Lent 2026, First Sunday.    " For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One Who has been tempted, (knowing exactly how it feels to be human) in every respect as we are, yet without ( committing any) sin, Hebrews 4:15.

" No one needed to tell Him about human nature,

                                                  for He knew what was in each persons (human) heart. John 2 24;25

Have you seen those adorable videos on FB showing little ones receiving eye glasses, and hearing aids, for the very, first time ? The surprise, of being able to hear the voice of their mothers, and see her face, all for the first time, triggered unabashed surprise,  joy, excitement, and wonder. I never get tired of watching those videos. They trigger something deep inside of me, that I cannot ,express why you may well ask ? The English language do not have the words to covey the depth of feelings, that are triggered again, and again. Maybe it is the transformed faces of these children, rekindles the lost joy, wonder and excitement of my inner little, Joe ?

        Maybe you may ask the same question why you never tire of being gifted repeatedly , with that something, which looses its in-depth feelings, when words are used? How many photos try to capture that mother's, and father's  iconic gaze, yet they are just inanimate replicas of the real event. That felt, special "gaze" is sacramental. It reveals, upon, reflection, the eternal loving gaze, given, so our eyes can again see, and experience in time The Eternal  Loving Gaze. This Loving Gaze NEVER weakens in Its infiniteness, and unwavering commitment. NOTHING, and I mean Nothing can change that. No Pope, cardinal, bishop, minister, priest have the power to deny us that precious gift, UNLESS, we surrender to their uninformed rantings.

We need to get away from all that garbage, and journey again into the desert, where The Chosen People experienced the care, protection, and mercy-filled love, of a Power that never deserted them. The were never deserted, even when they rejected the life enhancing, faith filled guidance. The desert is a place of courtship, purification, and transformation. The silence of the desert, quells those noises, and voices that we allow to distract us, from The Voice forever calling out to us, our innate dignity as Beloved daughter/son. Being the beloved does not preserve, protect  us from the desert experience. We enter the desert again, and again.  This, IS, our collective lived experience.The Beloved was driven, by the Spirit just once. The result of that experienced drew Him, again and again back to deserted places for prayer. For communion with His, Abba Daddy. How gentle and enticing is that word, daddy?

        That is why we have Lent so we too can choose deserted places so we can be exposed to ,Daddy, calling us by name. We are told Daddy has a chosen, unique for all of us, beloved daughters/sons. I have to repeat those words, again and again, because we are constantly bombarded by lying voices. These inner and outer voices want to degrade, minimize, and ultimately destroy the unique relationship with ourselves, our fellow cosmic travelers, and ultimately with, The One Who first choose us to be the one to experience,  unconditioned, unlimited and unrestricted Passionate Love. Yes, your Lover is a passionate Lover. Lent is a journey into  ever deepening intimacy, with The One who choose us for eternal life. 

 As The Beloved had his belovedness questioned and tested in he desert. So we too, on our journeys through our deserts have our belovedness  tested, questioned, and by questioning, denied  n by the  self same Satan. Jesus was tempted to choose, power, possessions, and prestige,  to prove His Deepest reality, by The Father of The Lies, Satan.  As the beloved we do NOT have to prove anything, we just have to accept, the gift that accompanies our acceptance of, powerlessness. We cannot "earn, deserve, or qualify", for  mercy-filled Love. This Love, heals us, soothes us, comforts us, protects us, when we choose to be life givers, not death dealers. Acceptance of our deepest is ???

During this horrific 2026, we may do well to identify and reflect on the ongoing dehumanizing exploitations of the powerless,  by the combined forces who today are  addicted to, and as a consequence,  are in endless pursuit of  power, possessions, and prestige. Unless challenged, there is no ending to the horrors that can be visited on the victimized.

  In parting, a thought for your reflection, that hopefully will lead to sacrificial action. Our Brother, Our Good Shepherd, experienced the ministering of angels. Where do you see yourself, as angels, predestined to minister to, today's contemporary, Desert Dwellers ? These dwellers are in the desert of deprivation, prejudice, and the acute rejection of their innate dignity as, sacraments ? Yet they are rightly identified as, sacraments. Does your belief in your sacramentality trigger a response. Does that response demand sacrifice ? This will lead you to paths unknown. The path that will lead you to life in, ALL, of its fullness. Accept the temptation not to settle for less, but for your best. We do our best and, Passionate Abba,  does the rest. This is challenging, but we live in challenging times. Open you ears to hear the cry of the oppressed. In that practical response there is triggered something mysterious. Please, I beg you receive that which cannot be described here, but will of necessity trigger smiles. ENJOY.         Peace, joy and love, Great gramps.

