Br. Curtis Almquist Psalm 146:4-9 Luke 12:32-34 In the calendar of the church we remember today a medieval princess named Elizabeth, born in year 1207 into immeasurable privilege as the daughter of the King of Hungary. At age 14 she happily wed a German nobleman, Ludwig. Meanwhile the poor surrounded her on every side, especially because of a famin…

Luke 16:9-15 This lectionary excerpt begins with the tail-end of a parable unique to Luke that is fairly universally acknowledged to be one of his most baffling parables, called the parable of the dishonest manager. It’s one of those passages that makes a preacher pray: “Oh, Jesus…what do you mean here?” What follows is a series of short teachings …

Luke 16:9-15 This lectionary excerpt begins with the tail-end of a parable unique to Luke that is fairly universally acknowledged to be one of his most baffling parables, called the parable of the dishonest manager. It’s one of those passages that makes a preacher pray: “Oh, Jesus…what do you mean here?” What follows is a series of short teachings …

Br. Luke Ditewig Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Mark 12:28-34 What is most important? a scribe asked. Jesus answered consistent with the tradition: Love God and love neighbor. Jesus quotes both Deuteronomy, our first lesson, and Leviticus. Others had put these two together before. Jesus’ answer is not new. They weave together through scripture. “Hear, O Israel,…

Br. Luke Ditewig Deuteronomy 6:1-9 Mark 12:28-34 What is most important? a scribe asked. Jesus answered consistent with the tradition: Love God and love neighbor. Jesus quotes both Deuteronomy, our first lesson, and Leviticus. Others had put these two together before. Jesus’ answer is not new. They weave together through scripture. “Hear, O Israel,…

All Souls: All the Faithful Departed Wisdom 3:1-9 When I was ten years old, we gave my grandmother a calendar with family pictures. I think that’s a fairly standard Christmas gift for a grandmother. She hung it up in her closet . . . and it continued to hang there for the next twenty-seven years. On it, year by year, she noted major life events: va…

All Souls: All the Faithful Departed Wisdom 3:1-9 When I was ten years old, we gave my grandmother a calendar with family pictures. I think that’s a fairly standard Christmas gift for a grandmother. She hung it up in her closet . . . and it continued to hang there for the next twenty-seven years. On it, year by year, she noted major life events: va…

Feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude Ephesians 2:13-22 Today, one week before Election Day, is a day that I didn’t expect I needed Simon and Jude. We don’t know much about these apostles—we know their names, and that early tradition consistently linked them together in mission to Persia and Armenia. We know that Simon was called “the Zealot” (but no…

Feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude Ephesians 2:13-22 Today, one week before Election Day, is a day that I didn’t expect I needed Simon and Jude. We don’t know much about these apostles—we know their names, and that early tradition consistently linked them together in mission to Persia and Armenia. We know that Simon was called “the Zealot” (but no…

Mark 10:35-45 You do not know what you are asking. I can’t imagine the feeling of having Jesus Christ himself say that to me. It’s a real conversation stopper. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus said in this morning’s Gospel. You do not know what you are asking. You have no idea what you are talking about. You do not know what is best for you. You do no…

Mark 10:35-45 You do not know what you are asking. I can’t imagine the feeling of having Jesus Christ himself say that to me. It’s a real conversation stopper. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus said in this morning’s Gospel. You do not know what you are asking. You have no idea what you are talking about. You do not know what is best for you. You do no…

Br. David Vryhof Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Poor Job. In the midst of a prosperous life, he suddenly meets with a series of calamities. His fortune disappears, his sheep and camels are stolen, his children die in a tragic accident, and he finds himself banished to the edge of the city, diseased and covered with nasty sores. But Job’s suffering goes beyond t…

Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God-bearer Luke 11:27-28 Our reading from today’s Gospel passage had me casting my mind back to high school English. We naturally read the woman in the crowd’s statement, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” (Lk 11:27), as an example of synecdoche, a figure of speech that sub…

Br. Curtis Almquist Galatians 1:13-24 Our first reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, Galatia being in modern-day Turkey. This is where Paul was born as a Roman citizen, one generation after Jesus’ birth.[i] In Paul’s letters he describes himself as neither eloquent nor handsome,[ii] and he was not married.[iii] He earned his liveli…

Br. Geoffrey Tristram Job 1:1, 2:1-10 I was talking with a friend recently about the situation in the Middle East, and he said he felt so much darkness right now that he found it hard to know how to deal with it. I knew exactly what he meant. You may feel it too, overwhelmed by the images of violence, death and destruction. How do you pray, what wo…

Br. Curtis Almquist The Blessed Virgin Mary Luke 10: 17-24 Jesus expresses thanks: “What God has “hidden from the wise and intelligent [God] has revealed to infants.” To infants and, presumably by extension, to young children whose cognitive abilities are underdeveloped; and to those without formal education; and to the elderly whose mind is slippi…