SSJE Sermons

“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.

“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