“Whatever we pray, in whatever capacity, is ultimately a response to something already initiated by God in the depths of our hearts. To know this—as Teresa knew—is to rest in the faith that, whether we feel anything or not, God has already initiated something within us whenever we pray.” On the Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Br. Sean Glenn ponders the true meaning – and source – of prayer.

“I often wonder, as people who read the Scriptures in a world and a context so far removed from the ones in which they were written, how much we lose, or have lost, in our comprehension of them. Can we really comprehend what they are saying, if we don’t have some understanding of the world in which they were written?” Br. James Koester considers how important it is for us to understand the context of the Scriptures as we unpack their meaning, enabling them to communicate to us the faithfulness of God.

“Antony’s encounter with Christ certainly changed him, and in changing him, the history of the Church was changed, because Antony went on to become what his is often referred to as, the Father of Christian Monasticism. Had Antony responded to the gospel in the same way that the rich young man did, you and I might not be here today. We are here today in this monastery chapel because others were here before us. In today’s case we are here today because Antony was there nearly two thousand years ago. Who will be here in a week or a month or a century because you and I are here today?” The Gospel demands a response from us; Br. James Koester asks: "What will your response be?"

“God is not a vending machine.  God is not a bureaucrat.  God is not a trickster.  Jesus tells us he is our heavenly Father, capable of giving good gifts like we would give our own children. God is our good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep.  God is the great physician in the business of healing the sick. Prayer is nothing less than active participation in the divine life of the Trinity.” Br. Todd Blackham finds in Jesus' teachings on prayer the invitation into new and unending life.

“Think of it. One man. One life, cut short at 44 years.  Like Jesus, he never owned a home or acquired wealth.  Like Jesus, he never wrote a book, or earned an academic degree, or held a political office.  He refused to pursue worldly status and power.  He chose instead to live as a poor man, as Christ did, giving himself to the care and service of the most needy.  And yet, his life is a shining light that has illumined the whole world.  Millions have dedicated their lives to following his example of complete and utter devotion to God.” Br. David Vryhof marvels at the profound influence and inspiration Saint Francis of Assisi has had on the world.

“This covenant, the Law which been put into our hearts, and written on our minds is an inexhaustible gift of the revelation of the incarnate Word, Jesus himself.  This sacrament of the Word, which leads us to the Sacrament of the Table is nourishing fare that is worth recollecting and cherishing.  In it we find Christ and all things necessary to salvation.  Praise God for the gift of God’s word who came to us in Christ Jesus, and who remains with us always in the scriptures, in the language of our hearts.” Br. Todd Blackham celebrates how, in the Scriptures, the Word of God comes to us in the language of our hearts.

“Angels are not a pre-scientific, pre-rational, pre-modern way of understanding or thinking. Nor are they about whimsy, fantasy, and magic. For me, angels are about the imagination.” On the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Br. James Koester celebrates how imagination can make present –and real – a world unseen.

“We need to hear Jesus earnestly, but not always literally. Jesus has to be interpreted. Jesus said that God’s Spirit, would 'lead us into all truth.' We need to pay attention to the guidance of Spirit to interpret the Scriptures and to find our way in life.” Br. Curtis Almquist digs into Jesus' metaphor of "salt" to find messages of rich meaning for us today.

“The words of God are food for the soul;  they nourish and strengthen us for the struggles we will face in life.  Don’t neglect them; without food our souls weaken and die. Those who live by these words are like great trees with strong trunks, able to withstand the battering of the winds and the changing of the seasons. These words offer us truth and wisdom that satisfy our hunger and quench our thirst. They instruct and guide us; they fortify us on the way; they remind us that we are known and loved by the One who has created and redeemed us.” On the Feast of Saint Matthew, Br. David Vryhof give thanks for the life-giving, nourishing words of his Gospel, and encourages us to plant them in the fertile soil of our hearts.

“How many of us have said things in the heat of the moment or without thinking about the consequences that come with a certain choice of words. Certainly, I have. Sometimes, our brakes fail and before we know it, we have involved ourselves and others in a calamity, sometimes with devasting consequences. In my experience, words can be just as injurious as sticks and stones and equally as lethal.” Br. Jim Woodrum considers the power of words to give – or take – life, and offers counsel for how we can use our words constructively in the world and the lives of others.