SSJE Sermons

“We begin the first of five Tuesday evening sermons in Lent focused on 'finding God amid all that troubles us in our lives and in the world.' This evening we explore the ultimate terms of life: “Life in the Midst of Death.” I’m going to start with eternity and then move back-from-the-future into the present. First, a disclaimer. My own experience of life after death is limited.” Br. Curtis Almquist shares several sustaining practices that can redress our fear of death and help us to claim life both in the present and in the life to come.

“We observe days and seasons of feasts and fasts one after another over the course of the year. But feast and fast are always present, interwoven with each other, the warp and weft of our lives. Interwoven, they depend on each other, giving each other depth and richness, and providing form and meaning to our relationships with each other, ourselves, and God.” As Lent begins, Br. Lain Wilson invites us to notice how God is bringing feast into our fast.

“We live out our vocations, our call to Christ, every day of our lives. We answer Jesus’ call every morning when the alarm goes off and we drag ourselves out of bed and lift up that cross one more time. We do this every morning knowing that one day we will wake up for the last time. In between now and that last day, we have a lot of daily life to live.” On the second day of Lent, Br. Jack Crowley ponders Jesus' instruction that we take up our cross daily.

“Bring forward something within you that you know does not reflect the qualities of Jesus. Offer this to God and in exchange, receive and partake in the body and blood of Jesus, present in the bread and wine. As you begin your Lenten journey tomorrow, aim to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'” On the cusp of Lent, Br. Jim Woodrum encourages us to discern our identity as God's children, along with the defining qualities that should accompany such recognition.

“What do we make of a story like this that describes a theophany so extraordinary, so spectacular, so dazzling, so supernatural, that it defies logic.  The whole experience lies so far beyond anything any of us has or ever will see or know, it is almost impossible to imagine. For a few brief moments, the veil is lifted and the disciples see the radiant glory of God beaming from the person of Jesus.” On the feast of the Transfiguration, Br. David Vryhof encourages us to allow ourselves to be transformed by the glory of God, and to reflect that glory into the world.

“God’s revelation to us will be a kind of synergy between what is going on with a very old scriptural story, and what is going on today in our own heart and imagination. And that creates a whole new story.” Br. Curtis Almquist invites us to approach the Scriptures as a window through which to experience life today from a new perspective: God's perspective.

“What was it like to grow up with Jesus as an older brother? Did Jesus seem withdrawn? Did he seem brilliant? Was he weird? We don’t know.” Br. Curtis Almquist imagines his way into Jesus' family system from multiple perspectives in this engaging take on Jesus' full humanity.

“Friendship, then, is not just a sharing of idiosyncrasies or a catalogue of commonalities. Friendship is a training of our affections, an opening of our hearts, and an expanding of our capacity to love. Friendship invites us to love more and more—indeed, to love all—because we have come to love the fulness of our friends. And the more we love, the more we become like Christ.” On the feast of Father Benson, Br. Lain Wilson celebrates how friendship transforms us.

“Our longing for intimacy is often hindered by the fear of judgment, dismissal, and rejection. To cultivate intimacy with our neighbors, it is crucial to establish a safe space where difficult conversations can unfold in the light of God’s grace.” Br. Jim Woodrum invites us to stand in and return Jesus' adoring gaze, allowing ourselves to know Jesus as we are fully known.

“From the very start, Jesus consistently bequeathed dignity and showed the warmest welcome to the widest cast of people, not just to kindred spirits, not just to those with gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but also to those among the least, and the last, and the lost. Lepers come in many forms, and Jesus was at home with everyone.” Br. Curtis Almquist reflects on the way that Jesus calls us to love: both those to whom our hearts are tender and those to whom are hearts are hardened.