Good Shepherd Sunday, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   

              

     Octave of Easter, 2026. So Happy Easter.....

         " Give thanks to The Lord for.....His Love is everlasting." Psalm 118

            " My strength, and my courage, is The Lord's." Psalm 118

         " Blessed be The God, and Father.....Who in His great mercy gave us a new birth

                                                                               " to a living, Hope." 1 Peter 1.

      " Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Gospel of John 20.

        " Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Miller-Miller.

We are in the last day of The Easter Octave. All these days celebrate Easter Sunday as if it was on one of those days. It would be an understatement to say that we need such celebrations, in this world rattled by continuous war, and violent persecutions. It is as if, The Tridium, never happened. We in our time must as for, earnestly beg for a, deepening faith, in the living Hope, which has been gifted to us. An infinite and eternal gift. Once given, is never taken away from us. We can, and do loose our awareness of the gift, finding Its home, in the tabernacle, of our depths. So we must cooperate with the necessary awakening, so we can be the best authors of a relevant gospel. Shining, Light, into the darkness !!!!

    We must pray this gift into consciousness. Awakening, and re-awakening our awareness to this challenging reality. We must awaken to our belovedness. Our lives being led, are not the lives of abandoned orphans. We have been and ever will be beloved children, of a Prodigal Father. The promise, promised during the Last Supper, is being fulfilled in our midst. "I, will be with you, always.."Yes, this belief demands a living Faith, as well as a living hope. This takes hard work. It does not just happen. Our Gracious Creator, unfortunately for us, is unwavering in His commitment to being a very, very, healthy Parent. Is that why He was so generous in calling us to be co-creators, not spectators ?????

 There is so much to unpack, in this, Awe-filled Present, being gifted to each one, uniquely. No two are getting the same gift. Each present is customized. As there are no duplicates in creation, so The Gracious Creating Sprit does not decide to get lazy, settling for repetitions.  A unique Tridium experience, in each lived moment. Would it not be easier if we were able to duplicate another's response, and make it, our own ???? These actions, will not, nor cannot keep alive, the life we have been called to live from eternity. We are called from eternity, the challenge is we are living out that challenge, immersed, in the wounded cosmic reality. A deepening understanding and relationship with The Cosmic Christ, is the only viable option. This takes a great deal of effort. May you respond with  faith-filled, and hope-filled generosity. I remember this, from eons ago, "Love, begins with sacrifice". We have Golgotha ????

      This Sunday has many names. On that cries out for reflection, is, Mercy Sunday. This cannot be reflected on in a limited space. We are all challenged to do our own continuous research, on The Mystery of Infinite Mercy, being revealed. I can only point you in the right direction. There is a unique, liberating gift waiting for each one. Again, no duplications. Similarities, yes. Duplicates NO. I am afraid I am  may be entering the arena of redundancy, for the sole purpose of re-awakening the depth of meaning, waiting for you, in that simple word, MERCY. What is the dynamic power of  the mercy-filled gift, offered to us ? The Prodigal Father's mercy, has the power to: heal, soothe, comfort, strengthen, protect and of Its essence has the power to transform and transfigure us. When does this happen ? It can only be encountered in the present, now moment. 

 What mercy-filled love The Risen Christ offers in, Shalom, as His first Risen Life words. No hint of shame, no " Peter, what did I tell you ?", "Where were you , when I was in agony on Golgotha ?" to those absent from the shame based crucifixion. No !!!! In this moment of their guilt, fear, and shame, they were given the power to forgive sins. (The power to baptize. will come later.) I always wished Peter was around for my celebration of,  The Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is, as Fr.Rohr reminds, "the sacrament of Reconciliation, NOT, the sacrament of obliteration." We need mercy filled priests, for such a gentle and accepting celebration. We have to have the experience of celebrating with one understands the eternal Tridium we are all participating in. I was formed in the belief that you err on the side of gentleness and kindness. We need considerate celebrants who can facilitate a journey from guilt, fear, and shame ( the toxic, trinity) into our predestined freedom. The freedom that is ours, as ,beloved children, of our, Prodigal Father. This your,  RIGHT. Do not settle for less than total recognition of the human condition we all share.

