I really feel bad that there is no conventional "Happy Something" to wish you. Hold your horses now, of course there is. Wait for it, A Happy Birthday to you all. This is taking seriously that every day is a new birthing day for you. The person that was yesterday is now part of the foundations of the now you. Brand new, and even more deeply mysterious, than you were yesterday. The Creative-Creating is working on a masterpiece, which is you. You are a masterpiece to be viewed in a museum, but you are being created, one nano second at time, to be viewed by all those who need for Mystery is being met by, and in your presence. We are told Our Creator God is ever new. We being His/Her living presence are always new. ETERNALLY SO. Is there ever a moment that is not appropriate to join with all the cosmos in singing , shouting loudly as possible, "Happy BIRTHING to you, in this sacramental moment." in eternity.

             Now that you are being birthed, anew, let us journey through some other reasons to sing, shout gloriously another  "Happy". Happy Christmas, seems appropriate. To day, The Mystery of The Incarnation is receiving a new revelation in, and through every nano second you will be privileged to  live. "The Glory of God, is,  the human person fully alive" St. Irenaeus. We are not being created to  just exist, we are called to "live life, and live it to the fullest". We are then challenged to be the best person we can be, in this moment. We must remember this is, you are looking at it. the best version of yourself, that has ever existed. "Never better". (Msgr. O,Grady R.I..P.)  

   Who we are in the continuous process of becoming, of evolution into a newness.We are becoming an new reality. This new reality, which we will be privileged  inhabit, is being built on on belief that each nano second ,a new revelation of The Mystery of Being, is best revealed in this new  version of our authentic human-being-ness. We must ever remind ourselves, there is a God, and we are not that, Infinite Being. Every moment is a Christmas moment. Every moment is, a moment The Incarnation is newly revealed. Where is that going to take you ? Reflect on your "now" uniqueness ???

          Well, every "now" moment, is,  mysteriously unique.  No two ,are the same. Life's moments,  cannot, of their essence be boring. Why?  Within the depths of every new , ever fleeting  moment, is mysteriously  presents ALL,Yes ,ALL that  the Liturgical Year, and  the unique Liturgical Celebrations, takes a complete year to recognize and celebrate.  We can look back ,and upon reflection, come to discover, all that  which , were present within every Liturgy  is now, present. Yes. Yes, right here , and right now, period. So in the now, in this, not so  "simple moment", within its depths, is everything that it  the Liturgical year takes to celebrate. This then is how mysterious each moment is.  Here and now what is hidden within, is exposed for celebration You have had the experience of looking at something through a magnifying  glass or microscope. What seems to be kinda ordinary, and sometimes dead, under the microscope is filled with life, and vitality. Liturgy, and the Liturgical year is the magnifying glass which extends our so called ordinary moments, into weeks and months of  rediscovery and celebration. ( If you can get through these last sentences in one read, you are mystically magnificent. I have lost time on how long it has taken to get those few sentences on paper. I am missing golf on t.v. No pain, no gain????? )

         Within the present moments, all the mysterious  moments of Holy Week and The Paschal Mystery is  our hidden reality.  We are today, now, challenged  to see and embrace Christ, Who  is again beaten, bruised, betrayed, brutalized, and crucified, in the most powerless of His sisters and brothers. We are faced with all the ramification of poverty, and powerlessness. Our neighborhoods, communities are reliving in their moment to moment realities what first happened almost 2,000 years ago.( Remember, in the spiritual there is no time and space.) We are again exposed to the cross being carried by the contemporary Christs. Where is Simon and Veronica to be encountered ministering to The Suffering One, in all suffering of all humankind. 

     We are in tomb time again. All of humankind and the rest of creation is sitting, waiting and watching for the darkness of the unknown to be pierced again, with the transforming, transfiguring power of The Resurrected One. Liminal time is really, really tough to endure, by ourselves. We need community and community celebrations to rekindle the fire, that is now to be  searched for, and rediscovered among the ashes. There is life in the ashes, of the seemingly ashes of life. "Death is not an end, death is a beginning." So easy to repeat, is it not? To put it into practice, "walk the talk" not talk the walk. We need each other as never before. These are uncertain times, so we must be exposed for revivification to the Gracious Creative Spirit Whose job description is to stir up faith and hope among us who are faithless, and hopeless. " I believe, Lord, help my disbelief/unbelief". From within the  fear-filled darkness, in our "absolute dependence on a Higher Power", EVER and Always we shall emerge, newly birthed , newly vitalized. Yes, from  the place of powerlessness,  The Paschal Mystery within or lived experience, shall emerge "new heavens, and a new earth."  

       

 

 Well, "Happy Easter" is not appropriate, but, "Happy Birthday" is, as today we celebrate the birthday of the Mother  Church.. For Joe it is "Happy sixty-second Anniversary", that is of, ordination. On June 8th 1963, in Carlow, Cathedral  30 very nervous young, and one  mature adult answered the call. They were each called by name, in latin, and the answer was "ad sum". That was when I was called to the priesthood. Until then we were just candidates for ordination. It was a six year process of vetting as to whether we had what it took to be ordained, or, not. I was all of, 23 years .  

            In August of that year, three other Corkonians, boarder a plane at Shannon Airport and winged their way from the green grasses of Ireland, to the brown deserts of Arizona. I was immediately immersed in the convulsions of the Catholic Church as she adapted to the  resolutions, and revelations of The Second Vatican Council.  I like all others are riding out the waves of change,  right up to this present moment.  It is help-full to know, "the only thing certain, is change" ?????  Great consolation to us who are struggling. Adding to the challenge of change here we are adapting to the election, under the guidance of The Holy Spirit, of Pope  Leo 14th. Blessing on Him and His Bride as they journey further along the trail , and trials, of an evolutionary journey. " Faith", it helps to know, or not, " is a journey into uncertainty, NOT certainty" Is it not also called, "the dark night of faith." Far cry from all the certainties I came with in 1963. At 85 I find I have to work harder than I ever did in the seminary. Back then one of the funnies was,  a seminary was "a home for expectant fathers". There was more truth, than poetry to that, as the Irishman said.

