We believe passionately that God has given us a mission: to draw others to know and experience in their lives the love of God in Christ. Sharing this “Good News” is at the center of our call and our life. In our chapels and retreat houses, and our online teachings, we hope to offer a still point in the midst of the chaos of contemporary life. We hope that as you explore these pages, you’ll find “Good News” that will help you live authentically, responsive to God’s call of love.
Who Is My Neighbor? – Br. Geoffrey Tristram
“There is nowhere outside the scope of God’s mercy. There are no boundaries within God’s mercy. There is no one outside God’s mercy – no one outside God’s compassion and loving kindness. This truth has the power to convert us, to change our lives.”
Br. Geoffrey Tristram unpacks the powerful story of the Good Samaritan and challenges us to break down boundaries as we show mercy to one another.
Read More
Our Inestimable Worth – Br. Curtis Almquist
“It would have been one thing if Jesus had said, “you are of more value than gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” But no. He says, “You are of more value than sparrows.” Sparrows.”
Br. Curtis Almquist finds a word of comfort in Jesus’ metaphor of the sparrow.
Read More
Praying At Night – Br. James Koester
“We may not think of ourselves as Jacob, but who has not struggled mightily with God, as we attempt to discover God’s will for us? Who has not struggled mightily with God, as we attempt to find our path, our way? Who has not struggled mightily with God, as we attempt to follow God’s call?”
Br. James Koester looks to one of our spiritual forebears for a lesson in wrestling: God is a companion who wrestles with, and not against, and who strengthens and blesses, even in the sweat and struggle.
Read More
Signs of Life: Why Church Matters
Next week (July 16-29), we will be working on our Lenten 2020 video offering, Signs of Life, in which we will explore the riches of our worship traditions, liturgy and sacraments, and the art and architecture of our worship spaces, revealing the full meaning of these signs, deepening our experience of Christian vocation and guiding us toward ongoing conversion. This will mean a number of changes in our liturgical schedule for next week.
Read More
Br. Keith’s Life Profession
We are delighted that our Brother Keith Nelson made his Life Profession in our Community on Saturday.
Read More
The Risk of Vulnerability – Br. David Vryhof
“Jesus sends his followers into the world, asking them to be channels of God’s love and carriers of God’s peace. He risks being vulnerable, and invites them to do the same. The evangelism he teaches and demonstrates is an evangelism from below, not from above. ”
Br. David Vryhof studies Jesus’ disciples – as far off as those in the Scriptures, as near as those from SSJE’s own history – for lessons in how Jesus’ power is most evident in our weakness.
Read More
Why Monks Matter – Br. James Koester
“Keith, by taking the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience for life, you are doing something profoundly important, not for your sake, but for the sake of the world. What some see as a waste, as running away, as hiding, even as a death, is actually the way of Jesus. It is the way of self – spending, redemptive love. It is the way God has chosen you to change this old world.”
On the joyous occasion of Br. Keith Nelson’s profession in Life Vows, Br. James Koester considers how the monastic vows point us all toward the way of Jesus: a way of self-spending, redemptive love.
Read More
To Be Perfect As He Is Perfect – Br. Sean Glenn
“No creaturely title or pedigree, no national border or communal parameter undoes our dependence on this God for all good things. They are not realities of our own making. Our sustenance and security can only ever be gifts of the Love that created us. No border can free or save us from the claims of such a dependence. It usurps every one of our identity claims. ”
On America’s Independence Day, Br. Sean Glenn invites us to recognize our dependence as a path to answering Jesus’ call to love our enemies.
Read More
Why Not to Be Afraid – Br. Curtis Almquist
“Fear is a very costly, distressing emotion when we’re in touch with impending danger, or pain, or evil, or confusion, or vulnerability, or embarrassment. What are you afraid of? What causes your heart to tremble?”
Br. Curtis Almquist encourages us to speak our most honest prayer, sharing our fear with Jesus.
Read More
Saints Peter & Paul: Strength Made Perfect In Weakness – Br. Curtis Almquist
“What ultimately unites these two deeply faithful, deeply flawed followers of Jesus is not their virtue, but their need. What unites them is their weakness, not their strength, what Paul calls ‘strength being made perfect in weakness.’”
Br. Curtis Almquist finds in Saints Peter and Paul two model for the Christian life: exemplars not in virtue or excellence, but in having hearts broken open by their need and God’s forgiveness.
Read More