Around last Christmas, I had a series of unfortunate events related to my car and the parish of Westhill. One Monday night in Advent, I was going home along that narrow, winding road between Westhill and Blackburn. At one point, I had to swerve towards the left-hand side of the road to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle. I…

I have been following the war in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. I have felt a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, sorrow, helplessness, sympathy for the suffering civilians… Obviously, let’s not lose perspective: how I feel is irrelevant in comparison to the suffering on the ground in Ukraine and among the Ukrainian refugees. Since the invasion started,…

The black marks in the form of the Cross, made on our foreheads last Wednesday, have already disappeared, which is – incidentally – a positive and welcome testimony to our personal hygiene! We got that mark, made from ashes, as a sign of our willingness and readiness to engage actively in intensive spiritual exercises, specific to Lent. Some of us…

Having just read today’s gospel out loud, I feel rather apprehensive about opening my mouth and preaching to you and, in the process, being humiliated by Jesus’ words: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” It might surprise you, but I’m acutely aware…

“The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.” This is a biblical version of the universal belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil. This notion lies at the core of most stories and fairytales; it represents the cherished happy ending when, after all the troubles, challenges, and difficulties, all ends well. There are at least two…