Tag Archives: St. John of the Cross

Dark Thoughts

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Esther Hizsa

I know the dark thoughtsthat keep you awake at night It can’t be true.But what if it is? There is no peaceturning one wayor the other. This is too much for you to bear, my love. Come inside.Let me wrap … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Quarter Turn

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Esther Hizsa

I suddenly knew I was looking at it from the wrong angle, and I gave the cloth in my hand a quarter turn. Immediately I saw a beautiful and coherent golden pattern…. In wonder, the pattern had emerged, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Mindfulness, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Doorway

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

My Eight-Day Retreat: Part 5 Father Roshan picked up on the theme of finding the lost and assigned me the story of Zacchaeus for one of my prayers. I took the despised tax-collector’s place. However, in my story, everyone was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Mystical, Prayer, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Waking Up

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Esther Hizsa

I want to be fully awake to God. I’d like to live so aware of being in Christ that I rely on nothing other than God for my security or identity. A bird held by a single thread is still not … Continue reading →

Posted in False Self, Ignatian Spirituality, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Awake

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” –-Matthew 28:9 Suddenly you meet us–on our way from the empty tomb, in the garden, on the road to Emmaus, in a locked room, by the sea, and in the dawn of our darkest night. Your … Continue reading →

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A Smelly, Sweet Encounter

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

Perhaps it wasn’t until Jesus and his disciples sat down to eat their evening meal that they noticed the unpleasant aroma of street and feet. I can imagine them all, tired from the day, edgy and irritated with each other, avoiding eye … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hosanna!

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Esther Hizsa

How do we respond to such an exquisite display of love? Jesus, seated on a donkey, resolutely rides into Jerusalem knowing he will die there. Both he and the saint who is showing him the way are holding a scroll. The word … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Awake

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came … Continue reading →

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A Smelly, Sweet Encounter

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

Perhaps it wasn’t until Jesus and his disciples sat down and the evening meal was being served that they noticed the unpleasant aroma of street and feet. I can imagine them all, tired from the day, edgy and irritated with each … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Holy Week, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hosanna!

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Esther Hizsa

How do we respond to such an exquisite display of love? Jesus, seated on a donkey, resolutely rides into Jerusalem knowing he will die there. Both he and the saint who is showing him the way are holding a scroll. The word … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy Week, Lent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment