“Scripture is sharper than a sword. Like a scalpel, it cuts through what is diseased and damaged, cuts through lies and confusion, cuts through the stories we tell ourselves to reveal the truth. The stories of scripture surprise, disturb, confound and, with good intention, cut.” Br. Luke Ditewig finds in the cutting words of Jesus' exchange with the rich young man an invitation to us all: to be laid bare, to surrender, to let go, and to be open to our Great Physician, who seeks only to heal us, even through hard words.

“Each of us enters the world, some­thing like an acorn, with the seed of calling, with a sense of identity, with a vision of destiny.” Br. Curtis Almquist invites us each to discover the true purpose of our life.

“Is Jesus really making invidious distinctions between Martha and Mary? Between busyness and stillness? Between housework and hospitality? Between action and contemplation? That’s what we’ve been told over the years, but is it really the case?” Br. James Koester revisits the familiar story of Mary and Martha to discover the welcome invitation in its scandalous portrayal of women as teachers, disciples, and heralds of good news.

“'What God has united, human beings must not divide.' These words of the Gospel are not just for married people. I would even go so far as to say that they are not primarily about marriage. These words are for all of us: we, who are married and single, committed and seeking, divorced or not, heterosexual or not.” Br. Keith Nelson considers our life-long journey into that original unity that is our birthright: a oneness with God, one another, and within our own deepest selves.

“Living life patiently is very difficult to do. But living life patiently is not as difficult as not living life patiently.” Br. Curtis Almquist follows Jesus into Samaria for a lesson in living: rather than seeing life as a series of obstacles, frustrations, and impenetrable questions, instead we might see life as an endless stream of invitations to abandon ourselves into God's hands and God's time, as we cooperate with whatever God is up to.

“Jesus is saying: You will see me. I am heaven opened. I connect you with God and the heavenly realms.” On the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to join the angels in worshiping the One who is heaven opened, here among us.

“Do you find it hard to imagine that good Christian people, that the Church itself, might put a stumbling block in someone’s path that would impede their way to God? How about the thousands of people throughout the world who as children suffered abuse at the hands of clergy, and who continued to suffer as the Church denied and covered up the awful things that had been done to them?  Or what about gay people who internalized the message they received from the Church that God hated them and that they had no place in the Body of Christ?  What of people of color who have been long been discriminated against and marginalized by the Church?  Or the poor who struggle every day simply to survive, and can’t help but notice how easy wealthy Christian suburbanites have it?  Or women, striving to live into the fullness of what God has called them to be in the Church, but still too often denied opportunities to lead?  Or disabled people who wonder if the Church cares enough to include them?” In this timely teaching, Br. David Vryhof challenges us not to dismiss as “mere” hyperbole Jesus' graphic and harsh teachings in Mark 9:38-50, or we may miss out on a truth that must be heard and must be taken seriously, in our current moment more than ever.

“To hear these words spoken by Jesus, my Savior, my beloved, my Lord and my God, I must get out the steel wool. I must strip and scrub all the interpretive detritus from my memory and listen. I must listen long, listen deeply, and with the utmost humility.” Br. Keith Nelson confronts some challenging words from Luke's gospel and discovers in them an invitation to shake off our interpretive baggage, illusions, presumptions, and pain, as we entrust our fellow creatures to our Lord.

“We know this wisdom, even if only dimly. It is the long brew steeped in us by prayer. It is the food of our heart and mind in God’s word. It is the music of God’s symphony when diverse voices are joined in harmony, not boasting. It is the pilgrim’s shelter beneath the cross of Christ, well supplied with the alms of bread and wine.” Br. Sean Glenn compares the wisdom of the world to God's wisdom, which is expressed most fully in vulnerability.

“We’re all different from one another: different gifts and needs, which is what God uses to knit us together. Our distinctive gifts and distinctive needs are intended to complement one another, not intended for either competition or conflict.” Br. Curtis Almquist reads 1 Peter for a reminder in how our distinctive abilities allow us to come together as a whole, to God's glory.