Third Sunday in Lent......... The woman at the Well.

      "Drink from your own well."  L. Boff.

   " Grace, Love, the mercy-full action of, The Creative Spirit, works, through the difficulties of life."

    " Conversion, is not, seeing new landscapes but having new eyes, with which to see." 

        The Divine Mystery, hugs us in all-encompassing arms.... The Mystery of The Divine...

                                                          hugs you, in Its all encompassing arms" Hildegard of Bingen."

 "Confession is good for the soul." I have, been graced to journeyed through the deserts, of many Lents. This year is so different. I am working through the frightening, challenging  experience of being again converted. That illusion has been smashed. As ALL of illusions must be, annihilated. Annihilated , by our ever deepening immersion, in, "The Paschal Rythm". This conversion is essential for my  sobriety, sanity, and serenity. WOW!! have I really written those words ?At eighty six and a half, I, FOOLISHLY, expected a very ordinary desert experience. I was so smug, thinking I could rely on some old familiar "chestnuts", to get me through this year. What a mistake that was. Never get smug, complacent about the spiritual journey.  Paul challenges us, I Romans 12:2 to"be transformed by the renewal of your mind," In First Corinthians, the exhortation, "Put on the mind of Christ." Conversion involves being blasted out of our many states of illusion. 

It is, always, being led into the place of, absolute powerlessness, where in order to survive one has to let go, absolutely. This process my ego does not like, it will not even tolerate these  moments of movement. There is absolute war. I order to survive, this blog writing will help me process all that is happening at my unconscious, aching to be brought to consciousness. This battle must be shared, so you are my reality, check. Don't you really love reading this effort and you are being drawn into this challenging experience ? Please, answer,  HONESTLY !!!!!

  As I repeated a number of times, we are, every person, that we encounter in the scriptures. Binary thinking,  does work here. Our guided journey into nonbinary thinking, I am, painfully finding out, is, like everything else, an evolving process.  There are no categories in nonbinary thinking, and in this  emerging understanding of reality, all are one in The All. So then if female you can relate, as a woman, as male, this forces radical change. The workings of, the anima, in the male is essential for a healthy, psychology, and as a consequence, spirituality.

     The Parable of The Woman at the well  is all about, awakening. Facilitated through kind, mercy and deep compassion. There are no judgements. For those who can rightly say, "I am awakened",  then be prepared, by The Paschal Rhythm, to be reawakened.  This, dance, always demands radical change. The result is, real transformation, leading to a new experience of, transfiguration. Like the woman at the well we will first be, shocked.  "You are a man and a jew.?" Our old life of living in illusion no longer validates, an emerging newness. Then there are questions, and the questioning. How can this new reality, be the,  truth ?  The woman at the well encountered, The Incarnation of Mercy, and Truth, but had to be brought to an emerging  existential, awareness.Where is your experience, of, "well moments" ? The stark reality of our present challenging, experiences, have blasted complacency into the oblivion of comfort and security. Where do you see your places of security and comfort ? 

   \ We are being challenged to move into the perception and acceptance of a new, frightening reality. The blessing of being "shocked", the old comfortable and comforting ways of seeing, are forever changed, never to return.  A " BLESSING" ? Papa you, have lost touch with reality.  Old realities, Yes, but there is a new order in potency, waiting to be actualized. We are all, because this is a cosmic immersion, participating in the real, lived experience, of Paschal Death. Our faith in The Paschal Rhythm lends security in the reality, of Order- Disorder -Reorder. 

    The goal of this year's Lenten journey  is to be slowly awakened to pain-filled transformative, and transfiguring  power, of, EACH UNIQUE, authentic, human,  experience. The Creative Gracious Spirit uses all authentic human reality to awaken us, slowly, into a new consciousness. In reality this is not new, it has always been hidden in the depths, awaiting the journey into, sacramental reality. For this to happen we need new brave, contemporary, prophets. That is where each person inhabiting this earth must answer their call to be contemporary prophets. We have been given the example of great prophets, De Chardin,  Pope Francis, and our contemporary one, Pope Leo. Did you see how he challenged to  religious facade that has taken place at The White House ? This is just another instance of challenging uninformed power, with the stark reality of unvarnished truth. Our Shepherd is modeling,  the challenging road we are to follow. This is why The Fruits of the sacrament of Confirmation, are lying dormant in our  depths, awaiting their journey to where ? You are, challenged to be both the question and the answer!!! This new awareness means, what ?

          Then the woman is comforted with the fact that, there is not only a Prophet in dialogue with her. He, Whom she was led to accept as a prophet, is in reality, The Christ ? Then she went into, action? These are the steps we are challenged to make our lived experience, formation, information, transformation, transfiguration, action.  Through all  these movements  it is essential that we surrender to  the guidance of, The Creative Holy Spirit,  through prayer, mediation and contemplation. This is why we have this season. We will always have the challenges of being contemporary prophets, and Christ Incarnated. This is our  EVERYDAY vocation. No excuses, there are, no exceptions  We are afforded this time to really face what it means to be a,  Confirmed Christian, and all the fear laden steps we are challenged to take."Be not afraid, I am, with you." "I go, before you." Come rest in, Me" and, yours ? 

     

  

          

                                                      Second Sunday of Lent, 2026.  