      

                                                                            Lent 2025.

" Launch out into the deep" The Historical Rabbi Jesus.

 " The wilderness will lead you, to your hearth where I shall speak, integrity and justice. 

     " Long have I waited for your coming home to me, and living deeply our new life."

      Come Holy Spirit, heal, transform, transfigure this hardened, and  faith-less heart." (hij)

We are about to push away from the safety of the known, the comfort of certainty into the uncharted desert,  and sometimes, ocean of Lent.  Journeying alone, without serious help, guidance is way too much for  this  frail human heart. The Gracious Creative Spirit knows that.  So, thankfully we do not journey, alone. We are NEVER truly,  alone. How often do we challenge the veracity of that statement ?  So much of life, at least for me, was and is lived out in loneliness, rejection, abandonment and fear. We, unfortunately,  cannot expect kindness, tenderness, and existential acceptance, in this atmosphere of fear, exploitation, dehumanization, and unmitigated violence. When, and where will change happen? Each one of us is challenged to answer that question uniquely. The unique answers are then taken by The Creative Holy Spirit and woven into, as of now, unknown answer. The light of the answer will break through from the darkness of fear into the bright light of a new, and more vital and vivifying grace. We will certainly experience the fruits and be transformed by the power of The Resurrection. The carrot ?

          We are invited to enter the unique challenges of our Lent of, 2026, When was the last time we entered Lent with the challenge(s),  such as we have this year? Our Lenten journey is intended to challenge us to see in a very unique way, the changes in our understanding of  the meaning and power of The Paschal Mystery. It is The Mystery, all are Baptized into. We are being challenged to deepen our understanding of how that Sacramental Celebration, is vivifying our lives being lived out, the sacrament of The Eternal now. "NOW,  is the acceptable time, now is the time of salvation." In each unique now moment we are offered, no guaranteed,  ALL that we need, to live a life that is "happy, joyous and free". Where are you, presently, in your  belief in the existential  reality that promise ?

     How open how,  prepared are we to consciously accept, the unique grace, the  help we ache for, thirst for that, IS a living reality,  present mysteriously, in this present, moment? Each lived moment is a grace filled moment. In each unique moment The Power of Love is, operative. There are NO moments of life that Divine Power is not working in a unique way, so the uniqueness of our efforts will be in accordance with the evolving universal plan. What we are living out today, is the continuation of the life, which found its beginning in the began in the mists of eternity, and will return to The Original Womb, Infinite Love. 

     The question we are challenged to answer, are we ready for, the desert journey? I have been immersed in the Arizona Desert for 62 year plus. I have had to learn, as a part of my continuing education and formation, there is a Spiritual Reality, " perfectly hidden and perfectly  revealed." Like all sacramental realities we have to be immersed again and again, so that what we need to discover.  Each time we will  ask the question, " Why did I not see that before ? The answer is simple, we were ready for the gift. The garden of our soul must be prepared properly so as to receive,  The Seed. Once received it must be nourished, and cared for. Eternal vigilance is need, so that the combination of weeds, and thorn bushes do not choke off the intended growth and harvest.

  Each one of us has unique weeds, and choking thorn bushes. We are blessed with the gift of seven weeks, to take stock of our garden. Are there the familiar weeds, or have a whole new variety invaded the garden and brought disruption and unease to our spiritual wellbeing ? This Lent we are challenged with unique challenges. We are challenged to be led deeper into the essential meaning of, terminal death, and Paschal Death. We are  being exposed, daily, to the reality of death manifesting itself in so many ways,  at at so many levels, it will be impossible to discover all  its hideousness,  archived away in so many  of these different levels. 

 We are called to join The Good Shepherd in the desert. The Historical Jesus, was DRIVEN into the desert. We are offered an invitation, to join Him in the desert journey of,  2026.  In the desert there are no roads or signposts. The steps, even though you do not know where you are going, is the right path, trail for you. The spiritual writes inform us, " if we know the path we are on, we are on the wrong path." It is my path,  not my participation in the unknown path, that leads to, The Unknown.  The Right Way !!

