PODCAST · religion
SSJE Sermons
by SSJE Sermons
A Monastic community in the Anglican Episcopal tradition.
Episodes
-
On Christian Proficiency – Br. Keith Nelson
The call to transformation appeals to many, but the journey to proficiency – that is, actual change – tests us at every stage. Using the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew, Br. Keith Nelson reimagines the church as a spiritual dojo where discipleship is an ongoing spectrum of growth where...
-
Listening, Like Mary – Br. James Koester
Mary was obedient, not in the sense that she simply did what she was told to do, like a five-year-old, but because she listened deeply to the call of God, and bravely responded with her ‘yes,’ even though she did not understand the ultimate consequences. Br. James Koester defends the deeply...
-
The Silence and Solitude of Saint Bruno – Br. Curtis Almquist
Most important in life is not the new, nor the next, but the now, where now can be enough. Reflecting on the Feast of Saint Bruno and the semi-hermetic Carthusian tradition, Br. Curtis Almquist offers an antidote to our distraction-saturated world. He urges us to carve out daily spaces of silence...
-
It is in Giving that we Receive – Br. Keith Nelson
If your life feels cluttered with complexity, it may be as meaningful as it is countercultural to embrace a renewed simplicity – an identity that does not depend on what you own, but what you choose to give. Preaching on the parable of the wicked tenants and the Feast of Saint Francis, Br. Keith...
-
Stripping Naked – Br. Lain Wilson
What we have to gain – a coming to know ourselves as we truly are, made in the image and likeness of God – is beyond price. Br. Lain Wilson reflects on Saint Francis’s renunciation as a call to let go of pride, self-sufficiency, and the divisions we create between ourselves and the rest of creation.
-
Taking Rejection with a Grain of Salt – Br. Jack Crowley
I would argue that Jesus took rejection with a grain of salt, and we must do the same. Br.Jack Crowley reflects on Jesus’ warning that his disciples will face rejection and encourages us not to take it personally or let old wounds turn into bitterness. Instead, we can keep reorienting ourselves...
-
Point Together – Br. Luke Ditewig
Jesus is the point, and angels point to Jesus. Dazzling as they may be, they point to Jesus, intimate and other, mysterious Word made flesh. Preaching on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Br. Luke Ditewig reflects on Jacob’s ladder and Jesus’ words to Nathanael, showing that angels serve...
-
On Worthwhile Questions & the Mind of Christ – Br. Keith Nelson
Jesus offers answers – but they come to those who are willing to ask hard questions, and to follow those questions wherever they lead, even to the foot of the cross. Preaching at Church of the Holy Comforter, Br. Keith Nelson examines Christ’s habit of answering questions with deeper questions,...
-
Matthew and Mercy – Br. Luke Ditewig
How hard it must have been for them – and how hard it is for us – to include and to be included: to include those who hurt us, by whom we feel betrayed; to be included by ones we have hurt, who hurt us, whom we see as other. Br. Luke Ditewig shows how embodying Christ's mercy calls us to look...
-
Stumbling and Grumbling Towards Love – Br. Jack Crowley
Our walk with God is not a neatly timed waltz; it’s got its own tempo. Yet somewhere in the chaos of that rhythm of life, there’s a whole lot of beauty to be danced with. If we stay grumbling, we’re going to miss the whole dance. Br.Jack Crowley unpacks how chronic grumbling drives a wedge…
more -
The Treasure of Christ’s Real Presence – Br. Curtis Almquist
For Edward Bouverie Pusey and the founders of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, the Sacraments were the ancient treasures of the Church to behold, celebrate, and revere the power of God which they bequeath. Commemorating Oxford Movement leader Edward Bouverie Pusey, Br. Curtis Almquist...
-
The Mystery of Loving Providence – Br. Jack Crowley
When we love God and let ourselves be loved by God, the waves of our life tend to break toward love. Br.Jack Crowley reflects on the Nativity of Mary through the story of his Irish ancestors and the uncertain journey that brought them to Boston. The sermon invites us to trust that, even when we...
