The Nativity of St. John the Baptist Luke 1:57-80 What then will this child become? In the event of the birth of a child, this is not an uncommon question. As family, friends, and the wider community come together to celebrate a new birth, there are many hopes, dreams, and well-wishes expressed to the parents.…

“You probably know how it is to be sailing through life on the sunniest of days, and then a storm hits. There is so much to be afraid of in life when we are accosted by threats, whether they be familiar or foreign. These fears can seem so great and we feel so small. Fear is no respecter of age, or gender, or privilege. Fear may be the most common experience we share with all of humankind.” Br. Curtis Almquist finds in our all-too-human fear an invitation to take Jesus at his word: we need not be afraid, for God is with us. Fear becomes a channel for God's presence.

“The prayer that Jesus taught is a simple, supremely effective tool to slice away anything in us that is not humble or sincere. It is the best, most straightforward antidote to all our articulate spiritual nonsense. Over time, it makes us real.” Br. Keith Nelson celebrates the simple transformative power of the prayer that Jesus taught us.

“What is really at stake here is worship—worth-ship, that is, where we put our ultimate worth. You cannot worship God and wealth, says Jesus. Likewise, we may hear him continue, you cannot worship God and your ego; you cannot worship God and pleasure; you cannot worship God and… any good thing.” Br. Sean Glenn invites us to consider the multivalent, true meaning of worship, which extends far beyond what we do together in church.

“Perfection and maturity are impossible. I grew up listening to Sally O’Connor sing that the Bible is full of “improbable people for impossible tasks.”[v] What God promises and commands, God also enables. By the Spirit, we keep coming bit by bit, more into life, more into maturity, learning one step at a time. Jesus keeps telling us—often to our surprise—that there’s more.” Br. Luke Ditewig encourages us to listen for the encouraging voice of Jesus, enabling what he invites.

“The view of a monastic vocation from Bede was one that was not isolated for its own sake. Any solitude was to protect the sanctity and regularity of prayer, but always in relationship to the surrounding people and communities. And I needed that, because I had built up in my head an idolatrous vision of the monastic life that was only as pure as it was isolated.” Br. Lucas Hall claims a long-awaited chance to thank the seventh-century monastic, Bede, for the helpful vision of the monastic life which he provides.

“The gift of the Spirit at Pentecost then, was not so much the gift of speaking foreign languages, but the gift of comprehension that resulted in unity and understanding. That is the gift that brought about amazement, and even healing. In a world so divided by mistrust, enmity, even hatred and fear, the gift of comprehension feels elusive, and impossible to attain. Yet those are the very gifts given, when God poured upon those early disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit.” At a time when hostility and hatred seem to be our daily diet, Br. James Koester urges us to embrace the true gifts of Pentecost: not tongues, but tolerance, not flames, but faithfulness, not wind, but wonder.

“How do you pray during these times of isolation? How are you assured of God’s presence in these troubled times? Are the boundaries of language getting in your way? It may be helpful for you to think of prayer in terms of returning God’s adoring gaze at you.” Br. Jim Woodrum invites us to free ourselves from our worries about prayer and lose ourselves in the loving gaze of our God.

“Desiring to be rich is dangerous.  It can easily lead us into bad choices, which damage our character and our reputation, wreak havoc with our relationships, and result in ruin and destruction. 'Be on your guard against all kinds of greed,' Jesus warns us.” Br. David Vryhof considers the dangers of wealth, and the reward of setting our eyes on treasure that will last.

“If you cannot love Jesus with your whole heart, love Jesus just a little or, rather, let Jesus love you just a little, as much as you are able to receive his love. Jesus will love you on your terms, but – you just watch! – his love will fill you. Sooner or later, Jesus’ love will conquer you, and that is an amazing thing.” Br. Curtis Almquist dives into the gospels' diction and urges us to live with love in the way that Jesus lays before us.