“The providence, provision, and protection of God is ours, not because of what we are, but whose we are. It is so easy to fall into the sin of national exceptionalism and assume that God favours us, not because God’s nature is one of universal and overflowing love, but because of our creed, our race, our gender, our orientation, our ethnicity, our citizenship, our politics.” Br. James Koester hears in the words Jesus speaks in the synagogue of Nazareth a challenging message with strong echoes today.

“Where is Jesus’ presence in your life shining new light? Where is his touch completing the temple of your life?” Br. Sean Glenn invites us to see the part we play in the completion of the Temple as bearers of the divine image.

“We don’t pray to icons. We pray in their presence. Rather than always closing our eyes and folding our hands in prayer, we lift up the eyes of our hearts in the presence of an icon. Icons feed the imagination in a very good way.” Br. Curtis Almquist invites us into prayer with an icon of the Holy Trinity.

“The reason we revisit these great stories each year and why the season of Epiphany is so important to the life of the church is because they tap into our own desire to know and be in relationship with God and how he is manifest in our lives in the here and now.” Br. Jim Woodrum reflects on the meaning of the season of Epiphany and how Jesus is made manifest to us in the Sacraments and in our lives.

“We are unwell. There’s something about our own life that is significantly damaged, broken, unmanageable, scarred, fearful, or traumatized that needs healing. We’ll need the healing care of Jesus, the physician, for the rest of our life. Our need is that great.” Br. Curtis Almquist invites us to cast our lives into the hands of our Great Physician.

“Don’t wait for a big plan. Start with a small practice, and the ripples of grace will have a power that can do infinitely more than you can ask or imagine.” Br. Curtis Almquist reflects on how we can put into practice Jesus' instruction to "Love your enemies" and our Baptismal promise to "respect the dignity of every human being."

“She turned to God, and told God all that was on her heart. As she spoke, she started to weep, as she said in a hushed voice, that was the first time she had told God anything really important.” Br. James Koester shares a memory that enriches his reading of Mark's Gospel as he highlight one of its unremarkable lines, which nevertheless has much to teach us.

“When did things begin to change? When did it happen that Jesus’ message and mission – not just to Jews but to the whole world – begin to enlarge? With the magi. With the visitation of the wizards at Bethlehem. Jesus, of course, was an infant. Mary and Joseph took it all in. Something very significant happened in their encounter with the magi from foreign lands, and they were forever changed.” On the Feast of the Epiphany, Br. Curtis Almquist looks to the Magi and marvels at God's ongoing revelation.

“Does this story of Nathanael inspire you to use prayer and meditation as a way to know Jesus?” As we move from the season of Christmas to Ordinary Time, also known as "Missionary Season," Br. David Allen finds many expressions of mission in following Jesus.

“Even though the world may be chilled and anxious, a prophet’s strange words herald the darkness’s retreat: 'Here is the Lamb of God. I myself did not know him; but I came that he might be revealed.' A light shines in the far country of our heart, in a region we may have long ago decided was barren, lost, or dead—lost forever to our long exile.” Br. Sean Glenn reflects on the words of John the Baptist and how, even amid the darkness of our unknowing, God prepares our salvation.