-
Reactivity or Relationship – Br. Lain Wilson
We weren’t created to be consumers, deformed by stimuli, but people transformed by relationship. Br. Lain Wilson reflects on Psalm 37 as an invitation to move beyond the cycle of consuming troubling information and reacting emotionally to it. Trusting God gives our actions a steadier foundation…
more -
Jesus & the Story of Everything – Br. Keith Nelson
Recovering a living relationship with this Creator Christ and its full implications for the creation we share is the great task of the Western Church in our time. In this sermon, Br. Keith Nelson is inviting Christians to see the natural world and every single creature as places of Christ’s...
-
Great Lengths – Br. Luke Ditewig
Speak the truth. Be witnessed. Bear witness. Go to great lengths to heal. Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to recognize one another’s pain and vulnerability, trusting that God goes to the greatest lengths to heal, redeem, and restore.
-
A Man Without Guile – Br. James Koester
Those empowered by the Spirit and sent by God are to speak the words of God, tenderly, as a parent does to a child. On the feast of St. Bartholomew, Br. James Koester reflects on Nathanael’s identity as a person “without guile” and on the calling of all Christians to be sent by Jesus.
-
Falling Asleep Into Life – Br. Lain Wilson
Her rejoicing is an important model for us: of joy less as an emotion than a response. Preaching on the feast of the Dormition of Saint Mary the Virgin, Br. Lain Wilson considers that Mary’s peaceful passage demonstrates the sacred continuity between our earthly pilgrimage and eternal life, where...
-
The End of Mourning, Crying, and Pain – Br. Curtis Almquist
We take Jesus at his word, that he has come to heal us and to set us free: all of us, in every way, in this life and in the life to come.. Br. Curtis Almquist reflects on the meaning of a monthly Requiem as a practice of remembering the dead, praying for their healing and rest, and seeking…
more -
Empty the Tank – Br. Lain Wilson
We may start sinking into the waves, but Jesus calls us to have faith that we will find a hand reaching out to draw us up and a firm foundation beneath our feet. Br. Lain Wilson reflects on the disciples’ exhaustion in the storm and Peter’s attempt to walk on water, suggesting that our deepest...
-
Conceived for Glory – Br. James Koester
None can come to Christ ... and go away as they came. ... Our coming to Christ changes everything. Br. James Koester reflects on the Transfiguration by suggesting that every encounter with God changes us.
-
To be Seen, Known, and Loved – Br. Jack Crowley
The beauty of confession and reconciliation is that they are always inviting us back onto the dance floor. God’s grace knows no bounds. Drawing on the legacy of St. John Vianney, Br.Jack Crowley explores the terrifying grace of being fully known, to stop hiding behind our thoughts, and instead...
-
Something Is More Than Nothing – Br. Keith Nelson
Five loaves and two fish are not, in fact, nothing. They are very little – but they are something. Br. Keith Nelson reflects on the feeding of the five thousand as an invitation to offer God whatever we have, even when it seems inadequate, that small offerings can become more than enough.
-
Failing Well – Br. Lucas Hall
We all will fail. Listen for God, look to Christ crucified, and fail well. Br. Lucas Hall reflects on Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Christ crucified to argue that failure is unavoidable in human life and faithful action.
-
While I Have My Being – Br. Jack Crowley
As long as we are drawing breath in this world, we can sing praises to God. You don’t need to qualify it and you don’t need a good reason to do it; you can always sing praises. Br. Jack Crowley suggests that prayer is less about a graded performance and more about seizing moments of spontaneous...
-
Tending Our Gardens – Br. Lain Wilson
Our brightest gifts cast the darkest shadows. When we can recognize them and name them, we can be more perceptive as to their impact on us and the world. Reflecting on Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds, Br. Lain Wilson encourages us to move beyond simple patience and actively "tend our…
more -
Bountiful – Br. Luke Ditewig
God may seem hidden or insignificant, but that does not mean God is not present or powerful. Br. Luke Ditewig reflects on Jesus’ images of abundance to show God works through our flawed lives and families, drawing everyone to restoration, nourishment, and hope.