         To sing "Happy Birthday, to us" is a very appropriate rhythm for today. As I have mentioned before, one of the books that radically changed me was, "The People are The Church" by Eugene Kennedy. As you know well, one of my favorite sayings is, " Every blessing is a curse, and every curse is a blessing". There were, and are times I wished I was  not exposed to the challenge that book proposed and consequently  exposed me to, over there 62 years, There was a companion to that publication, " Comfort my People". The challenging truths of the 60's are alive and well in our world today, and as consequence in our church. Every individual, that is you and I, are being challenged as never before, to adopt and adept ourselves to the challenges of our ever evolving realities.

             We cannot, we were not chosen and created to live a life of security and safety. The Holy Spirit has directed the evolution of the cosmos, for at least 13.4 billion years, It has guided the relationship with emerging humanity for eons. This guidance into "all truth" is happening within the reality of this present moment. It cannot happen in any other way. The Creative Spirit always looks for the cooperation of human instrumentality  to achieve It's evolutionary goals. In this moment your response to the call, will depend the wellbeing of the present creation, and the chance of a healthy evolutionary future. That is why every moment is sacred. Charged with the Glorious Presence, Who reaches out in desperate need of our human cooperation. We do not have to be perfect in all of this. We, as, "perfectly imperfect human beings" are called on to make our best effort at all times. We do our best, and The Creative Spirit, does the rest. That is The Holy Spirit's job description, to bring order to chaos. As it was, so it is, and ever shall be.

Let us all pray for this confident belief, we are not just accidents of nature. We have been part of the eternal plan, that is being lived in you and through all the created universe. Hope your birthday celebrations will reflect the dignity a people, chosen to be, The Gracious Creator's, very own !!!! 

Pray for me as I enter the unknown 63 third year of a very mysterious, challenging slog. Gramps.

              

              

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                

 Post Easter Sunday, 2025.

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

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

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

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

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

 " 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. 

           

   2025 GOD FRIDAY..... In order not to wear out my welcome, if I have not done so already this reflection will be confined to just a few Good Friday experiences we meet, every day.

 The Scourging at The Pillar. It took me many, many Lents to awaken to the reality of the  scourging of Christ in my journey. I go back to John O"Shea , " Jesus's story is our story today.". Then to validate that I read each. and every person, place , event found in the Gospel is actually happening within my depths. That set me back on my heels. So, are you ready for this, I am working on accepting, and becoming reconciled with this reality.

       Remember that saying " we are sometimes our own worst enemy." What do we do with an enemy, we punish it, if we cannot kill it. In our 30's we are challenged to accept, we are not the best at anything. All of our plans have come up short. We blame ourselves for our limitations. Sometimes we are carrying the burden, from the past of the voice that criticizes us. We never did anything right. The legacy of perfectionism !!!! Luck I was made aware of this reality, "We are born human and we spend the rest of our lives working on accepting the meaning of this.". " We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are SPIRITUAL BEINGS immersed in the human condition"(De Charden). Please do not just blow by these realities. There is a process in the cessation of self scourging when we accept the fact we are limited. 

            We are The Body of Christ ??? So when we are scourging ourselves we are actually scourging The Body of Christ. When we are relentless in our scourging we will actually scourge any person who does not meet our expectations. Remember, " Expectations are planned resentments". The scourging at the pillar continues, endlessly. Will we accept the reality that the Historical Jesus fell three times on His agonizing journey to Calvary ? He began to make the journey alone, but on the was Simon was roped into carrying the crossbeam for the crucifixion. Simon had no choice but to carry the cross. Have you become aware of The Simon within yourself, and the many Simons who willingly share the  journey to death and resurrection with us? 

  The Stations of The Cross presents for our reflection Veronica .  She saw the Suffering One and something inside of her moved her to go through the crowd and minister to Jesus. The Veronica within, where do you meet her, in your needs ? We must pray that her soothing, mercy-full presence become an essential part of our  spiritual journey. The Christ within will delight in the care, right now. Remember when it comes to the spiritual world, there is no time and space. See how that changes your understanding of spiritual thinkings.

          The desolation on the cross. " My God, My God, why have you abandoned me. In The Garden it was " Father, would that this cup pass from me." There is no such intimacy on Calvary. He went to that place of total abandonment. On our visits to that place of abandonment we very slowly begin to realize, in abandonment is where everything comes to us. Just appreciate what each trip to that place of abandonment  offers you. This is not for you, it is to be shared. The Veronica within is alive and well......

                                                       The Tridium: HOLY THURSDAY.

We are now entering the three day celebration, of a Mystery. Not just any Mystery, but as The Eucharistic  Liturgy teaches, "it is, The, Mystery of our faith". We pray, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again", The Paschal Mystery for short. How has this Christ come to inter our human history? "He  was conceived by The Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary".  In his Letter to The Philippians, St.Paul teaches, in the second chapter, " He was known to be of human, and it thus that He humbled Himself, obediently accepting death, death on a cross." Death on a cross was not just any death, it was the death reserved as punishment for a runaway slave. 

     It was a death so ignominious, that The Jewish people saw it as ending your life in a place of cursedness, to quote "cursed is he who hangs upon, the wood".  The Historic Jesus, Who became The Christ of God, went to that place of "cursedness", so that when we have to confront, physically encounter our place of darkness, powerlessness, and cursedness we have awaiting us, Who ? The Incarnated Mercy of The Prodigal Father. Who has the power to heal us, soothe us, comfort us, protect us, transfigure and transform. Where do you encounter and embrace such gifts. There must be something virginal, about all, or nearly all of who you are in 2025 encounter with The Paschal Mystery. To be a vital celebration we must bring our new way of being, our new way of seeing. It cannot be the same of the past, it must your contemporary encounters.

       Holy Thursday Solemn Liturgy, beckons us to reflect on, what is now known as the first mass. The priesthood was established. What vivifying understanding has a dynamic effect on each Eucharistic Celebration. Are we actually in each celebration, celebrating the priesthood of The Chosen People of The New Testament ? Or we just at each celebration hoping that something may rub off on us ? " No deposit, no return" holds true for each Liturgical celebration. The Gracious Creative Power will NOT do for us, what we can do for ourselves ???? 

