Jen + Juice

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  • Immaculate Creation

    “What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.”

    One of my weekly chores as a kid was to dust the living room, and there was an old-country-style decorative piece on the end table with those words painted onto it.

    Every week when I wiped it down, I’d read those words in my head, and they would get stuck there on repeat like a song. And I didn’t even really know what they meant.

    But through experiencing creative art and music throughout my life, and how it speaks to and nourishes my soul, deepening my connection with God and the rest of Creation, I feel like maybe I’m starting to understand a little.

    ….

    “The music plays the band, not the other way around.” – Bob Weir

    St. Paul shared the same sentiment in his second letter to the Corinthians, but in biblical verbiage.

    “Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5)

    They both said the same thing, just in their own unique expression and understanding of the universal language, the Living Word, the Logos.

    They were both aware, through their personal experiences of Mother-Father God (or however you’d like to name the unlimited flow of universal juicy juices of source creation), that we aren’t the source of the flow; we are merely vessels for the immaculate juices to move in, through, and out of us.

    “Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty. If your cup is full, may it be again. Let it be known, there is a fountain that was not made by the hands of men.” – Robert Hunter

    “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink…He who believes in Christ, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)

    When we are in flow and dancing to the Rhythm of God, with our antennas tuned to the frequency of the Sacred Universal Heart, we know *we* aren’t the creator of our music. We are just the radio playing the love song written by God, through us, for God’s Creation. The ever-flowing faucet of sacred waters, of music, of love, of prosperity, of creation, is immaculate and eternal, and the music will never stop or fade away. May we open ourselves to the flow and keep the music alive.

    This life is God’s gift to us, and the love song God creates through us is our gift back to God, by playing our soul’s tune for one another.

    We were made for each other.

    “Let there be songs to fill the air…“

    ….

  • Immaculate Conception

    “Eyes alight with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair…”

    She is the Divine Feminine.

    She has many names throughout different religious cultures (Sophia, Mother Mary, Hathor, White Buffalo Calf Woman, Mary Magdalene, Gaia, Aletheia, etc.), but the Church names her Wisdom, the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God.

    She is the oracle, the apostle to the apostles, the weaver of knowledge from Heaven to Earth, the doorway between God and Creation.

    She is soft and humble, yet firmly anchored in God with conviction.

    She is pure, and she is sovereign.

    She is co-creative, the feminine attribute of God, calling humanity into Life.

    In flesh, she knows her body is a sacred Temple, created by God, for God; her womb a portal with sweet, sacred waters for divine creation, and her passionate desires for creating only Love.

    She values her purity, and she does not allow penetration within her field unless it is also firmly anchored in God.

    She knows if she allows impure seeds to enter her womb, then this will be reflected as impure seeds entering the womb of the Great Mother, of Creation.

    25 For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. 26 For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness.” – Wisdom 7:25-26

    The masculine desires her, but the Divine Masculine knows he must go through God to access her. His hands cannot touch her unless it is with the Hand of God moving through him.

    15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. — Proverbs 3:15

    She illuminates his shadows with the Light of Truth, but the Divine Masculine does not turn his eyes away from her light. He desires to witness the rise of the Feminine, not contribute to the wounded masculine’s suppression of her. The Divine Masculine is willing to illuminate his shadows, face his fears, and walk through the uncertain pains of hell, allowing his ego to be burned in the purifying flames of God’s grace.

    19b I spread out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her. 20a I directed my soul to her, and through purification I found her. – Sirach 51:19b-21

    Like Daniel, whose faith in God redeemed him from the lion’s den unharmed (Daniel 6:16-23), the Divine Masculine knows the only way out of the shadows is through. His faith is too strong to doubt the way of the Triune God. knowing God always goes before him and will light the way. (Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:9). He rides the swells of the waves like a sailor, trusting in the flow of God’s Rhythm.

    ….

    The feminine and masculine are not only within women and men, respectively. We each have both within us, the two pillars in our own inner temple. The feminine (within each of us) leads with her wisdom and intuition, and the masculine (within each of us) has the choice to act in ways that honor her wisdom, or to suppress her.

    If we choose to build a Temple of Christ, then our inner Masculine seeks, trusts, and follows the wisdom and intuition of the Feminine. He is the “wise man who built his house upon the rock,” knowing it is built with divine love and integrity, able weather the toughest storms. (Matthew:4:24-27) The Masculine and Feminine within us become One in Union with God, embodying the Holy Trinity.

    The two pillars of our inner Sacred Temple, the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine, are balanced and firmly anchored to the Heart of Heaven above and the Heart of Earth below, with the fiery Sacred Heart of Christ as an open doorway in the center — Divine Love dancing and flowing freely with and between one another.

    When the outer Divine Feminine and Masculine counterparts come together in Union with Christ, the consummation of their Union is consecrated, and their love-making is an act of Divine Love-Creating, producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25) Taste and see the goodness. (Psalm 34:8)

    Through the purity of their Union comes the Immaculate Conception of the Temple of Christ, of Home, grounded here on Earth. (Revelation 21)

    As above, so below
    As within, so without

    Thy Kingdom come
    Thy Will be done
    On Earth, as it is in Heaven

    Forever and ever. Amen.

