May 14 readings is from Acts & how deacons got started.

The 'model' followed is  good one, even today.

1. The people (Geek widows) reported a problem
2. Apostles acknowledged the problem & Apostles defined it as being beyond their competence & 'job description'.
3. Community was consulted & asked to select trusted lay people t o do the job.
4. Everyone came to an agreement, so greek-named 'deacons' were appointed by the Apostles.

Of course, they were 'solving' the wrong problem. ACTUAL problem was they thought the world was about to end and experimented in 'Christian communism'. People sold all they had & gave it to 'the church' for the Apostles to distribute. That's why the Apostles got in over there heads & had to neglect 'preaching' in order to distribute the common goods. And why Paul had to take up  collection from his Gentile churches to bail out the Church in Jerusalem.

Lessons for us today?

Are we 'solving' the right problem? Maybe our problem is something self-caused.