         I have one blog written. On reading it I was so surprised, the stark reality of what has been triggered, struck me hard. This is not to take away from the horrific events taking place in our nation. It is over whelming at first, second, third etc. glances. Another war has been started, joining the wars already raging. Raging within the communities where war is being raged against humanities most victimized, the powerless, disenfranchised, exploited and dehumanized. There is no end in sight for that war. The atrocities will continue, unabated, until, " justice for all", is not just a catch phrase but a transforming power, which will release a transformation  that cannot be imagined in the current atmosphere of dehumanization. Humanities newest war, has the "proposed" life of, "four to five weeks", that is quoting our president. This begs the question what is seen as, THE END ? How are we to understand, and become reconciled with all the uncertainty that entails? These questions join the numerous questions, we are  already begging to be answered. 

  These are the current questions that are facing us. Is that all of them? Of course not. This is the Season of Lent. The time set aside for us to bring to consciousness the underlying, personal inner and outer wars. Wars that have been there, and will continue to be active, some raging, until we begin constructive work on the solution. "We are, either in the problem, or in the solution", right ?  It has been proven to be, not that easy. There is NO, "easier and softer way" out. We like, Our Good Shepherd, are in the desert, where Satan will hound us with thoughts and questions whose sole intention is to disrupt, and hopefully destroy, our peace of mind, our sanity, and our serenity. 

    Satan is the legal name for, prosecuting attorney. How well he is named. Satan has found a home in our false self. Our true self is never, in any danger. Why? it is the chosen dwelling place of The Infinite Power of Creative Love. Its Presence is described by, Thomas Merton  as " a Sparkling Diamond which can never be touched by sin." The light can never be dimmed. We are powerless, with all other powers  to remove, destroy it. Sadly we do however,  have the power to deny, reject it's Presence. Our outward, and inner actions can and do reject this eternal gift. It was given to us in eternity and will accompany us as we consciously return to, The Eternal.  The Infinite Womb of love, has been our staring point, and to the same  womb we shall return to. This our eternal destiny.  As a result,We are  also a people destined for constant attacks. The attacks, which can at times both endless and discouraging. We providentially  have our Defense Attorney, our Advocate,  The Holy Spirit Who will be with us and within us, until the end of time. That is why we are encouraged, "Be not afraid, for I am with you, always, until the end of time." Yes !!! you can take that to the bank.

       What took place on The Mount of Transfigurement, was NOT to glorify The Historical Jesus, it was intended to strengthen the faith of four disciples and, all ofUS.  In The Transfiguration,  the human body , becomes The Transfigured Body, In doing so ,The Human Historical Jesus  revealed His true identity, and True Reality, the enfleshment of His Prodigal mercy-full  Father.  This Transfigured Body was destined for abuse, dehumanization, betrayal, crucifixion, and paschal death. There was no terminal death, it was paschal death. As those four were schooled, visually, as to depth reality, we too, are learning, through the eyes of  a lively faith, the deep reality of The Historical Body of the now, Christ. The Cosmic Christ as He truly lives and breathes  in a all that is, real. Apart from reality,He does not, nor cannot, exist. This is true of both the physical, and spiritual worlds. Sorry, sorry, that is not the truth. I have slipped back into, binary thinking. Right thinking leads to this truth,  there is only ONE reality. There is No division in The Eternal, in The Ineffable. We share the oneness. Question !!! how does  this truth challenge you way of seeing and believing ? Binary, or non binary ?

       As we read, reflect on The Transfiguration, and the following historical events  we are led to this reality, indisputable truth, " Death, is never the end". A great  deal of our security is attached to permanence. Nothing is permanent. Everything is evolving. Life needs death to evolve. We cannot find security in what was, only in That Which Is, in this present moment. (For me, I have it down to nanoseconds!!!!) For now, we bolstered by,"now is the acceptable time, now is the time of salvation." We are ever and always safe, in each and moment of the sacramental Embrace, in  The Hugs of our Prodigal Father. My, go to bromide, " I believe ,Lord help my disbelief, help my unbelief". " I believe, please  help  my disbelief", is my current bromide. The one I share the most, " Father help me to love me, the way you love me". My false self wants instant, relief.  Graced reality will lead us to awe-full embrace, of  acceptance, and powerlessness. ( This is the long process that in inherent in living)

   Fr. Rohr introduced me to the concept of " Order, disorder, and reorder". We are definitely in disorder. There is no security to be found in, disorder. Then we have to accept the challenge that  beneath all the disorder, THERE IS a new order awaiting to be revealed. I will be long dead before  this new inclusive just ordered life will become a reality. The answers lie deep within our collective unconscious. We must not only pray for the revelation of order,  endless work is essential. Unless we WORK for real justice there will be no peace , and just order will not be, restored.  This cosmic realignment will have its own prophetic voice.  To each person reading this effort, in your now  response to  the challenge of prophetic action, you are now laying the foundation, of what is to come. In this New Kingdom all peoples will be from  the possibility of crucifixion, and death. Free to enjoy a new world, " Coming in peace, coming in justice for all, coming in Love." Prophetic words from Mama Cass Elliott.  As a reminder, we are either working for the solution, or we are part of the existing  problem. I am shocked, scattered, so if this is beyond the regular challenge ?????  I have to embrace this old monastic saying,  " Pray, like everything is up to God. Work like everything is up to you." Well, until, the next time, I pray there will be, a next time this is a wobbly Great, great gramps.

 

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 ???