“However wide the chasm of perception between Jesus and his nearest followers, I do not hear Jesus marshalling shame or blame. Instead, I see a group of men trapped in their own hapless, helpless ignorance and Jesus straining to find a way in – to become himself the yeast that will leaven the dough of their lives until all is gloriously risen.” Br. Keith Nelson invites us to see the disciples (in all their confusion and misunderstanding) in new light, as dough that is waiting for yeast to leaven it, so that it can rise.

“An unending appetite for junk points to a deeper dissatisfaction, deep-seated feelings of powerlessness, anxiety, isolation, confusion, frustration. I think our culture right now is very prone to this. There are myriad varieties of this experience, and I am convinced that they come from the same source of division, dissatisfaction, and a desire to be comforted in our inmost fears.” Br. Lucas Hall reminds us that we cannot satisfy the needs of the heart with outward things.

“Whoever you are, Jesus welcomes you to the table, and longs to feed you, to satisfy your hunger, with his very self. So come to him with your hunger, and hear again those gracious words of compassion: 'I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. And whoever believes in me will never thirst.'” Br. Geoffrey Tristram on how Jesus feeds all our hungers, both physical and spiritual.

“The author of Mark is pouring out a necessary medicinal draught for us—we, the religious of our own time. While its taste may be bitter to the palette, we do well to drink all of it down, and slowly. For I believe Mark intends us to see our own reflection in this brew. That which we are easily tempted to deride about the scribes and Pharisees in this encounter may well be the very same hops and malt fermenting away in our own corporate body.” Br. Sean Glenn hears in Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees a provoking, provocative reminder to us all about how we should relate to our own faith and the faith of others.

“It is not enough to pray. We must act. It is not enough to press forward with our own goals and agendas; we must consider our brothers and sisters, especially those who have fallen behind. Only then will we see God’s glory revealed in our world; only then will we recognize the face of God in these, God’s children.” Br. David Vryhof reminds us that we cannot say that we know and love God if we are indifferent to the needs of the poor among us

“May we be spared shedding our blood as a martyr; nonetheless, there will be countless occasions to give “witness” to Christ. There will be more than a few opportunities for us to “lay down our life” for someone, another child of God, probably even today.” Br. Curtis Almquist considers the mundane, everyday ways that we are called to the witness of martyrdom.

“Following Jesus, walking by faith is so often more like walking around the house at night when there's a power outage holding a tiny candle. At first it's quite fun, but it soon gets frustrating because the candle only lights up a small area around it, just enough to take the next step forward, but most of the rest of the room is still plunged in darkness.” On Candlemas, Br. Geoffrey Tristram invites us to walk by faith as we follow the Light of the world.

“Next time your heart sinks, your stomach flips, you strain at the oars battling the wind and waves of life, don’t be afraid to cry out, as did the disciples, ‘Teacher, do you not care that [I am] perishing?’ And then open your ears. You might just hear above the noise of your fear, Jesus speaking words of peace.” Br. James Koester invites us to join the disciples in the storm-tossed boat and listen for Jesus' words of peace.

“Sin is not unlike kudzu on an untended stretch of highway. A simple stroll and a lingering glance in the direction of the unknowing, innocent Bathsheba prove fatal. So much harm grown from a single, tragically misguided decision... David’s sin rapidly multiplies in a sequence of events leading to worse and worse consequences.” Br. Keith Nelson marvels at how even our sin can be transmuted – in God's time, by God's mysterious ways – to our good and our glory.

“Blessed, we are to be a blessing. Loved, we are to love. Receiving reckless generosity, show up and shine. Don’t hide or keep it to yourself.” Br. Luke Ditewig encourages us to let our light shine.