The Rule of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist
We Brothers welcome you to a share one of our daily practices: listening to and reflecting on a chapter of our Rule of Life.
- To listen to the SSJE Rule of Life, read aloud by a Brother, click on the chapters below or in the left sidebar navigation on this page.
- For a guide to reading the SSJE Rule as a means for your own personal reflection, click here.
- To purchase a print copy of the book The Rule of Life of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, click here.
- We welcome your comments on each chapter.
In addition the Brothers have a series of other resources that we hope might be helpful to you in exploring living with a Rule.
Living Intentionally: Creating a Rule of Life
We invite you to download our Living Intentionally Workbook for Creating a Personal Rule of Life. Walk with Br. David Vryhof step-by-step through the process of writing your own Rule.
A Framework for Freedom:
We invite you to discover the freedom that comes from living by a rule of life, by journeying through “A Framework for Freedom,” a 7-week self-guided video course to help you say “Yes” to your life. Watch the series now. Subscribe to a daily email.
In Lent 2012, we preached a series on the challenges and rewards of living by a rule of life. Drawing on chapters from SSJE’s Rule. Read and listen to the sermons.
A Living Tradition:
Each day of Lent 2011, we posted a short “living commentary” on our Rule, with a Brother or two offering his unique perspective on the document which shapes and forms our prayer and practice more than any other apart from Scripture and The Book of Common Prayer. To read that conversation, click here.
The Rule of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist
We Brothers welcome you to a share one of our daily practices: listening to and reflecting on a chapter of our Rule of Life.
- To listen to the SSJE Rule of Life, read aloud by a brother, click on the chapters to the left.
- To read a Guide to Personal Reflection, click here
- To Subscribe to the SSJE Rule of Life, click the subscribe buttons on the left.
- We welcome comments on each chapter.
- To purchase a copy of the book The Rule of Life, click here
Introduction
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The audio book, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is read by Br. Curtis Almquist and accompanied by carols sung by the Brothers.
The Twelve Days of Christmas follow from December 25 until January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, the traditional date when the Magi arrived to present gifts to infant Jesus. For many, the meaning of these days is lost. By Christmas night we are saturated with the holiday hype, overfed by music and food, and may already be disappointed that the presents received are not enough. This audio book is not a bah humbug about Christmas customs and presents.
This is simply an invitation to go deeper than the tinsel and wrappings, beyond the presents given and received, to the source of all the good gifts in life. Readers are invited to unwrap gifts that will last, praying the twelve days of Christmas.
- To purchase a copy of the book The Twelve Days of Christmas, click here.
- To purchase a copy of In Quiet Silence, the Brothers’ Christmas CD, click here.
Cooperate
Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE
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Space
Br. Keith Nelson, SSJE
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Home
Br. David Vryhof, SSJE
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Opportunity
Br. James Koester, SSJE
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Blind See – Br. Luke Ditewig
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Br. Luke Ditewig
One of my friends sees as I don’t. He walks into a room and immediately senses things in others and in me to which I’m oblivious. Sometimes he says: “Don’t you see?” and I reply: “No, you’ve got to tell me. I can’t see.” That’s hard to say, to realize being in the dark while another can clearly see, to discover and experience limitation in the light of another’s ability.
In today’s gospel story, Jesus walks along and sees a person who is blind and who doesn’t ask for help. Jesus doesn’t ask what he wants. Jesus comes and opens his eyes. In response, a flurry of questions by the neighbors and the leaders: How did this happen? Was he really blind before? Who is Jesus? They struggle with question upon question, arguing, accusing, reprimanding, and rejecting. This community is stumbling, groping in the dark, trying to escape the truth that one born blind now sees because of Jesus.
As the community struggles and stumbles, this person grows to see even more. He is honest about limits: “I don’t know where Jesus is. I don’t know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” He also comes to know Jesus. First, he says “the man called Jesus” touched me. Then “he is a prophet.” A bit later “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” Finally, again face to face “Lord, I believe.” First, he receives literal sight, and second, insight, awakened to Jesus. Read More
Insight – Br. Luke Ditewig

Br. Luke Ditewig
The tax collector, a well-known sinner who knows his own need, stands far off asking for mercy. The Pharisee, a religious leader, forgets his own need, stands tall, boasts of his good deeds and takes pride in being better than others like the tax collector. What hypocrisy.[i] The leader’s behavior doesn’t match our belief that we all are lost and need God.
The Pharisee and those who trust in themselves for whom Jesus tells this parable are probably unaware that they are so off track and don’t intend to be here. Eugene Peterson wrote: “Hypocrisy is slow-growing. In its early stages it is difficult to detect. And that is why no one is conscious of becoming a hypocrite. … Distraction from intended good ends up as hypocrisy.”[ii]
Distraction. Distractions can be good, bad, or just busy. Distractions untethered can take us far afield such that we forget where we are and where we meant to be. We can end up trusting in ourselves rather than trusting God. We get overly self-confident and have contempt for others. It’s not intentional. Distracted, we can get so lost we think we are ok and in no need of help. Read More
Worthy
Br. Jim Woodrum, SSJE
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Abandon
Br. Curtis Almquist, SSJE
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Slow down
Br. Todd Blackham, SSJE
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Evil
Br. Luke Ditewig, SSJE
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