REFLECTIONS

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

Holy Week is upon us. Every day of this week has important themes to encounter, but I am thinking a lot about Holy Friday. I’d like us to consider our own response to the cross of Christ and to our own particular crosses in life. I would like to share with you a painful story from the life of my grandmother. She was born over a hundred years ago. Life was hard, but it was made harder still due to the selfishness of men. She had two girls and a boy...

Suffering is an undeniable part of life. Pain, distress, or hardship is something we all face. For me, suffering has never been just defeat; it has been survival. It shapes our fears, dictates our decisions, and weighs heavily on our hearts. We instinctively try to control our circumstances, believing that if we hold on tightly enough, we can avoid the pain. Yet, as we enter Holy Week, Christ offers another path. He is inviting us on this path with Him. This path is one of su

A work in progress—that’s what we all can claim. We are being refined each day. Hopefully, we are getting closer and closer to God...

Before the Cross, the devil believed death was his greatest weapon. But Jesus reversed this order completely, opening the path to life...

I have heard that St. Seraphim of Sarov would greet everyone he met with, “Christ is Risen, My Joy.” He would call each person, “My Joy.”

I give up my thoughts and I accept what I feel, I bear it, I live it, and I offer it to God. I call to Him in my feelings so He can heal...