Category Archives: Lent

Holy Saturday

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Homeless they take him down from the cross his PUTcold body pierced PUTbruised mouth silenced PUTsoft eyes blind as he began now at end PUTwrapped in cloth strips PUTlaid in wrong place helpless God stone heaved tomb sealed sudden scream PUTmine guards curse push me PUT“Go home!” can’t have … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Poetry, Popular Posts | Tagged Caravaggio, Christ has died, Easter Saturday, Entombment of Christ, Holy Saturday, homeless, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | Leave a comment

God with Us to the End

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I look at the naked, bloodied body next to me. “What’s he doing here?” A sinless man is being crucified beside us: me on his left, the other criminal on his right. The crucified always die in disgrace, our lives held up as negative examples. Yet, he is good. People call him rabbi, … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Stories | Tagged Anima Christi, Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, crucifixion, David L. Fleming SJ, Good Friday, Heinrich Hoffmann, Luke 23; 32-46, Soul of Christ, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 1 Comment

Gethsemane

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

See how tenderly the angels comfort Jesus in his anguish. He longed for such compassion from his friends, but they couldn’t do it. They disappeared into a panacea of sleep. We rely on Jesus to be with us in everything, but will we be with … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Praying with the Imagination, Stories | Tagged Anthony Falbo, Contemplation of Place, Gethsemane, Ignatian Sprititual Exercises, lent, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 26:36-46, Maundy Thursday, praying with the imagination, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Stay with me, The Hour is Near | Leave a comment

Moving from “Me” to “We”

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

If I were Jesus riding into Jerusalem, I would have been pretty agitated. Imagine entering the city where you’re about to be betrayed, abandoned, beaten, and killed. How could Jesus remain present to the crowds of joyous people shouting, “Hosanna!”? Before the week is through, … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Helpful Images, Holy Week, Lent, Rob Des Cotes | Tagged Brian Whelan, Isaiah 41:13-14, Jesus enters Jerusalem, Luke 19:28-42, Palm Frond, Palm Sunday, Rob Des Cotes, Samuel John, Soul Care Retreat, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 6 Comments

There You Are

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

Okay. Okay. I’m being still. I’m trying to pause between activities and regain my balance. But, I’ll be honest with you, God. It doesn’t feel like a lot’s happening here. I haven’t stopped overeating and Lent is nearly over. My heart … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mystical, Overeating, Stories | Tagged Apostles receiving Communion, Christ beside me, Esther Hizsa, Gary Hamblin, spiritual direction, spiritual director Burnaby, St. Patrick's Breastplate, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, Ted | Leave a comment

Get Real Still

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

It was easy to pick out our grandson in the line-up of swimmers. The eight-year-old wore a life jacket and was a foot or two shorter than the others. Like those ahead of him, he waited for his turn to try the obstacle course that stretched … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Anatomy of Trust, Brene Brown, Esther Hizsa, Feather, Fred Randall pool, Jim Champion, Paula D'Arcy, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver | 4 Comments

Between My Selves

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

I gather up my courage and for the second time talk with my spiritual director about being overweight. “I’m so confused,” I lament. “De Mello says ‘Don’t change.’ Richard Rohr points out that two of the four gospels begin with the call to … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Lent, Overeating, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged A Book of Blessings, Best Worst Ever Photo Blog, Butterfly resting, Cranky Molluscs, D.Wright, Esther Hizsa, false self, Heidi Braacx, John O'Donahue, Karina Inkster, Kelly Dycavinu, Knit Together, Overeating, Richard Rohr, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, true self | 4 Comments

Love Is a Risky Business

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

In the post Undoing My Life, I talked about a time when I kept expecting to be rejected but encountered love and acceptance instead. That experience was wonderful and scary. As the Rejected One, I protected my heart from the inevitable pain of being discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Popular Posts, Reflections | Tagged being loved, Elisa, Esther Hizsa, Free Store, Happy Valentine's day, Hebrew 11:1, Indiana Jones, Last Crusade, Living from the Heart, Mary Harrsch, New Life Community Church, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, Wendy Holland | 3 Comments

Caught in the Act

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

The religious leaders were ready to stone her. But Jesus defended the woman caught in the act of adultery. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” he said. One by one … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged Cara Cunningham, Clint Mason, Common Grace, Don't change., Esther Hizsa, John 2:2-11, Kerri Norris, Pacific Theatre, Robert Garry Haacke, Shauna Johannesen, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, stones | 5 Comments

Glory Led Me Here

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

The last blossom on my Christmas cactus fell weeks ago. For forty days vibrant pink glory adorned the room where I pray, write, and offer spiritual direction. But now that glory is gone. I think of the Israelites. For forty years they beheld … Continue reading →