PROPER 28 November 18, 2012 FIRST READING First Samuel 1:4-20 The hill country of Ephraim boasted the most important temple of the day, the hill-shrine of Shiloh, where the sacred Ark was kept. The chief priest was Eli. Elkanah, a prosperous man of the town, had two wives (as permitted: see Deuteronomy 21:15-17), Peninnah had several children, but Hannah had none. Peninnah lorded it over Hannah and made life miserable for her, but Elkanah loved her and cared not that she was childless. Hannah went by herself to the temple and prayed for a son, and vowed to give him …
Reflections on Morning Prayer
by Ed Emmenegger, Holy Wisdom Monastery neighbor and volunteer All are welcome to attend daily prayer at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Ed Emmenegger (in front row) reflects on his experience at morning prayer below. On Thanksgiving weekend 2009, while many were still gratefully celebrating the opening of the sparkling and highly acclaimed monastery building, I decided more prayer in my life would be a good thing for Advent. I wanted to see if I could build on positive experiences of morning prayer I’ve had away on retreat in past years. Though I had often prayed in thanksgiving and wonder while walking the trails of Holy Wisdom for …
Integrating Prayer into Community Life
Prayer is an integral element of the Benedictine Sojourner experience as they participate in our life and ministry. Our Sojourners, Linda and Nancy, are faithful to the Liturgy of Hours three times a day and to morning and evening centering prayer. Since centering prayer is new to them, some of our faith formation classes have focused on centering prayer. In addition, they are taking part in a class on centering prayer offered by oblate Beth O’Brien. Lectio divina, a prayerful practice of reading and meditating on scripture, is an important prayer practice in the Benedictine tradition. We sisters spend time each morning in lectio, …
Memorial Gifts at Holy Wisdom Monastery
We lost some genuinely special people this past year at Holy Wisdom Monastery. In April, we mourned the loss of Jim McCarthy (April 6), Rev. Ed Beers (April 16), and Judy Schoennherr (April 21). We were honored to host all of their memorial services at the monastery, where the consolation was the opportunity to welcome so many longtime friends and family members into our space. All of their memories live on in various ways here at the monastery. Jim’s wife, Joan, remains an active member of our Sunday Assembly worship community, as well as a member of Benedict Society. Near the end of October, …
Scripture Commentary for November 11, 2012 by Arthur H. Cash
PROPER 27 November 11, 2012 FIRST READING Ruth 31-5; 4:13-17 Gleaners are poor people who come into the fields behind the harvesters of grain. They pick up from the ground the grains left behind, which they can keep for their own sustenance. Boaz, a wealthy young man of Bethlehem, has been charmed by the lovely foreigner who gleans in the fields where he and his men are harvesting barley. Naomi, knowing that Boaz was a close relative of her son, Ruth’s late husband, sends Ruth on a risky and sexy adventure to cause Boaz to fall in love with her. …
Reducing Phosphorous in the Lake Mendota Watershed
This morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Yahara Lakes Community Breakfast, sponsored by the Clean Lakes Alliance. There were a thousand people in attendance, from business leaders to elected officials to people who enjoy using the four lakes in the Madison area. Everyone there was concerned about the water quality in our lakes. An article in the Wisconsin State Journal describes in detail the Clean Lakes Alliance’s ambitious plan to reduce the amount of phosphorous in the Lake Mendota watershed by 50% in ten years. Holy Wisdom Monastery is doing its part to be a part of …
Joseph Wiesenfarth's Homily from November 4, 2012
4 November 2012 Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-6a, John 11:32-44 Did you notice that in each of today’s readings people are crying—or more literally are in “tears”? When Isaiah tells us that God is preparing a feast for all and will “swallow up death forever,” these events will “wipe away the tears from all faces.” Then in the Book of Revelation God makes all things new “wiping every tear from” from all “eyes.” And then in the gospel Jesus dries Mary’s tears as well as his own by raising Lazarus from the dead. God, as Isaiah says, will lift “the …
Scripture Commentary for November 4, 2012 by Arthur H. Cash
PROPER 26 November 4, 2012 FIRST READING Ruth 1:1-18 The Book of Ruth is a gem set by some ancient editor next to the Book of Judges because, though written much later, the story takes place at that time. It is a moving story about a young, naïve woman and an older, wiser woman, their love for each other, and their making their way together through a world where the power belongs to men. It is also a story about the kindness of those in power to those without it. Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, had migrated from the village …
Nature Notes – Autumn 2012
After coming through one of the worst droughts since the dust bowl years of the 1930s, we have finally gotten some rain. Clearly it is still inadequate to compensate for the precipitation deficit, but plants and I’m sure many animals are benefiting from the rare moisture. One of the interesting things that you might note from looking at the prairies at Holy Wisdom Monastery is that most of the plants have survived and look much better than the corn and soybeans in the fields of Dane County. Prairie plants have “learned” through evolution that drought conditions happen now and …
Scripture Commentary for October 28, 2012 by Arthur H. Cash
PROPER 25 October 28, 2012 FIRST READING Job 42:1-6, 10-17 In today’s reading, we have Job’s reply to God, who has been screaming at him for three chapters. Look at what I am and have done! God has been saying. Who do you think you are! Job’s reply is heart-breaking. Like a tragic hero, he has persisted in saying the truth, that God has been unjust. His miserable “comforters” present every man-made argument that he is wrong; but job will not change his mind. Then God shows up in a whirlwind and lets out this long blast against him. The …