Still Easter, 2025, but not for long more. The calendar time will run out, but our reflection on The Paschal Mystery and its mysterious, very heady, meanings are to be our constant companion. The every day journey into  reality, and so into Reality, will bring us to a constant new awarenesses. This is what can make our every day, so-called humdrum  life explode with mystery, and a new level of meaning. This breathes excitement into our moment to moment living out of the gift of, living freely. This freedom, like all freedoms comes at a price. The greater the freedom the greater the price. So we have Memorial Day, and Lent, Easter Mysteries. We also have lives that have lived that can be checked as regards the price was paid in vain.  As a result we grow into an ever deepening understanding of  mysterious life that is ours that is to be lived in freedom that came at the price of someone else, life-blood. 

             One has to be extremely blind not to accept the fact that the quality of life is not what was envisioned by Jesus, The Christ and our Founding Fathers. The Historical Jesus, who became The Christ Of God, through His sacrificial death, through His, Vicar on Earth, is challenging us not to  betray the vision, " Have come that you may have life, and have it to the fullest". St.Irenaeus has written, "The Glory of God, is the human person fully alive." As we look at the lives of billions, they are blatantly not living lives that reflect, full human  aliveness. The billions who are barely subsisting, far, far, from living a life that befits a child of The Loving  Creator God.  To meet the challenge, and a consequence challenges you and I we find that there are always Good Samaritans to be found, ministering to The Presence of The Suffering Who is to be found in refugees, migrants, disenfranchised, and all who do not measure up to something thatbreflects anything but Gospel values. Can we say, as we honestly look at our country, and world as say this is the living which encourages, and makes possible, authentic human living ? Let us become the people who embrace unvarnished truth, not people of the lie, compounding the ongoing Crucifixion, of "the least of the brethren ".

            We must, possible in a new way of living, free our  inner Veronica and Simon, so we can bravely step forward to do what is necessary to make the lives of all, especially the lives of the  vulnerable, lives that can "Thank You" for the sacrifices of those who fought,  so,"that all men/women can be free." The vision of The Historical Jesus, Who became the Christ, and those who formed a vision for our country, must regain its place. A tough question , " Has enough blood been spilt, lives eviscerated, humans dehumanized,  and enough of the vulnerable, exploited ?. 

      We must start with the vulnerable person we meet, as we  look in the mirror every morning. What are the plans to be the contemporary Good Samaritan, to the wounded one we encounter lying in pain, in the depths of our broken, wounded humanity ? We must ask for the strength, the courage, not to live lives of lies, of denial, but that bravely embrace our deepest embarrassing  secret reality. This is where conversion begins. We are turning around, confront the lies, and live a live of real freedom, not the  apparent freedom that leads us back into denial, inaction and a death that is certain to say, " I do not respect the sacrifices of those who have  made the unlimited sacrifice. I will squander my freedom because I lack the conviction that " I am my sister's/brother's keeper".  " Whatever you do to the least ones, you do it to Me".  

              We must  then, make Matthew 25, the corner stone of our current formation, of our conscious and will. " I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was in prison and you visited me......" Nowhere can be found a condition that must be met before ministry takes place. We must all confront fearlessly, or as best we can, the lies that have made their way into our hearts and minds that has allowed us to live a life of neglect, as far as The Contemporary Wounded Christ is concerned. We are the " home of the brave". Suit up as those who we remembered on Memorial Weekend suited up to meet the challenge to  their common freedom. " No one is free, until all humankind is free".

 Having lived among the poor Pope Leo has a very different understanding of " La Vida ". That is what the poor does for us it awakens a very different understanding of A Mercy-full  Good Shepherd. A Shepherd Who, here I am repeating myself, never leaves His flock, of which  we are an essential part, untended. The Good Shepherd leads the flock.  When a sheep strays away from the rest of the flock, He leaves those safe sheep, and seeks, and searches for the lost one. He does not drive the sheep back, but carries that wayward one back to it's safe home, the flock. All the members of the flock know the shepherds voice  and will not follow any other voice.  What an awe-full dynamic  lies at the heart of this relationship.What a wonder-full, awe-full truth. A truth we must make reflect on constantly, in oder that reality of the mystery becomes ours. Let us all pray we may never deny the truth that lies beneath this relationship. This denial leads to a life lived in fear, as well as an existence etched out in hopelessness. Not the life we have been called to live.

           Have you noticed that Pope Leo offers the the same peace to us, that The Risen Christ offered to His disciples on that first Easter morning. Is not our Pope subtly directing us to examine again, and again, the meaning behind not just peace, but Shalom. That fullness of meaning must be our guiding strength as we face a world, whose only underlining reality is, uncertainty. Then along comes the voice of our New Shepherd, crying out aloud, Be Awoke....Be Loving....Be Woke. We must arise from our slumbering and listen to the fearless voice of  this Pope. This voice  does find its roots in fantasy, but in the lived experience of the poor, the powerless, the neglected, the exploited, and any dehumanizing reality you can bring to consciousness. What a reality he is bringing to the Papacy. A papacy whose roots are to be found in life of The Historical Jesus of Nazareth. This Jesus, became The Christ of God, through His sufferings, death, burial, and Resurrection. That Christ now dwells within ur depths. He has chosen each one to be the tabernacle where He with The Father, and the Holy Spirit dwells eternally 

       Pope Leo knows what is is to pray from, the mud. He knows in his gut, what it means to pray from  the place, of anger. Anger At God!!!!! When have you heard a Pope encourage the prayer of anger to be directed to, A Divinity, A God we are angry at., He is encouraging us to bravely exercise  our freedom, to tell Him in unvarnished words  exactly how we feel. Feelings  are our deepest truth. Let us pray to The Source of ALL  Truth that we have the courage to speak our truth, to, The Mysterious Truth.