    ….

    I took these photos inside Hathor’s Temple in Egypt (March 15, 2025). I had an unexpectedly very emotional experience inside this temple, and afterwards, I wanted to take a picture of the sun while sitting inside. Just as I snapped the picture, these two birds flew into the frame, and somehow these “spirit” birds appeared in the photo as well. I thought it was so neat.

    ….

    Songs:
    Terrapin Station – Grateful Dead
    Shadows of a sailor, forming winds both foul and fair all swarm
    Down in Carlisle, he loved a lady many years ago
    Here beside him stands a man, a soldier from the looks of him
    Who came through many fights, but lost at love

    While the story teller speaks, a door within the fire creaks
    Suddenly flies open, and a girl is standing there
    Eyes alight, with glowing hair, all that fancy paints as fair
    She takes her fan and throws it, in the lion’s den

    Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
    I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance
    The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise
    Strategy was his strength, and not disaster

    The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him
    That’s how it stands today, you decide if he was wise
    The storyteller makes no choice, soon you will not hear his voice
    His job is to shed light, and not to master

    Way of the Triune God – Tyler Childers
    I don’t need the laws of man
    To tell me what I ought to do
    He reached down and touched my hand
    And gave me quite a talkin’ to
    Gave it to me, strict in charge
    Somethin’ simple I could ponder
    ‘Til the role is called on high
    ‘Til we all meet over yonder

    Jesus said he’d go before
    And come back when the house was finished
    All this sin and wagin’ war
    My God’s comin’ any minute

    Old time, screamin’ and shoutin’
    Go up, tell it on the mountain
    Faith too strong to be left doubtin’
    Way of the Triune God

    In the Garden – Van Morrison
    And as it touched your cheeks so lightly
    Born again you were and blushed
    And we touched each other lightly
    And we felt the presence of the Christ
    Within our hearts in the garden

    No guru, no method, no teacher
    Just you and I and nature
    And the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost
    In the garden
    In the garden wet with rain

    Let Your Love Flow – The Bellamy Brothers
    Just let your love flow like a mountain stream
    And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams
    And let your love show
    And you’ll know what I mean, it’s the season

    Let your love fly like a bird on a wing
    And let your love bind you to all living things
    And let your love shine
    And you’ll know what I mean, that’s the reason

    Hands – Jewel
    We are God’s eyes
    God’s hands
    God’s heart
    We are God’s eyes
    God’s hands
    God’s heart
    We are God’s eyes
    We are God’s hands
    We are God’s eyes

    Like a Prayer – Madonna
    Life is a mystery
    Everyone must stand alone
    I hear you call my name
    And it feels like home

    I hear your voice
    It’s like an angel sighing
    I have no choice
    I hear your voice
    Feels like flying

    I close my eyes
    Oh God I think I’m falling
    Out of the sky
    I close my eyes
    Heaven help me

    Like a child
    You whisper softly to me
    You’re in control
    Just like a child
    Now I’m dancing

    It’s like a dream
    No end and no beginning
    You’re here with me
    It’s like a dream
    Let the choir sing

    When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer
    I’m down on my knees, I wanna take you there
    In the midnight hour, I can feel your power
    Just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there

    Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there
    Just like a muse to me, you are a mystery
    Just like a dream, you are not what you seem
    Just like a prayer, no choice your voice can take me there

    Amazing Grace
    Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
    That saved a wretch like me!
    I once was lost, but now am found;
    Was blind, but now I see. 

    ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    and grace my fears relieved;
    how precious did that grace appear
    the hour I first believed!

    Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come:
    ’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
    and grace will lead me home.

    Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
    Make me a channel of your peace. 
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love. 
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord 
    And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope 
    Where there is darkness, only light 
    And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

  • Tree of Life

    Sunday, September 14, 2025
    Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

    …
    First Reading:
    Numbers 21:4b-9
    The first reading is a story of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. The people were getting impatient and frustrated, complaining to God and Moses.

    Their lack of gratitude and trust in the process led to consequences, or divine intervention, with deadly serpents.

    When the people realized their lack of devotion to God, through faith, trust, and gratitude, they asked for forgiveness from God. God responded with mercy, telling Moses to create a bronze serpent and lift it up onto a pole. Anyone who had been bitten by the snakes could look at the bronze serpent and be healed.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
    The responsorial psalm is telling a symbolic story about when Israel would stray from God. When God intervened to get them back on track, they would surrender and seek God again. But their repentance was often superficial, mere words and not true with embodied conviction.

    God was merciful and redeemed them when they were sincerely remorseful — divine mercy is greater than our failures.

    Second Reading:
    Philippians 2:6-11
    Jesus truly shares God’s divine nature, yet Jesus didn’t cling to or attach himself to God’s status or privilege. He still remained humble and did not want or expect special treatment or worshipping.

    He emptied himself, let go of the divine glory, to become human embracing humility and service.

    He embodied full obedience to God’s Will, even to the most shameful, humiliating execution of crucifixion.

    Because of this ultimate humility, and acceptance of the ultimate degradation and humiliation, Jesus was exalted.

    Alleluia:
    “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
    because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.”

    Gospel Reading:
    John 3:13-17
    Jesus compares himself to the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the wilderness, from the first reading.

