When the candles are interrupted

This year, Advent arrives with a bruise. In the midst of a season that teaches us to watch, to wait, and to practise the small disciplines of hope, Australia has become a nation of grief. A mass shooting at Bondi Beach struck people gathered for a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 and injuring many others. Today,Continue reading “When the candles are interrupted”

Rites of Passage for young men

There comes a moment in every young man’s life when something shifts. His questions deepen, his choices begin to carry weight, and his world grows wider than his own reflection. Cultures recognised this moment and marked it – with blessing, with challenge, with community, with truth. Yet in the modern West, boys now cross theseContinue reading “Rites of Passage for young men”

The path and the shoes

A short reflection There are times in life when we stand at the edge of a path and feel ready to walk. We’ve studied the map, packed what we think we’ll need, and set out with purpose, perhaps even with a little Louboutin in our stride. At other times, the path appears beneath our feetContinue reading “The path and the shoes”

The Ugly Truth

We talk about the pursuit of Truth, of Veritas. When will we admit that Truth rarely comes dressed for dinner parties? It does not arrive ribbon-tied, polished, or polite. Think instead of Jesus on the cross: disfigured, broken, utterly human. Not a sight we would post on our Instagram feed or even on Facebook. AndContinue reading “The Ugly Truth”

We all want heaven. What are we doing about it?

Aquinas says our true end is happiness in God and that charity gives shape to every other virtue. If that’s true, then everyday life becomes deeply theological: how we answer emails, correct a misunderstanding, or hold a boundary is either training our hearts for heaven or dragging them away. Personal formation is not an add-on;Continue reading “We all want heaven. What are we doing about it?”

The Weight of What Is Gone: A Theology of Loss

There are days when absence barks louder than presence. Loss is not a chapter we choose, yet it writes itself into the margins of our lives. It is in silence as you enter a space, follow routine, or go to say good morning or good night. We do not invite grief, but she enters anyway,Continue reading “The Weight of What Is Gone: A Theology of Loss”