       Years ago, I read one author write this startling truth, " anger transformed by Grace, leads us to a life of compassion." Is this the way to compassion ? I now believe it is THE ONLY WAY. Pope Francis oozed compassion. He spent his whole life of pastoral ministry, ministering to the powerless. Can we expect anything less from the pastoral approach of Pope Leo.  His ministry, in his own words, must  " be guided by truth... humbled by grace... committed to justice." Let us pray that all my grow up to be responsible citizens. Have the courage to fearlessly voice,  The Truth, and follow Him who has gone before us to transforming crucifixion.   "Be.... Awoke, Be.....Loving, Be...... Woke"  Prayers for courage !!!!! Gramps.

 Easter 2025...... The following was posted on FB on Thursday night:

                 "It is time for me to for me to go to the bunkhouse  !!!!! I have spent the day making an effort to wrap my head around THE news, of the day, year, decade, and decades to come. We  have a new Pope. He has chosen the name Leo. He will be the fourteenth Pope with that historic name. In one way, it will be the continuation of the vision of Pope Francis, yet that vision has to be developed to meet the challenges of our emerging, evolving creation.  

        Today's answers cannot answer the questions of tomorrow. We will ALL, that all the members of the human family be challenged to embrace an evolving newness. Let al pray for the all around health of our new Papa. I will be here for a short lived experience of the evolutionary world that is on its way. Always remember, yesterday's answers are to be the foundation of answers not yet formulated. They are, of necessity coming !!! What a mysterious future awaits all of our creation. Blessings to and on, all. 

             Having read that, how do you feel ? Challenging, to say the least. Complacency will be a luxury, that will trigger greater challenges for the spiritual well being of all. All who are companions traveling on this space ship we call, earth. We are all co-creators of an emerging, evolutionary home. Pope Leo sees the challenges that technology is presenting to our world community. We are only in the infancy of a revolutionary way of addressing challenges. Are those solutions healthy ones for us, going forward ?  That is just one of the challenges Pope Leo has to face. We are experiencing a splintered world. Divided in so many ways. We are a divided church. The church, The Body is to be experienced as a unity of complementary parts. St. Paul has provided us, for centuries now, a vision of how The Body is to live in harmony. We are sad to say, more divided. 

         I have experienced an evolving church community for 61 years, plus. It has not been a journey one would have chosen. Yet from my experience I have to encourage you, when darkness seems to be hiding all vestiges of hope, it is then we are to rely on dark faith. We have The Spirit of Joy and Hope given to us. We are not orphans. Having no home, no place of welcome. We DO have a home ,way beyond our limited imagination. Pope Leo will be The Shepherd meeting our needs. Challenging solutions will be offered. Choices will be made. Some will hide away in the status quo. Clinging to the deception of certitude. Others will choose," the narrow gate". The rocky, winding, uncertain trail will be the one that will lead us into  new Heavens and a new evolving earth. The only thing that is certain, is uncertainty.

          Pope Leo has the experience of journeying with the poorest of the poor. Luxury is foreign to him. He has been formed, nourished, by The Body Of Christ which has known only poverty,  neglect, and powerlessness. He was a presence whose very being oozed hope, strength, joy, affording his Peruvian family the certitude that The Risen Christ is in His Body. This Presence is saying, do not fear, all will be well. It will take time for us to come to an understanding of what Peru taught Pope Leo. He will pass it on to us in the subtleness of the life he will challenge us to live. Let us pray, that we may be one, in mind heart, soul. Christ prayed that all His followers be one. Let us work to bring unity within ourselves, our families, our homes, and our home of homes. Let us suit up, and show up.

 Easter 2025..... continued. Waiting is tough ?,Right ? I am impatient. I want directions, answers, right now. The more one reflects on the spiritual journey, we find a great deal of what of what was gifted, came after waiting.  So much of what happened to our ancestors in faith, was the result of liminal time.  As it was for them, so, it is our lot, in this now moment. Yes we do not know what is to come, but we do know what is happening to us, right now." Now is the acceptable time". In this moment all that we need to be happy, joyous, and free, is being pour into you and I, RIGHT NOW. 

    As we are anxiously waiting for what is to come, The Creative Spirit is using this time to reveal something new. The power of Transforming, Transfiguring grace, molding us into the person we need to be, to be ready to respond to the gift, that is to be given. The waiting, then, is essential ? Pain-full but essential for growth. Does not so much life emerge from the darkness of the womb. We may have emerged from the darkness of the physical womb, but we need to return to that experience to grasp what is happening, now. We are experiencing the ever newness, always gifting us, not what the false self demands, but the gift graciously accepted by, the true self.

