Tag Archives: spiritual director

A Pleasant Place of Shelter

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

The woman interrupted me mid-sentence. “You need to know that something you said two years ago really hurt me.” I stood there stunned by the pain on her face and the anger in her voice. She told me what I’d said … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Esther Hizsa, humility, Imercer, Isaiah 43: 16, Isaiah 43: 19, Jason R. Goode, Numb, Olivier Noirhomme, snowy chain, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Francis, St. Thérèse of Lisieux | 3 Comments

Christ Has Risen Indeed

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Esther Hizsa

“The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Caravaggio, 1601-2 The Incredulity of Thomas Incredulity. Words are wasted on his impenetrable mind: “Unless I see, unless I touch.” Incredulity guards the heart seals the tomb from disappointment. “Thomas!” Voice charged, words spark. “See. … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Poetry | Tagged Caravaggio, Christ Has Risen, doubt, Easter, Easter poem, faith in Christ, incredulity, John 20:24-29, resurrection, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Thomas | Leave a comment

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

Christmas: As Is

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I wonder if Joseph was peeved when Mary, between contractions, ordered him to close the door then, as soon as he did, wanted it open again. I wonder if, in that chorus of angels, one or two sang flat and if some shepherds –feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Humour, Poetry, Popular Posts | Tagged Christmas poem, Esther Hizsa, Franz Mayer, Joe Buckingham, Plum leaves, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, The Nativity | Leave a comment

Love Decides Everything

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Mom and Dad met one day when she brought milk on a dog-cart to the cheese factory where my dad worked, near her family’s farm in a village outside Zürich. She was seventeen, smart and beautiful; he was twenty-three, strong, handsome and … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Posts, Stories | Tagged Daniel Bonnell, Esther Hizsa, Fall in love stay in love, Fr. Joseph P. Whelan, Matthew 13:44, medical team, Nepal, Nothing is more practical than finding God, Pearl of Great Price, Pedro Arrupe, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby | 6 Comments

A Spark of Something Holy

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Fred and I have been attending a little Anglican Church in our neighbourhood. For Lent we joined a group that has been gathering after church to discuss Brian McLaren’s new book, We Make the Road by Walking. One chapter focused … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent | Tagged Anne Yungwirth, Blueberry, Brian McLaren, Burnaby, freedom, Hannah Nieman, Matthew 23:20, spiritual director, spiritual director Burnaby, spiritual director Vancouver, St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church, We Make the Road by Walking | 2 Comments

She Who Hesitates

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

I was ten kilometres into my ride on a sunny January day, when I got a flat tire. I searched my bike’s panniers, but the levers weren’t there. Without them, it would be impossible to fix the flat. I hate … Continue reading →