Whatever one sees, there are layers of mysterious truths, and meanings, hidden, in the darkness of the unknown.  As we journey into the unknown, we are brought into an ever deepening relationship with, The Unknown, The Unknowable. These truths, because of their newness and uniqueness, we are always in the endless process of awakening, and re-awakening   This process of awakening, and re-awakening, always leads to truths, hidden, waiting further  recognition, and endless action. This is mysterious process, is a challenge we are  always invited to plunge ever deeper  into. Whether we accept the invitation, or reject its newness, pregnant with dangers, and uncertainties, is the decision of our free will. Here, in this moment and in every is the daily confrontation with delirious effects of, codependency. This is the challenging, disturbing reality we are facing, many times unwillingly.

 Is there any body living a life, free, of the ravages of codependency, and its resulting destruction? Whether we surrender to the fears of the false self, or readily embrace the freeing, adventures of  the mysterious, is a decision not easily made. We need grace. "Of ourselves we can do nothing, we can do all things  in The One,Who strengthens us".  I am in endless need of this consolation," Be not afraid I am with you."These words of scripture  demand the constant need of repetition, speaking for this   spiritual being, immersed in the human condition. (DeChardin) The living within the  weakened human condition, has it ever been more challenging ? Our decision for reluctant acceptance, springing from this existential battle battle, the battle between healthy choices, and  the enticing, ego building, co-dependent actions that reveal, dis-ease.  Recognition of the depth of co-dependent behaviors is the first step  into the evolution of  a healthy, shepherd. We need a daily check on the death-dealing effects of codependency.What a blessing, and a curse, free will has turned out to be ???  Yet, that is the way we roll, as human, beings.  As it was,  is now, and ever shall be.....  Do I get an, AMEN ???             

 In all the pregnancies of our ever new awarenesses , there is the resulting birthing of  realities whose presences are slowly revealed. I am always amazed at what bubbles up, and when it bubbles up. I find deep truth in the bromide," You are getting what you need, NOT, what you want". Paired with that is, "want what you have, and you discover you have what you, want,"  Gandhi's  unsettling wisdom, " God takes care of our needs, not, our greed." Our codependent selves demand the fulfillment of our every desire, no matter how sick, unhealthy it may be. The shepherding of, The Good Shepherd awaits our willingness, to willing to enter,  what ? The Graced Unknown. We are the  lambs, sheep, and shepherds, of a flock,  chosen. Chosen when ? Not the day of conception, of birthing, our "flock-e-ness finds its origin in The Eternal Now. Mystery ever abounds.

  Eternity is our origin and destiny. We are being shepherded  by and as The Chosen Beloved, so our journey, of its essence, will  not be easy. During our journey, we will be used to continue the revelation of a Reality, never fully understand, or comprehended. This is heavy stuff ? Very mysterious, is one way to attempt to describe our journey as lambs, sheep, and shepherds. Remember we can NEVER solve the mystery, we are drawn ever deeper into the mysterious. With each journey, new awarenesses  seem to bubble up. Whether welcomed, or un-welcomed,  they are there to be reverenced, to be accepted.  In the gradual acceptance, there comes a unique challenge. Today we are faced with the moment to moment challenge of being, both prophetic shepherd and flocks. The call to be both shepherd and prophet is the emerging challenge we have accept. See how extraordinary well the people of Minneapolis has modeled this. What price they paid for faithfulness ???  Like all vocations there must be an ongoing formation. Being led from the known, through threatening storms of change , to the emerging newnesses of understanding is ? Write your answer ?  My answer is not your answer. Your answer is not mine. In the exchange of truths there is mysterious happenings.All designed for our ongoing formation, and transformation. ENDLESS, ENDLESSLY !!!! 