    In the same way, Jesus will be “lifted up” (on the cross) and those who look at him, believing in redemption, will receive the redemption.

    The purpose in the coming of Jesus Christ is not judgment, but salvation. Condemnation is not God’s intent — rescue and restoration are.

    Like the bronze serpent, the cross transforms a symbol of death (serpent/cross) into a symbol of life and healing. Salvation comes from turning the pain and suffering into a deeper embodiment of love and compassion. Eternal spiritual life comes through releasing attachment to human understanding and in trusting God.

    ……………………………………..

    This week, the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

    During the time Jesus walked the earth, crucifixion was one of the most painful, torturous, humiliating ways for a condemned criminal to be executed. When someone would see a cross, that is all they would think of: suffering and death.

    The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reminds us of the alchemy that happened when Jesus experienced the extreme torture and humiliation of the crucifixion, the leaden suffering and death of the flesh, which then ultimately led to the golden ascension of his soul. The transmutation of the phoenix rising from the ashes.

    The cross no longer symbolizes just the condemnation and death of the flesh, but liberation and Life of the eternal soul.

    …

    In the first reading, Moses is leading the Israelites through the wilderness. The journey was long and exhausting, and the people were getting tired, impatient, and losing their faith and trust in God and the process.

    Remember, this story takes place after God had already redeemed the Israelites multiple times previously — from the Plagues of Egypt, the Passover, the Exodus out of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the sustenance from manna and water in the wilderness, etc.

    With each redemption, the Israelites were humbled by the power of God, proclaiming their surrender to God’s plan. But these proclamations were superficial and temporary — not embodied with conviction.

    When another hardship came along, they started repeating their unconscious patterns, walking without intention, in separation from God — leaning on their own limited human understanding and not on their trust in God.

    To awaken the Israelites from these patterns, God intervened and sent poisonous snakes to bite the Israelites, leading to extreme illness and death.

    Sometimes it does take some pretty intense stuff to get us to wake tf up. The hand of God can be heavy indeed.

    God told Moses to create a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole, and anyone who had reconciled with God could look at the bronze serpent and be healed.

    Before the healing happened, however, when the Israelites would see a serpent, they would have only thought of the suffering and death in the wilderness. But the bronze serpent became a powerful symbol of their spiritual awakening through darkness and hardships. They turned their eyes upward to God and experienced spiritual healing, redemption, liberation, and salvation.

    Centuries later, the bronze serpent was even worshipped because people misunderstood its meaning. It wasn’t the bronze serpent itself that did the healing — it was God’s hand that worked through the symbol of the bronze serpent. The reminder of the pain and suffering that led to the redemption.

    That is what Jesus meant in the Gospel reading when he likened himself to the bronze serpent in the wilderness. He displayed this when he willingly surrendered to his death by torture and crucifixion, showing us that even though he was the incarnate of Christ, he also understands the pains we experience in the flesh. He showed us that he gets it, because he experienced it too — to the extreme.

    But he also showed that by surrendering to God and the death of the flesh — to the crucifixion of the ego — our soul will also be liberated and exalted, bringing us closer to Union with God.

    Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, he turned the cross, a symbol of a torturous, humiliating death, into a symbol of Life.

    Sometimes things in life can really suck, and we’re not always going to understand why things have to be the way they are. But during these times, we’re being invited to carry our own cross and turn our eyes upward to God — not turn away from God.

    As we do this, we begin to alchemize our pain and suffering into a new Life, a Life aligned with our soul, rooted in Divine Love. And when we reflect back on these times of hardship, they will no longer be remembered with haste, but as a time when the cross we carried and were crucified upon became our Tree of Life.

    ……………………………………..

    Songs:
    “Pneuma” – Tool
    We are spirit bound to this flesh
    We go round one foot nailed down
    But bound to reach out and beyond this flesh
    Become Pneuma

    We are will and wonder
    Bound to recall, remember
    We are born of one breath, one word
    We are all one spark, sun becoming

    Child, wake up
    Child, release the light
    Wake up now
    Child, wake up
    Child, release the light
    Wake up now, child
    Spirit
    Bound to this flesh
    This guise, this mask
    This dream

    Wake up remember
    We are born of one breath, one word
    We are all one spark, sun becoming

    Pneuma
    Reach out and beyond
    Wake up remember
    We are born of one breath, one word
    We are all one spark, eyes full of wonder

    “The Grudge” – Tool
    Wear the grudge like a crown of negativity
    Calculate what we will or will not tolerate
    Desperate to control all and everything
    Unable to forgive your scarlet lettermen

    Clutch it like a cornerstone, otherwise it all comes down
    Justify denials and grip ’em to the lonesome end
    Clutch it like a cornerstone, otherwise it all comes down
    Terrified of being wrong, ultimatum prison cell

    Saturn ascends
    Choose one or ten
    Hang on or be humbled again
    Humbled again

    Wear the grudge like a crown
    Desperate to control
    Unable to forgive and sinking deeper

    Defining
    Confining
    And sinking deeper
    Controlling
    Defining
    And we’re sinking deeper

    Saturn comes back around
    Lifts you up like a child
    or drags you down like a stone
    To consume you till you choose to let this go
    Choose to let this go

    Give away the stone
    Let the oceans take and trans mutate this cold and fated anchor
    Give away the stone
    Let the waters kiss and trans mutate these leaden grudges into gold

    Let go

    “Terrapin Station” – Grateful Dead
    Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell?
    I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance

    The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise
    Strategy was his strength, and not disaster

    The sailor, coming out again, the lady fairly leapt at him
    That’s how it stands today, you decide if he was wise

    Hymns:
    “On Eagle’s Wings”
    You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
    Who abide in His shadow for life,
    Say to the Lord, “My Refuge,
    My Rock in Whom I trust.” 