  My Eater wish for 2026, is may the power of, The Risen Cosmic Christ be allowed to rise within your moment to moment lives. There is an emerging number of orphans, courtesy of I.C.E and a heartless administration. What is the evolution of our world, our home, of failed peace talks, going to look like ? Golgotha will be experienced on an ever deeper level of cruelty, and insanity. We have returned to our tomb time. Tomb time is permeated with the Creative, and transforming power of creativity. Are we going to see and experience the New Order ? Many of us will not. It will take a special level of cooperation to achieve this. Presently it is not even on the horizon.  Yet, "fear not, for I am, with you." The Eternal Emmanuel is where, in the gospel, of your days. Being written by your thoughts and actions. Those who will write the secular history, of these years of insanity I hope  and pray for their brutal honesty. History is gospel. As you cooperate in the authorship of your gospel, may the inherent hope of  of your  Tridium experience, be the guiding force generating  words of faith, hope and love, for those readers, yet to be born.              

   May you be gifted with Paschal faith and hope. Through silence, emptiness, and nothingness of even the darkest, of darknesses be the channels through which The  Eternal Light will appear. Gramps.

       

    

 

  

                     The Empty Tomb , 2026 .......Endless encounter with.. Despair...Failure....... freed by Hope.      

       This radically a new awakening for me, courtesy of Fr. James Martin, S.J. I heard him say, courtesy of Face Book, that the most neglected, in homilies is, the  reality of the Tomb Time, in the reflections on The Paschal Tridium. I could not agree more with this voice, which is raised in the Catholic Church being a place of welcome who frequently see themselves as NOT belonging. He is a Moses figure, a Mandela figure, as he leads those, judged by those who are looking for scapegoats. Those who judge, and act on disfunction. are those who are alienated from their Shadow Side. Because of their rejection, and self imposed harshness, they do not accept the personal challenge of acceptance. So they are looking for a powerless defenseless group, on which they transfer their feelings of guilt, fear and shame.

         Let us make a sincere effort to get inside the room in which the disciples huddled in fear, behind locked toors. The had to deal with guilt, as mostly deserters of Their Master, in His time of need. Fear, thinking they are to be the next victims of the vengeful, power-full enemies of, The Prophet Jesus. Shame, as they see themselves not having any self worth. That is the dynamic  power of shame , we loose our sense of worth, just being who we really are at this moment. What a the thoughts of Peter, destined to be the first pope ? 

   He promised to die with The Master. Now he is alive, and The Master is dead, having suffered an ignominious death, on Calvary. To make their isolation more deadly, they had yet to transformed, and transfigure by The Risen Christ. The Historical Jesus, He died on Calvary. He is NOW, The Risen Christ. The power of His Resurrected Presence, drastically brings about a physic change. When The Holy Spirit is imparted, as tongues of fire, the transformation is immediate. Where there was the dehumanizing results associated with, failure and shame, now they are filled with Hope. From the infusion of Hope, individual, local, and cosmic changes happened. Each one of us, has been chosen and called to be the  power-filled presence, that facilitated the continuation of the gifting of the gift, we call Hope.

              We actively join the disciples in feeling of, guilt, fear, and shame. The legacy of an authentic human journey. Today we are blessed with people who make it their goal in life to free us from the bondage of what I name, the toxic trinity, namely, guilt , fear, and shame.Because the toxic trinity actively wars against a healthy spirituality, we need to awaken, and reawaken to the way from bondage to freedom. Ever any church on the morning of Holy Saturday, we are confronted with the feelings associated with silence. EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE FIRST LANGUAGE, CHOSEN BY CREATIVE, AND CREATING SPIRIT for Self communication, silence in not the language we readily embrace. Noise, distractions upon distraction are the means we choose to avoid silence.

        The uncomfortable silence is. compounded by the presence of absence. No vigil light, to reassure of  The Mystical Presence. All the statutes and cross are shrouded in purple. The tabernacle door is wide open revealing emptiness. There is nothing visible that offers consolation with, a felt experience. There is nothing but nothingness. In nothingness the writers write, there is what is called Divine Nothingness. Anything we see, know, imagine is NOT the real presence of The Living Presence. We cannot point to this, or that, and say there is The Fullness of Divinity. All WE KNOW CONVEYS NOTHING OF THE ESSENCE OF WHO THE DIVINE IS. That is why way back there was a gift bestowed on seekers is is called, The Cloud Of Unknowing. A spiritual classic, revealing, what we know is not The Divinity, what we do not know, is mysteriously hidden, The Unknown. The words Unknowable, Ineffable are also met in writings.

