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.
Promises, Promises – Br. David Vryhof
“I’m sure I’m not the only one here who has at different times and in different ways been moved to pledge my total allegiance to God, only to find the initial enthusiasm and zeal fading away — sometimes within weeks or even days. It’s not easy to sustain such commitment, just like it’s not easy to keep New Year’s resolutions, and most of us, most of the time, will find our good resolve fading with time. What’s the answer to this?”
Br. David Vryhof encourages us to drop the shame and guilt and simply offer ourselves to God anew.
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Jesus’ Parables of Life – Br. Curtis Almquist
“We read, “Jesus put before them another parable…” Yet another parable… I can imagine some people in Jesus’ crowds holding their heads and saying under their breath, “Oh dear, another parable…” I wonder if some of Jesus’ mixed reception was because of his steady stream of parables. Parables are not straight talk.”
Br. Curtis Almquist ponders the power of parables and invites us to consider, personally, these timeless treasures which Jesus gives us to unpack.
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Chosen to Share – Br. Luke Ditewig
“Mary Magdalene is, especially for John, the prime example for us of being a Christian. First, Jesus chose Mary and healed her. She followed along and witnessed his teaching. Jesus continued to come, surprise, and reveal including amid deep grief. Jesus sent Mary to share what she knew, first to a small group of men huddled in fear. Mary was apostle to the apostles.”
Reflecting on the witness of Mary Magdalene, Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to consider how we have been chosen by Jesus to be witnesses.
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What Is Required of Us – Br. Curtis Almquist
“We must be about justice-making as followers of Jesus. None of us here has the power of the President to sign a proclamation on behalf of the nation; however all of us have some power within our reach, not just to love justice but to do justice.”
Br. Curtis Almquist reminds us that God’s justice requires our help.
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Life and the Living God – Br. Lucas Hall
“This idea of going to God with a question, a genuine question, open-handed, neither clinging to something as an expectation nor closed to new things that we might receive and might surprise us, going to God open-handed, genuinely with a question, whatever that is, big or small, presupposes a God who is alive, who communicates, and has these desires and wills, and wants to share them with us.”
Br. Lucas Hall encourages us to free God from our tidy philosophical concepts and engage actively with the Living, life-giving God.
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Fearing a Risky Call – Br. Lain Wilson
“What is God calling you to today? How does saying yes to God unsettle your life, your sense of security? What are you afraid to risk? Hear Jesus’s words—“have no fear”—and know that he will be with you, always.”
Br. Lain Wilson reflects on fear as our natural human response to the risky call of God.
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Fish for People – Br. Luke Ditewig
“Being chosen to follow Jesus is a shocking and amazing journey. What’s your experience? How has following Jesus surprised and changed you?”
Br. Luke Ditewig offers, the voice of the disciple James, son of Zebedee, a meditation on Jesus’ call.
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Program Retreats and Saturday Workshops
We Brothers are glad to announce our program retreats and workshop offerings at both the Monastery and Emery House for the coming year, along with the dates available for self-directed retreats. Program retreats provide an opportunity to engage a specific theme or topic over the course of several days. The Brother leading the retreat offers…
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Come to me – Br. David Vryhof
“What is it that you are carrying today, or that you have been carrying for weeks or months or even years? What is it that weighs so heavily upon your heart? What is it that fills you with anxiety and fear, that exhausts your mind and dampens your emotions? What burdens or cares are sapping your strength, day after day after day? Take a moment now to identify and name them….. and then picture yourself handing them over to Christ.”
Br. David Vryhof urges us to hand our burdens over to Jesus.
Read MoreWhat Is New and What Is Old – Br. Curtis Almquist
https://media.blubrry.com/ssje_sermon/www.ssje.org/4.audio/2023/070823_cga.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: RSS Matthew 9:14-17 Jesus is using rich metaphors, but very mixed metaphors when talking about the value of what is old and what is new in life. Jesus speaks of life being like new wine, needing to be saved in new wineskin. Jesus came to do a…
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