God of Wilderness, Feed Us 1 Kings 19:4-8 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51 Our Christian tradition is rich in stories of wandering in wilderness. The wilderness, as Old Testament and Hebrew scholar David Garber, Jr. writes, is a “liminal space during desperate times where God is encountered.” Now, when I read these stories of wilderness, I can’t personally help but think back to my own very few experiences of being in the wilderness. For those of you who know the ancient ruins of Petra, a Nabatean city carved into the rocks of the modern day Kingdom of Jordan, I …
Leora Weitzman’s Homily, August 4, 2024
18th Sun in Ordinary Time • Exodus 16:2–4, 9–15 • Eph 4:1–16 • John 6:24–35 • 8/4/24 Last week Jim spoke about bread for the journey. One of the risks of a journey is that it separates us from whatever sources of sustenance we had in the place we left behind. The Israelites in the wilderness, recalling the abundant meat and bread available in Egypt, were acutely aware of this. As I began the journey of writing this homily, not knowing where it would take me and fearful of getting stranded, I found myself snacking addictively on pita chips to …
Jim Penczykowski’s Homily from July 28, 2024
Many of you know how much I like to offer context for the scripture proclaimed on Sundays. Bear with me as I offer one minute of context today. The Liturgy of the Word nourishes us with passages from each of the Gospel accounts on a 3-year rotation. Year A is set aside for us to feast on Matthew’s account. Year B is set aside for Mark’s account (which is where we are this year). Year C is set aside for Luke’s account. But what about John’s account? We do hear a lot from John’s Gospel during Lent and the Easter …
Patti La Cross’s Homily, July 21, 2024
Sunday July 21, 2024 Holy Wisdom Monastery Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34,53-56 Patti La Cross As I just tended to the sheep in a reflection 3 months ago, I am giving them rest today, in this fullness of summer. These verses from Mark may be easier to relate to because it’s summer; when many people are moving around more. Humans seem always to have traveled, if not to secure food and water, then to explore what lies beyond. We may travel to renew relationships with family and friends; to find respite in creation’s wonders, or be thrilled by new …
New books in the library—August 2024
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! August 2024 The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Armstrong, Karen. Sacred nature. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2022. Brink, Laurie. The Heavens are telling the glory of God. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022. Delio, Illia. The Not-Yet God. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2023. Johnson, Elizabeth. Come, have breakfast. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2024. O’Murchu, Diarmuid. Ecological spirituality. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2024. Oliver, Mary. Devotions. New York: Penguin Press, 2017. Potos, Andrea. Her joy becomes. Newberg, OR: Fernwood Press, 2002. Potos, Andrea. Marrow of summer. American Fork, UT: Kelsay …
Winton Boyd’s Homily from July 14, 2024
July 14, 2024 Homily Holy Wisdom Monastery Rev. Winton Boyd Even before yesterday’s assassination attempt, today’s gospel text from the lectionary can be disturbing because of its violence. We pray that the love of God in Christ will shine through the violence. The text picks up after stories of Jesus sending disciples out in pairs to minister throughout the villages of Galilee. It’s a delight to acknowledge that Nancy Enderle, director of the Clergy Renewal Center here at Holy Wisdom, celebrates the 39th anniversary of her ordination today. And that we have these 18 sweet clergy souls who are coming …
A Shared Way of Life
by Sister Lynne Smith, OSB, prioress Benedictines around the world celebrate the Solemnity of Benedict and Scholastica on July 11. This is a good opportunity to reflect on what the Benedictine way of life has to offer our world today. The Rule of Benedict was written in the sixth century. Since that time, the people who follow the Rule have applied Benedictine values in their own context. When Benedict of Nursia wrote his Rule, the Roman Empire to which he belonged was in decline, and the world around him was experiencing the chaos of that momentous change. The Rule represented …
Terry Larson’s Homily from June 30, 2024
The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, Terry Larson June 30, 2024, Holy Wisdom Sunday Assembly Mark 5: 21-43 In Mark’s Gospel, we have a story about two daughters. One was the daughter of a leader of the synagogue. His standing was indicated by the fact he was named by Mark. His name was Jairus. His daughter was deathly ill. He came to Jesus because he’d probably heard of the amazing healing Jesus had done on the Gentile-side of the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus crossed over the lake to the Jewish-side Jairus boldly sought him out on behalf of his …
Steve Zwettler’s Homily from Scott Shimanski’s Memorial Service, June 21, 2024
“Never To Judge-Always To Love” Once again, welcome to all of you and thank you for your presence today. Words seem so shallow when we face the mystery of a tragic death like Scott’s. We are a people of Broken Hearts this morning—to be sure. How do we make sense out of Scott taking his own life? It’s a Darkness that needs to be Named. It was only a year ago this month that we gathered here at the Monastery for Scott and Sherri’s wedding– and who would have thought that today—a year later—we would be burying Scott. Life is …
A Long Term Commitment
Diane and Neal Smith have a long-term commitment to each other and to Holy Wisdom Monastery. For most of their 53 years of marriage, they have also been involved with the monastery. Diane’s involvement goes back even further. “I was 14 years old when I started my freshman year at the Academy of St. Benedict for girls. I didn’t want to go but my parents made me,” she laughed. “I wanted to be with my friends.” Diane attended the high school from 1963 to 1966 when the school closed. “It was so different from what I expected. The sisters created …