    Can you break into a sweat of blood ? All humans can, if they get that scared. You have to be at the pinnacle of fear for you to sweat blood. It does not usually happen, but if it does The Good Shepherd is there to wipe our brow, and refresh "our drooping spirit." 

You may want to go to last years reflection to round ooff all I have missed. A joyous, mysterious, a vivifying Easter Tridium to all. This is your inner story being revealed. Embrace that which your first reaction is to recoil. Love, prayers, and Paschal Joy to all. Great grandpa Joe. 

 

                                                                          Holy Week 2025......... Palm Sunday Eve,at 9:30 p.m.

Faith is always a journey into the unknown mystery of our lives and our living. We life our lives looking forward but understanding comes in our looking backwards. In what we see, in the reflection of the life we have lived through. Our goal is it to live life, not merely eke out an existence. Yet, that is the lot of not thousands, but millions of our sisters and brothers through our own country and billions across our shared home. 

 This thought just struck me. Why am I making the effort, again this year, to put into words, a spiritual pain that is way beyond the power of human expression ? I do have the right to presume that my word will properly express the in-expression-able ? Then it dawns on me are we not all struggling with the same human life, and the mystery, being discovered, hidden in a same human fleshiness. The same flesh we are contemplating is the same flesh, The Revelator of Mystery, was incarnated into.  John O'Shea wrote " Jesus's story IS our story today. We must read the Gospels, not as the accounts of what happened about 2,000 years ago. It is your story, and my story today. 

 Please, please  read, and listen, attentively to what will bubble up from your depths. This is your truth. This is the gospel you have been chosen to write. You are The Contemporary  Christ writing  a gospel for our contemporary world. The same Holy Spirit that guided the First Evangelists is the same Holy Spirit that is powering all of our lives, into life. As guides we have then have been provided in The Four Gospels accounts of His life, Death, Burial, Resurrection. These Four Gospels are  four accounts of the in-expression-able human misery, degradation and suffering. As His disciples we have been chosen, from eternity, to follow in the footsteps of Him Who has trudged the same journey we are trudging right now. He was not Incarnated in a special humanity and we were gifted a less dignified version. So then, SAME FLESH, SAME SPIRIT...........

 Words that I remember from Palm Sunday's Liturgy, were, " let us then, with, a lively faith, go forward". These words I did my level best to emphasize. I saw them as a prerequisite for the whole week ahead for  both myself and the community I was leading. Always with deep, deep  trepidation !!! We are living, existing in a very tough, tough environment. We are journeying through, what some spiritual authors are calling, an experience of "the dark night of the soul."( There is not enough room to be able to rightly deal rightly with "the dark night of the soul", so I plead with you, please do the necessary.) This is a very demanding, challenging journey. It brings to the forefront the truth that our journey in faith, is a journey into, darkness. A journey into, not knowing what is ahead, having no sign posts, no map. It a journey we are reduced to taking one very careful step at a time. In dark faith we place one foot of the other. We do not take giant steps, we are back to baby steps. 

From the wisdom of those who have gone before, and written of this purification experience. I am happy to say, we do not come out in any way spiritually  poorer.  We slowly emerge come out with a knowledge, a gift of understanding, that was not there before. We are somehow enlightened with new understandings. Understandings that appear very subtly, they take us by surprise. How often has the question been asked, "where did that come from?" The Spirit does for us what is best for us. These are good days to have Thomas Merton's prayer " My lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I do not know for certain where it will end, Nor do I really know myself ....'' Provide yourself and all your friends with a more complete copy of this prayer of surrender. We will continue to refer to this prayer. So are you going to do it now, or when the fear-filled pain gets to the point of, " My God, My God, why have You forsaken me ?"                                        A blessed mysterious Holy Week !!!!! Gramps

 

I was born into the pre-Vatican church. Ordained in 1963, just as we were in the process of assimilating and adjusting to what the reforms were meant for our, day to day living. Here we are over 50 years later and we still have not come to grips the intentions of the council fathers. To be brutally honest, in the words of John XX 111rd , he was aware of the opposition in the Vatican from his closest advisers. Our prophetic Pope Francis is still wilt the present day opponents. The Holy Spirit does NOT make mistakes. Because what is being proposed challenges our issues of control does not make them wrong. No matter how much money is used to make the vitriolic opposition, somehow palatable. As it was with Pope John, so it is, with Francis today.

       I was formed in the  environment go guilt, fear and shame. I now refer to those death dealing, life suffocating realities as, " the toxic trinity'. Once immersed, it takes so much effort to let go of their lies and believe in the truth, a truth that "set us free'". Free to enjoy the life of, beloved daughter/son. A love that cannot be withdrawn fro us. We cannot loose "the prodigal, mercy-fullness " that is once gifted cannot be revoked. I have loved to following quote from Henri Nouwen from it's reading. " God's mercy is greater than our sins. There is an awareness of sin that does not lead to God, but to self preoccupation. Our temptation is to be so impressed with our sins and shortcomings that we get caught up in a paralyzing guilt. ( That is what we call toxic shame. Guilt is,I made a mistake. Shame is, I am a mistake). 

      Take it from me, and my long journey to the a life that is somewhat free of toxic shame, but not entirely free of the dehumanizing effects of the toxic trinity. I have to accept I never will be free of toxic shame, so I can embrace the energizing effects of healthy shame that leads to a life lived in the freedom of  being, beloved son.) It is the guilt that says my sins are too big for God's mercy, which is pride. It is that  guilt which has erroneously has made an idol out of my sins.". How long I have worshipped at that altar. Paying lips service to an  destructive idol, all the while denying myself real freedom. A freedom that will lead to a love that is unconditioned ,unlimited, and unrestricted. " Religiosity is for those who are afraid of gong to hell. Spirituality is for this who have been to hell." Sadly to say the embracing of a spirituality that is freeing is not a walk in the park. I have had to journey through many dark valleys so as be bathed in the amazing experience of the mountain of Transfiguration. ( This is a good place to rest, if only temporarily ) 

      We are now deep into the lenten, desert journey into a GROWING honesty. We will never be completely honest with ourselves. Oscar Wilde, " human beings can only deal with so much honesty". " When you are honest about your dishonesty, you are being honest," the message I received from my friend Fr. Tot many decades ago. Last week the closing sentence; " our spiritual garbage can, and does prevent from the vision necessary", for what? The vision of the depths of  infinite mercy-full love that awaits us in the  return to the arms of our Prodigal Mother/Father. The depths of mercy-full love can never be fully understood in this worldly existence. This Mercy-full love is infinite, and we finite, limited.