    And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
    Bear you on the breath of dawn,
    Make you to shine like the sun,
    And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

    “Now We Remain”
    We hold the death of the Lord deep in our hearts.
    Living, now we remain with Jesus, the Christ.

    Once we were people afraid, lost in the night.
    Then by your cross we were saved.
    Dead became living, life from your giving.

    “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Prayer of St. Francis
    Make me a channel of your peace. 
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love. 
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord 
    And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope 
    Where there is darkness, only light 
    And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    ……………………………………..

    First Reading:
    Numbers 21:4b-9
    4b With their patience worn out by the journey, 5 the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!”

    6 In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 8 and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live.” 9 Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.


    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
    R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
    1b Hearken, my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
    2 I will open my mouth in a parable,
    I will utter mysteries from of old.
    R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
    34 While he slew them they sought him
    and inquired after God again,
    35 Remembering that God was their rock
    and the Most High God, their redeemer.
    R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
    36 But they flattered him with their mouths
    and lied to him with their tongues,
    37 Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him,
    nor were they faithful to his covenant.
    R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
    38 But he, being merciful, forgave their sin
    and destroyed them not;
    Often he turned back his anger
    and let none of his wrath be roused.
    R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

    Second Reading:
    Philippians 2:6-11
    6 Brothers and sisters:
    Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Alleluia:
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,
    because by your Cross you have redeemed the world.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Reading:
    John 3:13-17
    13 Jesus said to Nicodemus:
    “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

    16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

    ……………………………………..

  • Mind Your Head

    Sunday, September 7, 2025
    Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    …
    First Reading:
    Wisdom 9:13-18b
    This week’s first reading reminds us to remain humble in our need for understanding — we will never fully comprehend even the physical, earthly matters, so how could we ever possibly understand the workings of Spirit?

    Wise discernment requires prayer/meditation, humility, and openness to the messages of Spirit, even when it makes zero logical sense within the bounds of our human understanding.

    Do we follow what we think we “should” do, or do we stop and ask God what our soul is calling us to do?

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
    The responsorial psalm speaks on how fragile human life is compared to the eternal nature of God. Our life is brief, like the grass that flourishes in the morning, then withers in the evening, but God is outside of time..

    Life is short and fragile, so we must live wisely, rooted in divine love — divine love is the only thing that can truly fulfill the soul, bringing joy despite life’s challenges. This passage is a prayer, asking God to make the work of our hands meaningful, lasting, and fruitful; living in alignment with the straight and narrow path of God’s plan will bring lasting value to the legacy we leave behind from our short time here on earth.

    Second Reading:
    Philemon 9-10, 12-17
    The second reading is a letter Paul wrote to Philemon, a wealthy Christian leader and a friend of Paul. Slavery was a cultural norm at this time, and Philemon had a slave named Onesimus. Onesimus ran away from Philemon, and during his time away, he encountered and was guided by Paul, eventually becoming a follower of Christ.

    In this letter, Paul asks Philemon to forgive Osemimus for running away, and when he comes back, to welcome him as an equal, not as a slave or servant, but as a brother in Christ.

    Paul is trying to transform a broken relationship into one rooted in forgiveness and brotherhood, while also challenging the cultural norms of slavery.

    Alleluia:
    Psalm 119:135
    “Let your face shine upon your servant;
    and teach me your laws.”

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 14:25-33
    In this week’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks about how true discipleship requires loyalty to the path of Christ, above loyalty to others — even including our families and our egoic selves.

    Jesus says that following the straight and narrow path will require sacrifices. It’s not just about the excitement to be part of a community or experiencing mind-blowing miracles and synchronicities. Following the straight and narrow path of Christ requires a complete surrender to the call from the soul…and sometimes it comes at a hefty cost.

    ……………………………………..

    My two older boys and I were talking earlier today about some geeky math and science stuff, and they said they were excited to continue learning new cool things for the rest of their lives. I was pretty pumped to hear that — who doesn’t want their kids excited about learning new things?

    Then one of them said, “It kinda sucks though that we’re going to be learning all of this and then one day it’ll all be gone when we die. It feels kinda like a waste and not worth it.”

    Welp. Okay then.

    I actually agreed though, because he wasn’t wrong. It does kind of suck if we look at it that way.

    But there’s another way to look at it too. We only know what we know because of the people who came before us, most of which have already passed away, and we get to participate in and contribute to humanity’s ever-expanding exploration and learning.

    None of us have the exact same interests and strengths, learn the exact same things, nor have the exact same life experiences. We each get to turn the cosmic jewel, reflect the light of our own unique qualities, share our unique selves with the world, and then pass it down to whoever comes after us.

