SSJE Sermons

“It is only in true friendship that we can know and be known in ways that heal our sorrows and multiply our joys. Such friendship takes hard work and a level of emotional commitment not found solely on a keyboard. While a computer may help to nurture such a friendship over time and long distances, it cannot replace the face – time that true friendship requires to survive and thrive.” Along with Aelred of Rievaulx, Br. James Koester marvels at the "medicine" that true friendship is, in our life and in our life with God.

“Like Jesus, we know our lives are going to be filled with interruptions. We know from the second we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep, things will never be going exactly according to plan.” Br. Jack Crowley studies Jesus, the master teacher, for a model of how we are to handle the interruptions that populate our lives.

“Jesus’ being “the way” may give you enormous help and hope as you try to keep finding your own way in life. Life is not going to be what you thought. Your life script will keep changing. And you will probably go through seasons of life where you are overwhelmed and feel lost: having lost your bearings, lost your direction, lost your meaning, maybe lost your hope.”

Br. Curtis Almquist offers the comfort of knowing that Jesus is with us all the way, really.

“Jesus came and is for all of us, in the diversity and messiness of our stories. No one is beyond reach of God’s saving power. Pay attention for surprising grace in unlikely people and places.”

Br. Luke Ditewig marvels at all the mediums our Divine Maker uses to reveal expansive love.

“Call upon him in times of trouble and in times of rejoicing.  Speak his Name with focus and attention, with love and devotion, with desire and longing, and with an open heart.  You will find yourself being drawn increasingly into his heart of love.  In the power of this Name, you will be able to overcome any trouble.” On Holy Name day, Br. David Vryhof encourages us to speak the name of Jesus in desire and trust.

“Christmas, for Christians in the West, is the foremost opportunity to re-embrace the impulse to look and to touch; to show things of great meaning first, then to tell as commentary on the showing. So for the next hour, and the next eleven days of Christmas after that: Look! Touch! Taste! Smell! Clap and point and jump up and down at every shiny, lovely thing. We need to engage these impulses in acts of worship. It is easy in this world to forget the path to this holy ecstasy, this self-spending in the pursuit of meaning rather than luxury and waste.” On Christmas, Br. Keith Nelson urges us to embrace the sacramental gift of all our senses as a way to let Christ be born anew in us.

“Christmas is about many things for many people. It is about Santa and gifts, about families and feasts. It is about cards and cakes, about songs and shopping. But the truth underlying all of this is that at Christmas we remember that God chose to intervene in the lives of one couple, and in so doing intervened in the lives of all people, in the form of a tiny baby, born in an obscure village, in the middle of an occupied nation. This is our memory of God, and it lives on in the hearts and minds of people today because if God could act in that way once, then God can certainly act once again, in our lives today. ” Br. James Koester reminds us that Christmas is not about the birth of a baby, but about all the myriad ways that God makes a home in our hearts, our lives, and our world.

“Keith, in a few moments you will be ordained to the work of a pastor, priest, and teacher. You are being invited to share in the work of shepherding, not only with your fellow members in the body of Christ, but also in a particular and sacramental way with your fellow presbyters, and with your bishops. In particular you are being asked, and empowered by the Spirit, to model your life and ministry after Jesus, the Good Shepherd.” Br. James Koester joins with the community in celebrating the ordination to the priesthood of Br. Keith Nelson.

“This year it felt like it got dark especially early. We know wars are raging all across the world and even close to where Jesus himself walked. We know that this planet is in danger. We know 2024 will be dominated by yet another divisive election. Yet, here we are, gathered, together, celebrating joy.” Br. Jack Crowley marvels at how we can celebrate joy, even when everything around us feels so dark.

“What about you and me? Do we always recognize Jesus when he comes to us? During this Advent season I am sure many of us are hoping, expecting, longing, to come to know Jesus in a new and wonderful way. What may be getting in the way of recognizing his presence in our lives?” This Advent, Br. Geoffrey Tristram invites us to know Jesus in a new and wonderful way. What if Jesus is just waiting to be welcomed in?