A prophetic, non-codependent  shepherd has the challenges of double duty. As was mentioned previously, the shepherd has to be shepherded. He must be seen as belonging to the flock, as well. As shepherded,  so will the shepherd, shepherd. " He who has not been in the desert, cannot lead others, out of the desert", is a startling truth that really challenges. What are your experiences of loss, failure, rejection, humiliation, darkness, abandonment ? How have they been welcomed, owned, embraced, and accepted ? What work, what nagging, uncertainties ,  are still  awaiting the transformative power of The Resurrected Christ ? We are are endlessly blessed (??), with emerging formation ,for the existential challenge. How, through, what concrete steps is the shepherdness of your being,  being,  shepherded ? Love, prayers and blessing. GGJ.

 

         

" I am my beloved's, His desire is only for me. My Beloved is mine, and I am His." Song of Songs.            " The soul is always stretching forth into God, never exhausting, The Depth." Anonymous.             '' The Christ Mystery, is, a universal pattern of death and Resurrection, in all creation." Fr. R. Rohr.

As we are continuing on the path, of exploration and belief in The Inexhaustible Paschal Mystery. This is the  hard reality we have to face in every existential we will never exhaust The Depths, the Darkness, into which we  are invited to plunge.  The endlessness of this search can, and will be exhausting.  That is why we have grace. grace reveals the consoling realityWe already  have the consoling, assurance, " Of ourselves we can do nothing, but, we can do all things, in Him who strengthens us" The quote, "faith is a journey into uncertainty, not certainty" " If we think we are on the right path, then we are on the wrong path." At times, we will be challenged, by the awe-fulness, of the unsettling feelings that are to be  encountered, as we plunge the depths. We are  never alone. I am The Beloved's and He will never desert, or abandon me. He cannot, He has to be faithful to His covenant. "I am, with, with you, until the end." So, "Fear not." Also, let us always be conscious of how Jesus, encouraged His frustrated Apostle Peter, " To cast his net into the deep", the result was ," a miraculous, catch of fish." There are, as yet unknown depth of wonders, always waiting for us to be lead into. We are told this adventurous plunge into the depths, of the unknown, we eventually encounter, Unknown Presence. In, The Silence, Emptiness and Nothingness we discover our intended home, The Way !!!! It is a journey into radical surrender. There is no step that can accomplish this. Oh, fiddle sticks !!! Our destiny is a gradual  reluctant surrender. Our seemingly innate attachment to avoidance, illusions, and above all, ego. will result in endless war, leading to temporary mystical revelations. Revelations,  that upon reflection, makes the strife, the battle so worthwhile. If you find anything consoling and nourishing. the my journey, up to this nano second ,has not been in vain. Thank you, for your constant  participation, ever leading to a deeper immersion.

Easter Sunday, The Day of Resurrection, was also the day when the now Transformed ,Transfigured Christ did not forget His promise of endless vigilance, care, and active concern. The Gospel accounts shows the Risen one, resuming His work as, Shepherd. He did not desert His fear riddled disciples. He Sought them out. Locked doors did not prevent His Presence from encountering their shattered presence. His first greeting  was the age old wish, "Shalom."  Not even the slightest hint of harsh judgement, or indication of retribution. Here He  provides the model for all generations to follow. Here He is the living model of being a good shepherd. The disciples do not need to be reminded of their need for radical change. The Good Shepherd embraces their imperfections as a reality to face, in that concrete moment. In this acceptance of reality,  begins their formation in the challenging school of, shepherd-hood and shepherding. We have  inherited the moment to moment challenge  of allowing ourselves to be shepherded. As we are being formed, in the school of  mercy-full grace, so it will be the  model for us to follow. To follow when meeting the existential challenges of being good shepherds, Shepherding  the realities revealed in the action ofShepherding ourselves and those lambs and sheep chosen to inhabit, and participate in,  the Via Dolorosa with us. A sacred, mystical slog, at that ???? 

   The Risen Good Shepherd offers His disciples no harsh judgement, only the best of wishes,  for health and a new way of being , summed up in the  word ,"Shalom" ? As it was for those disciples, so it is for us in the here and now. The belief in the reality, that, we are beloved is leading you where ? Stand where your feet are planted and the result is ??(What feelings are being triggered within you ? Feelings of what ? Feelings that are not welcomed ? Because ? There are  endless challenges, and threats  being revealed ?)  Here The Prince of Peace is wishing all the best the of everything needed for health and spiritual wholeness. Seek out again the twelve radical blessings, summed up in that ever so common greeting. What is familiar demands  the most attention , so  thatthe depths of spiritual meanings, can surface into, consciousness, and ???  Now let us move on to welcome a familiar companion, who accompanies us, and we find hard to embrace, accept and love. The disciple who denied the good news, and offered conditions for belief.