    Nobody’s legacy will look exactly the same as anyone else’s, and that is pretty cool.

    They both agreed and liked looking at it that way better.

    Good grief….

    ..

    We indeed are all very different, looking at the world through the lens of our own experiences, weaving our own unique thread into the infinite tapestry of existence.

    And there is absolutely no way we could ever learn everything that has ever, or will ever, be learned in this physical experience. We are constantly exploring — out into the infinitely-expanding universe, down to the infinitely-small sub-atomic particles. Exploration and learning will never cease in this physical realm, because there will always be something new to discover and unpack.

    So, then, how could it ever be possible to fully understand Spirit? Something beyond even our physical senses?

    It’s not.

    But we certainly try, don’t we?

    We get messages from Spirit that tell us to do X, but it either makes absolutely no logical sense, or we really just don’t wanna do it…so we start to pick it apart and analyze it.

    Calculate it out, try to understand and figure it out logically, if it will work, how it will work, weigh the pros and cons, come up with a list of possible outcomes. Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink.

    We talk to friends, mentors, therapists. Maybe consult with a psychic or mystic. Get as much information from as many sources as possible, so we can be super calculated with our actions, and have some sense of control on the outcome. Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink.

    But these possible scenarios and outcomes only come from within the bounds of our human knowledge, from what we already know. This need of ours to have calculated control over outcomes doesn’t leave space for miracles — and miracles are only considered miracles because they happen beyond the capacity of our human understanding.

    And unfortunately, all of these projections — coming from everywhere else but from within — are creating an interference in the signal with Spirit, distorting the message of the Truth within.

    When we stop absorbing the projections and start listening to our own inner navigating system, our frequency gets more and more fine-tuned to Spirit, and the signal gets clearer and clearer.

    The thing is though, like Jesus warned in the Gospel reading — this path has its sacrifices. Following the call from something Higher isn’t about being part of a community, a movement, an identity. When we begin following our own soul’s inner guidance, we might start pissing some people off who aren’t able to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. Ourselves included. Especially when we don’t fully understand it either and can’t give a logical explanation for it.

    We just know we have to. Because we do.

    We won’t usually understand why we’re feeling called to take certain actions, but we’re never really meant to fully understand. We might eventually, as we watch things unfold over time — but in some cases, we will never understand.

    But “to understand” is not the point anyway.

    The point is deep surrender and humility, taking a leap of faith, recognizing that there is a Higher Hand at play that is beyond our understanding.

    A leap of faith is when we follow the call, because we humble ourselves to the bigger picture that we’re unable to see. We just know the gaps will weave themselves together in a way we don’t logically comprehend.

    And not only is it important to remain humble in our understanding, but like the responsorial psalm also reminds us, our time here is so brief compared to the infinite Source of Creation. Who better to guide us to our most enriching life, leaving behind our greatest possible legacy — or for this life experience to be fully “worth it” according to my boys — than the voice of our own soul?

    Surrender to the voice. We may not always understand, but when we surrender, Spirit can begin creating miraculous movements in the divine web.

    Creating ripples in still water…

    ……………………………………..

    Songs:
    “Ripple” – Grateful Dead
    Ripple in still water
    When there is no pebble tossed
    Nor wind to blow

    “A Little Light” – Sturgill Simpson
    Through all these earthly trials of sorrow
    Through all these days of mortal sin
    Through all these eternal nights with no tomorrow
    Gotta stay on the straight and narrow
    And find a little light within

    Gotta walk that road all the way to heaven
    Gotta walk that road until the dawn
    Gotta walk that road all night
    All you need is a little light
    And the closer you get, lord, the brighter it turns on

    “Lateralus” – Tool
    As below so above and beyond, I imagine
    Drawn beyond the lines of reason
    Push the envelope, watch it bend

    Over-thinking, over-analyzing separates the body from the mind
    Withering my intuition leaving opportunities behind

    Hymns:
    “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Prayer of St. Francis
    Make me a channel of your peace. 
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love. 
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord 
    And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope 
    Where there is darkness, only light 
    And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    ……………………………………..

    First Reading:
    Wisdom 9:13-18b
    13 Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. 15 For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. 16 And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? 18 And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14,17
    R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
    3 You turn man back to dust,
    saying, “Return, O children of men.”
    4 For a thousand years in your sight
     are as yesterday, now that it is past,
    or as a watch of the night.
    R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
    5 You make an end of them in their sleep;
     the next morning they are like the changing grass,
    6 Which at dawn springs up anew,
     but by evening wilts and fades.
    R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
    12 Teach us to number our days aright,
     that we may gain wisdom of heart.
    13 Return, O LORD! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
    R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
    14 Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
     that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
    17 And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
     prosper the work of our hands for us!
    Prosper the work of our hands!
    R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

    Second Reading:
    Philemon 9-10, 12-17
    9 I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, 10 urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment; 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.

    Alleluia:
    Psalm 119:135
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    Let your face shine upon your servant;
    and teach me your laws.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 14:25-33
    25 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

    ……………………………………..