                Our spiritual garbage  will lay heavy upon us,  suffocating us ,as it were, if, and when we allow it. We all have garbage. I have lived in my home since 2007. I now am in the  process of working through all the  physical garbage I have accumulated since June of that year. What I now see as garbage did appear at one time, as necessary for an enjoyable life.  How many of us find that a journey to the grocery store,or for almost any store, will guarantee garbage.  The minimalist's  life has never been  the life  for me. I am Irish and some of my inherited character defects have gotten in the way. 

        As I am preparing to exit this life, this garbage work, is essential.  I have to face honestly both the physical spiritual garbage. Our spiritual garbage can be broken down into, GUILT---Anger---- Resentment---Boredom---Anxiety---Greed---Envy. That is an awe-full lot to process. That is why during Lent the Faith Community had a visual to help with this challenging process. There was a cave at the left side of the sanctuary. The same cave that was the cornerstone of our Christmas scene. Why use a cave ? The cave has been used since the beginning to describe the soul. Our soul is a cave, and it is therein we experience the Mysteries of Incarnation and Resurrection. One desert father's advice to a questioner was, " Go to your cave, and it will teach you everything." As it was,  so it is, and ever shall be, until, the end of time. 

    The First Sunday in Lent saw, preventing entrance to the cave big blocks  on which we written the seven words, that were written at the beginning of the last paragraph. Each week one large block was removed and placed in the midst of the community. It took me a couple of years to realize I was wrong in how I understood the placing of the blocks. Those first years I saw the blocks as preventing exit from the Paschal Mystery. From my reading I had to post my mistake, and teach the blocks prevent the entrance to to the cave, tomb, and not the exit.    ( A perfect exit for today. The journey is long, so expect more.)

                     A snack for the journey. The Lenten Desert and us. " Our own solitude awakens in a desert where we stand naked and alone in The Divine Presence-in such moments we know (without knowing) that god is, that we belong to him, and that, although in this life we will never understand how, God is forever drawing us to Himself." Today we add " drawing us to Herself." The Paschal Mystery is our home. We must gradually come to know, own  and accept that reality. Blessings on your mysterious, dramatic, and never dull adventure. Prayers for perseverance, to all, and for all. Great grandpa Joe.

  The parable of the prodigal Father, I am happy to share was the that which triggered a new awakening. It was a transforming awakening. To this moment I am still delving into its mysterious meanings. We awaken, and then we are reawakened, because of the efforts of The Gracious Creative Spirit. In the old days we used to use The Parable of The Prodigal Son, to describe this parable. But, bo more !!!!  Thanks to Henri Nouwen and his book on this parable we have been given a whole new understanding the actions of the threesome whose reality I had no clue about.

  Yes, are three presences to be considered, reflected upon, the rebellious son/daughter, the resent-full older brother/sister, and The Prodigal  Mother/Father. YES!!! there are three presences that must be encountered, not just one. All three must be reflected on until we are able to own all three realities within our depths. The deeper we go on this journey, adventure , that takes us  to the dark places we do not to own, in those depths of loneliness, self-hatred, nakedness, rejection, shame etc. Suddenly Light  begins to pierce the darkness and The Depths of The  Reality of Love  is revealed to us.  Who would have guessed ??? The Light of Unconditioned Love grows gradually brighter and brighter and the reality of what we learned about on Transfiguration Sunday , now is our experience. This dazzles us into an unknown reality. a reality not even dreamed of.  Who can challenge  The Power that is experienced by those who cry out from their place of poverty. The Psalmist councils us, " When the poor called out, The Lord heard and from all their distress He rescued him."

We are in tremendous need of clear- sightedness, honesty and courage to gradually embrace, and grow to love; the  rebellious young son/daughter, (the first half of life), the resent-full older son/daughter, (the second half of life), and The Prodigal Mother/Father who offers" unconditioned, unlimited, and unrestricted" prodigal, mercy-full Love. As we know from our journey into mercy, mercy is the love that heals us, soothes us, comforts us, protects us, transfigures us and transforms us. All this is too much to take in at first glance. It takes years to actively encounter all that is offered to us. We are always slowly growing understanding of the deep mystery of The Prodigal Father's love. The Prodigal Lover will ALWAYS give us what we need, not what we want. The acceptance of what is, is the secret. 

     The love revealed to us makes no sense to those with eyes clouded by the restriction imposed by common sense, or the binary way of seeing. The Father is not looking at the balance sheet. The resent-full brother sure is, and is ready to share the insanity of the Father's actions. He points out, " Look that son of yours,  ("NOT" my brother,) has blown half of our wealth, and now you have set him up to get half, of what is left." Get a grip  he is saying. You have lost your mind.  He does not use father or brother. Look at where resentment has taken him to ????.  He now has no family connectedness. He stands  alone in his resentment.

 To the practical eye, The Father has gone overboard. Yes !!! He has. This is  The One  who offers us love, that makes no sense. We are challenged to reflect on this parable until we embrace all that is being said about the dynamic that is alive and well, within our depths. Acceptance of the actions of Mercy-full moves us, shall we say blasts us, into the non-binary world. Our  spiritual garbage can, and does prevent us, from the vision necessary.

 An hors-d'oeure for,  Thursday !!!!!!

                                                  " When love awakens in your life, in the night of your heart, it is like the dawn breaking within you. Where before there was anonymity, now there is intimacy; where before there was fear, now there is courage; where before there was awkwardness, now there is a rhythm of grace and gracefulness; where before you used to be rugged,  now you elegant and in rhythm with your self. When love awakens in your life, it is like a rebirth, anew beginning."  (Anam Cara  by John O"Donoghue)

 You are invited to chew, masticate on that VERY SLOWLY in preparation, for what? The main course, takes some time, before it is served. The desert makes one very hungry, so here,  compulsivity is out, patience is the operative word. The main course is being worked on. This is very scary as I am heading for uncharted territory, as far as my journey is concerned. " I believe, Gracious Guide, help my disbelief.GPJ.