-
Power and Hope – Br. Jack Crowley
We often have to be so wrong about something that it takes God to right us. Sharing a vulnerable story of misjudgment, Br. Jack Crowley reflects on how our narrow perceptions often fail us when we're in the weeds of daily life.
-
Even They Will Hope – Br. Lucas Hall
Somehow, somehow, even them. Lord, have mercy. Br. Lucas Hall reflects on Matthew’s vision of Jesus as the one who brings hope to all people, including those whom others may exclude or dismiss. The sermon asks us to recognize our own contempt and to trust that God’s mercy can reach even those we...
-
Save Us – Br. Luke Ditewig
Tears are a gift. Pray beyond words: weeping, groaning, and clenched. On the day of the monthly requiem, Br. Luke Ditewig invites us to confront our mortality and the reality of loss through the biblical lament of Hezekiah.
-
Jesus’ Easier Yoke – Br. Curtis Almquist
Jesus’ yoke is kind to our shoulders and to our heart, enabling us to carry the load more easily. And what is the load? It is the work of love. Br. Curtis Almquist explains that while the work of love is challenging, being yoked to Jesus provides the grace and relief necessary for the soul to…
more -
Flesh-and-Blood Faith – Br. Lain Wilson
Faith is the trust that seeming failure isn’t the end of our story. It not only allows us to stand, but to stand back up when we fall, to face forward with courage and confidence. Drawing on a personal story of a cycling accident, Br. Lain Wilson argues that faith is not a guarantee against…
more -
School for the Lord’s Service – Br. James Koester
As we advance in the religious life and in faith, our hearts expand and we run the way of God’s commandments with unspeakable sweetness of love. Celebrating the feast of Saint Benedict, Br. James Koester explores the saint's profound and lasting influence on the Anglican tradition.
-
Compassion, from God’s Heart of Mercy – Br. Curtis Almquist
Without some degree of compassion in our hearts for other people, all people, we risk becoming the very thing we condemn. By prayerfully contemplating our "enemies" and ourselves through God’s eyes, Br. Curtis Almquist explains that we can tap into the wellspring of divine mercy that transforms…
more -
Wearing the Boat – Br. Lain Wilson
What happens when, instead of seeing only failure in the expectations we impose on ourselves, we expect – that is, await with assured hope – the promise of God’s provision? Br. Lain Wilson explores here how the heavy weight of our own and others' expectations can hinder our spiritual lives. He...
-
Take Heart – Br. Luke Ditewig
Jesus declares forgiveness, dismisses shame, and invites moving with freedom. Reflecting on healing a paralyzed friend, Br. Luke Ditewig's sermon explores the persistent faith of those who carry us to Jesus.
-
Fight the Good Fight – Br. Jack Crowley
The great irony is we can find ourselves feeling the most alive, present, authentic, honest, and real when death is close at hand. Reflecting on the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul, Br. Jack Crowley explores how we find God in our own experiences of powerlessness and "everyday martyrdom." He...
-
The Voice of the Prophets Today – Br. Curtis Almquist
If the church is not involved politically – that is, involved in conversation and action around the principled exercise of power on behalf of the people – then the church is simply a bastion of nostalgia. Exploring the fundamental role of the Hebrew prophets, Br. Curtis Almquist argues that the...
-
God’s Invitation to Higher Ground – Br. Jamie Nelson
God’s invitation for us is to pull up the stakes and make our way to higher ground. Br. Jamie Nelson reflects on Jesus’ image of building on rock and connects it to the ongoing work of discernment in the Christian life.
