SSJE Sermons

“Jesus doesn’t quantify or set thresholds. Blessed are those who mourn great and small losses. Blessed are those who broker peace on the global stage and around the dinner table. Jesus calls us to respond to whatever life gives, whether it seems earth-shattering or insignificant, with the quiet, confident, persistent faith that what we do in this life and how we do it matter—that there is a connection between this life and the next.” On the Feast of All Saints, Br. Lain Wilson urges quiet confidence that we are reaching toward the saints in imitating their lives (even on the tough days), and that they are reaching back toward us in prayer.

“In the face of everything that is going on: the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; yet another mass killing, this time in Maine; the inability of Washington to function; and the very deep divisions in this country, never mind what may, or may not be going on in your individual life, it is no wonder we may feel hopeless.” Br. James Koester remembers that no matter how hopeless we may feel, there is hope in the promise that God seeks us even in the very worst places of our brokenness and decay.

“So how are you doing? Would you characterize your love of God as ‘wholehearted’? ‘all-encompassing’?  ‘unconditional and sacrificial’? If not, what’s holding you back?” Br. David Vryhof takes us back to basics and the heart of our faith, rooted in love.

“We wake up each morning on a mission to bear the beams of God’s light, and life, and love as only we, uniquely, can do. It’s why we are still alive. Which turns life into such an amazing adventure. This is the core meaning of “sanctification”: living our lives according to God’s unique design and purpose for our life.” Br. Curtis Almquist marvels at the true meaning of our life-process of sanctification.

“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.