Author: the Rev. E. Suzanne Wille

It’s the second Sunday of Easter,which means we meet themost-maligned disciple after Judas:Thomas the Twin,more famously known as “Doubting Thomas,”the only disciplethat is known primarilyfor an adjective—doubting. Thousands of sermons have been preachedabout poor Thomas,about his doubts,some criticizing him,some sympathizing with him,but, frankly, mostly getting it wrong. After all, Thomas isn’t the interesting one here.He’s […]Read more “Breath of New Life”

HOSANNA! Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! That’s what they shoutedas Jesus entered Jerusalem;that’s what they shoutedas they spread their cloaksand spread branches before him,welcoming him asthey would welcome royalty. We said, “Hosanna!”We sang, “We are marching in the light of God”and “All Glory […]Read more “Save Us”

In the 2014 movie Pride,there is a scene of lovelinessthat you know you shouldn’t fall for,but do. A woman stands upin a crowded room full of talk and confusionand begins to singin a haunting voice;soon a few more womenstand to sing with her,then the whole room.All are joined in song,and tears prick your eyes. Pride […]Read more “Bread and Roses”

We all know thatthe word “Gospel”means “Good News,”but there seems to belittle good in today’spassage from Luke’s Gospel. The crowd tells Jesusabout the latest tragedy:Pilate’s thugs entered the Temple,slaughtering Jews while at worship.To add insult,they mingled their bloodwith the sacrificesthey were making at the altar. Jesus responds with a storythat’s not good and not even […]Read more “Gratitude and Repentance”

Today we find ourselvesin the desert,as we do every yearon the first Sunday in Lent,witnessing Jesus alonein a barren landscape,a place known thennot as an empty place,but a place inhabitedby frightening evil.It is there that Jesusis tempted for 40 days by the devil. At the end of those 40 days,the devil, evil, slithers upto Jesus, […]Read more “A Cosmic Conflict”

It’s a strange thingto show up at churchon a weekday,all for the purposeof hearing about the needto repent, to take up some disciplines,and to be reminded that we will die,as we are marked with ashes. It’s strange, but it turns outthat at least in the RCCand many of the historicliturgical churches,Ash Wednesday is one ofthe […]Read more “The Most Honest Day of the Year”

All were astounded at the greatness of God.They were astonished on the mountaintop,where Jesus had taken a few disciples—Peter, James, and John—to pray after he had revealedsome terrible truths to them:that he was going to have to suffer,be rejected and killedand that if they want to follow himthey’re going to have to take up their […]Read more “Mountaintop Moments”

A few years agoAnderson Cooper interviewed Stephen Colbert—perhaps you’ve seen it? During that interview,Cooper quotes Colbert sayingin an earlier interview,“What punishments from God are not gifts?” This was Colbert’s responsewhen asked about the plane crashthat killed his father and two brotherswhen he was only 10 years old. Cooper repeats the line—What punishments from God are […]Read more “You Are Not Alone”

We are in the midstof two secular high holy days.I’m not talking aboutthe Super Bowl;that gets no attention from meunless the Pittsburgh Steelers are in it,and they’re not. Again. Rather, I’m talking aboutthe high holy day of romantic love,Valentine’s Day,and it’s made upbut pretty cool sisterGalentine’s Day,which we celebrate today.Thank you, Leslie Knopefrom the sitcom […]Read more “A Love Story for All of Us”

When I last lived in Chicago,  I lived in Andersonville but taught on the Southwest side.  Every morning I drove  the entire length of  Lake Shore Drive to the Eisenhower,  got off at Cicero,  driving past Midway airport to get to school.  No matter what,  this was at least a 45-minute drive. Then, I’d reverse […]Read more “If it isn’t Good News for the Poor, it isn’t Good News”

Years ago a theologian  from University of Chicago said this: “Christians ought to be celebrating constantly. We ought to be preoccupied with parties, banquets, feasts, and merriment. We ought to give ourselves over to joy because we have been liberated from the fear of life and the fear of death. We ought to attract people […]Read more “Popping Champagne”

I speak to you in the name of the One who created us, joined us, and is with us still. Amen. [Singing] O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant . . .     Wait, hold on: [Singing] O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant . . . There’s something wrong here. It’s […]Read more “Christmas Eve | O Come Emmanuel”

O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I speak to you in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,Mother to us all. Amen+True Confession:I’m terrible atpreparing for Christmas.For years, our houseremained bare of decorationsbecause the weeksbefore Christmaswere all about preparingfor finals when I was a teacher,and now that I’m a priest,I’m too busywith church to […]Read more “Who Makes the Paths Straight?”

My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. I speak to you in the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mother to us all. Amen+ If you were here last week or if you followed the photos on Facebook, you know that we baptized six—SIX!—babies on All Saints’ […]Read more “Commitment Sunday: Putting our whole trust in God’s grace and love”

Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mother to us all. Amen+ There is only one movie worthy of our celebration of All Saints and that is the great Pixar film Coco. If you […]Read more “All Saints Day: No One is Lost”

Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mother to us all. Amen+ Today in Mark’s Gospel we meet blind Bartimaeus, someone we might call an accidental saint. […]Read more “Accidental Saints”

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with majesty and splendor. I speak to you in the Name of the Living God: Holy Eternal Majesty, Holy Incarnate Word, Holy Abiding Spirit. Amen. Can imagination save you? Can a vision of the awesome stop our questions, […]Read more “Created for Amazement”

I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mother to us all. Amen+ The Rich Young Ruler. That’s what we call him, that’s how he’s come to be known over the years. He shows up in the three synoptic gospels. In Matthew he’s young, in Luke he’s a ruler, […]Read more “Who Can Be Saved?”

I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Mother to us all. Amen. I found myself years ago, in a dark chapel, praying with teenage girls, on the last night of an intense retreat—Kairos—the capstone of their spiritual formation in the Catholic high school where I was teaching English. […]Read more “Thick Love at All Saints’”