Somewhere deep inside, Beneath my titles, My work, My relationships, My words, and If I'm being honest, My own noise ... There is a flame burning. I did not kindle it. It was given as a gift. It was fostered by saints, (and, oddly, some sinners too). I tended to it by Sacrament and Silence (not nearly enough ... yet!) And it has never once been extinguished ... Ever! This is the great, joyful secret of my life (it could be yours too, by the way). God is not far away. The ligh

God is the source and summit of everything. Despite that fact that we often choose to live our lives on a dark and tumultuous sea, He is always with us. He strengthens us, too. You see, God gave us a firm foundation of faith. And He calls us to build a tabernacle for Him within ourselves so that we may know Him more intimately every day of our lives. Put simply, we are never alone. Listen to Christ, follow the Holy Spirit, partake of the sacraments, and live the mystical life

There is a quiet violence in covert resistance. Here I do not mean the kind of opposition Born from the desire to be free. Absolutely not. Not at all. Here I am speaking of the Insidiousness of the withheld hand. The help that is named but never given. The agreement that never becomes action. Covert violence offers the face of cooperation While the heart stays closed. It claims to live with integrity, but A chasm remains between word and deed. Yet wisdom asks something of us

Confession helps you navigate life, love, sin, and salvation. Here's how: Read: The origin of the Sacrament of Confession is rooted in John 20:22-23 where Christ gives the Apostles the authority to forgive sins. In Orthodox theology and spirituality, Confession (also known as the Mystery or Sacrament of Repentance) is understood as a vital means of spiritual healing and reconciliation with God, self, and others. Keep in mind that confession is not merely a legal transaction.

The Lord rejoices in all those who choose to come to the table; that is, to know, love, and serve Him, and to partake of the Sacraments of Baptism, Chrismation, Communion, Confession, Anointing, Marriage, and Ordination. This is, in great measure, what it means to say "yes" to God. But this "yes" also means taking the harder way. It means rejecting idols and choosing God over anyone and everyone else, including family members and friends. God first and always! The Sunday of A

When the mind, Heart and soul grow quiet In ways that frighten us. When our thoughts of God grow dim and Saints and angels seem to slip away, It is tempting to believe it is an end. But the fading away of our spiritual selves Is often the soul retreating under a great sorrow, Gathering itself somewhere deeper than memory. This spiritual pseudodementia reminds us that Grief, loneliness, and unspoken pain Can wear the face of forgetting or unbelieving. But healing is still poss

Do not be blind. Do not be deaf. Do not lie to yourself. Each of us must make sure not to obstruct the divine work of God within. By doing this, we will see the work of the Holy Spirit and hear the calling of Christ. Let us love God with all our heart and soul. Sunday of the Blind Man If you have a question or prayer request, please reach out here. If you can donate, please click here.

To seek peace is to be open to the intercessory work of God ... to be willing to be changed and to actually change. To do this, we must seek equanimity, balance, calm, patience, forbearance, love, willingness, desire, hope, faith, and mercy. Go to confession. Ask for anointing. Seek the pearl of great price. If you have a question or prayer request, please reach out here. If you can donate, please click here.

Thomas Sunday brings great excitement because we have seen the true light in the Resurrection and are now awaiting the great and holy feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. In fact, today's gospel indicates to us that the apostles, disciples, and believers (even some non-believers) were gathering, waiting, and hoping (just like we do today) for all those things that Jesus promised would unfold ... and they did .... right in front of their eyes, and now, deep in our hearts. This S

These words of St. Thomas the Apostle refer, at a practical level, to the need to comfort a person and their family (Lazarus in this case) in times of sickness and death. They also refer to the need to die to ourselves every day, so that we may live and die with Christ in this life and the next. If you have a question or prayer request, please reach out here . If you can donate, please click here .