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.

 " The Creator's first language is, silence." Those words really silenced me when I first read them, again, many eons ago. The language of silence is so difficult to comprehend, not to mind understand.Obviously I have been silent for some time now. First there was the silence of the empty tomb. Then we were hit with the silence of the now, empty, Chair of Peter. That is a a great deal of silence which we have to face with deep faith, and soul searing quiet. We are being lead where ? Into the darkness of our faith journey. 

           I am of the belief  that the silence you and I had to face , and are facing, is speaking deep truths. Truths that are springing  from the depths of darkness. Truths that become your real foundational source of faith. The Historical Jesus, on His way to becoming The Christ of God experienced the silence of the aftermath of His Paschal Death, while awaiting His Resurrection. As the result of His Resurrection we all now share  before we encounter the finality our Terminal Death. We are guaranteed, with all of creation ,an intimate knowledge of what it means to die and  be resurrected. The Easter Mysteries have this lesson to teach us, "Death is not an end, death is a ,beginning". We are now free to ,name our deaths, but it is essential we claim our births. Otherwise we can fall into discouragement. The Easter Mysteries  are teaching  us, "in every ending there is a beginning. In every beginning, there is an ending." What is dawning in your darkness ? What is being revealed is, NOT, for yourself  alone, but for the building up of the common good. (St. Paul) 

 The word death is a word that is becoming a very frequent visitor to my every day vocabulary. I am now 85 and a half. That half is enunciated more often now , when announcing my age,  just like a child ????? Well I am in my second childhood, and I am now, not prepared to ignore that reality.  I cannot find refuge in fantasy land. Reality is my now, home.  I am becoming more and more comfortable with the oncoming transforming encounter with death. Death is now a recognized and kinda welcomed companion.  Transfiguration is a universal reality. In each encounter we grow into an ever deepening mysterious relationship with, The Real, Reality Itself. The path is sure a winding trail, leading to where ? We are not privy as to our destiny. We grow in the certain knowledge we never journey alone. We are ever and always, a Foursome.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have Their Dwelling place in the tabernacle that has been created and gifted to us. A gift that we cannot loose, no matter what...... 

We have again encountered loss. Tomb time,  followed by  another tomb time. From the first Tomb time Came The Resurrection.  From this now tomb time will  emerge new life, challenging us to a new way of living. We are in desperate need to be blessed with the lenses which are able to draw us into having the sight to see Easter-Paschal life springing to life, from the darkness.  The power of The Risen Cosmic Christ will continue to shatter darkness in all its forms. In the wake of the shattering what new life do you envision will become a lived part of all reality ? This is guaranteed to happen, why? We have been chosen, and blessed to be co-creators of all evolving creation. Yes! all of us as a Resurrected People, will have facilitated the shattering, as is our, DESTINY .  " I believe, help my unbelief/disbelief". 

 HOLY SATURDAY 2025...... We must keep before us this challenging thought. We bless ourselves, make the sign of the cross, for the beginning of the Holy Thursday celebration. We do not make the sign of the cross until the end of the celebration of The Easter Vigil. From  Holy Thursday on, what takes place is one gigantic celebration of a Mystery we have been celebrating each and every year. Each year The Liturgy schools us in an understanding we did not have, it is a mysterious gift which comes to us through prayer and reflection. I am now 85,( that is old, old ) and each year I am drawn into an understanding that has been missing from my life. That is wrong, it has not been missing, it has been waiting in my depths waiting to reach consciousness. The more work one puts in the more mysterious the unfolding.

          We are familiar from the piece of art, describing the emergence of light from darkness, and darkness from light. It is a gentle unfolding, what  we would not be aware of until  it is pointed out. From the closing of The Good Friday celebration a Catholic Church is a very cold place to enter into. The tabernacle has its door open, revealing an emptiness. There is no Real Presence, the sanctuary light does not glow red in the darkness. All the art pieces, are clothed in purple. No music, except "silent music". We will be drawn to  this "silent music". What happens next depends on us, and our response to the invitation to solitude. In solitude we are faced with our issues of, "addiction, negativity, fear, and control." We have been drawn in an ever new evolving awareness each Lenten journey. 

            From the emptiness, of  the now, "tomb time", emerges some new understanding which has not been ours until now. It slowly weaves its way into consciousness. Then a new light appears. A new hope awakens within. Our steps have a new rhythm. We want to dance. We want to dance to the rhythm of our own soul's, new music. Where there was the darkness of death, the grieving for the loss of life, now there in new meaning to the words of  Exsultet. This is a hymn praising to glory of the new light, that has entered the darkness. The words that can be found on the internet are a wonderful resource for meditation. Give yourself an Easter gift that will enhance and vivify your life. 

           From the tomb of darkness, powered by the" powerlessness of power", the bright light of hope is gifted to illumine the darkness, and we can join St.Paul in saying, "death, where is your sting". Yes, "death is not an end, death is a beginning",a new beginning, a birthing. A birthing process that must be reverenced, and above all celebrated.  That which is birthed must be nourished, and fed. In that the new creation will be fed and nourished. Then we will not only give birth, we will give life. The Resurrected Christ, no longer the historical Jesus, reveals the transforming power  The Resurrection. Yes !!! St Paul is right. So we can rightly pray, if not a little reluctantly, " I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death." Phil 3:10.

              The Risen Christ will  transform your life, slowly and gentle. This is the relentless, ongoing work of  the power of His Spirit within your depths. May you come to see that in all of life's losses and deaths, the birthing of something, a reality, that is new. lIke all new life it must be taken care of with a gentle, and caring love. Your coming to the fullness of life, is the fulfillment of  the wish of The Revelator.