 No ! On the other hand lets, not. Thomas and his disbelief, must wait for another time  In the meantime I wish all who wear the mantle of motherhood, a very,  very Joyous Mothers's Day. Is there any other vocation that reflects the essential meaning of being, good, shepherd? Who else models what it means to totally surrenders, to live a life  being a living sacrifice.  demanded by immersion into The Paschal Mystery ? Yes !! All women are persons of mystery, whose  depths and innate dignity is slowly being accepted, being validated . May the process continue, in spite of virulent opposition. Yes, sad to admit, there are future  fruit-filled experiences of Golgotha, to be endured. The wisdom resulting from the endless encounter with birthing and death  makes their life  eternally,  pregnant with meaning. May all are  surrenders, result in the birth of future Christ Children . All destined for the revelation of endless truths.  May these truths continue the revelation, first revealed in the life, death and Resurrection, of Mary's Christ Child. Speak, right now, and forever endlessly to The Mother Mary within, " Mary did you know ..........." Bethlehem and The Incarnation only finds is authentic  meaning from Calvary. Something to chew on, providing mysterious and endless......

   

                                                   Good Shepherd Sunday, 2026.

    " Love, is the willingness to extend oneself, for, the spiritual growth,                                                                                                                     of oneself, or another human being.  Scott Peck.                              "We all  have the choice, to move from, victim to survivor, to shepherd ". Anonymous.            

      " Resurrection does not erase wounds, it transforms them."  Anonymous.

We are now entering the world, of deep, and ever deepening, challenging reality. This spiritual journey will  lead  to consequential actions, having personal, and cosmic dimensions. We are now challenged  to face the accountability inherent in what has been modeled by Him, Who endured Paschal suffering, transformation, and transfiguration. The Model we have been chosen to follow, from eternity's, majestic dawn.  This is The Mystery we are, or have been, baptized into. We spend our whole lifetime  in endless pursuit, and making a moment to moment response to the gifts and challenges, inherent in the reception of this Sacrament.

       This  very limited effort emanates from my mysterious journey that occurred,  and is happening just as I write. Thank you for choosing  this blog to participate. That old adage, Where He went, what He did, and where his active Presence is in todays understanding  of Mysterious Sacramental all about.  This is the challenge we are facing, both in the seen and unseen worlds. The years of 2026, and the one's to follow, presuming there will be a creation left, for the continuation of the housing of humankind. A people who were spiritual in origin. They were first chosen, and then  predestined to  embark on the greatest of adventures, get this, to be the co-creators, and co-perfecters of all creation.            Each human person, great and small alike, were, and are destined to to work cooperatively to  complete the The Divine Creator's, evolving plan.  There were to be no, little challenges. All work was to be of infinite value. The Gracious Spirit of Wisdom, made certain of that. ( Suggestion, read up on the Life of, The Little Flower, of, Jesus. ) Was this going to be a walk in the park ? It appears from the human experience, far from it. Things got very complicated.  Why? they were  sent to be immersed in the human condition !!! An artist's rendering of sad eyes art is so very appropriate here. That is another area where I am encountering deep, and deepening challenges. WOE is Joe !!!! (poetic in my dotage ?)   The Word of God,  The Second Person of The Holy Trinity" became incarnate, in time, as The Historical Jesus. Jesus's story, is our story, today." Do we deny, or accept the challenge of following in His footsteps? To walk the walk, He walked. To accept the challenge of being compassionate presences, as to continue His mission and ministry. This way of life, and living demands that we are active, responsible, Christian in these, now, moments of challenge and danger, 

