“What’s gets in the way between you and God? What do you not want seen? What do you hide? Preparing the way means opening the door and letting God in to see us as we are.” Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to radical honesty, to letting ourselves be loved even when all is revealed, in all our messiness and brokenness.

“This is why we celebrate the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In it, we see God’s goodness and humanity’s efforts come to fruition. In it, we see the beginning of a chain of mutual, glorious, joyous interchange and reciprocity whose end is found in the Incarnation of Christ. ” Br. Lucas Hall invites us to rejoice at the witness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose offertory posture invites us to receive God's good gifts and give ourselves back to God in love.

“We come before Jesus in our seasons of darkness and sightlessness, reaching forth our hands in faith for the fresh vision of Christ’s promise.” Br. Sean Glenn encourages us with words from Isaiah, "Out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see."

“If you find yourself overwhelmed today, if you are tempted to despair because of the circumstances of your life or the state of the world, lift up your eyes and fix them on God.  Trust in the goodness and mercy of God.  Stand up and look despair in the face and say, 'I will not be afraid.'” For all who feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, Br. David Vryhof offers a word of empowering hope.

“Who are saints in your family of faith? Who washed your feet, showed you God’s love? Going back further, who formed them? Who are your spiritual ancestors?” On the feast of the Saints of SSJE, Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to give thanks for our spiritual ancestors.

“In a post-truth world, where truth isn’t truth and where facts are in the eye of the beholder, we exist in an alternate reality where alternative facts shape life and death decisions.We live in a post-truth world, and that’s a problem.” Br. James Koester delves into Pilate's question – "What is truth?" – and finds the answer staring Pilate in the face: Truth is manifestation of Jesus; it's a manifestation of love.

“Take this image of the house on which Jesus calls – it’s your house, your soul – to ponder and pray on your welcome to Jesus. You know the architecture of your soul. You name the rooms, and you speak the welcome. Or, if you find you can’t bring yourself to welcome Jesus into some rooms, why is that?” When he knocks at your door, do you tend to treat Jesus like a bill-collector, a plumber, a shopping assistant, or a formal guest? Br. Curtis Almquist invites us to open our whole house – our whole soul – to Jesus, who wants in on it all.

“We need to not be distracted by the death throes of the secular world or even the destruction of our temples of ego that we have constructed for self-admiration, but rather be engaged in the process of birthing new life set forth by Jesus with: confidence, hope, provocation, sanctification, and a sense of urgency. ” Br. Jim Woodrum encourages us to persevere through the birth pangs of transformation, longing toward the fulfillment Jesus promises in the restoration to come.

“If you’re anything like me, you may be inclined to heckle Jesus over the parable he tells us today. These words of Jesus do not always come to me as 'good news.' They may even bring up dread, anger, and even incredulity. And so I heckled Jesus this week.”Br. Sean Glenn confronts one of Jesus' challenging parables and finds in the example of Hugh of Lincoln the redemptive model of a servant working in love for the Kingdom of God.

“When we love we want to serve. We long to be given some task that will contribute to the good purposes of the one we love. A mother longs to serve her children – out of love. A husband longs to please his wife – out of love. We willingly set aside our own desires and preferences, we lay down our lives, for the sake of those whom we love.” Br. David Vryhof discovers in love the difference between servitude and service. What an honor and privilege it is to be a servant of Christ!