 Every Lent for as far back as I can remember, The Lenten journey was a journey into what can be learned from , G. A. R. B. A. G. E. That equates to Guilt, Anger, Resentment, Anxiety, Greed, and Envy. I reluctantly said no, to the familiar, and comfortable and so you are burdened with this effort. I have already strayed from the intended path. What you are reading is ??????

 

         

                                                                             

" Through the eyes of a living faith, and ,Not,  through blindness of prejudice, will encounter The Holy, in 

                                                                   THE LOWLY" Anonymous. 

  " Life is a cosmic dance. It is as if every particle in nature is reaching to enjoy other particles, and 

                                                                      engaging in a beautiful dance." Anonymous.

" Come, Creative Spirit, transfigure, and transform this,  hardened and faithless one."(hij)

   "Transfiguration authenticates the value and dignity of the human person, and all of creation"

I am told there are no isolated particles, in nature. All are connected, intermingled. Not one is hanging out, in left field, all by itself. Nature does not allow, tolerate isolation, disconnectedness. We, as visitors to the cosmos are intermingled with all the other visitors, and receive life from the" intermingledness " of all the permanent residents. The seen and the unseen. All reality, is one cosmic reality. We can say, all is Christ, and Christ is in all. There are no isolated cells in our body. We are oneness, we are a whole, in this we all are holy. We are all The Living Body of Christ where Mystery is encountered. Not just for the act of encounter, but for the required sharing ,that is,  inherently demanded, by The One encountered. 

 St.Paul, " The gifts and talents we have been given are NOT for ourselves but, for the building up of, the common good" That precludes selfishness, and, kingdom building.  Any gift  talent and ability that is not used for the building good of all, will result in life that only knows only compulsivity, addiction, and destruction.. This does not contribute to the common good, but leads to a life, existing exclusively in isolation, addiction, and death We are witnesses to this horrific reality.  How destructive kingdom building is? We are all affected by  inhumanity. Those poor and powerless are our sisters and brothers.

 They are not the just the faces of The Suffering Christ, THEY ARE, THEY ARE the living Body of  the contemporary, suffering,  Christ. We are in need of the lenses of faith This reality cannot be couched in spiritual superficiality or a binary, rigorous  religiosity. These satisfy, temporarily, the false self, and allow  fear and complacency to rule. We need the lenses that were given to us on The Mount of Transfiguration. The disciples are privileged to see The Divine Nature break through, and transfigure The Historical Jesus.Since then that " transfiguration, authenticates the value and dignity of the human person, and all of creation."

       As we adjust and sharpen our understand of our personal reality of Transfigurement within each one of us, will we empowered, by grace, to see the reality of the transfigured Christ, in the migrant, alien, poor, the dispossessed, the homeless, the LGBTQ plus. Allow the power of your essential belief and understanding of Transfiguration lead to an ever deepening belief  resulting in,  meaningful action. These times demand a radical change in understanding leading a new vision. The embrace, the radical actions of the  nonbinary is essential in  the present battlefield for the soul and future of America, and by extension, the cosmos ( Where do you  see as the area of your responsibility ?  Your chosen, thoughtful response is ???? ) 

We are chosen caretakers of the cosmos as it is. Are we ready to won, accept the extinction taking place in all of creation?  A creation we are called to defend, protect and nourish. It is unfortunately obvious the powers that rule, and direct laws have chosen to be blind, and have abrogated the defenses that have been put in place. The answer to this horrific tragedy lies within your, power, RIGHT ??? So what does the future hold, for you as steward of all creation? What are the little steps you will take, so that together,  there will be one giant step taken for  the defense and protection of  humanity and its home?

  There will be a struggle. In The Beatitudes, what do you see, and embrace as the words of encouragement necessary for you, so as to meet the challenges, that are personal and universal ? In the plans for creation nothing happens without the cooperation of the human? On going metanoia, is essential for each one of us. no exceptions. No one is exempt. We are challenged to, awaken to be woke ?  So the existential challenges are responded to. Now rest on your laurels ? Not a chance !!! You will be challenged to, reawaken. The re-awakenings  vivifies our souls, and because of cosmic connections, all creation is affected. The Cosmic Christ will find a place of welcome, and cooperation. "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be." Do I hear an, AMEN. A heartfelt one ?? A little unsure but willing? We become what we desire ???

