RESOLVING PAUL’S DILEMMA: THE JEWISH JESUS: A WAY OPEN TO OTHER WAYS Sermon – Aug 6, 2023 Readings: Isaiah 55: 1-5; Romans 9:1-5; Matt 14: 13-21 “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood And sorry I could not travel both, ….. I took the one less-travelled by.” Paul Knitter
Manato Jansen’s Homily from July 23, 2023
Hope, entangled – Manato Jansen During this season when we have a break from the snow and so many of us are back in our gardens, growing crops and plants, a vivid visualization of this parable may come easily for us. The difficulty of cultivating, the joy of new life, and its challenges… Whenever I read this parable I picture my childhood during the humid Japan summers, pulling deep-rooted weeds out of the backyard for a rewarding allowance of about 50 cents. But the parable may also startle us. Once removed from the ground, the weeds are not simply discarded. …
Patti La Cross’s Homily from July 30, 2023
17th Sunday, July 30, 2023 Holy Wisdom Monastery 1 Kings 3: 5-12; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13: 31-33,44-52 Patti La Cross What welcome relief we have with our recent rains, and the dramatic greening and flourishing of the deep-rooted prairie and of our gardens! This summer as we experienced worsening drought, the reality that we all face from humanly-altered changes in climate came closer to home. I know that I”m not alone in the grief I feel for all our children and grandchildren, fearful for how they will experience the future, fearful of scarcity across the world.. So I’m grateful …
Winton Boyd’s Homily from July 16, 2023
Homily July 16, 2023 Winton Boyd When I read the gospel, my first thought was, wow, is there a better text for a monastic and Sunday assembly community located in the middle of a prairie? Seed wisdom upon seed wisdom! I’d like to offer up three sources of seed wisdom for us today. First, we have the wisdom of both the Hebrew and New Testaments.Isaiah and Matthew offer up powerful images of God’s word growing abundantly and filled with promise and possibility. “My word…shall not return empty” the prophet says. He likens the journey of faith to rain falling to …
New books in the library—August 2023
Enrich your mind and spirit—visit the monastery library! August 2023 The monastery library added the following books to its collection: Cassidy, Laurie, ed. Desire, darkness, and hope. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press 2021. Hewett, Beth. Grief on the road to Emmaus. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2023. Irwin, Kevin. Ecology, liturgy, and the sacraments. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2023 Kim, Seung Chul. The Center is everywhere. Eugen, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2022 Koosed, Jennifer L. Judith. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022. Lane, Dermot. Nature praising God. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022 Lohfink, Gerhard. Between Heaven and earth. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022 Lohfink, …
August phenology
By Sylvia Marek Phenology is a science focused on observing and recording biological events from year to year and their relationships to the change of seasons and climate. These are the “normal” phenology events we expect to see here and in the Madison area this month. We would love to hear about what you are seeing on the grounds of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Please comment on this post with what you are observing, where at Holy Wisdom and the date you observed the event. August Phenology I have kept records of August observations for many years. My entries for August …
“Genuine Ecumenism” – Comments at the 70th Anniversary of Benedictine Women of Madison
By: Nancy Enderle I am honored to offer a few remarks about the commitment to ecumenism that continues to evolve and flourish in this wonderful community of communities. I do so in my capacity as the Director of one of the more recent expressions of that commitment – The Center for Clergy Renewal at Holy Wisdom. I also offer these remarks as a member of the co-worker community which is made up of wonderful people who serve the mission of the monastery with their many gifts. There is a saying from Lao Tzu that came to mind as I reflected …
“Risky Hospitality” – Comments at the 70th Anniversary of Benedictine Women of Madison
By: Al Heggen I’d like to begin by sharing a quote from Henri Nouwen. “One of the most challenging tasks of the Christian is to create the space where people can meet each other without fear, share the human pains and joys which transcend their differences and discover each other as belonging to the same human family.” I first read these words in a brochure from St. Benedict Center in 1978. I’ve had them hanging on the wall of my office ever since. They capture for me the meaning of Benedictine hospitality that I’ve experienced over the last 45 years …
Through the Decades – 2010s
As the 70th anniversary of the sisters’ arrival in Wisconsin is celebrated this year, it is important to share the history and culture of the Benedictine Women of Madison. What brought the sisters to this area? What influences shaped the mission, vision and values? Who played key roles in what eventually became Holy Wisdom Monastery? Highlights* of the growth, change and stability of the Benedictine Women of Madison will be reviewed in the weeks leading up to the 70th Anniversary Celebration on July 9. *These highlights only reflect the history of the sisters after their move to Madison in 1953. Here, the focus is on …
Through the Decades – 2000s
As the 70th anniversary of the sisters’ arrival in Wisconsin is celebrated this year, it is important to share the history and culture of the Benedictine Women of Madison. What brought the sisters to this area? What influences shaped the mission, vision and values? Who played key roles in what eventually became Holy Wisdom Monastery? Highlights* of the growth, change and stability of the Benedictine Women of Madison will be reviewed in the weeks leading up to the 70th Anniversary Celebration on July 9. *These highlights only reflect the history of the sisters after their move to Madison in 1953. In this issue, the focus …