2022 Sabbatical Week: Midday Reflections
We are grateful to the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (Monday - Wednesday) and the Rt. Rev. Jake Owensby (Thursday), for offering our Midday Reflections during our Diocesan Sabbatical Week.
The Society of St. John the Evangelist is a community of men dedicated to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer and community life, and critically engaged with contemporary culture, we seek to know and share an authentic experience of God’s love and mercy. We live a common life shaped by worship, prayer, and our Rule of Life.
The Rt. Rev. Jake Owensby is the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Western Louisiana, an author, and a speaker.
His work explores the spirituality of everyday life. In both his writing and his speaking, Jake seeks to help others experience for themselves where God is in their ordinary, sometimes messy lives.
We invite you to visit this page each day during our Sabbatical Week to watch the midday reflection (no video Friday). At the end of each video, you'll find questions to ponder throughout your afternoon. We hope these reflections help bring you peace and help you feel a closer connection to God.
Monday, March 7: Silence
Br. James Koester from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist reflects on silence and the ways silence can be used for good... and for ill.
Tuesday, March 8: Stillness
Br. Nicholas Bartoli from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist reflects on the sacred space of stillness within us all. How might you draw near to that inner space today?
Wednesday, March 9: Listen
Br. Curtis Almquist from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist reflects on listening and cooperating with the will of God. What is your witness about Jesus that informs who you are and who you are to become?
Thursday, March 10: Learn
The Rt. Rev. Jake Owensby, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana, reflects on Learning what a love-shaped life looks like. Does love really make a difference in our world?
Questions for further reflection:
- What was one of your most memorable and enduring learning experiences? What did you learn? How did your learn it? How has what you learned changed your view of the world, God, other people, yourself?
- Have you ever changed your mind about something or someone significant in your life? What brought about that change? Were you also changed by it?
- How did you learn that Jesus loves you? Forgives you?
- Have you ever helped anyone else learn that Jesus loves and forgives them? Tell that story. How did you help them see this?
- How do you read Jesus’s parables? Is there one in particular that is especially meaningful for you? What does it tell you about Jesus? About you? About your calling in this world?
- Have you ever had to unlearn something? What was it? What prompted you to do it? How did you do it? What was the experience like?
- Has your concept of God changed over time? How so? What brought about these changes for you?
- Where does learning fit into your life? Your faith?
- What is your favorite or most frequent kind of learning activity, experience, or process?
- Is there anything you yearn to learn more about?
- What helps you learn? Is there anything that keeps you from learning as much as you want?
- Do you prefer to see things for yourself or be shown by an expert?
(No Midday Reflection on Friday, March 11)
