“We, each of us, have put on the uniform of the Church, have clothed ourselves in Christ, and we can’t take it off again in this life. Everything we do matters.” On the Feast of James of Jerusalem, Br. Lain Wilson encourages us to consider what it means that we have clothed ourselves with Christ.

“How often do we project the very things we don’t like about ourselves onto our neighbors—judging them, punishing them, and stripping them of the dignity bestowed on them by God? How often are the motives of our neighbors lost on us, and our impatience lost on them? When feeling triggered by another’s actions, it may serve us well to step back and look at the bigger picture to see if there is anything we’re missing.” Br. Jim Woodrum considers God's mercy and the ways that we, in the legacy of Moses and Jesus, mediate it to others.

“We live in a world where such leadership is seen as weakness, and where greatness is based not on the blessedness of meekness and mercy, but on vigour, might and force. But those are not gospel values.” Looking to Saint Edward the Confessor for a model, Br. James Koester reflects on the true marks of servant leadership.

“We face enormous personal and social pressures to care about what others think, to conform, to grow up. But when we apply this to God, how easily we complicate our relationship with God. What childlike shamelessness gives us, I think, is single-minded freedom.” Br. Lain Wilson encourages us to embrace our childlike persistence and discover the freedom to be shameless in our relationship with God.

“What does it mean to inherit eternal life? Listen to Jesus like Mary and be a good neighbor like the Samaritan.” Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to identify with the figures of Scripture as we seek to learn how to love well and be a neighbor to all.

“As we try to live this life, we inevitably fall, mess up, we make mistakes, we sin, we fall short. But what is also true about this life of discipleship, is that when we do fall, Jesus is always there ready to pick us up. That is the paradigm of the Christian life: falling and getting up again, dying and being raised to new life.” Br. Geoffrey Tristram invites us to reflect on our own Christian discipleship, remembering especially when we have been lifted up by Jesus.

“At one time or another, we all need an interpreter. We need a translation to understand a text. We need an explanation to understand a law. Or we need an encounter to make real a truth that we may know but do not yet feel.” Br. Lain Wilson rejoices in those experiences that move us beyond knowing to feeling what it means to receive God's love.

“Christian hope, the hope of the resurrection, the hope of the exiled people of God, is not wishful thinking. It is sober. It is grounded. It is real.” Br. James Koester considers how we are called in live in the midst of those who reject the promises of God because they cannot see the signs of hope.

“We are blessed to be a blessing. What does that look like? Praying. Interceding for the earth and all peoples with loving solidarity. Relinquishing. Consider what personal, familial, and communal practices are sharing in destruction and what builds up the whole created community?” Br. Luke Ditewig reminds us how we are blessed by God and urges us to act to be a blessing to our world.

“We know from the millennia of war, corruption, destruction, and deceit that there is nothing delicate about lies. That first lie, spoken so alluringly in the Garden, continues to do its evil worst, even today. And so, the battle continues. Michael and his legions, armed with the truth and the power and the strength of God have come to our defence. They stand, not down, but ready for our call. And call we must, for only the forces of God can defeat the Great Deceiver.” In the war against evil, Br. James Koester reminds us, we need the help of the forces of God.