-
Improbable Prophet – Br. Luke Ditewig
God comes to us where it doesn't make sense, where we can't imagine what we could do. John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ, yet even he was surprised by how God fulfilled that promise. Br. Luke Ditewig's sermon reflects on the surprising ways God continues to work through unexpected…
more -
Tending the Sanctuary of the Triune God – Br. David Vryhof
Embracing the purpose for which we have been created is not only the way to abundant life, but also our deepest joy. Br. David Vryhof invites us to live as priests of creation—knowing, loving, and serving God by honoring the world and one another with reverence and care.
-
Belonging to God – Br. Keith Nelson
A monastery is a place where people with similar flavors of crazy – a craziness for God ‘wiser than human wisdom’ – find they belong to one another because they belong entirely to God. On the Feast of the Visitation, Br. Keith Nelson shares a powerful homily for Br. Jamie Robert Nelson's initial...
-
Healing Again – Br. Jack Crowley
Healing can often take a backseat when it feels like catastrophe is driving. Exploring the courage required to "shout out in the dark," Br. Jack Crowley asks how we might orient ourselves toward a posture of healing in a culture often blinded by conflict and catastrophe.
-
St. Augustine of Canterbury, the Ambassador – Br. Curtis Almquist
Why not live out our lives cherishing what we believe, meanwhile bequeathing to others respect, dignity, curiosity, and humility? On the feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Br. Curtis Almquist reflects on the first Archbishop of England as a model of humble, curious, reconciling faith and…
more -
Ascended Glory – Br. Jack Crowley
Never lose touch with joy. Find it at the core of your being and let it flow. On this Ascension Day, Br. Jack Crowley invites us to hold together the glory of God and the hard realities of life, offering practical anchors for the in-between.
-
Tender Presence – Br. Luke Ditewig
We remember presence, soothing, slowing, one being with us. Brother Luke Ditewig reflects on how Jesus meets frightened disciples not with quick answers, but with peace, tenderness, and promised presence. He invites us to slow down, receive God’s love, and share that same tender presence with...
-
God’s Courtesy – Br. Lain Wilson
God’s courtesy shows that we fail, but that we aren’t our failings; that we sin and do horrible things, but that we are not those things. God’s courtesy assures us that we are loved, loved for all of who we are, which is known fully and completely only by God. While remembering Julian of Norwich,...
-
Peace Coupled with Justice – Br. Curtis Almquist
Jesus is here talking about peace from the inside out. He’s talking about being at peace in the storm. Jesus offers a deeper peace than calm or comfort – a peace that begins within us and steadies us in the middle of life’s storms. But Br. Curtis Almquist also says that real peace in the world…
more -
If One is Good, Two is Better – Br. James Koester
The day of quiet, polite, discrete evangelism is over. Our gospel, the gospel of Jesus’ love, needs to be shouted louder than the gospel of vengeance. Using the two-tradition story of St. Stephen's martyrdom, Br. James Koester challenges Christians to move beyond "polite" faith and loudly…
more -
Faithfully Lived Lives – Br. Lain Wilson
George invites us to pledge our allegiance and loyalty to God and the gospel of hope, peace, and love that Jesus proclaims, and to reject those claims on them made by those promoting despair, war, and hate. Br. Lain Wilson looks to the soldier-saint George as an invitation to wrestle with what…
more -
Meeting Jesus along the Way – Br. Curtis Almquist
There will be ways we have come to recognize and understand Jesus’ presence and power. The invitation is to open the eyes of our heart to what more Jesus is up to. Jesus is always up to more. Br. Curtis Almquist encourages us to look for all the ways that Jesus is present in our midst, even…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
A Monastic community in the Anglican Episcopal tradition.
HOSTED BY
SSJE Sermons
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SSJE Sermons have?
SSJE Sermons currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SSJE Sermons about?
A Monastic community in the Anglican Episcopal tradition.
How often does SSJE Sermons release new episodes?
SSJE Sermons has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to SSJE Sermons?
You can listen to SSJE Sermons on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SSJE Sermons?
SSJE Sermons is created and hosted by SSJE Sermons.
URL copied to clipboard!