PENTECOST....2026. 

                 "It is possible, to live your whole life, and die, without ever having met the person,                                                                                      

                                                                                                      that lived your life.  (Thomas Merton) 

                "I Am, here, I Am, here, to the people, who not even invoke, my name."  Isiah 65:1. 

        We are being invited to celebrate, on this Pentecost Sunday, the ending of the Lent-Paschal Mystery celebrations. It is also looked on as the birthday of The Church. Happy birthday, now, lets go to work. We the ending of The Lenten-Paschal seasons, we are entering into the Liturgical Season, misnamed, Ordinary time. Misnamed in my very limited estimation. We have completed the official celebrations of The Lenten-Paschal celebrations, now we are going to enter into a real challenge. I suggest the following , how are we to be sensitized so as to have the lenses to rediscover, in so-called Ordinary Time, the Eternal Mysteries that have just been the focus of celebrations. To become gradually sensitized that in the so-called ordinary is the extraordinary. The mysterious !!! As we are gradually initiated into those above mysteries we will be somehow mysteriously  introduced to our who we really are. Not only who we are,  but Who is it we are called to be, and Who has done the calling.    ENDLESSLY !!!! MYSTERIOUSLY !!!  Darkly !!!!! What a birthday present to open !!!!!

  This endlessness will allow us to get to know who is that person, we are journeying with. Who are The Three Mysterious Presences that are indwelling within our depths, waiting for welcome and recognition. This is not easy. We will be in a constant battle with the false self, "the small self"(Rohr). It will take deep faith and reckless courage. The daily entrance into this battle means,  We will not be numbered " those  frightened and timid souls, who know, neither victory, nor, defeat"( Roosevelt.) There are mysterious happenings in store, as we grow into acceptance we will enter cautiously a mysterious journey. Resulting in  us being gradually initiated into the mystery of who we are, and Who The Divine God is. The Person hidden in our personhood, is The Eternal  Triune Mystery. This is not a journey we can take on our own behest. We may erroneously think we are doing all, because we are willing it. That is when we are in egocentricity. A very dangerous, and deceptive place of apparent, existence. Not real, reality. Facing that illusion is our life long challenge. Because of our limited humanness, we need help from The Supernatural. We receive the preternatural gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love. The Gracious Creative  Loving Spirit does "look on us in our lowliness", and showers on us  with endless mercy-full transforming, and transfiguring  grace. That is why grace is another way expressing how Love acts. Love in action, IS, grace.

Pentecost Sunday was the Sunday when The Holy Spirit, hidden in tongues of fire, fulfilled a promise, made by Rabbi Jesus. Remember how He said, " I, will not leave you orphans. I will send you another Advocate." Pentecost is the fulfillment of that promise. The Divine, IS, always true to the promises made.  Hope in the promises of The Eternal, never disappoints. Takes a great deal of soul searching to work through what we are to call, name, apparent disappointments. ( What are the  mysterious promises made, you are seeking, and searching for ?  If I may, may I suggest the bromide, that is my go, help, I dire emergencies " Come, Holy Spirit come."  Facing the darkness of uncertainty, " Come, Holy Spirit come and fill the wounded, and hardened heart, of this faith-less one." Been working for DECADES now. That now, includes this sacramental, now moment. 

 The disciples we just a gathering of scared, and disappointed individuals. With, and because of the actions of The  Dynamic transforming Power they became an enlivened, transfigured community of Faith. They willingly went forward, and in their fearlessness, and so the transformation of the cosmos, began. We have to constantly remind ourselves we are the bearers of all that transpired on that Sunday, eons ago. For this you have been eternally chosen. For this challenge you have been uniquely formed, gifted. For this challenge we are eternally strengthened, by a Power. A Loving, creative and creating Power Who has chosen our depths, to be The Tabernacle of Eternal Light. That Light can never be quenched. That Light can never desert us, no matter, the deserts, we are drawn into. This Light is always seeking to lighten the darkness, with a Light, that may, and is suppressed, opposed. The Light will penetrate all darkness, and reveal unending mysteries. " I believe, help my unbelief/ disbelief." 

  When I was growing up in Ireland, it was The Holy Ghost Who was found to be in our prayers. The Holy Ghost had the dubious distinction of being called, named, " The forgotten Person of, The Blessed Trinity.' WOW !! what a change The Spirit has experienced in recent decades. The Spirit has engineered a real transformation. Love, we are told is of its very nature creative. Are we now surrendering  more and more to that Creative, and Creating Love. Not because we want to, but because of Truth we have to. These uncertain times demands we have some source of certainty in this, our most challenging existence. The Christ did envisage this for us. He said " I have come that you may have life, and have it to the fullest." Existence is not our destiny, "fullness of life is". So, Joe, do you want to share your journey of discovery,  from the daily fight for existence, to the living of life to the fullest. From  the  place of merely eking out   existence, a terrifying place to be, to be blessed life that comes from, "living life, on life's terms." 