      Being an, "active, responsible Christian", is a developing challenge. A challenge, WE MUST FACE" because Christian Nationalism is such a driving force. Make no mistake about it, it is growing stronger, offering, a growing challenge. We have no choice but to change the perceive dynamic. This dynamic has now been accepted. The Holy Spirit is actively driving a responsible, response.  In the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation we have The Active Compassionate Cosmic Christ, waiting to encounter us. For what purpose ???  Check out what Pope Leo, and the Catholic Leadership are, as one voice, enunciating to us the challenge and the means for meeting and  accomplishing this co-creative work, IS, already in existence. I have awakened to a sincere believe in the dynamic of seeking, searching, and prayer. Just a flashing thought, is it not so encouraging to hear those voice, acting in harmony, for the betterment of humankind.  On the other hand, we must challenge, and then abandon, the destructive, dehumanizing, human creation, based on  being selfish, and self-centered. We must, aided by grace, develop  the vigilance to frustrate the false self's  insatiable appetite for " power, property, prestige, guilt, fear, shame, control, comparisons, and competition" (Rohr). 

        There is nothing in the self created world vision, that is  life enhancing or in anyway  leads to the validation of the existential, the here and now momentary lived reality. When we are not grounded in reality, Reality, The Divine Presence cannot find us often in spite of our praying, Why ? Simple put, we are not real. We are living in the self manufactured  creation of "the false self". We are idolizing that self creation. Idols have no loving, creative and creating power. Do we not have have many examples of what happened when The Living Creator was replaced by self creation. Seek, search, become informed, so you are committed to live in the deepest mysterious place os being. Check where your feet are planted ? Honesty is creative, right ??? We grow into honesty, slowly !!

We must change the paradigm from, " This is mine, here is yours", end of story. This paradigm has been broken asunder by is this vision of a loving, fruit-filled, life enriching, lived reality. " This mine, this is yours, this is ours, let us get into, action. "Good Shepherd lead us on the right path, even though it is both challenging, and pain-filled. The darkness of the dark valleys, are light to You. Bathe us all, in that, light. May Your Creative power  shine onto, and into, our perceived on darkness. May Hope spring up.Then may Hope and its  constant companion, Faith strengthen us, so we are empowered to take up, again our lived participation in Your Paschal. Help me not only, repeat, but embrace fully Your prayer, so I can grow in the belief that for this I was chosen. For this I was born. Please help my fear-filled being, to be a mysterious, living tabernacle, a home, for The Presence I am powerless to add to, or fully describe." ...........WARNING !!!! This is not finished.  "Be, alert !!!!!"                          

e  The Road to Emmaus, 2026. Mining the richness, of....

  " Myths, never were, but, always are". The Gospels always were, and, always ARE". So to coin a word, in our evolving "areness", our wholeness is being revealed. It is for us to do the hard word of mining for, the reality of the Gospels, that is to be found in these troubled, and challenging times. This particular Gospel encounter which took place on the road to Emmaus, is extremely rich, both theologically and spirituality. However, we have to face the challenge of seeing ourselves as, the two disciples, and identify with them. They were provided information,  illumination, encouragement, transformation, and a sense of mission from this encounter with, The Risen Christ. The Risen Christ is not confined by the limitations imposed by our understanding, of, time and space. In the arena of the spiritual, such limitations do not exist. We have to train ourselves to see and understand all spiritual reality through this prism. Yes, it is challenging to go beyond,  accepted norms.  We are to be willing to allow the Gospel, to be the reality we identify with, in every, here and now. The challenge is well worth the effort.

  The Presence Christ, for us, is our constant companion. Yet, we are not aware of His Presence, as He journeys with us, in us, and through us. The Risen Christ, He depends on our cooperation to have the fruits of His Paschal Journey, become a reality in every, day and age. Particularly in the economy of today's dehumanizing,  and life threatening  environment. (Take a look at how many have died in ICE custody?) We have to face the reality, just as the two did, of  fear, disappointment, disillusionment, rejection, alienation, and death.. Yes, these are moments of challenge, are new to the journey of the citizenship of America and the ever so vulnerable, cosmos. Yet, we must, again, be strengthened with the hope, the gift bestowed by, The Presence of, Resurrected Christ. and His Vicar on earth, Pope Leo. Long may he live, and continue his role as an uncomfortable prophetic presence.