  • The Humble Host

    Sunday, August 31, 2025
    Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    …
    First Reading:
    Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
    This week’s first reading tells us that greatness and strength aren’t measured by perfection, at least not in Spirit’s eyes, nor in those aligned with our highest path. True greatness and strength come from embodying humility, no matter our accomplishments in life.

    Do not get carried away by pride — pride hardens our hearts and creates separation from others. But humility softens our hearts to others, and keeps us open and eager to learning and growing in divine wisdom.

    Humility also releases self-importance, leading us to want to generously serve others, and take care of those in need. By doing this, we are participating in God’s work of healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation — for others and for ourselves.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
    In the responsorial psalm, we see that God is strong and powerful, but this strength and power are shown through compassion for the weak and in setting souls free from bondage. God is not asking to be worshipped and pedestalized as a majestic enthroned Man in the Sky, separated from us. Instead, God is asking us to allow Spirit to walk alongside us and work through us as we follow the call of humble and compassionate service.

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
    The second reading compares the symbolism of Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, each symbolically representing two different ideas of consciousness.

    The first, Mount Sinai, is where Israel gathered to receive the old covenant. It feels terrifying — burning with fire, shrouded in darkness, storms, a blaring trumpet, etc. At Mount Sinai, we believe we must earn love through perfection and obligation, leading to feelings of unworthiness and shame when we make mistakes. God feels unapproachable — or emotionally unavailable — leading us to separation consciousness from ourselves, others, and God.

    In contrast, the passage speaks of Mount Zion, which is the heavenly energy — filled with angels and the Light. Jesus is there as the messenger of the new covenant, with the sprinkled blood representing grace and forgiveness rather than condemnation.

    At Mount Zion, we know we are loved, not because of what we exhaustingly do to “earn” it, but simply because we are. This is the place of the softened heart — of unity with God and with others. We are warmly welcomed home with open arms through the consciousness of Christ.

    Alleluia:
    Matthew 11:29ab
    “Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord,
    and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 14:1, 7-14
    In the Gospel reading, Jesus observes people choosing their seats at a sabbath dinner in one of the Jewish high minister’s homes and shares a parable. He mentions how if you’re seating yourself at the place of honor, you will be demoted by the host. So always walk humbly, free your soul from the chains of the egoic hierarchy, and your soul will rise.

    Then he shares the importance of holding dinners (or humbly serving others) with no expectations of repayment. Jesus placed the poor and disabled as his top priority knowing they could never repay him. And he invites us to walk alongside him (not below him) to do the same.

    Love is not earned. Love simply is.

    ……………………………………..

    Have you ever done something in your life that you’re not proud of, something you thought you would never do?

    It’s okay, I have too. A few things actually.

    And man they knocked me off my high horse — a horse that I didn’t even realize I was parading on until I was on the ground.

    Afterwards, I went through the gamut of heavy emotions: shame, guilt, unworthiness, self-loathing. Quite the humbling experience.

    And in those moments, I had two choices:

    I either a) stay in the shame spiral and live a life imprisoned to my expectations of perfection, all the while, wearing a mask so nobody can see my imperfections — exhausting myself by trying to maintain my untarnished reputation, while internally still carrying the shame and guilt of my mistakes.

    Whew that’s heavy and was a mouthful.

    Or b) recognize that I’m perfectly imperfect and give myself some grace and the permission to mess up sometimes, leaving the space for self-reflection, self-awareness, self-forgiveness, and growth. This will ultimately be reflected in grace and compassion for others who mess up too, because dang it, we’re not perfect either. And life is really freaking hard to navigate sometimes — for all of us.

    In my personal situations, I’ve kind of done both….once I finally decided to start crawling my way out of the first one, away from Mount Sinai. But the goal is that we can all eventually make it to the second one, to Mount Zion.

    It is still important, however, to allow ourselves to feel remorse for our mistakes, so the shock can wake us up from our unconscious behaviors, and we can begin living life with more presence and conscious intention. If we don’t even feel bad about our mistakes, then we’re either a psychopath (just sayin’) or we’re bypassing with toxic positivity. Or we’re selfishly projecting blame onto others, or throwing someone else under the bus, in order to remain propped up on our own egoically-glorified pedestal.

    So yes, the feelings of remorse, guilt, and shame are important, but it’s also important to not allow ourselves to stay there. It was never meant to be a life sentence, and we don’t have to “earn” anyone’s love, or “earn” our way back to God.

    We have never been separate from love or from God.

    But sometimes we have to be challenged in new ways, make some mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes, in order to soften our hearts and realize this truth.

    Can you imagine taking kindergarten math your entire life? How would we grow if we were never challenged in new ways? (We wouldn’t.)

    Or what if we progressed in grade level, but our teacher never marked anything wrong on our tests, even though we missed multiple questions? Perfect score every time. How would we learn from our mistakes if we weren’t even looking at the fact that we made any? (We wouldn’t.)

    But the big red Xs on our test aren’t meant to make us feel like a dummy — at least not forever; they are meant to teach us where there’s potential for further learning and growth.

    Our mistakes in life are the same. They’re meant to illuminate the shadows in our subconscious that led us to make mistakes to begin with.

    They’re also meant to help us soften our hearts and hold humanity with more grace — to sharpen our vision through the eyes of Christ consciousness, or unity consciousness, and not through separation consciousness. To see ourselves in others and others in ourselves.

