Yesterday, seeing the effect of yet one more year of well-manured-ministry as parish-interns, God did not say No but Yes – Yes, in the language of the collect for ordinations, that things that others might cast down, were instead being raised up; things that had grown old were declared new. I imagine God looking on in amazement and saying: “all things really are being brought to their perfection” here today, aren’t they? And they were!

The Bishop yesterday gave the new deacons their assignment for the next six months until they are ordained priests: “You are to make Christ and his redemptive love known, by your word and example, to those among whom you live, and work, and worship. You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world. … at all times, your life and teaching are to show Christ’s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself.”

And with that, Bishop Sisk sent John back to us to begin to learn what it means to be a deacon – and for us to learn what it means to have a deacon in our parish. Undoubtedly there will be more manure heaped on, and some tilling of the soil, and by the grace of God, fruit will be born of it.

John’s calling as deacon is not to have to always to like us, but to love us, no matter what; not to tell us what we want to hear, but what we need to know; and to inspire us, and at other times simply to provoke us, into responding to the needs of the world outside our doors. And our calling is to mentor John, to help God make him ready to be a priest for life. It’s a big calling for both of us. And so let us pray in the words of yesterday’s post-communion prayer: “We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants for the ministry of your Word and Sacraments. We pray that they may be to us effective examples in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of life. Grant that we, with them, may serve you now, and always rejoice in your glory. Amen.”