" Living life, on life's terms" demands the deep immersion into The Paschal Mystery. I have been told, and am learning, as I am being schooled in the hard school of experience,  that there is a great similarity between what my destiny is and the making of colored Easter eggs. The egg is not dipped just once into coloring. It is dipped again and again. Each Lenten-Paschal season we are  dipped and dipped. Metanoia is the resulting gift. A deep change to the direction of our present choosing happens. We are graced so as to have the power to leave behind some impediment to authentic living. Then into the void created, a new way of being is, graciously and unconditionally, gifted. This gift awaits,  discovery. Just like the next effort ???  The power of The Resurrection lights a fire.                 In Paschal love. Great gramps. 

   

 

                                                          

    Whatever one sees, there are layers of mysterious truths, and meanings, hidden, in the darkness of the unknown.  As we journey into the unknown, we are brought into an ever deepening relationship with, The Unknown, The Unknowable. These truths, because of their newness and uniqueness, we are always in the endless process of awakening, and re-awakening   This process of awakening, and re-awakening, always leads to truths, hidden, waiting further  recognition, and endless action. This is mysterious process, is a challenge we are  always invited to plunge ever deeper  into. Whether we accept the invitation, or reject its newness, pregnant with dangers, and uncertainties, is the decision of our free will. Here, in this moment and in every is the daily confrontation with delirious effects of, codependency. This is the challenging, disturbing reality we are facing, many times unwillingly.

 Is there any body living a life, free, of the ravages of codependency, and its resulting destruction? Whether we surrender to the fears of the false self, or readily embrace the freeing, adventures of  the mysterious, is a decision not easily made. We need grace. "Of ourselves we can do nothing, we can do all things  in The One,Who strengthens us".  I am in endless need of this consolation," Be not afraid I am with you."These words of scripture  demand the constant need of repetition, speaking for this   spiritual being, immersed in the human condition. (DeChardin) The living within the  weakened human condition, has it ever been more challenging ? Our decision for reluctant acceptance, springing from this existential battle battle, the battle between healthy choices, and  the enticing, ego building, co-dependent actions that reveal, dis-ease.  Recognition of the depth of co-dependent behaviors is the first step  into the evolution of  a healthy, shepherd. We need a daily check on the death-dealing effects of codependency.What a blessing, and a curse, free will has turned out to be ???  Yet, that is the way we roll, as human, beings.  As it was,  is now, and ever shall be.....  Do I get an, AMEN ???             

 In all the pregnancies of our ever new awarenesses , there is the resulting birthing of  realities whose presences are slowly revealed. I am always amazed at what bubbles up, and when it bubbles up. I find deep truth in the bromide," You are getting what you need, NOT, what you want". Paired with that is, "want what you have, and you discover you have what you, want,"  Gandhi's  unsettling wisdom, " God takes care of our needs, not, our greed." Our codependent selves demand the fulfillment of our every desire, no matter how sick, unhealthy it may be. The shepherding of, The Good Shepherd awaits our willingness, to willing to enter,  what ? The Graced Unknown. We are the  lambs, sheep, and shepherds, of a flock,  chosen. Chosen when ? Not the day of conception, of birthing, our "flock-e-ness finds its origin in The Eternal Now. Mystery ever abounds.

  Eternity is our origin and destiny. We are being shepherded  by and as The Chosen Beloved, so our journey, of its essence, will  not be easy. During our journey, we will be used to continue the revelation of a Reality, never fully understand, or comprehended. This is heavy stuff ? Very mysterious, is one way to attempt to describe our journey as lambs, sheep, and shepherds. Remember we can NEVER solve the mystery, we are drawn ever deeper into the mysterious. With each journey, new awarenesses  seem to bubble up. Whether welcomed, or un-welcomed,  they are there to be reverenced, to be accepted.  In the gradual acceptance, there comes a unique challenge. Today we are faced with the moment to moment challenge of being, both prophetic shepherd and flocks. The call to be both shepherd and prophet is the emerging challenge we have accept. See how extraordinary well the people of Minneapolis has modeled this. What price they paid for faithfulness ???  Like all vocations there must be an ongoing formation. Being led from the known, through threatening storms of change , to the emerging newnesses of understanding is ? Write your answer ?  My answer is not your answer. Your answer is not mine. In the exchange of truths there is mysterious happenings.All designed for our ongoing formation, and transformation. ENDLESS, ENDLESSLY !!!! 

A prophetic, non-codependent  shepherd has the challenges of double duty. As was mentioned previously, the shepherd has to be shepherded. He must be seen as belonging to the flock, as well. As shepherded,  so will the shepherd, shepherd. " He who has not been in the desert, cannot lead others, out of the desert", is a startling truth that really challenges. What are your experiences of loss, failure, rejection, humiliation, darkness, abandonment ? How have they been welcomed, owned, embraced, and accepted ? What work, what nagging, uncertainties ,  are still  awaiting the transformative power of The Resurrected Christ ? We are are endlessly blessed (??), with emerging formation ,for the existential challenge. How, through, what concrete steps is the shepherdness of your being,  being,  shepherded ? Love, prayers and blessing. GGJ.

