I AM A DEACON
My name is Ricardo Burgos, and I am a deacon. I have been a deacon for almost two years now, a retired military officer for almost three years, a parishioner at Saint John the Baptist for 14 years, a physician for 21 years, a parent for 25 years, a husband for 27 years, and a member of God’s church for 52 years.
All journeys of faith involve excitement and sacrifices, difficulties and joys, and mine has been no exception. Baptism might have been the smoothest of all steps along the way, though, I was a baby at the time, so I can’t really say that for sure. Maybe I was just like one of the lovely little ones I now get to baptize who give their parents and godparents a difficult time at the baptismal font. What I can say for sure is that I have come to love every second of it all because of God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ our Lord.
A few years ago, Pope Francis said in a homily that to answer the question “Who is Jesus?” we can simply recite the words of the Creed about the second person of the Trinity (“the only begotten son of God; born of the Father before all ages, God from God …” and so on). But it is a whole other matter to answer, “Who is Jesus Christ for you at a personal level?” That’s because just like any encounter with a true love, the joy of an encounter with Christ cannot be explained to the one who has not experienced it, while no explanation is necessary for the one who has.
My faith journey in the first part of my life was mostly about the part of the Creed — about learning and reciting who Jesus was. This second leg of my journey has been about the second question — who Jesus Christ is for me at a personal level — and how to communicate that as effectively and passionately as possible to inspire conversion. That is the process God has used to bring me to diakonia (to serve) and to the diaconate. My experiences have taught me what the wise words of a secular musical “philosopher” said, “You’ve got to give to live.”
Though each played key roles in my faith journey and who I am, it wasn’t mere acquisition of knowledge, education or degrees or military training that got me here. I know by heart the medical profession depends on knowledge attained through disciplined education for the study of disease and injuries in order to foster, maintain and restore health and wellness. In a similar way, theology and faith rely on philosophical knowledge for the well-being of our souls. But knowledge has to serve love, no matter your path or vocation in life, because if it doesn’t, it runs the risk of turning inward and serving pride and conceit. We must be on our guard against this inappropriate use of knowledge.
This is the legacy I want my sons and my daughter, my second grade catechism students, and all I meet to possess and pass on. That each new thing we learn and meditate about God and his creation is a new reason to love Him.
