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.
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