     " We are forgetting the epic story, we are, tuned for."Martin Shaw.

 " Be extravagant and protracted and real in your grief.... This is a time outside of time,

                                   and extraordinary things can happen."  Martin Shaw.

  "Come, Holy Spirit, transfigure and transform this hardened, and faithless heart, of Your beloved" 

" You cannot be, pro life,  and approve the inhuman treatment , of,  immigrants." Pope Leo.

   Us Irish, are a people, emerging from the  mists of, time and eternity.. We are a lyrical people, writers of myth, and mystery. Always leaving the reader, to wonder, in their  continued wanderings,  into what has been left unsaid , just intimated.( If you have the privilege of catching a Jessie Buckley interview  you will be in a reverential awe of the lyrical and poetic way she uses, the English language. Pure poetry !!! )What mythical, and mysterious, lands are we destined to venture into ?  When we are faced with the realities of life, the periphery will not contain the answer, and the truths essential for a healthy spiritual journey. The knowledge and understanding necessary, does not come from what is seen but from what is unseen. 

      The journey, hidden in the mystery of life journey is your real journey. Life is container, the channel which  The Unknown,The Ineffable has chosen to be the place of revelation. Each channel is unique. There cannot be two, of the same. The Gracious Creative Spirit does not do ,spin-offs. There are no duplicates. Why ? May I suggest, there is so much to say, so much to be revealed, each incarnation is the manifestation , of what which is not yet said.  The revelation is embedded in the depths. Unless we respond to The Historical Jesus, "to launch out into the deep" there will be  no the fish, essential for our nourishment, and encouragement . The dark depths are foreboding. They have no attraction, except for some brave souls. Yet, we must face the fact, that the epic story we are tuned to broadcast, originates not on the, seen, surface, but is awaiting for our courageous leap, into The Unknown. 

 We have been blasted into the excruciating pain, into the witnessing  of continuous persecution, suffering, and  unexplainable murder.  Our encounters, confrontation with death, ALWAYS leaves us radically changed. There never has been a celebration of The Anointing Of The Sick, especially on a death bed, that does not leave something intangible, but so very real. One never becomes immune to the depth of feelings that spring uncontrollable, from? ( From your own life's story, what is the REAL truth, that is breaking into your consciousness, now !! HONESTY is tough, but progressive)  )I wonder how many on seeing children ripped from their necessary routines, to be incarcerated with trauma that will effect every aspect of it's  life's journey. Who will pay for the rehabilitation of the tens of thousands of individuals and families, as they face their daly encounter with crucifixion, and resulting physical and emotional challenges ? 

  " Be extravagant, and protracted and real in your grief". The Christ in His body, yes is suffering again, as His Body is beaten, bruised, and betrayed here in These United States Of America. These are not pre-civilization times. We are supposed to be civilized ? I guess "supposed" is the operative word. The power collective unconscious of America is weakened. The source of real help, is now seemingly helpless. WE, that is WE, are not collectively helpless. Those brave souls in Minneapolis are braving extreme freezing conditions to voice their disapproval of the atrocities perpetrated on their neighbors. Notice when they speak they refer to, "their neighbors", they do Not use the word immigrant. I wonder where that truth originated? Do You ? When yo are challenged to face your metaphorical Minneapolis, be assured that source of help, health and strength is,  ACTUALLY WAITING within you, for you.? Where does it lie ? Openness to its proddings ????

  The protracted Golgotha will of necessity challenge your essential beliefs. As I have written previously, " today's challenging, life orientated questions CANNOT be answered with yesterdays answers." The answers cannot be found in the  unenlightened, thought process of, MAGA. There must be metanoia, a complete turning around from where we are going,  so as to encounter the challenging depths of, Gospel Values. Your personal  Social Gospel  tenants, are ? 

  The depths are calling you. Mystery, is beckoning to you.  Those voices, singing "Hold On, Hold on my dear ones here comes the door.". We all need new lenses to recognize that depth of meaning being expressed here. Are we the door, opening up and dazzling those oppressed, with the light of HOPE. ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR HEALTHY CHANGE, both personal and communal Is.....

    " Here I am, Lord, I have come to do your will." Psalm 40.

