Servant-hearted: Dorcas

The reading from the Acts of the Ap0stles yesterday (11 May 2025) included the narrative of Tabitha/Dorcas.  Jonathan Halliwell shares a reflection on how deeply diaconal her story is.

Deacons – get up and go! Proclaiming the name of Jesus in acts.

Acts of the Apostles is a blueprint to the growth and ministry of the church, in which deacons have a vital part to play. The ministry of Dorcas/Tabitha in Acts 9 is less familiar than the choosing of the ‘seven’ in Acts 6 or the encounter of Philip with the Ethiopian in Acts 8. These stories convey the sense of urgency felt in the mission of the early church, especially in responding to need. Here, Peter is told to travel at once from Lydda to Joppa. This is in response to the needs of the community in nearby Joppa, where a disciple called Dorcas had fallen sick and died. She is referred to by her Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek equivalent Dorcas, both meaning ‘gazelle’. Perhaps she combines that creature’s qualities of grace and agility?  As the gospel spreads into the Greek-speaking world, she is a bridge-builder between Greek speaking and Jewish members of her community (like the Seven who are chosen by the apostles to minister to Greek-speaking widows in Acts 6).

Luke describes Tabitha-Dorcas as a female ‘learner’, using the word mathetria only of her. She is a student, or disciple, of the servant-hearted ministry of Christ.  As such, she is a person of significant standing in her community, perhaps even a prototype deacon. In this account, she is a silent witness to the mourning around her, which reminds us that her learning has been shown in practical deeds of service. Actions speak louder than words! After her passing, all the widows stood beside Peter, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. She had developed a ministry especially among (v.39) the widows, who in a system with no social security, often found themselves in severe financial straits. This ‘gazelle’ was swift to respond to the needs of her community, devoted to good works and acts of charity (v.36).  

She reminds us  that part of the deacon’s call is to be ready to move on, ready to go at God’s command, and to trust him for the outcome.