   This Presence will never leave or choose to abandon us, NO MATTER what we do.. This Resurrected Christ ,has chosen each one of us, from eternity, to be in the exact place were are living, some, merely existing, in right now. The Gracious Creative Spirit has placed each one of us, in the exact place, blessed with unique talents, predestined from before the formation of the cosmos. What Faith, The Faith-full Prodigal One, has placed in us. " I believe, help my, un/disbelief" " Come, Holy Spirit come, strengthen, transform the fear-filled hearts, of us, Your beloved daughters/sons, as we follow in the footsteps of, The Beloved. As He suffered,  died, buried and rose, so we too follow this very same pattern. Each Paschal experience of ours, contributes to work of The Cosmic Christ, as we are led to The Omega Point, of total unity."

        We are made privy to the workings of the first, Bible Study. This resulted in, " hearts being on fire". On fire, because, of the awakening. The awakening to the realization of their true reality, and their place in the continuation of the work initiated by The Paschal-Easter transforming and transfiguring events. These events, again, became a reality as bread was taken, blessed, broken and given. The scales were removed. Reality, was revealed. The Risen One, disappeared. The two went on their mission of joy and hope. The two, are to be found in each one of us, called to continue the dangerous work of being, evangelists. We are evangelizers, not by what we say, but because of who we authentically are. We are not what we say, we are what we do.In this authenticity ,a  new, contemporary gospel is written. Every authentic action of ours continues to work of creation, and offers hope of a better future. Hope to be revealed in this transformed life we are in the process of awakening to.  Is there a, yes, to be heard ?

  Where are " the two", to be found in our reality ? We have to accept the challenges revealed in Matthew 25. There is to be no diminishment of the exhortations. The Social Gospel Teaching are never to be watered down for convenience sake. The people of Menneapolis did not shy away from their gospel obligations. Two paid the ultimate price. Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, became living examples of a challenged to be met by, future generations. Minneapolis was and is, Golgotha. There are other Golgotha to be encountered and the necessary steps of ministration to the contemporary Suffer Servant(s) is demanded.  As of now, the are approximately 80,000 suffering Christs in and on these our Golgathas. We need the continuous encounter with The Risen Christ, in both, Sacrament and Sacrifice. The words of St. Augustine resounds today, " Go forth, and become Him, Whom you have received."  ??????

The Prophet Jesus, Who is today's Risen and Cosmic Christ is true to His promise. He has fulfilled His promise to be "with us, until the end of time." So we have inner authority, and outer authority. The goal is that they be The Living Presence, that has been envisioned. Pope Leo is under attack. That is what happens to prophets. Are you listening? We have been chosen to join Him, in the being prophetic voices. We are to speak the truth, that has been given. Persecutors of The Church have never fared well. There is the old French proverb, " He who eats Pope, dies". We are called to live a life of authenticity, as best we can. NOT PERFECTLY !!!! Let us embrace this challenging reality," We will do our best, and The Creative, and Creating Spirit, will do the rest." What a promise to embrace !!!!

nliving, in, The Eternal Tridium !! An invitation, leading to, a, chosen, personal, response !!!!!

   " Put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side." John 2027.

  We must always be aware of this mysterious, reality: the events we are being invited to enter, as  events that took place in the past, but, THEIR REALITY IS, NOW. Right now, ever and always. How can this happen ? In the spiritual world there is, no time or space, everything is in this Eternal, sacramental, moment. We always have to keep this in mind, there are NO ,just ordinary moments. In all moments are hidden, the deepest meaning of  why we have been chosen for actualization. "We are not human beings, having a spiritual experience. We are, spiritual beings immersed in the human condition." ( DeChardin)

      We are always being challenged to break through the limits, of a limited humanity, so as to enjoy the essential, freedom of being, beloved daughters and sons. This freedom has to be claimed, and when necessary reclaimed, in each and every now moment.  This is a battle, no mistake about that. The toxic trinity, of guilt fear and shame, works endlessly to do EVERYTHING that is in their power to keep locked us in the self created prisons, that are the fruits of toxicity. Where are we having to face the diseased workings of, the false self ? If faced, and their power rejected, how are we going to face the loss of temporary medications? Where in our lives do we have to face the addictions, resulting from the toxic insinuations of the toxic, false self ? The toughest, more fundamental question, where are we showing a willingness to embrace, accept  honesty, open- mindedness, and willingness as the essential means, for...

