It isn’t always the case that the scripture passages for a particular Sunday intersect in such interesting ways – but such is the case for this, the 4th Sunday in Lent. The readings in 1 Samuel, Ephesians, and the Gospel of John all seem to point in the direction of deepening our understanding and recognition of how God works in the world and in our hearts, and how we might respond as followers of this gracious, challenging, engaging God. In 1 Samuel, we learn that even Yahweh’s chosen spokesperson, the prophet Samuel, fails to understand what God is up to …
Leora Weitzman’s Christmas Eve Homily, Dec. 24, 2025
Christmas Eve 2025 ∙ Isaiah 9:2–7 ∙ Titus 2:11–14, 3:4–7 ∙ Luke 2: 1–20 ∙ December 24, 2025 It was night. Darkness enfolded the world in its wings. The earth and plants gave off their nocturnal fragrance. The fragrance entered the nostrils of a flock of sheep, sheltering in the folds of a hillside just outside Bethlehem. The sheep followed the fragrance of the forage, and shepherds followed the footfalls of the sheep. The shepherds were three, one for each watch of the night. And the first watch began. A hush hung over the hills. Hunting hyenas howled in the …
Here We Stand
A Declaration of the Sunday Assembly at Holy Wisdom Monastery As followers of Jesus, we proclaim that we are called to love God and our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39), to treat the most vulnerable among us as we would treat God (Matt. 25:31-46), and to cherish “the splendor of the flowers of the field” and all creation (Matt. 6:28-29). Many current government policies stand in opposition to these values and truths. They erect barriers that make it more difficult for us and other people of good will to love our neighbor, support the vulnerable, and cherish the earth’s splendor. …
Pam Shellberg’s Easter Sunday Homily, Apr. 20, 2025
John 20:1-18 Woman, why are you weeping, the angels ask Mary. Woman, why are you weeping, Jesus asks Mary. Woman, why are you weeping we might ask Mary – right after we ask the people who create the lectionary cycle why they chose for Easter Sunday a text with Mary weeping – as it stands in such conspicuous counterpoint to the joy and delight we expect in our celebrations of this day – why is she weeping – why isn’t she amazed like the disciples we heard about last night in Luke’s gospel, why isn’t she unambiguously joyous – as …
Leora Weitzman’s Easter Vigil Homily, Apr. 19, 2025
Easter Vigil • Gen 1:1-2:4a • Isa 55:1-11 • Wis 10:15-21, 11:1-5 • Rom 6:3-11 • Lk 24:1-12 • 4/19/25 I vividly remember standing by the bonfire here at Easter Vigil a few years ago. Bright flames reached up towards a full moon as Sister Lynne spoke the resounding words: “The beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega …” Under that moon, lit by those flames, feet on the earth, I felt rooted to the center of the world, as if we stood at the earth’s unchanging axis while cosmic seasons revolved around us… rooted in timelessness at the turning …
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 …
Terry Larson’s Homily from June 16, 2024
Mark 4: 26-34: Jesus also said, “The reign of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, without knowing how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once goes in with the sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the reign of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard …
Experiences at Holy Wisdom Monastery
Our mission is to weave prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life. Here are some of the ways we invite you to live our mission with us. Prayer Holy Wisdom Monastery offers opportunity for spiritual growth every day of the week. Offerings include engaging in communal prayer, spending time in nature, attending a program or joining one of our spiritual communities, Oblates of Holy Wisdom Monastery, Center for Clergy Renewal or Sunday Assembly. Hospitality Our Benedictine tradition of hospitality means that all people are welcomed here as Christ. We invite you to experience this …
Julie Melton Receives 2022 Facilitator of the Year Award
Julie Melton, of Madison, has received the Facilitator of the Year Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW). Melton was recognized for her work at Holy Wisdom Monastery with prairie restoration as well as her environmental education programs. “I love leading people to a better understanding of how birds are connected to the prairie plants and the whole environment,” she added. President Steve Sample noted that “through her efforts Melton has helped to maintain and increase the Eastern Bluebird population, key goals of our statewide organization.” A fifth grade teacher who got Melton excited about birds is why …
Dick Wagner
The sisters and Holy Wisdom Monastery community are saddened by the sudden death of Dick Wagner on Dec. 13, 2021. He was a community servant and gay rights leader for decades in Madison and beyond. Click here to read his obituary. At the monastery, Dick was a long-time member of Sunday Assembly. He championed LGBTQ+ rights and introduced many people to the monastery. He was involved in the monastery’s fundraising efforts and was a regular sponsor for many events. He wrote the case statement for the campaign to raise the money to purchase the 55 acres which is now Wisdom …