The Second Word — Agents of Love
The old priest rises slowly.Back bent,hand steady on the lectern.
His voice is rough,but steady.“Deacons are calledto walk with bishop and priest,to be heralds of Christ’s kingdom.To proclaim the gospel—not only in sermons,but in the way you live.Agents of God’s purposes of love.”He pauses,gazes at the window.The last light of dayslants across the floor.“The gospel is not opinion.It is news.The news that Jesus—crucified,yet risen—is King.The one who brings peace.”He looks back at them.His face creases.He smiles.“And when I say love,I mean the kindthat changes people.Sometimes swift as storm,but mostly—slow as dawn.Love is the deacon’s way.Let it flow through you.Drop by drop,into the cracks of human wounds.”He lets the words rest.Steps back.Folds his hands.⸻The chapel stills.Fifteen minutes of silence.Breath like prayer.Wood creaks.No one moves.⸻At last they file out.The night air cool,stone walls damp.Shoes scuff gravel.The planter:“Agents of love—that sounds like sowing seed.”The wounded one,hand brushing the wall:“He smiled when he said it.Like he believedlove could actually heal.I needed that.”The quiet one,half to himself:“News, not opinion…Yes.That frees me.I don’t need answers,just courage to announce it.”The one who doesn’t fit the mould,keys jangling in his pocket:“‘Slow as dawn’—that I can live with.No rush.”They laugh a little.Talk turns to cassocks,supper,the oddness of silence.Down the lanea lamp glows above a doorway.The Bishop’s Mitre.
Steps quicken.Voices blend.Still thinking of love,but ready for warmth,and beer.
Rev John Swales, MBE, is mission priest for the Lighthouse project in Leeds (placements for deacons are offered there!). In Lent this year I published here a series of his meditations on diaconal ministry https://cofedeacons.org/2025/03/11/herald-of-christs-kingdom/
Jon has now created a series of verse/prayers, continuing his reflections on the ministry of the deacon. I’ll share them week by week.
CofE Network of Distinctive Deacons 