    Perfection is unattainable. But by subconsciously setting the bar at *perfection*, we find ourselves creating a hierarchy — pedestalizing some people and vilifying others. This furthers the separation between us as a collective, which is the opposite of unity or Christ consciousness.

    And as soon as someone who’s been pedestalized makes a mistake we believe we’d never make, we knock them down on the hierarchy — possibly even cancelled, blocked, ghosted, shunned — we’ve placed ourselves above them on our hierarchy.

    And as soon as you allow others to pedestalize you, the same will also happen for you. So don’t allow anyone to exalt you — stay humble and remember where your blessings came from. (Hint: Look up.)

    Also remember, just because we believe we’d never make their mistakes, those same people may never make our mistakes either.

    And even further, we might surprise ourselves and make mistakes we never thought we’d make until we make them. Life can be funny like that sometimes.

    We messed up, and that’s okay. Other people have messed up, and that’s okay too. We are all different, but we are also all the same.

    Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

    As we do this self-reflection work, we realize how much effort it takes to heal and grow. And this naturally leads to compassion for others who are also doing their best to find their way.

    “We’re all in this thing together.”

    ……………………………………..

    Songs:
    “We’re All In This Together” – Old Crow Medicine Show
    We’re all in this thing together 
    Walkin’ the line between faith and fear 
    This life don’t last forever 
    When you cry I taste the salt in your tears

    “Forgiveness” – Elephant Revival
    I have become the devil
    To realize that I’m divine
    I have been living with demons
    Last night I left them by the fire
    In my quest I seek forgiveness
    In my love, I will forgive
    I have lied to see what truth is
    The burns heal, the smoke clears away

    “Sing to the Mountain” – Elephant Revival
    Go and sing to the mountain
    Go and sing to the moon
    Go and sing to just about everything
    ‘Cause everything is you

    “One of Us” – Joan Osborne
    What if God was one of us
    Just a slob like one of us
    Just a stranger on the bus
    Trying to make his way home

    “Hands” – Jewel
    We are God’s eyes
    God’s hands
    God’s mind
    We are God’s eyes
    God’s hands
    God’s heart
    We are God’s eyes
    God’s hands
    God’s eyes
    We are God’s hands
    We are God’s hands

    “Humbling River” – Puscifer
    Braved the forests, braved the stone
    Braved the icy winds and fire
    Braved and beat them on my own
    Yet I’m helpless by the river

    Angel, angel, what have I done?
    I’ve faced the quakes, the wind, the fire
    I’ve conquered country, crown, and throne
    Why can’t I cross this river?

    Pay no mind to the battles you’ve won
    It’ll take a lot more than rage and muscle
    Open your heart and hands, my son
    Or you’ll never make it over the river

    It’ll take a lot more than words and guns
    A whole lot more than riches and muscle
    The hands of the many must join as one
    And together we’ll cross the river

    “Pneuma” – Tool
    Pneuma
    Reach out and beyond
    Wake up remember
    We are born of one breath, one word
    We are all one spark, eyes full of wonder

    “One” – U2
    One love, one blood
    One life, you got to do what you should
    One life, with each other
    Sisters, brothers

    One life but we’re not the same
    We get to carry each other, carry each other
    One
    One

    Hymns:
    “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Prayer of St. Francis
    Make me a channel of your peace. 
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love. 
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord 
    And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope 
    Where there is darkness, only light 
    And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    “Here I am, Lord”
    I, the Lord of the sea and sky,
    I have heard my people cry
    All who dwell in dark and sin
    My hand will save.

    I who have made the stars of the night,
    I will make their darkness bright
    Who will bear my light to them?
    Whom shall I send?

    Here I am, Lord. 
    Is it I Lord?
    I have heard you calling in the night.
    I will go Lord, if you lead me.
    I will hold your people in my heart.

    “Amazing Grace”
    ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    and grace my fears relieved;
    how precious did that grace appear
    the hour I first believed!

    Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come:
    ’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
    and grace will lead me home.
    ……………………………………..

    First Reading:
    Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
    17 My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. 18 Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God. 20 What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.  28 The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the joy of the wise. 29 Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
    R. (cf. 11b)  God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
    4 The just rejoice and exult before God;
    they are glad and rejoice.
    5 Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
    whose name is the LORD.
    R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
    6 The father of orphans and the defender of widows
    is God in his holy dwelling.
    7 God gives a home to the forsaken;
    he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
    R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
    10 A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
    you restored the land when it languished;
    11 your flock settled in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
    R. God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
    18 Brothers and sisters:
    You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm 19 and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. 22 No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, 23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, 24 and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

    Alleluia:
    Matthew 11:29ab
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    6 I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
    no one comes to the Father, except through me.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 14:1, 7-14
    1 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

    7 He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, 9 and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. 10 Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. 11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 12 Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. 13 Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14 blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

    ……………………………………..

  • There Is a Road, No Simple Highway…

    Sunday, August 24, 2025
    Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

    …
    First Reading:
    Isaiah 66:18-21
    The overall message in this passage is that God will look anywhere on Earth, even in (especially in) the most unexpected places, to call people into ministry and service.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 117:1, 2, Mark 16:15
    Anyone and everyone may be called into service to spread Light and Truth.