              There are millions, if not, billions, waiting for white smoke. What we are all being offered is, black. A signal, the process of The Conclave must continue. The Holy Spirit is using this time to make sure what is going to be revealed, some moment in the future, will be, NOT  WHAT WE WANT, but what is the best for all of creation. We were taught a great lesson in the 1960'S. What was expected, was not what was given. Creation, and the ongoing creative process of evolution, was gifted Saint, John the twenty third. Not what was wanted, but what was needed. We all have experienced a transformation way beyond anything that was expected. So much so, to the present moment the validity of process has not been accepted. As it was, so it will be, are we prepared for the struggle, as we journey into the uncertainty of the future. Let us all, if possible, embrace all now moments are infused with,  The Creative Presence, of The Creating Power, God. 

               Gifts are sometimes given at the most surprising time. Right ?? Those in that room on Easter Sunday, when they were most aware of their power to act, their helplessness in the face of faith challenges, were given this inestimable gift, the power to forgive sins. In the greeting of Shalom, all that was need was being poured into their depths. I would really have liked to go to St.Peter. He, from his experience of the Power of Love, had so much understanding,  compassion to share, freely.He had been shocked to his roots.  

      In the depths of his new rootedness was a readiness to reconcile anyone, for anything. He would stop any self persecution, self shaming. " Stop, just take a look at what I did. I denied my Master, not once, but three times. When He greeted me, and all the others, it  was with, Shalom. It is Shalom I am gifting to you. Go and enjoy the new life that is now, yours.  But remember, this gift is not for you, it is to be given away, freely.  

     One cannot, earn, deserve or ever qualify for Shalom. When given away, will increase the wonder, the joy, of what it means to be always in the mercy-full embrace of Unconditioned Love. As you were gifted Shalom, so now be a messenger of this new way of loving, in all relationships. Then an unquenchable flame of Divine Love will transform and transfigure, all that is.  May Shalom, shared in all of its practical applications  be that which will enlighten the current darkness. The light of day, always emerges from the womb of darkness. This is our, now. It is all we have got. It is more, than enough. Grandpa Joe.

                

 Post Easter Sunday, 2025.

            I will be able to write that heading for a total of 50 days after Easter Sunday. This is a mantra now, for me, unfortunately for you. " We spend 40 days preparing for the celebration of The Easter-Paschal Mysteries. We have three days of celebration, to be drawn into The Mysteries. Now we are in the midst of a 50 day journey into a fuller, more complete understanding of what it means to be initiated into these mysteries. Each time some aspect of The Mysteries is revealed to us, that up to now was before us but we somehow did not see it. We were then in a partial understanding of these supernatural  mysteries.  By each unique celebration we are  privileged to be drawn, by the Holy Spirit ever deeper into what up to now has been hidden from sight, and as a consequence, understanding. 

I would love to have a fly on the wall when the wall as the disciples gathered in a locked room, after death and now Resurrection. What were the whispers being exchanged ? You can, for your edification, make up how you think the whispered conversations went !!!!!! How must the combined group have been shocked when The Risen Christ stood in their midst ? Put yourself in their sandals, and be led into..... Now you are back listen to the words of The Once Crucified and buried One. " Shalom, peace", were His words of comfort, to the embarrassed group. There were no words of remonstration, accusation for lack of support in the moments of extreme suffering, and death. There was just, Shalom. For us Gentiles that means just peace. How sad? We are somehow deprived of how the Jewish mind understands that familiar greeting. Shalom is also used as a good-bye. 

   The following are what a Jew wants to convey by the salutation Shalom. The wish contains a desire for you to experience,  inner peace, wholeness,  fullness-completeness  in mind body and estate. ( after loss), means to restore, to make whole. It also has means wishes for "good health",  "prosperity"," also, well-being, well". In time of struggle, like right now, there is the wishing for tranquility, and completeness. There are more meanings for you to discover, hidden in the wish, the greeting. Make your own list of the many challenging, deep and different meanings and allow them to grow to consciousness.

Wow !!! here I am having written a great deal, and have not reached the point I wanted to make. So, I will impose on your generosity sometime in the future, when we will continue an understanding of the dynamic, inherent in that first meeting.  Shalom, in the fullness of its meanings to you, your loved ones, and all are accompanying you on this journey, as spiritual beings, immersed in the human condition. Shalom is, above all, a greeting to ourselves. 

    Unless we are convinced, we have within our depths the power to bring all that  'Shalom" means,, not just peace, we will miss out on the intent of our creation ,in eternity, and receiving existence in, creation. We will ever and always be so much more than what we, perceive ourselves to be. Yea, we are all, by our inner nature,  mysterious. Mysterious because of Whose Being we share. A living mystery must be reverenced and celebrated, to have fullness of life, do you not think?    May your Easter-Paschal celebrations bring you Shalom, with all of its many meanings.