I stumbled on this tonight, and thought: “Must post.”

I think there’s more than a little Merton in this gorgeous reflection by a new Episcopal deacon, describing his ordination:

One by one they came forward and one by one I began to see the vast connected network of the body of Christ. I loved them, every one, and that was the moment that I realized the Holy Spirit had shown up. The fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with love. (Galatians 5:22) St. Paul taught that without love all other manifestations of the Spirit are meaningless (1.Corinthians 13:1-3) because “God is love”, inseparably. (1 John 4:8) It is the very DNA of the incarnation. Love is the animating Spirit that moves the living body of Christ. I came to understand that the Holy Spirit’s presence was not about me, but about getting me to turn outward toward everyone else. My ordination and Holy Orders —none of it was simply for me. A warm wind of love showed up at my ordination, and all we had to do was ask. All we have to do is ask.

Check out the rest. And congratulations, Deacon Tim!