A Monday tidbit for the desert adventure. We never allow Hope, to be a stranger to us. 

     " I must now have faith in this love that touches me so deeply as to transcend me, leavening me as it were,   hanging in midair unable to find any footing  except in the unseen love that keeps drawing me beyond myself into a union with a God I cannot understand." "The  Awakening Call " James Finley.

 The Good Shepherd of the desert speaks of why he came, why he was sent: "I have come, that you may have life, and have it to the fullest". It stands to reason that if The Historical Rabbi Jesus came that we have life, then that same person has to  have life, within Himself. Lucky for us He is not selfish. He is, however, the essence of generosity. As one of The Trinity, Jesus, Lord, along with the Father and Spirit are in one continuous act of giving, of creating. As spiritual beings immersed in the human, it is our dignity to be welcome as fellow co-creators of the magnificent cosmos. A reality that is in continuous understanding of the mystery being worked out in our understanding of history. The " life" to be imparted is The Son's Life, as well as the life of the Father, and Holy Spirit. There is NEVER only one. When we encounter One, we are always in relationship with The Trinity.

   The life of Him we have come to address as Christ is the life continuously in our depths. From the moment of or creation in eternity that life is what gives us life. Never forget you are eternal, in origin and destiny. We need an ever deepening insight into that is this life we have been created with. What happened on The Mount of Transfiguration, was not only for the three amigos, Peter, James, and John but is intended for each one of us who are the contemporary three amigos. The chosen three, saw the life that was deep within, He Who came as THE giver of  all life. The Divinity broke through the chains of the human condition to be free in Its revelation, in this present moment to you and I. Yes ! there is never a moment that the Light revealed on The Mountain is  not now waiting within each of our depths to be revealed to a thirsting, broken, sightless, bigoted, alienated, etc. humanity. We  must reject the accepted heretical vision that we are only what we see.

                 During our Lenten Deserted journey we pray that we may grasp fully the lie we are expected to believe. We are not sheep, to be led by what is accepted wisdom, which so often hides denies the The Real Truth. Scott Peck had that book, "The People of the lie". As long as we all believe the same lie, then it must be the truth. We spend our whole lives, if we are unlucky enough, searching for The Truth. A Truth that came hidden within the human journey of Truth Itself, The Carpenter of Bethlehem. 

     Did you get a shock when you saw that word 'UNLUCKY"? Just as The Original Truth Revealer was crucified for He lived and taught, we too must respect crucifixion for our lives lived in our best imitation He who came as The Truth. He came to confront the lie, and the lie speakers. The Father of Lies, The Devil (the divider) hounds us will all sort of incentives to life the accepted lie, rather than follow the rocky road that leads to our continuous encounter with crucifixion and death.

 Paschal Death is never the end, it is ALWAYS the beginning. As it was Jesus, Who became The Christ, through His encounter with death, so it is with us. We are called to "trudge the rocky road that always leads to death and new life."' With each of our crucifixions we allow The Life of The Risen one, to break through our humanity to reveal the truth the universe is waiting for. We need our lenses to be constantly refocused, cleansed of the garbage picked up from the journey. 

   The Power of The Resurrection transforms all of our garbage into treasure. A treasure that is not to be stored selfishly away, but to be shared. Shared with those Whom the Giver of The Treasure will choose for us to encounter, and the one who will receive, without recompense, the gift gifted to us. Our garbage, is our treasure????? Counter cultural ??? Confronts the popular wisdom that garbage is to be hidden. The we become as sick as our secrets !!!!!! Courage is a gift to pray for, raw naked courage. Blessings, Great gramps as he deals with challenge to faith, that comes with the every moment confrontation with his own personal garbage.

   How is your desert journey ?  Is it challenging, disconcerting, uncomfortable , fear-filled, I invite you to add the challenges you are confronting you at this time. All of us are in the same boat, or should I say desert. All of us are meeting the moment to moment challenge of being; " Spiritual beings immersed in the human condition". What is bubbling up from within as the result of our destiny to be contemporary authentic living realities of The Suffering Servant, The Revelation of the unseen Divinity, the gospel writers of a contemporary gospel. Written, as were the original gospels, under the unique guidance of The Holy Spirit. The same one that worked with the human actions of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

              To carry the above thought further we are, as St.Paul writes " already citizens of Heaven, as we live upon the earth". That word live is a loaded word. Another, four letter word, to add to your acceptable vocabulary, to add balance to your ability to express yourself. Us Irish who have advanced degrees in bad language are in desperate need of acceptable four letter words. Many, many decades ago, I read the following , "we are called to live life, not merely exist". Yet there are billions of our sisters and brothers who are very lucky to be able to eke out a mere existence, while many more billions are living way beyond the lap of luxury. 

  Suffering is a mystery. Suffering is a sacrament. As we journey through the dark valley of suffering we are brought to face the stark reality of what it means to be human, limited, vulnerable,  and deficient in so many ways. We are faced with our powerlessness, and are forced to our knees to cry out " Lord, be with me for I am in trouble." As it was with the chosen people of old, so it is with you and I today. Our Gracious Mercy-full Creator "sees our afflictions, our trials, our oppression ".  In those moments, hours, days, weeks, even years The Savior sees our distress and from all our distress we are rescued. A person in trouble has to be able to surrender to the rescuer, otherwise there is no rescue. Right? 

        Got to be honest here. I can share with you the fact that I am reluctant, hesitant to accept help, until I am in the most pain. Then I have come to believe, It is then and there I am rescued from all my distress and broken-heart-then- ness. Yes, The Lord is close to the broken hearted and in each moment we are offer the grace necessary for us to exit the valley of despair and darkness into the Resurrected Light  of hope and brightness. Yes, it is true " no pain, no gain". No death, no Calvary, no Resurrection and new life. We will have CHOSEN to choose existence rather that be filled with all that is necessary "to have life and have it to the fullest ". This is what is offered in, "now is the acceptable time now is the time of Salvation.