      The book that really blindsided me, 40 plus years ago was "Merton's Palace of Nowhere", by James Finley. He was privileged to be a student of Merton. So, here is where I have arrived. I have slowly being led to this very limited understanding, the place of refuge, the safe place ,in we find welcome, is our slow and conscious immersion in Tomb Time. There in.... silence....emptiness...and nothingness we are loved, without  having to earn, deserve or qualify for this Love. This is not a given.  There there is an ongoing , moment to moment ,battle, a deadly encounter with the death dealing toxic trinity, of guilt....fear...shame. 

  We ,however, been gifted, the gift of Hope. This infinitely active, life enhancing reservoir of Love, is provided in endless quantity because of the Resurrection. Sometimes in temerity Hope is approached. The Infinitely Generous One, does not judge the effort, only embrace our reality as is and responds with all the grace necessary in every existential, moment. ( Know anybody else who offers such love ? If so, make that person your Anam Cara, your soul friend.) This  combination of thought is radically new. There will have to be serious effort on your part. I am so sorry to have, mistakes. I am too tired to face the necessary corrections. Grace please ???The blessings of The Resurrected, may they present in your consciousness, to be both your, light and strength. A Hope filled, mysterious Easter to you all. 

 

       Continuing reflection, on the continuing, ONE, celebration, of The Paschal TrIdium, 2026.

In the Gospel of John, 18:37 we have, The Prophet  Jesus, Who became The Christ, speaking these words " For this I was born, for this I came into the world, to speak the truth." Where did speaking the truth get Him ? to betrayal,  desertion, a crown of thorns, a scourging, a horrendous,  sorrow-filled journey, ending in endless mockery, and finally He was to experience death, the placed of cursedness. All because He spoke the truth, challenging those in the religious and civil realms. His words threaten security. Rather than confront the challenge of the truth, and make the necessary changes, they entered into a conspiracy. His death was planned.  The death reserved only for a runaway slave. To the Jews this was looked on as a place of, cursedness. A proposed solution to, The Nuisance. Because of the  successful outcome The Prophet Jesus, was crucified to ignominious death. Problem Solved ???

         The solution to a problem with the truth, lead to release of a power, that, at the time rocked the dual societies, both civil, and religious. The Resurrection not only released power, but imbued that power into all of reality, both physical and spiritual. Because of resulting continuous evolution, and transformation  we are where we are at, right now. feet planted in the sacramental now. The Reality of The Nuisance Crucified is alive and well. Continuing the rocking confrontational  transformation, resulting in a living hell to those in so called "power" who continue the role of obstruction, and destruction. We have martyrs from and for, our troubled times, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti. Alex were living Veronicas, going to the aid of a suffering contemporary Christ. They joined Him in death. Like His death, their deaths were not in vain. We are witnesses to the power of, transformative deaths. PASCHAL DEATHS !!!! We have the anthem for these now moments, provided by Bruce Springsteen. His prophetic music, will be a living memorial to the numberless victims of abusive, unfeeling, care-less power.

   The agony, the sufferings have not ended for Christ. He is now a living suffering Christ, in His Body. He again is present in and to the abandonment of children, as they suffer the loss of a parent, or worse still if the are incarcerated in hellish, so called nurseries. His Body continues to suffer, because of  the abuse of power  which is running rampant, leading to horrific, indescribable  pain and suffering.  All this is a reality in so many places. What does this mean ? This means that the work of Jesus, Who became the Christ, must be brought to completion.  Who have been chosen, and prepared for this challenge ? I ask you to slowly repeats the following  wonder-full, awe-full, challenging words, first proclaimed by The Prophet Jesus, facing death, " For this I was born, for this I came into the world, to speak the truth".

