Back from a longer-than-intended hiatus, Elissa considers St. John of Kronstadt’s observation that “Hell is a democracy, but heaven is a kingdom.”

Christ is risen! I have finally made peace with our Lord’s Ascension, and as usual, it’s because everything is theanthropic. Glory to God.

I get that I’m imperfect, but that’s not what’s bothering me. It’s all those other people’s imperfections.

In this episode, we’ll contemplate demons and tollhouses, confession and guilt… what happens to the stuff we decide not to give to God?

As we struggle through Great Lent, let’s stop and take a moment to ask how we can become real, considering classics like The Velveteen Rabbit and The Great Divorce.

Contemplating forgiveness, and whether it’s maybe a little bigger than some of our contemporaries may be thinking.

Met. Saba of the Antiochian Archdiocese recently issued a statement, and it has Elissa thinking about Pharisees and the nature of uncleanness.

I once spoke to the Archbishop of Jerusalem about miracles, and he said that he finds that they’re problematic in several ways, and I had to agree. And yet… they’re so wonderful.

Elder Ephraim says that if you’re offended, that’s a good sign that your heart isn’t pure.

Meaning comes later, after the fact — and surely, that is a gift from God. Can we embrace the not knowing?