              The Good Shepherd was "driven into the desert". Lucky for us. He awaits there to be our strength and guide. A Faith-full Good Shepherd who NEVER deserts His Lambs and sheep. We are lead to refreshing wells of life giving waters, springing up from our depths. So this is the outline of each person's Lenten Journey. It is NOT for just 6 weeks out of the 52. It is our felt experience  each of the 365 days. To be more specific now is when all of this is available to us. How do we accept the invitation, " Come back to Me with all your hearts , do not let fear keep us apart". We are told we journey through raw naked fear into an ever deepening intimacy. Let us all strive , as best we can, to embrace the stark reality, "Faith is a journey into uncertainty, not certainty." OH!. ! OH! OH! how I wish it was not so. For this in mysterious plan of The Gracious Creative Spirit. Who is always journeying through you, with you and within you.

                Is it not great, we only have to take one step at a time? There is death in the overloading the present moment. In this you go to war with the false self. A war we fight to our dying breath. Our ultimate surrender, that takes us to " new heavens and new earths." Fight the good fight and do your best to refrain from the darkness of powerlessness, which is your stepping stone to WHAT ?? Your personal honest answer." Honesty is progressive " ( As Bill sees It) Your fellow desert dweller,  wounded, wandering, and wondering........ Endlessly. 

                   First Sunday in Lent 2025. Penance is good for us. We do not like our encounters with acts of penance, but they are essential for growth on our individual and communal journeys. Our individual and communal journeys are always unique. That demands of us new lenses through which the newness is revealed to us. Usually very, very slowly., I may add. The penance I am challenging myself with, is to seek out some new material rather than rely on the old. For the last number of Lenten journeys I was depended on old  material written many years ago. It was easy, and convenient. That is what the spiritual journey is about. It challenges our comforts zones, and moves us out of them. Sometimes to quote St.Teresa of Avila, " we must be blasted out of the known, and familiar." Tough words from a saint ???? 

So this year I am going to make the effort to move beyond the patterns of the past, and strike out towards new horizons, and new understandings. As I have written our Lenten journey is our six week retreat, journey into our present understanding of our personal participation in The Paschal Mystery. It challenges to see in the here and now, the journey of Jesus so many centuries ago. As John O'Shea has written, "Jesus's story is our story today". Ready to let behind the familiar and journey into the land that lies behind and beyond the horizons. There are ONLY horizons to be met on the spiritual journey, not boundaries. We are always challenged to look for, the beyond and for the beyond the beyond. We are always having our eyes directed to what is before us, and the excitement of it"s newness. There is also fear to be encountered, as the false self who sees no value in this journey ,and will make every effort to sabotage the work at hand. As The Gracious Spirit never tires of pouring Love into us, so the Tempter, The Deceiver, The Divider never tires in his efforts to side track us, and sabotage the efforts.

                  2025 is offering us all real challenges to seek out the Paschal Mystery being forced of some of the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers, who already have great sufferings to face and endure. It is reprehensible to accept in any way they  the piling on of bigotry, brutal anti gay, lesbian, and transgender rhetoric etc, etc,. America used to be proud to be called a Christian Country, today's explicit and covert actions sure do not measure up to what Gospel Spirituality reveals to us, and challenges us to live. 

We are told in The Gospel that " the Holy Spirit drove the Historical Jesus, The Rabbi to be, out into the desert. He had just heard the words, " This is My Beloved Son. That word, beloved, has a deep deep spiritual meaning.  We must be always ready to remind ourselves, and others of what it means to be beloved. The Beloved Son was not spared, dehumanization and alienation, As it was for the Historical Jesus, so it is for us who are the contemporary Presence of all that is revealed about Him in the gospel narratives. Being the beloved brings with it no promise of a " flower garden". On the contrary.

   As was written previously we need Psalm 103 ever before us, because of the challenge of our journey into our individual and communal deserts we will a constant well of mercy and hope from which to draw from. We are never called to an encounter with the cross and crucifixion, the we are NOT ALREADY strengthened to meet. My mothers's words have rang many times to alert me to the her wisdom, " The mills of God grind very slow, but they grind very true." Those words coupled with St. Paul's words, " We are never tested beyond our strength" have really helped the struggle in desperate times. The Rabbi Jesus went once to Calvary, but we are being exposed to all that Calvary was for Jesus, and that journey is repeated again and again. The mystery of suffering is journeyed into many, many times but why ? That is your personal question, not mine. It would be very presumptuous of me even to hazard a guess. As has been written " Ask the question, and live into the answer".

Trite answers do not fly any more. Unique answers are the answers for unique questions. Just remembered a quote of Fr. Karl Steumiller " It is only through our sufferings, CAN we have an audience with a God of faithfulness and compassion". Something to chew on ??. These are the meandering thoughts of an 85 year old who has encountered The Suffering Christ revealed behind many disguises. Love, prayers, and blessings, for a very unique encounter with The Greatest of Mysteries. Great gramps. 

   As you read the following, and I sincerely thank you for your efforts over the days, weeks and months, you are going to be stretched. SORRY !!!! My mind is really jumbled right now. Some will say, " Just now, and is this a new discovery ?" There is so much challenging news that is bombarding my consciousness I find myself disjointed, more than ever. I see our Prophetic Pope Francis is now getting serious help so he can breathe easier. With all that is hitting us right now the last thing we can imagine is the election of a new Vicar of Christ. Who will be chosen by The Holy Spirit ?????

       The basic reality is , as we go as individuals, so does the local and universal church. Each one of us is an active, evolving cell of both society and church. As we go, so goes the rest of all  reality. SCARY ???  That is why a daily examination of consciousness  is recommended. We have to have face bravely an honest inventory of where we are at, and where is leading to. All that I am doing right now is the foundation of all that is to come. This begs the question, with what lens do I view my moment existence, my doing and being ??

