis kenosis & & theosistheosis

Jesus uses this sign Jesus uses this sign to illustrate the type to illustrate the type of leadership to be of leadership to be exercised by the exercised by the Apostles: a similar Apostles: a similar kenotickenotic diakoniadiakonia

A willingness to A willingness to surrender surrender everything to care everything to care for othersfor others

So that others may So that others may find Godfind God

Father, to Thee I raise my whole Father, to Thee I raise my whole being,being,

a vessel emptied of self. Accept Lord,a vessel emptied of self. Accept Lord,this my emptiness, and so fill me this my emptiness, and so fill me with Thyself-- Thy Light, Thy Love, with Thyself-- Thy Light, Thy Love, Thy Life-- that these precious gifts Thy Life-- that these precious gifts may radiate through me and over- may radiate through me and over-

flow the chalice of my heart flow the chalice of my heart into the hearts of all with into the hearts of all with

whom I come in contact this whom I come in contact this day, revealing unto them day, revealing unto them

the beauty of the beauty of Thy Joy Thy Joy

and and Wholeness Wholeness

andandthethe

Serenity Serenity of Thy Peace of Thy Peace

which nothing can destroy. which nothing can destroy.

Questions for ReflectionQuestions for Reflection

Here in the UK, how might we move Here in the UK, how might we move the Church’s the Church’s diakoniadiakonia beyond parish beyond parish boundaries?boundaries?

If movement is to smaller Catholic If movement is to smaller Catholic communities, how will we continue to communities, how will we continue to evangelize the broader communities evangelize the broader communities around us?around us?

““The Deacon-as-Servant-Leader”: The Deacon-as-Servant-Leader”: how is that notion helpful in our how is that notion helpful in our current ministries?current ministries?