“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…” (Eph 5:8)
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph 5:14)
Advent is a season of awakening—not only to the light, but also to the truth that darkness has shaped us. Saint Paul reminds us that we were once darkness, yet now we are light in the Lord. Hope does not erase the night; it transforms it.
Continue reading “Awake to the Whole: Advent Hope”
“It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Rom 13:11)
Advent begins with a summons: awake. Saint Paul’s words stir us from the slumber of routine and distraction, reminding us that the Lord’s coming is not a distant dream but a near and living reality. Salvation is closer than we imagine, and hope is not deferred—it is dawning.
Continue reading “Awake to Hope This Advent”
The deepest struggle in marriage is not money, miscommunication, or even differences in personality—it is hardness of heart. When our hearts grow hard, we stop listening, stop forgiving, and let the sorrowful mysteries of life overwhelm us. Instead of turning toward one another, we retreat into silence or resentment.
Continue reading “Breaking Open With Love and Hope”
Do you need the grace of courage?
In Luke 16:1–8, Jesus tells a surprising parable: a dishonest steward is praised—not for his cheating, but for his resolve. Faced with crisis, he examines his situation, acknowledges his weakness, and acts decisively. Jesus invites us to do the same—not in cunning, but in spiritual courage.
Continue reading “Discernment and Decision”
The season of Advent invites us into a sacred rhythm of waiting, expectation, and discovery. It is more than a countdown to Christmas-it is a time to pause, reflect, and rediscover the deeper meaning woven into these weeks of preparation. In that spirit, I’m delighted to share the Hinges of Hope Advent Retreat guided by Fr. Hung Pham, SJ. This retreat offers a space to gather with friends from across the globe, to breathe deeply, to ponder our deepest hopes, and to reflect on how the “doors” of our lives might open wider to grace, to love, and to one another. You’re warmly invited to register here for the ZOOM session and step into this journey of reflection.
As we begin Advent, I offer you the following meditation on Holy Doors, a journey through the door of Christ.
Continue reading “Get Hinged to Hope This Advent”
In a world that prizes noise and productivity, Christian contemplation offers a sacred counterpoint—a quiet path to God, and a way of becoming more like Christ.
Continue reading “The Quiet Path to God”
Four years ago, I wrote something that still rings true today: Grace grows as we notice good fruit in ourselves and others.
Continue reading “Noticing the Fruit That Grows”
Our spiritual life is most deeply shaped not by abstract ideas, but by lived experience. The divine is the depth dimension of everything that exists—God as Being itself, dwelling at the core of who we are. When we discover a place of at-homeness within ourselves, we awaken to the unique God-dimension planted in each soul.
Continue reading “Thanksgiving: The Lived Experience of God”
Every day, our attention is under siege. Notifications buzz, headlines flash, algorithms whisper, “Look here.” Social media, phones, and the endless scroll of the internet promise connection, entertainment, even meaning. But in the rush to consume, are we missing what truly matters?
Continue reading “What Are We Really Paying Attention To?”
Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world, but perhaps its greatest gift will be to remind us of what makes us uniquely human. In the digital age, we must have a conviction to remain human or to become like machines.
Continue reading “The Spiritual Intelligence of Remaining Human”
Smitten With Goodness 