 . Each person is the living, Incarnation of, The Prophet of Truth. He was The Living Truth, and suffered and died because of His faithfulness to His prophetic call. Because of this modeled faithfulness we cannot settle for anything less. Living Truth is in the tabernacle of our depths. Not to lie in disengaged,  comfort. We are challenged to be  His Presence His Presence in our actions, and voices. When you speak it is  not you, but Christ Who speaks. We do not have to fulfill our prophetic call, roll, perfectly. The desire for perfection results in an unnecessary void being  deliberately created. Remember the bromide," I will do my best, and whatever I cannot do, The One who choose me to be a co-creator, will do the rest."

On His way to Calvary, The betrayed Suffering One Encountered two very significant people, whose memories are enshrined in scripture and tradition. Simon was forced into action to carry the wooden beam of the cross, when Jesus had a number of falls, and it looked like He was going to come short of the place of crucifixion, Golgotha. ( Golgotha is a name that belongs to so many of the hellish internment places of neglect and torture. Read the paper today ? Frightening and disgusting that this is ever possible in, a supposedly civilized and Christian, America . When will we ever recover from this blight that will forever exist in our honest history ) Simon was forced to carry the cross. Veronica, traditions tells us, she came out of the crowd and ministered to The traumatized, Body. Do you allow, the recognition, of the contemporary Simon and Veronicas ? In what way are you joining your presence, to minister to, The Presence, present in the sufferings of all our brothers and sisters ?

    The extreme sufferings of Jesus satisfied those who conspired to bring this death about. What was their reaction to " My God, My God, why have you abandoned me." How often have you joined Our Brother in that cry of complete abandonment ? Our brother cried out once, on Calvary. He cries out,  in us, through us, and always, with us. This is Presence within, as we cry out from  those horrendous crucifixions experienced in our visits to Golgotha. Jesus on His journey to become The Christ, through death and Resurrection, made that slog just once. We, however, are forced to that place of extreme suffering and abandonment again and again. The journey to be a contemporary Christ, is....???  Bonhoeffer wrote, " There is no, surrender less, Christianity". As we face the great challenges we must never loose sight of, The Power of The Resurrection. This Power awaits us all in our depths ? How is this transforming and transfiguring to be actualized....?????? 

   

    Holy Week, 2026-----The Tridium of Holy Thursday, The paschal mystery revealed anew, and celebrated on,Good Friday-Holy Saturday-Easter Sunday, as, ONE, celebration.

The prayer of Palm Sunday is a wonder-full gift. Like all sacramental, eternal gifts they are forever empowering awakening, reawakening, and always further, re-awakenings, until, "eternity dawns." In that moment we will cross over the last finite threshold, and come to the fullness of knowledge, we have always been promised. What a seismic explosion that will be ? All that has been hidden will then be revealed in a moment of transfigurement. That is why we are gifted with the innate desire to search,  research, eternally, never being satisfied. I wonder is that what that prayer means when we pray, "let us go forward with a lively faith?" That sacramental, mysterious faith journey can be  taken, Only One Step at a time. Our compulsivity is given a good kick the pants. The only journey to take, is, to hitch our wagons, to, the evolutionary process that is working on the miracle of an ever new creation and  and then we have a new revelation of The Ancient Truth.

        Our endless questions, and searches are answered,  that is the, GOOD news. The BAD news, is all those answers are loaded with faith challenging, new questions. We do not face this challenge alone.We are slowly brought to the understanding, all Tridium moments  are in the here and now. We take our steps under the inspiration of, The Holy Spirit.  We are being secretly guided by that same Holy Spirit that was the strengthening Power-full Presence operating from the depths of, The Beloved Son on His Tridium slog.

      As it was with that Beloved Chosen son, so it is with all of us who have been chosen to be The Suffering Servants  within the contemporary  Tridium of, 2026.  This challengening  slog on The Via Dolorosa, is not taken alone. We take our slog, our Via Dolorosa both as individuals  and members of a community. When you add  the  cosmic dimension ??? What happens. That journey is for you to discover and reverenced, liturgical participation is essential, right now? !!!!  Last week there was a hint of what was to be encountered and embraced. All of our experiences of encounter, are simultaneously present in, in the sacrament of the now. All realities of Holy Week are simultaneously  present, they are the intended ending of Christmas, and The Incarnation !!!! Every moment is our faith encounter with who we all are, and are becoming ????