       We however have entered into the battle. always being strengthened with The Eternal Presences, celebrating, always, as One, in the tabernacle of our depths. They can be named The  Freedom Trinity. They are the Eternal Power, only to be found in Freedom, Silence, Emptiness and Nothingness. This is our Eternal Hide-away,  where we are eternally loved, leading to the experience of hospitality, safety,  and love. We are led to total agreement with Niall Diamond, and identify with these words, "Jonathan, began that longest journey of all, a journey into the, true self". Infinite questioning, leading to endless awakenings, leading to endless responsibilities ??? Paul reminds us " the gifts we have been given, are not for ourselves, but for the building up of the common good".

 What we have been given, must be given away, in order to keep it. If we do not give our gifts away, we loose them. The spiritual journey, is the endless slog demanding of us a live that finds its mysterious existence ,in a state of endless ,challenging spiritual contradictions. Do you have a favorite,  that brings with it, encouragement, as well as, challenge ? They have been and are the backbone of Joe's  ever challenging journey into all, Reality. That old mug of mine, " There are a lot of things about this ere outfit they did not tell me, before I signed on.??????"

  The mysterious dynamic of The Resurrected Christ, and Thomas can be, and are experienced in all the rooms, and gatherings of AA. There The Presence of The Power of The Paschal Mystery can be seen, and participated in the existential. WE are introduced the person  actively, caught up in the disease of Alcoholism. That person and listens, ideally speaking, to The Paschal Experience of the one who has journeyed from absolute powerlessness, degradation, and insanity to where they now share with rigorous honesty, their experience, strength, and hope. They, to the best of their ability, extend their wounded hands, as an offering.   ( Have you discovered the power of story, in your life ?) 

  Trembling fingers are again invited to examine the external wounds, of todays's Risen Christs. Their hand will, in time, will  be welcomed, through dialogue, and story telling,  into site of the deepest Sacred Wound. It is sacred, because, that wound is the exact space and place where the workings of  grace has happened, and is happening. The patient workings of grace  has resulted in transformation,  and transfiguration. The Sacred Wound , is always to be found in the one who was once seen as one locked  in a pitiful place of  moral demoralization. The mysterious workings will happen as trust is developed, and the story goes ever deeper. This allows the suffering one, who is actively sharing The Cross of shame on their Calvary,Golgotha, slog, to experience the ministering of contemporary Simons. and Veronicas. All in-depth  recoveries, follow in some way the, encounter between St. Thomas, and the Risen Christ.

 Take some time to recognize, and embrace your life's gospel story, as seen through the prism of The Paschal-Easter events. We are in the after time of these events, yet they are alive, as life giving enhancers leading to untold intensifications. There is no way finite words have the capacity to fully capture the reality of all we mysteriously, mystically experienced. All we can do is, to respond from the depths of our limited honesty, to the gradual acceptance of our inability to fully comprehend all that we have been exposed to. We now have a lived experience, of what was but now, is. Where are these words leading you ?? Allow Grace to lead you to places, yet unknown. As the mysterious journey is lived, and its depths reveled , become more aware of all, the stepping, taken in time and  leading to ????? As you approach in reflection, again and again, those steps and truths, are the words of your contemporary gospel. We must always be cognizant. " Be aware" are the words of The Historical Jesus, who repeated them nine times. He is the One, Who makes His dwelling in the tabernacle of our, depths. For what purpose ?? May each one be aware of the constant care, and the moment to moment ever new ?????