During the Palestinian uprising of 1980s, a small village near Bethlehem refused to pay its taxes to Israel claiming that by paying they would be financing the occupation of their own land and country. The army retaliated by confiscating all the animals from the villagers and placing them in a large barbed-wire pen. Few days […]

Dostoevsky’s writings have always been a source of inspiration for me. He is an author who I came to appreciate and respect more over time. Dostoevsky is an author who recognizes the depth of darkness in the human soul but also sees holiness and hope in it. He is a writer who fully recognizes the […]

The covid-19 pandemic and the lifestyle changes and restrictions associated with it deeply impact us, our plans, freedom and alter our lives on every level. Suddenly, we realize that there is a form of pain that is universal, affecting everyone. We are reminded just how fragile life is and how vulnerable our bodies are. There […]

Change is part of life all around us. Change is the divine, mother force that creates, shapes and sustains the physical world we live in from the distant and giant galaxies to microscopic life forms around us. What is our attitude towards change? Could it be the defining factor explaining the circumstances of our past […]

The French revolution inspired Beethoven, the young revolutionary leader Napoleon captivated his imagination, earned his adoration and gave him hope for fundamental and positive transformation to a better world. It appeared that democracy for Europe was within reach. Unfortunately, it all came to an end for Beethoven when Napoleon, who was called to fight the […]

One of the characters of Bill Watterson’s comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” is a stuffed tiger named Hobbes. Hobbes takes on lifelike proportions when he is alone with a six-year-old Calvin. In one of the stories Hobbes asks Calvin what he is doing for his New Year’s resolution. Calvin responds that he did not make […]

When was babies were brought to church to be baptized, standing next to baptismal font something very interesting and important happened when the priest asked our godfathers the same question three times, over and over, “Godfather, what does this child request”. And each time the godfather would reply quoting the words of St. Paul “faith, […]

Through today’s Gospel reading the church invites us to reflect on the message of the Parable of Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-31). It is a story about a steward who was accused by the landowner of squandering the properties he was managing. He was summoned to a meeting by the landlord and asked to present his […]

During the Great Lent everything around us appears to transform. We intentionally do things that subdue our mood by abstaining from foods and things we enjoy. The black closed curtain separates us from the altar, clergy start using black vestments. The monotone penitential hymns, the dim and dark churches and vigil services usher in sober […]