  All the realities of Holy Week Tridium are to be seen as. both sequential, and simultaneous ? A personal active conscious participation in The Sacred Liturgy, the prayer life of The Risen Body, coupled with our individual prayers are essential, for a balanced spiritual understanding of what is both sequential and simultaneous. In The Sacred Liturgy,  what is darkness to us, is guided to the light of consciousness. The in-depth meaning  of The Tridium is revealed through participation, silence, emptiness, and nothingness. That is why The Sacred Liturgy, architecture, liturgical art, together are an essential for the celebration of The Mystery of our Faith. " Christ has died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again ", in each and every moment of the unique life, that is gifted to us. Now, on reflection, what is emerging from the new revelation, that appears as both a threat and a blessing ? After how many readings has, The Supernatural Mystery of our faith, found a  tentative footing on the outskirts of our ?   Let us bring it home.

         Holy Thursday, ends the 40 days of our desert. preparatory, and revelatory experience. Today we enter the three days of celebration. We are being invited, in many different ways, not to be an observer, but to immersion. The Holy Spirit will gently lead you to new in-depth understandings, not to upset or shatter anything, but through struggle be awaken to a life only dreamed about, until now. This sacramental now moment ,reveals an eternal mystery, "ever ancient, ever new".

       The gospel readings reveal The Historical Jesus, as a concerned mother and a caring Shepherd. He will leave His contemporary form. Through His betrayal, suffering, death, burial, and Resurrection a new Presence is presented to His scared apostles and disciples. All that is contained in those previous words, is both hidden and revealed in your every human thought and action. At The Last Supper, Jesus, took bread, He blessed and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, " take this and eat it, for this is my Body". So the first mass was celebrated. The disciples were given the power to make this Mystery a reality from that moment on. So much has been written to sensitize us to what was really present, and continues to be present, in each ever new Eucharistic celebration. All are active participants, not disengaged observers, in each Liturgical celebration. We are challenged to be bread, that is being blessed,  broken, and given to a neglected and starving cosmic family.

    Where do you see hunger, neglect, dehumanizing actions, betrayal, exploitation, etc. Being a contemporary Eucharistic presence your body, is now The Body of Christ. Yes! the body that will be blessed, broken and given so what was celebrated 2000 years ago is a living, nourishing, transformative power. There is always an awakening. Then a reawakening to the depth of your eternal choosiness. Your choosiness is a gift, the good news. The bad news is you will suffer ALL that Christ suffered. These days are given annually to be provided with a time for reflection, and recommitment. 

  Where do you see, and react to, the Gospel that was written 2,000 years ago is being written in the blood, sweat and tears of today's Gospel writers. Now take the time to recognize and identify with the contemporary authors. How and where is your gospel being authored and revealed ? Is this, my innate dignity, unsettling to my complacency ? What more has come to consciousness, from a place you cannot physically locate ? What reverence is being offered ? 

    A blessed Paschal Tridium to you all. I reverence The Presence that is present in your sacramental presence. Most importantly I pray you will be lead to an ever deepening response to be your Eucharistic call. What is that ? Only you can have a personal response to that question. This will be the concrete foundation on which a new and transformed life will be built. The Gracious Creative, and Creating One is waiting on your timid, yes. Building on this timid yes, a new and mysterious reality you will enter continuously, until......                                           Paschal Love, is all there is to offer. Gramps.

      

 Lent 2026. I really wanted write 25 !!!!! This 2026, is triggering some really indescribable spiritual movements. I have learned the hard lesson, that is the process of acceptance. I am struggling with this,  post-graduate  immersion. 

       Our Lenten-desert experience is winding down. We must always remember Lent was seen, by the early church, as a time of retreat. Retreat for the Catechumens and for the faith communities   they had chosen to enter. These faith communities are challenged to be again, converted. Old answers will not satisfy the questioning minds of the,  2026 converts. These are new and challenging times. Trite answers will only lead to, disillusionment. SAD ?? These two essential essential elements of Lent, have not changed, over the centuries. Neglected ? sadly, YES.