    Am I allowing the lenses of, a healthy spirituality, view all of my moment to moment reality ? Am I growing in honesty with myself, so I can welcome The Mercy-full Love that eases my fears, uncertainties and anxieties ? We are NEVER completely honest. We are as honest as we can be, right now. Nothing is perfect. We are all perfectly imperfect ,right. We can only grow in our acceptance of that reality, a reality the false self recoils from. We are challenged to walk through our fears, into a gradual fearless intimacy with our selves, Reality, and all of the reality we live in. The journey in radical honesty is very, very, gradual. We travel so fast that, a snail, will pass us !!!!!! The goal is to live, not to just exist.

         We were gifted recently with Psalm 103. I humble recommend this Psalm to be always directing you thoughts, and action. This will lead you to and through the desert of rigorous honesty, on the way to " a new freedom and a new happiness'. The gift is always being offered, but we are  present to receive the present ? The opening words of the Psalm needs to be not just read every day, but become a mantra that keeps us in touch with this basic spirituality. I was immersed in my youth and early teens in the belief in the false idol, a punishing, judgmental, rigid, unmerciful-ll false reality.  I now It has been a slow meandering journey through the pain of unreality , into the freedom of being, the beloved. Loved as I am without, "condition, restriction, or reservation "  

     This is an awe-full reality. So awe-full it take all of our allotted time to even get a glimpse go it. Then a mere glimpse of The Divine Reality is all we need as we face the trudge of our human existence.  This is the end for now. I hope to continue this thought process, our deepest truth, for some time to come. Got your Lenten penance picked out yet ? This year take up, not give up, hint, hint !!!!!!  Prayers love and blessings. Great grandpa Joe, always remember the "Lord is kind and mercy-full, slow to anger and of great kindness." The Loving Power heals us, does not cure. 

 Lent is going to begin on March 5th. Our 2025 unique, one of a kind, journey into the meaning of The Paschal Mystery. We are living , contemporary examples of Its presence  as we live it in our, here and now. Since I have journey deeper into old age the NOW has become a necessary toll of me  to be able ,to not only survive, but life the  awe-full challenge of my, here and now. I have to grasp on to the life jacket which tells me, " now is the time of salvation". Not any other, "now", I am tempted to follow and hide within, but but this mysterious here, this now. This  unique , "now", never  to be repeated, never to be duplicated. 

As I choose , hope-fully, consciously, to live this now moment, so ,will I live the rest of my earthly existence, which is gateway to my eternal life and living. Yes I am guaranteed that there is noting lacking  in this moment, for my continued ability to meet all the challenges that are to  come my way. Es verdad !!!!  I am challenged to meet the truth of Psalm 138, "YOU have built up strength within me." We call that mercy-full loving. In my encounter with this mercy-full loving workings of The Creators"s love I am healed, soothed, comforted, strengthened all leading to transfiguration and transformation. This makes sacred the often offhanded words "no pain, no gain". There is nothing new in our human lives of any value that does not come trough pain. 

  When we are immersed in our personal, and communal experiences, of The Suffering we can cry out from our depths "forsake not the work of Your hands" Ps.138. As we are awakened, again and again to our calling we can make " Forsake not the work of Your Hands" our prayer of desperation and surrender. We  journey countless times to our Calvary experience,  with each encounter we are  always gifted with something new. This gift is not "for ourselves, but for the building up of the common good."(St.Paul)  

  Being able to write these words are not the result of something I read in a book. When are you going to write you book for " building up of the common good" ? Your moment to moment actions write you personal experience of todays sufferings, the dying, and the living some new. Lent is coming so, this year, you will be able to use the excuse ," I was prepared to meet this personal challenge The Creative and Creating Spirit has had you in His consciousness from eternity. You life has no surprises for the Creator, for us yes. When are we going to be free enough to believe there have been surprises in my life, but these surprises are allowing the cosmos to evolve to its highest perfection.Your life is at the highest perfection in the view of The Creator. We are all works in process of being perfected, yet there is no perfect person in our human family despite the lies being acted out, as our supposed truth. So The Voice echoes today, "whom shall I send, who will go for US ?" The  inner  Three are begging for a fourth so the eternal plan CAN work. 

     Valentine's Day 2025. I hope and pray this day is a moment to moment journey into the mystery of Love's action in your life, and how this has transformed and is transforming ,your challenging human journey. Love is dynamic and above all, actively creating. Because we are human we will heartily embrace "the easier and softer way" of living and turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to what Creative Lois asking, no demanding of us. Over the years I have  had to meet the challenge of the presenting the radical call to embrace to the radical demands of, The Jesus of The Gospels. His demands to reorder priorities got Him ostracized and eventually die the horrendous, ignominious death of a runaway slave. That is a scary act to follow. That is the reality we are called to embrace, and live out, a reality we as humans recoil from. We are called to journey, ALWAYS DEEPER into the true radical meaning of what was and is revealed to us in the human journey of The Incarnate One. Where He went we are called to follow. Yes we are always encountering the reality of His Passion and Death and over time has a deeper and more challenging demands of us who say, or claim to follow in His footsteps, no matter where it may lead to.

              Have I been successful in getting a creative response to Gospel Life and living ? Of course not. That is not the model laid out for our imitation  by the historical Jesus. Where He went , we as His disciples, are challenged to follow, into suffering, death and continuous rising to, a new way of living. The fruit filled challenge of embracing The Christ within us, and the Suffering Christ within all of our sisters and brothers is a challenge that needs supernatural active support. " Of ourselves we can do nothing, but we can do in Christ, Who strengthens us" to meet the challenging of following in His footsteps. There is a great connection, I feel, between the discovery of The Suffering Christ within ourselves and the willingness to embrace all the appearances of The Christ within others.

Henri Nouwen proposes there is a gradual growth from hostility to hospitality of The Suffering. Christ within ourselves and how we then embrace the reality of His Presence in all His challenging appearances. The false self will recoil from any appearance of such challenge. The prayer is, " please say that ain't so'. It is and that cannot be changed unless we attempt to rewrite the gospel message of The Good Samaritan. To the original audience what Rabbi Jesus proposed was opposed by the very nature of who The samaritan was. 

