Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2021 Holy Wisdom Monastery, Madison, WI Today’s Gospel is the beginning of Jesus’ long Farewell Address which continues through chapter 17 verse 26. The leitmotif of this whole Address is the word which summarizes Jesus’ entire ministry—Love. Today’s Gospel begins with love—Jesus’ love for his own, whom he loved to the end; and it ends with love. “A new commandment I give you…that you love one another just as I have loved you. That’s how people will know you are my disciples.” The body of this Gospel in John’s story of Jesus’ last attempt to …
Rex Piercy’s Homily from March 14, 2021
Sermon for March 14, 2021 John 3:16 is perhaps the New Testament’s most fondly remembered verse. Still, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with this verse. I do love it, of course, because on the one hand, John 3:16 is as William Barclay describes it, “Everybody’s text.” On the other hand, whenever someone mentions it, the image that pops up in my mind is not the verse itself, but some guy holding a sign with that text reference emblazoned on it as he sits in the end zone at a televised NFL football game, or at least that was how …
Jim Penczykowski’s Homily from March 7, 2021
As we pray, so we believe. This statement (or rather its Latin counterpart) is attributed to a Christian in the 5th century. It describes well how our worship, when practiced regularly, informs how we see God’s hand working in us and around us. The triduum of Holy Week, (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday) are at the very core of this statement and our worship during Lent flows from it rather than to it. Our worship in Holy Week confirms for us that Christ Jesus broke the bonds of sin and death, rising victorious once and for all, establishing …
David McKee’s Homily form February 28, 2021
Second Sunday of Lent February 28, 2021 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 We are now about 10 days into Lent: our 40 days before the feast of Easter. This number of days derives, of course, from the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the desert after his baptism. These 40 days, in turn, derive from the 40 years that Moses and the Israelites are said to have wandered in the desert after their exodus from slavery in Egypt and before their arrival in the Promised Land. This is the period in the liturgical year in which self-denial …
Jerry Folk’s Homily from February 14, 2021
Transfiguration (February 14, 2021) Holy Wisdom Monastery, Madison, WI Paul says in today’s reading from II Corinthians that the gospel is veiled to those who are perishing, because the God of this world blinds them to it. I understand Paul’s phrase “God of this world” as a metaphor for the force or forces that block our awareness of the Transcendent and confine our vision to what we might call the transactional world. I think this force is as real and as powerful today as it was when Paul wrote his letter and that this metaphor is a good name for …
Colleen Hartung’s Homily from February 7, 2021
Homily, February 7, 2021 “You cannot be all things to all people. Be unique. Be different. Give to others what you want yourself. And do what you were made to do.” (a quote by Robert Kiyosaki – owner of a private financial education company called “Rich Dad”). “Strategy 101 is about choices: You can’t be all things to all people.” (a quote by Michael Porter – self help guru writing books about competitive advantages and strategies). “You can’t be all things to all people.” (attributed to Joseph Abboud – owner of the company “Joseph, Joseph” a purveyor of ultra-cool kitchen …
Rex Piercy’s Homily from January 31, 2021
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – January 31, 2021 Mark 1:21-28 The Man with an Unclean Spirit They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out …
Leora Weitzman’s homily, Jan. 17, 2021
2nd Ordinary Time • 1 Sam 1:9b-18a, 20 • 1 Cor 6:12-20 • Jn 1:35-51 • Jan 17, 2021 You are in a cave-like holy place. Candles flicker in the stillness. Slowly, slowly, you let yourself sink down… through the layers of struts and scaffolding that held you up through the week so you could keep doing what you had to do… letting those fade away, letting yourself thaw and melt, letting feelings and longings re-emerge. That’s what the candles are for, one for each longing, many of which have no words. Let them in… let them in. And then, …
Patti La Cross’s Homily from the Baptism of Jesus, January 10, 2021
How welcome today’s Genesis reminder that in the early telling of our ancient history with God, the people knew God in light and life, in order rather than chaos. I trust we share an eagerness for light’s return – as our days lengthen just perceptively, and as we long to see our nation move forward in truth and order, towards justice. I am grateful that today and for this liturgical year Mark is the Gospel we are given to break open. We began Advent with Mark, chapter 13, heard the opening verses the next week, and now return to it. …
Patti La Cross’ Homily from December 13, 2020
Lest there be any doubt- as it is yet 2020- it is my privilege and purpose to announce that we areliving in the time of God’s favor! This Day it is thus incumbent upon us, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to bare out God’s desire that we bring Good News to the oppressed; uphold the brokenhearted; comfort the many mourning, and – for God’s sake! -release the prisoners …especially now, in this Covid surge. This is the work of the Spirit of God, and our charge! Happily, we have a full communion of saints to take point from. …