REFLECTIONS

Jesus proclaimed 2000 years ago and says that same thing today to us: "We are to be baptized with water and we shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to Him." Jesus' final words at His holy Ascension should empower us to proclaim His Gospel, His truth, and to know that we will receive the power from the Holy Spirit to do His will. We are called to become His followers who will proclaim the truth that He is God, that He is the Light, that He is the door, th

Have you ever had one moment in life that changed your entire life? Today, let's zoom in on one moment in the life of St. Andrew where two questions changed his entire life. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, and he was there to witness Jesus arriving on the scene to be baptized. John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God" (John 1:36). St. Andrew heard this and felt something deep in his heart, and he decided to follow Jesus. I imagine him making a hasty

The Church is our foundation for our Christian walk. Gathering together in its building as a family in God’s love creates a home where we can get to know Christ more deeply. Growing up, my family lived away from extended family. All the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived in Northern Illinois. We moved a handful of times to other midwestern locales until finally ending up in Woodinville in the beautiful state of Washington when I was twelve years old. My parents t

For many who struggle with fear, anxiety, a deep sense of unworthiness, or addictions of any sort, the voice of shame is certainly part of their narrative. For many, shame becomes an uninvited guest that takes over life! We have seen how shame makes people feel they are wrong, bad, or simply unworthy of love. According to Brené Brown, shame is basically the fear of being unlovable—it's the total opposite of owning our story and feeling worthy of being God's beloved child...

Lately, I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid the news. When I scroll through social media, I quickly bypass stories and reels, moving past anything that might pull me into the weight of current events. At times, this feels necessary for self-preservation. But it also raises a deeper question: When does the search for peace turn into blindness? In shielding myself from the world’s troubles, am I also shielding myself from reality? Am I blind?

The devil is not particularly creative. He has been using the same strategy since the beginning of time, and tragically, we keep falling for it. It's what I call "truth, truth, twist"—he takes something that is genuinely true, acknowledges it honestly, and then adds just enough of a twist to lead us astray. If Satan simply lied outright, it would be too obvious. We'd see through it immediately. But when he wraps deception in undeniable truth, we're much more likely to accep

Even though Lent is in the past for 2025, I'd like to reflect on it one more time. In many Christian circles, the season of Lent arrives alongside the question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" I would like to suggest two different questions that I find more helpful and relevant to us all year round. For the first question, let's look to Jesus' words in Luke 9:23, He says "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me

I'll be honest, after the joy and light of Pascha and all the celebrations, life often feels like it returns to normal. The Rhythm of work, responsibilities, and routine can make it seem as though nothing has changed. Fr. Tom always likes to say "It's always sunny in Seattle!" Well, it was actually Sunny this week! Although we experienced visible light this week, work kept me so busy that I barely had the chance to savor the sunshine. We also received pretty big news at work

On that first glorious morning, as the myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb with heavy hearts and spices in hand, the angels confronted them with a question that echoes across the centuries to the ears of our heart today: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" (Luke 24:5-6) This question is not just for these women but rings loudly for us, today, right now. Identifying what is dead in our life is crucial. We often don't realize it, but we

Mary Magdalene ran with her companions to Jesus' tomb to complete the anointing of the body of their dear and beloved friend Jesus but hesitated, knowing there was a huge stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb. "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" So often we hesitate not knowing who or how the huge stones that block our hearts will be rolled away. We must learn to want our stones rolled back so our heart can be exposed! Yes, rolling stones i

Death, for me, took on a different meaning three years ago. The cancer diagnosis was bleak. Initial reading of the biopsy concurred with CT scans that it was an aggressive cancer. I was a candidate for surgical removal of the tumor (a 9 hour surgery) followed by palliative chemo to give me more time. Two days after the biopsy, I had my regularly scheduled hair appointment. I told Holly, let’s cut my shoulder length hair short. Chemo is around the corner. I went home. The GI

Through the Great Fast we are seeking to be further enlightened by Christ's Gospel, asking that the Light of our Lord penetrate our hearts more deeply so that we can recognize Him clearly and serve Him more fervently. We are on a journey to become transfigured and changed through prayer, fasting and humility, by responding to God's calling to not only receive the light but to 'become' light! During each Lenten pre-sanctified liturgy, the priest comes through the royal doors