SSJE Sermons

“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.

“Hear and act, dig deep to the Solid Rock.” Br. Luke Ditewig reminds us to dig deep and find security in the one who is our sure foundation, no matter what storms come.

“We know from the history of Christian mission, that flag and cross are often confused, and the damage done as a result of a missional muddle can be enormous. It is incumbent upon us, whose life is a life of mission, to be clear that our task is mostly to stay out of the way and allow the Spirit to do its work.” Br. James Koester reckons with the complicated legacy of the Church, as exemplified in the life of Edmund James Peck.

“Why does Jesus pray so much? And what about us, our own prayer? There is no denying that prayer is a mystery, not a mysterious ploy, but a mysterious truth. In prayer, something is going on in us that God has initiated, enveloping us into the heart of God.” Br. Curtis Almquist looks to Jesus's own practice as he ponders the mystery of prayer.

“We honour and acknowledge Jesus for many things: as teacher, preacher, healer, Messiah, Lord, Son of God. And here we see him, even if at first reluctantly, as breaker of rules. Jesus goes where he shouldn’t, and does what he mustn’t, and shows us that God can be found even where we think God isn’t, can’t, or won’t possibly be.” Br. James Koester marvels at the offensive, redemptive power of Jesus, exemplified in the story of his encounter with the Syrophoenician woman.

“I listened to Dr. Bette Hecox-Lea, an Episcopalian and marine biologist, speak words of unvarnished truth about how biosphere degradation has activated tipping points that, if left on course, will result in a massive extinction event. On behalf of the scientific community, she said plainly, 'We do not know what will come after these points have tipped permanently, other than that the earth will become uninhabitable.' I wept tears of shocked but sober recognition as I absorbed information I have heard before, but this time, truly listened.” In this sober but hopeful recognition of the true scale of climate emergency, Br. Keith Nelson calls for an emerging ecological Christian ethos, grounded in and empowered by our gift of a new self in Christ.

“Jesus comes to us as a friend, into our homes, knowing our hearts, listening with compassion, and redirecting us on the way to life.” Br. Luke Ditewig reflects on two stories from Luke's Gospel, inviting us to ask with its characters: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"