   "We do NOT need magic to transform our world. We all carry all the we need'

                                                                 INSIDE ourselves already." J..K. Rowling 

 " The Body of Christ grows through the process of our awakening, to, the Divine Life" Keating.

" Come Holy Spirit and strengthen the weak,  restless fear-fill heart,  of this Your,  servant."(hij)

" The light of Christmas is an explosion of insight changing our whole idea of God. OUR CHILDISH WAYS OF THINKING OF GOD, ARE LEFT BEHIND.....our inmost being opens to a new consciousness the, The Babe,  has brought into the world". " The Mystery of Christ." Keating.

    An attitude of gratitude is essential for a healthy spiritual life. I must take this opportunity to say, "Thank You", to al of you who take the time to read this effort, when offered. Part of me, the false selfish self, wants to some week" SCREW UP "so badly, there will be a serious migration of readers. Then I will not have to face the deep challenge of a gradual awakening, and reawakening. I find I have become aware of a new, and often challenging, insight. Parts of me wants nothing to do with a journey into,  the unknown. I want that cozy chair, and all that complacency brings to satisfy the false self. That false self, sure offers, great challenges. By sharing my thoughts with you, I face my, fears. The result of this encounter with fear, security, and complacency, is coming right at you ??

     We are now aware of this old quote, " The questions of today, CANNOT , be answered with yesterday's answers". Today's mind boggling question and challenges, must be met and answered with new and always vivifying,  challenging answers. As Fr.Keating has written, "The Body of Christ grows through the process of our awakening" to what ? Being led into awakening is our choice of course. To day's existential challenges can lead to feelings of deep fear. What is the common wisdom of the ages, " Face your fears ." I read somewhere, " as one faces one fears, one grows into, intimacy." Intimacy, the often unspoken,  unwritten, wish, desire of,  ?????. 

   How easy, and comfortable it is to be an ostrich, with our head buried in the sand. How threatening it is to venture in the unfathomed depths of today's questions. Now, knowing that you have been chosen, from eternity, to be part of the cohorts who will explore the depths, of themselves and the collective unconscious. This journey into the unfathomed ocean of ,The Divine's nothingness , will shatter old concepts, and old comfortable answers. The cosy fireside, versus, the barren desert of searching ????

  We are challenged to, grow. To surrender again, and again,  to a journey. This journey can be ONLY TAKEN, one step at a time. We will live, not just ,exist, in the sacrament of the eternal now. No, other, way, of traversing these now challenging terrains , except by surrender and, gradual acceptance. The gradual awakening to the reality as I live, love, grow, so does the Body of Christ. A byproduct of all your constructive, and vivifying actions the strength, the wisdom of collective unconscious, is enhanced. People you do not know, are being affected by your awakening. Your individual efforts have a collective consequence. For now, and for eons,  to come. What is insignificant, WRONG, there is nothing that is insignificant. Wow !!! That stops me, so I bow to you to finish............. 

   Changing the diaper of your Christ Child, cleaning the toilets, cooking meals, driving to work, celebrating the sacramentality of your love, etc. etc. are all contributing factors to the growth of The Body of Christ. This Mystical Body of Christ, challenges us, to go ever deeper, and surrender to the awakenings, that lead you to become more aware of  The  Mystical Presence. By our seeking, searching, surrendering, and acceptance you continue, this  mystical journey. You are being lead, into the darkness of faith, into " new heavens, and a new earth". 

 HOMEWORK !!!!! now that you have read the above,  get a pieces of paper and a pen. NO TYPING !!! Now write out the  obstacles, road blocks, your false self is creating, so you do not believe the extent of your, belovedness ?  You have been chosen, uniquely gifted, and "in the fullnest of time", here you are. Can you really believe all that is being written about you, OH !! Body of Christ. Now place that list in a place that is convenient, so you are able to return, and return. In the returning  what challenges have been met ? Then the existential challenges are faced, with a deepening faith. This is how honesty, and intimacy, grows. Be prepared for, an awakening!!!  Be prepared for re-awakenings. that reveals the depths within. Take the advise of The Historical Jesus, " launch out into the deep".  Face these fears with your  Spirit driven, inherent strength. "We will never be tested beyond our strength", so St. Paul writes. I have to remind The Gracious, Mercy-full Creator I am not as strong as She/He thinks I am. So, BACK OFF. To have a healthy spirituality, a person must have a Divinity, one can fight with.