“In the midst of this pandemic, isolation, anxiety, sickness, bereavement, have already weighed heavily on all of us. So how might we, on this Palm Sunday, prepare ourselves for this Holy Week, a Holy Week perhaps like no other we have ever experienced?” On this Palm Sunday in the midst of pandemic, Br. Geoffrey Tristram invites us to be guided by our thirst and trust that God will meet us there.

“Who among us has not buried a Lazarus? Who among us is not burying a Lazarus, or weeping outside his tomb right now? Your Lazarus may be literal. You know someone who has died, or who is dying, or who is in grave danger of death if something does not happen soon.” Br. Keith Nelson returns to the passage on Lazarus in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, looking for hope.

“We use the Bible as a weapon whenever we insist on our own interpretation or meaning-making, even if another person’s experience of the text or teaching, different than ours, bears the fruit of Christ’s Love in their heart.” Br. Nicholas Bartoli invites us to adopt a hermeneutics of trust not just for the bible, but for the Word of God present in all creation

“Suffering is not always the last word. So much strength and beauty can come out of so much pain. How amazing it is when we realize a painful life experience full of loss nevertheless yields something of such gain. I’m not denying the pain nor the loss; but I am saying that amazing good can paradoxically come out of appalling bad. That’s what is called “redemption.” At a time of great suffering, Br. Curtis Almquist offers hopeful words on the good that can come out of suffering – for us, and from us, for others.

“There is a creative synergy between God and God’s people: though God is entirely sovereign, the maker of heaven and earth, we are called to be collaborators with God in the working out of our salvation. God desires our sensitive response in a two-sided conversation.” Br. Keith Nelson delves into the image of the potter and the clay for a message on how we can surrender to and collaborate with the work of God, the master artist.

“We tend to live, mostly out of habit born of our nature and circumstances, with the diamond’s radiance hidden by ripples on the surface of the water. But all it takes is just the briefest moment of stillness, for the water to become transparent, giving us a glimpse of the treasure buried below.” Br. Nicholas Bartoli uncovers the beautiful invitation hidden in the ancient command to "Know Thyself."

“The wellspring of compassion flows from the heart of God, encircles us all, and flows back to God: the circle of life. In this time so full of hurt and hate, compassion can make a world of difference. Seek the grace to know God’s tender loving mercy, and practice it with great generosity. Compassion, God’s tender loving mercy, will make a world of difference.” Br. Curtis Almquist encourages us to discover and practice compassion: God's compassion for us; ours for ourselves, others, and even for God.

“The thought of “spiritual armor” may not garner much of your attention. It should. We need what Saint Paul calls the “armor of God”: protection from head to heart to toe because we all are vulnerable to temptation and attack from the enemy of our soul.” Br. Curtis Almquist invites us to consider our vulnerability and the armor that we need to protect us.

“Jesus also calls us to love our enemies. Calling someone an enemy is oftentimes not politically correct to say, then and now. More often there are people whom we may find repelling, disgusting, stupid, clueless, getting in the way of the life and values we so cherish. These “enemies” are people whom we may judge are not helpful to our program and not aligned with our values.” Br. Curtis Almquist considers Jesus' call that we love our enemies.

“Like any gardener anxiously eyeing the weather, and scouring seed catalogues, waiting, waiting, waiting, to begin the hard work of preparing the garden for another season, we turn our eyes inward, and begin the hard work of preparation, so that like Mary Magdalene, we too can encounter the Risen Lord in the garden of our souls.” Br. James Koester invites us to begin Lent kneeling, joyful and expectant, in the garden of our souls.