So we today can follow the accepted reality, or have the courage to say, WAIT, WAIT, the is another way of viewing this challenge, and this new way is to accepted  embraced. Conversion is a hard and very difficult. It is pain-filled. It is not popular, nor is it socially accepted, as the commonsense way of living. As we discover, embrace and minister to The Stranger, The Alien, the unacceptable part of who I am, then there is only acceptance and radical love of The Stranger, The Alien within. We can rightly say, "I can't " meet this challenge ? We can NEVER say "I can't ", because of The Indwelling of The Trinity is always WHISPERING ,"We can." You are always a radical foursome meeting, all challenges. Let us pray for the courage not only to silently pray for our prophetic Pope,  and to to be a vocal supportive presence as well, as he encounters the many challenges of being a prophet, and a suffering one at that. The Suffering Christ is alive and we are empowered to see Him, in His Vicar on Earth. Not a time to be on the sidelines. Suit up and show up. You never meet any challenge alone. "I am with you". YES, help my disbelief.

 " We are all intended to be, what we never were." A quote I wrote down, but the author's name is missing. Joe would love to claim that as his own, he now must embrace to mystery involved, We are who we are, who we are going to be will be decided by my response to to the grace filled now moment, and all that it brings to us. All that I need is coming to me right now. There is nothing missing, nor can there be anything missing. The Mysterious Trinity is living out Its life, within our depths. Our challenge is to gradually connect with that depth, and allow The Life to bubble up to transfigure and transform both ourselves and the evolving cosmos. There is such great emphasis on the dynamic of all that is happening to us and all evolving creation. As we evolve, so does all the reality I now am immersed in.  We are not just somehow involved in the Creating Creative Spirit's work we are immersed.

        It has been some years now since that word immersed has become part of my vocabulary. It came to my attention when that awe-full quote of DeChardin hit me right between the eyes. " We are not human beings, having a human experience, we are spiritual beings IMMERSED in the human condition" I am guilty of repeating that quote ad nauseam. I am reminded of this stark reality, when we enter the realm of '" ad nauseam", we are in danger of becoming annoying and tiresome. I guess I have embraced the danger inherent in the above action. It is, has been well worth the risk as I have embraced the danger and am reaping the gifts. Gifts I have to share, otherwise  my life evolves into a wasted desert. Bereft of life and life enhancing gifts.

This blog has evolved into Joe bringing to you all that has become part of my evolving reality. Evolution became a part of my vocabulary way back in the late 1950s. It was looked on with suspicion but my rebel nature embraced the risk of staying with the invitation to be lead deeper and deeper into the unknown, and there The Unknown is now evolving, as my reality evolves. Evolving into what ? I am not privy to a  complete answer. I must "ask the question, and live into the answer" so counseled Henry Nouwen. Has this been easy ? sad to say definitely not. 

     I am a very impatient Irishman.  ( Really, and when did you find that out? so says those who know me.)  I want EASY answers, and I want them NOW. That I have found out is not the way it works. " Faith is a journey, into darkness, The unknown and The Unknowable. Thanks to The Gracious Creator Creating Spirit Who has designed all creation as an evolution. A moment to moment evolution. Let us pray for the collective living faith, that leads to perseverance, even though we fall and fail. We must beg for the strength to gather ourselves on the  pitiless ground and respond to The strength which lies in our depths. In time we gifted with the gift of the faith that comes to us through our many, many deaths and resurrections.

You are becoming what you never were, and because of this creation in slowly and deliberately evolving. Now is a great time to encourage the seeking out Merton's great prayer: " My Lord God I have no idea whee I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end, nor do I really know myself ....." Google those words and be gifted with a life enhancing constant companion. This is my experience, as I have to live life, one nano second at a time. From this reality goes my prayers and good wishes, for what ???? Blessings Gramps.

  "I wonder what Grandpa Joe will squawk about this time ? " would be a great caption for this photo, or do you have a more appropriate one ? This was shot outside of West Yellowstone, a number of years ago. For this first, the first post of 2025, I am looking forward to what is going to, bubble up, or to quote the birds, what will be the message be or more bluntly, " What  the squawking will present for consideration."

                    " We live life looking forward, but we understand it looking backwards", right now?. A new quote I also like: " Learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow". Our current "yesterdays" have gifted us with tremendous wisdom for us to reflect on, and allow the wisdom to filter down into our depths. There it will lie, joining of Spirit of Love and Wisdom already residing in the tabernacle of the soul. We really need to claim the exhortation Paul offers in Collosshons as words that will guide the time we are given to be " co-creators and co-perfectors " of our evolving cosmos. Each one of us, by our thoughts and actions are either " life givers or death dealers " to what is evolving. Our gift to the future lies in our present thoughts and actions. What faith The Gracious Creator has in each one of us ???? The  AWE-FULLNESS that lies beneath all, that is, is mind-blowing. 

                " Put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility,  gentleness and patience " 2 Corinthians 3: 12. We must also keep before us that this is A Holy Year dedicated to , Hope. Unless we are working on the previous spiritual qualities, we will not be prophets of Hope, but purveyors of increasing death and destruction. The Gracious Creative is in each moment pouring into us what we need to be healthy co-creators. Each moment contains within it all that we need for right now. No more, no less. Each moment is a sacrament, to be reverenced and enjoyed so that we as prophets of hope are empowered to meet the challenges of each approaching moment. " Hold on, pain ends."

          Compassion is not empathy. Empathy depends nothing of  the serious and self emptying action that compassions demands. Compassion means I suffer with you. Join you where you are at, only with fruit-full love and life giving acceptance.. We are the modern Good Samaritans which our existential evolution is in such desperate need of. I cannot remember a time  where humankind's  inhumanity to fellow humans is at such an all time low. How can there be Hope where the dignity of each human is confined to such narrow  and destructive judgments. Humility speaks to me and says, very pointedly " There go you, but for the grace of God." Stunning !!!!!!   

         Until the next time, if there is going to be one, I leave you with this ancient blessing:  May " The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you ; The Lord turn His face toward you, and give you peace." As you are blessed, so, bless all those that WILL be placed on the trail with you. Be angels, be trumpeters of The Good News. Love prayers and blessings. Gramps.