FUNERAL HOMILY For: Jim Green November 24, 2018 Holy Wisdom Monastery By: Steve Zwettler JIM GREEN: A MODERN DISCIPLE Again, welcome to all of you here today. It is so good of so many of you coming together here at Holy Wisdom to celebrate Jim’s life and to support his family. As all of you know, Jim made so many wonderful connections and friendships with so many from different walks of life, and he would be delighted to see all of you here today to remember him. On behalf of Bill, Jim’s husband, and Jim’s extended …
Jerry Folk’s Homily from November 18, 2018
Pentecost 25 (November 18, 2018) Holy Wisdom Monastery Madison, WI After reading today’s lessons, I thought “My luck has run out.” So I went to the commentaries, but found little help there. But then these texts began to open up for me, especially the reading from Hebrews. I was surprised by this, since this reading is full of references to the Jewish sacrificial system and its bloody sacrifices, a system entirely alien to us. However, it would have been was very familiar to the author’s original audience because it was at the very heart of their religion. In fact, this …
Jim Penczykowski’s Homily from November 11, 2018
Before launching into the substance of today’s homily, I want to remind you that during next week’s liturgy we will set aside a specific time to turn in your stewardship pledge cards if you have not already done so. Today’s reflection on the scripture might be considered contemplation on the abundance of God’s power and mercy in our lives. Long-standing interpretation had it that today’s Gospel passage praised the poor widow for donating “all she had to live on” to the temple treasury (which in our minds we were to equate with giving our all to God). The Gospel …
Paul Knitter’s Sermon from November 4, 2018
All Saints/All Souls Sunday Nov. 4, 2018 Isaiah 25:6-9; Revelation 21: 1-6a; John 11: 32-44 What Are We Waiting for?! When I’m in the throes of preparing a sermon, I like to give myself at least a working title to keep myself focused. The title I’ve chose for today’s homily – appropriate, I hope, for today’s feast of All Saints and All Souls – is “What are we waiting for?!” The first two readings are pretty clear about what we’re waiting for. Today’s first reading is taken from the section of Isaiah, chapters 24-27, called the “Little …
Colleen Hartung’s Homily from October 14, 2018
Solidarity Sunday – October 14, 2018 Mark 10: 17-31 Over the last few weeks, the Jesus of Mark’s Gospel has been telling us over and over again that in the Reign of God, the first shall be last and the last shall be first. In last week’s gospel, Jesus tried to make it as plain as plain can be. In order to enter the Reign of God come as a child, the least of these; without status, without money and without claims of goodness. But this is a hard lesson. The disciples don’t get it. They keep fighting over …
Joseph Wiesenfarth’s Homily from October 7, 2018
Joseph Wiesenfarth 7 October 2018 Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16 John Mortimer, well known a decade or so ago as the creator of “Rumpole of the Bailey,” has written a splendid play called A Voyage Round My Father, which enjoyed a successful run in London’s West End back then. Through an accident, his father, a prominent barrister who specialized in divorce cases, lost his sight. So he prepared his day’s arguments by having his wife read him their pertinent details on the train up to London. Mortimer writes, “The entire first class compartment would fall silent listening …
Lynne Smith’s Homily from September 30, 2018
Mark 9:38-48 Lynne Smith, OSB This exchange between Jesus and the disciples follows the Transfiguration and a series of teaching conversations between Jesus and the disciples. At the Transfiguration, three of the disciples catch a vision of who Jesus is in his glory. Apparently, this sets them to think about having some of that glory for themselves. Jesus calls them back to earth with the prediction of his passion. His glory is not what they think. Down the mountain, another group of disciples has been unable to cast out a demon. Jesus tells them that kind of demon can only …
Wayne Sigelko’s Homily from September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time “Familiarity breeds contempt.” So, goes the old saying. And contempt doesn’t always mean a kind of disdain. More often I think in my own life it means a lack of attentiveness-a failure to really notice things. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been walking with Nancy on our now very familiar Saturday path to the Farmers’ Market and I’ll look at a newish building and say “when did that go up?” only to have her respond “it’s only been there about 10 years now. ” I am reminded …
Kate Stel’s Homily from August 12, 2018
Among my very cool classmates at the University of Chicago Divinity School and my trendy coworkers at the Div School coffee shop, Grounds of Being, I freely admit I have very few claims to fame. Compared to my vegan-inclined friends, I consume enormous amounts of dairy being a Wisconsin native. I would happily wear my LL Bean hiking boots every day to work over a pair of Dansko clogs. But, shockingly, it’s the sourdough starter I grow with my roommate Gwen that my friends are interested in. Some of my friends and coworkers have asked for a share of our …
Colleen Hartung’s Homily from July 29, 2018
5 Loaves of Barley and Two Tiny Fish Scarcity or Life Abundant? John 6: 1-21 Homily by Colleen Hartung July 29, 2018 If you are a bible miracle aficionado then today is your day!! In the first reading from 2 Kings, Elisha commands a servant to feed 100 people with a single sack of food containing “20 loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain”. “Thus says the Most High, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” And that, so the story goes, is what happened. The Gospel reading from John 6 ups the ante. 5000 people plus women …