        We are all,  again, invited by The Holy Spirit to enter a time of spiritual honesty and conversion..  Those in recovery are very well acquainted with the essential, for their trudge, "honesty, open-mindedness  and willingness". Daily practice and participation in those, will lead to sanity, sobriety, and serenity". The desert of encounter, transformation, and transfiguration, is a challenging place of silence, emptiness, and nothingness. Doe that mean there is nothing happening ? That there is a Loving, Gentle Power, noiselessly working to slowly trigger the  awakening  of an aspect of the true self that was hidden, neglected, and or, deliberately ignored. Ignored, because of the pressures, both internal and external imposed on our, isolated, fear-filled false self. The Holy Spirit sees that an awakening is called for, so The Spirit's plan for the cosmos, can be realized. See how much power we have been, freely gifted with ? We can, and do frustrate the original plan. Plan "B" has to be relied upon.

    The false self sees very few options that will lead to freedom. Freedom to say no to The Father of Lies, and prosecutions. Freedom to shout out a resounding, NO, to the  hellish life of deception, and pain filled nonentity. Free to enter the river of the beloved, to be carried effortlessly by a Love that was always present, empowering us to  exit the crucible of  abandonment,  suffering and terror. Lent reveals The Only One, Who has the power to confront, The Liar, with The Living Truth,  because He is The Infinite, Eternal Truth, Who has made a home in our depths. The Power, celebrating, in the tabernacle within, gently works to awakened, us all, again and again. These awakenings slowly lays the foundation of a living, loving relationship that cannot be compromised or negated. All healthy relationships can only progress an ever deeper, and ever deepening  intimacy. This is  the real truth, the stepping stone to real freedom. This is essential it is only when fear is challenged, fearlessly encountered, CAN there be intimacy. On author was given to write, " raw, naked fear, is the last hurdle to be cleared, on the way to true intimacy."

         Reading and rereading the gospels for Lent have you connected with The Woman at The Well, The Blind Man, and the account of Lazarus, being resuscitated.Have you found they each trigger a connection with something inside, that we cannot express in thought or word ?   This silent dynamic is what is powering our  new awarenesses. We come to accept those are not events of 2,00 years ago. They are yours and mine, in the sacrament of this present moment. In this now moment they are speaking to us.  Silently, and gently bringing the reluctant, private, person within, to an encounter with the present understandings of Jesus, Who became The Christ of God. One who is thirsting, suffering blindness, and is experiencing at a level of death which is very unsettling, and disturbing, yet !!, and has the power to  rewaken and renew. Reflect again on how the three are encountered and treated by The Christ, with whom there gradually brought to faith. Does this process provide some unseen balm, leading to serenity,  peace, and wellbeing ? A deepening appreciated of the workings of Mysterious Grace ????

 How  or where do you see yourself in the progressions, the evolutions  that were the experience of The Woman, and The Blind Man, Martha, Mary, Lazarus, and the witnessing community ?? There is no time and space when it come to the spiritual journey, and spiritual realities. That means all the above are within you, in your here and now, to be discovered, and become your teachers. We have, The Christ, making a home in the tabernacle of the true self. We are always being led to ever new awakenings. Where do you see yourself encountering  Christ's presence in every reality, in the unique life you are being gifted with ? 

         To summarize,  this has been a very finite effort designed to trigger, IF CHOSEN, a reawakening. A reawakening to the essential surrender to the mysterious movements,  silent workings of The Holy Spirit.  Leading from thirsting, blindness, and Paschal deaths, to....... ??? I do not have a clue ???? Blessings on the mysterious  journey your are being led on, one step, one moment. Gramps.

 

 

           Gregory of Nyssa, the spiritual journey, "an ever deepening purification of perception."

         " There are none so blind, as those, who will not, see." Old, old saying I heard in my youth. 

       " Come Holy Spirit and transform my disbelief, into a deepening journey into, uncertainty.(jhi)

 

 I have viewed many videos of children receiving  miracle  glasses, then, "lo and behold", they can see. Their joy and excitement  is shared by their parents. Being able to see is a time of joy-full celebration. The time will come when that child will see a messy room, and act blind, to the reality.  The miracle of Jesus, gifting the blind man with sight, was a joy for the blind man.  For his parents it was a different story, right ? This is a great example of, "Every curse, is a blessing, every blessing, is a curse". 