 

         

" I am my beloved's, His desire is only for me. My Beloved is mine, and I am His." Song of Songs.            " The soul is always stretching forth into God, never exhausting, The Depth." Anonymous.             '' The Christ Mystery, is, a universal pattern of death and Resurrection, in all creation." Fr. R. Rohr.

As we are continuing on the path, of exploration and belief in The Inexhaustible Paschal Mystery. This is the  hard reality we have to face in every existential we will never exhaust The Depths, the Darkness, into which we  are invited to plunge.  The endlessness of this search can, and will be exhausting.  That is why we have grace. grace reveals the consoling realityWe already  have the consoling, assurance, " Of ourselves we can do nothing, but, we can do all things, in Him who strengthens us" The quote, "faith is a journey into uncertainty, not certainty" " If we think we are on the right path, then we are on the wrong path." At times, we will be challenged, by the awe-fulness, of the unsettling feelings that are to be  encountered, as we plunge the depths. We are  never alone. I am The Beloved's and He will never desert, or abandon me. He cannot, He has to be faithful to His covenant. "I am, with, with you, until the end." So, "Fear not." Also, let us always be conscious of how Jesus, encouraged His frustrated Apostle Peter, " To cast his net into the deep", the result was ," a miraculous, catch of fish." There are, as yet unknown depth of wonders, always waiting for us to be lead into. We are told this adventurous plunge into the depths, of the unknown, we eventually encounter, Unknown Presence. In, The Silence, Emptiness and Nothingness we discover our intended home, The Way !!!! It is a journey into radical surrender. There is no step that can accomplish this. Oh, fiddle sticks !!! Our destiny is a gradual  reluctant surrender. Our seemingly innate attachment to avoidance, illusions, and above all, ego. will result in endless war, leading to temporary mystical revelations. Revelations,  that upon reflection, makes the strife, the battle so worthwhile. If you find anything consoling and nourishing. the my journey, up to this nano second ,has not been in vain. Thank you, for your constant  participation, ever leading to a deeper immersion.

Easter Sunday, The Day of Resurrection, was also the day when the now Transformed ,Transfigured Christ did not forget His promise of endless vigilance, care, and active concern. The Gospel accounts shows the Risen one, resuming His work as, Shepherd. He did not desert His fear riddled disciples. He Sought them out. Locked doors did not prevent His Presence from encountering their shattered presence. His first greeting  was the age old wish, "Shalom."  Not even the slightest hint of harsh judgement, or indication of retribution. Here He  provides the model for all generations to follow. Here He is the living model of being a good shepherd. The disciples do not need to be reminded of their need for radical change. The Good Shepherd embraces their imperfections as a reality to face, in that concrete moment. In this acceptance of reality,  begins their formation in the challenging school of, shepherd-hood and shepherding. We have  inherited the moment to moment challenge  of allowing ourselves to be shepherded. As we are being formed, in the school of  mercy-full grace, so it will be the  model for us to follow. To follow when meeting the existential challenges of being good shepherds, Shepherding  the realities revealed in the action ofShepherding ourselves and those lambs and sheep chosen to inhabit, and participate in,  the Via Dolorosa with us. A sacred, mystical slog, at that ???? 

   The Risen Good Shepherd offers His disciples no harsh judgement, only the best of wishes,  for health and a new way of being , summed up in the  word ,"Shalom" ? As it was for those disciples, so it is for us in the here and now. The belief in the reality, that, we are beloved is leading you where ? Stand where your feet are planted and the result is ??(What feelings are being triggered within you ? Feelings of what ? Feelings that are not welcomed ? Because ? There are  endless challenges, and threats  being revealed ?)  Here The Prince of Peace is wishing all the best the of everything needed for health and spiritual wholeness. Seek out again the twelve radical blessings, summed up in that ever so common greeting. What is familiar demands  the most attention , so  thatthe depths of spiritual meanings, can surface into, consciousness, and ???  Now let us move on to welcome a familiar companion, who accompanies us, and we find hard to embrace, accept and love. The disciple who denied the good news, and offered conditions for belief.

 No ! On the other hand lets, not. Thomas and his disbelief, must wait for another time  In the meantime I wish all who wear the mantle of motherhood, a very,  very Joyous Mothers's Day. Is there any other vocation that reflects the essential meaning of being, good, shepherd? Who else models what it means to totally surrenders, to live a life  being a living sacrifice.  demanded by immersion into The Paschal Mystery ? Yes !! All women are persons of mystery, whose  depths and innate dignity is slowly being accepted, being validated . May the process continue, in spite of virulent opposition. Yes, sad to admit, there are future  fruit-filled experiences of Golgotha, to be endured. The wisdom resulting from the endless encounter with birthing and death  makes their life  eternally,  pregnant with meaning. May all are  surrenders, result in the birth of future Christ Children . All destined for the revelation of endless truths.  May these truths continue the revelation, first revealed in the life, death and Resurrection, of Mary's Christ Child. Speak, right now, and forever endlessly to The Mother Mary within, " Mary did you know ..........." Bethlehem and The Incarnation only finds is authentic  meaning from Calvary. Something to chew on, providing mysterious and endless......