 

        I cannot go any further without help. Darn it !!!!! I was so comfortable with my previous understanding, but this week is challenging that, comfort. I cannot spew that old lifeless, crud.  The scriptures are a verdant source of new light, leading to new understanding.  Inherent in this new knowledge,  understanding, is, a contemporary, challenge. A challenge we have ALREADY been strengthened to meet. Thank you St.Paul for the reminder," we will never be tested beyond our strength." Joe, just like most,  does have some, usually a lot, of questions about that. Do I hear an,  AMEN ? Faith is a journey into uncertainty, nor certainty? "Ever so comforting", says cynical Joe

           At one time, in those years. of blindness, I would have agreed with the apostles. I was brought up, that if there was a screw up, punishment was to follow.  How much time have I wasted trying to come to grips with was I had done wrong, to deserve a current punishment ?  So it would stand as reasonable, to that archaic way of thinking, looking at the blind man, someone had to be blamed. The Prophet Jesus, turns that  one on its head.  (The Incarnated prodigal love, of our Prodigal Father, stands always revealed, but not immediately seen.)  He will continue this challenge of the accepted beliefs, and practices. We will see that in His radical approach to the lepers that approached  Him ?? For The Prophet, sin and punishment do not belong together. " In God, there is no condemnation". With our, Prodigal Father, it is mercy, upon, mercy upon mercy.  Reflect again on The Parable of The Prodigal Father. Our Father NEVER grows weary of His mercy-full love for you and I. The problem lies in the reality we get weary of the, repetition. The dynamic of, toxic shame and guilt blinds us to the true meaning of mercy-full love. It is always good to be reminded that the action of mercy leads us to be, healed, soothed, comforted, protected, strengthened, transfigured, and transformed. When we look at mercy that way, we are ever and always in desperate need. Well at least that is my experience.

         When the news of His healing reached the religious leaders, they were shocked into necessary action. The fact that The Prophet Jesus, worked this miracle on the sabbath, may have something to do with it ??? Jesus choose the sabbath to work a number of his miracles, this triggered a conspiracy to kill Him. It worked. The religious leaders ignored the facts. They had to protect their certainties, so they expelled him from the temple. Where have you experienced  similar reprisals for expressing your evolving beliefs and understandings ? How many 'walk no more with you"? How many have you chosen to disconnect from, because of their toxic beliefs and actions ? This is what it means to have healthy boundaries." We do not think our way into a new way of acting, we act our way into a new way of thinking"

 Faith leads to understanding. Understanding leads to action, always guided by The Creative Spirit. Actions that confront the accepted, will never be received kindly. As it was in the time of The Prophet Jesus, so it is today, and unfortunately will be into the foreseeable future. A radical change in consciousness will be needed. The seeds of that change, Is, within your power, right now. This is one of the great conversions needed, to meet the challenge of  that radical change in the collective  consciousness. There will be forces in action to prevent change at any cost. 

 

       Do we not see an inordinate amount of power and money at work, to prevent meaning-full and healthy change. Reflect back on the reaction of the religious leaders to the challenging response of the man, once blinded, but now can see, clearly. They cannot respond to his questions and responses. So to deal with him, they just kicked him out of the temple, as if that solved the challenge facing them. When power is challenged, how often is power used to negate the challenge ? We see how female reporters, doing their job, are belittled, when their challenges, hit a nerve. That was the experience of the once, blind man. The religious leaders were stumped, so toxic power was used to get rid of the perceived challenge to their authority. They kicked the challenger out of the Temple. Our Pope Leo is an active challenger to all that is destructive to the safety, and well being, of all. Have you kept up to date with his many exhortations? See his challenge to all the Catholics present in the, current, administration. There are many !!!!! 

         This getting out of hand ??? So sorry. Do you see yourself in the conversion process, of the blind man ? I see blindness challenged, over these many years. The Second Vatican Council was, and still is an agent of change and challenge ? Have you had, or are currently having to deal with the challenge of The Social Gospel as, pronounced by The Prophet Jesus. This Prophet that was, is now the Risen Christ Who has chosen you personally, not only to be His dwelling place, tabernacle, but to be active Force, Power inspiring and guiding your conversion, and subsequent actions. Much more to write, but I choose to be prudent and stop. I may have a matinee ??? Mercy-full Love and prayers.GP.

      

      

      

 

                        

      

         

    

         

          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 ???

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

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

                                   and extraordinary things can happen."  Martin Shaw.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                                 INSIDE ourselves already." J..K. Rowling 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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