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
    This is a continuation from the second reading last week. (Hebrews 12:1-4)

    Remember, we are never alone as we endure the trials, the hardships, the ego deaths, because discipline led by the Higher Hand creates resilience and leads us down the path of discipleship and devotion.

    We can’t grow stronger from our workouts if we don’t increase weights in resistance training. This resistance tears down the muscles so they can heal, repair, and become stronger.

    As such, we must continue to face resistance in life, which tears us down and humbles us, so we may heal and strengthen our spiritual muscles.

    God doesn’t call the prepared. God prepares the called.

    Alleluia:
    John 14:6
    “I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
    no one comes to the Father, except through me.”

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 13:22-30
    Jesus speaks on the narrow path of walking in Christ, and how it doesn’t look the way people believe it must look, based on their limited human understanding. This is why many are surprised when they believe they are righteous (placed “first”) but are eventually knocked down and humbled (placed “last”) — while the humble and misunderstood (placed “last”) are divinely exalted (placed “first”). The path is not about speaking on or being surrounded by faith. It is about the embodiment of faith through devotion and trust in the Higher Will, as a humble student in life, living in prayer.

    ……………………………………..

    I wanna tell you a story about this guy I know.

    I met him for the first time many years ago, but I didn’t really start to get to know him until I met him again just a few years back, and we’ve been building our connection ever since. He’s a really cool dude.

    He had it pretty easy as a child, growing up in a very wealthy home. His dad was a successful entrepreneur, so he never knew what it felt like to be without. His family would attend Mass together regularly, and they were ranked highly in the community’s hierarchy. It was obvious he wore his family name and elevated esteem very proudly.

    His social life was bangin’, frequently going out and partying, having a good time, and he had quite a way with the ladies. In his early twenties when he was sent off to war, he was eager to come home and be honored for his service, hoping it would amplify his already-polished reputation.

    Buuuut someone. somewhere, *looks up* had another plan for him.

    During his time in battle, he was taken as a prisoner of war and was hit very heavily with a terrible illness. Eventually he was released from captivity, and for over a year, remained ill and bedridden in his home.

    This captivity and illness brought him to a space mentally and physically where he could do nothing but surrender to the situation and contemplate life. His horrid physical circumstances, as well as his deep self-contemplation, brought him into some of the deepest depths of darkness. The temple he’d been building his entire life, built on reputation and material success, had totally collapsed. A brokedown palace, if you will. Major existential crisis.

    Through that deep self-reflection, however, he was beginning to see everything so clearly. He could see his old patterns and behaviors and wanted nothing to do with them anymore. He began seeing with his spiritual sight, and no longer with his physical, human sight. He began to see the path of Truth.

    As the illness subsided and he was mobile once again, he started taking steps down the path illuminated by the Light — strolling barefoot in nature, intimately connecting with the plants, animals, the sky, and the elements — and he found the nectar that was nourishing his soul.

    To have gone from honorable serviceman, son of a wealthy businessman — to a barefoot man walking alone in nature, singing to the flowers and birds — people thought he must’ve gone insane while in captivity.

    I mean, he was so smart and had so much going for him before…what happened to him?! Is he on something?! He’s gone crazy!

    His dad, a churchgoing Catholic man, was horrifically ashamed of him. How dare he embarrass their family like that? How dare he not appreciate the riches and comfort he had been provided with his entire life?

    How dare he…?

    But he simply just did.not.care. You guys…he stripped down naked in front of a crowd, his dad, and the Bishop, saying he renounced all of his earthly riches because none of that mattered to him anymore. It was all of the flesh, and he wanted to live a life where his soul was rich and free.

    Badass.

    Once that Light Switch was flipped on for him and he saw what he saw, he couldn’t go back and unsee it. And he couldn’t live any other way but by the narrow way of the Light.

    This guy’s name is Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most honored patron saints in history. He’s my dude. Being raised in the Catholic Church, I was introduced to him a few times when I was younger, but I didn’t ever really get to know know him until a few years ago. Such an incredible man.

    One of the things I admire most about him was his strength in embodying Truth with such pure conviction and humility. He didn’t let his past identity, nor others’ misunderstandings of him, hold him captive from allowing his soul to fly freely and live in devotion and service.

    Nobody would have ever expected this path for him though, not even himself. I mean, this isn’t what “normal” people looked like. He looked “normal” before — envied, and placed on quite a mighty pedestal by his peers.

    Before his Awakening, he would’ve been considered an honorable man on an esteemed path, or placed “first”. But he had to be knocked down from that pedestal and experience his own version of hell’s fires, darkness, and death — or placed/judged “last” from the divine perspective — in order to be humbled and no longer deceived by false light — but to see the real Light.

    Jesus was the opposite in that context. He grew up in the small village of Nazareth, which had quite an unfavorable reputation. When people heard that this self-proclaimed “messiah” was from Nazareth, they were certain he was full of it. Plus he broke some Jewish laws that they believed the true Messiah would never break. So, from their human understanding of righteousness, they believed they must crucify this blasphemous man who was claiming to be the King of the Jews.

    Jesus, a humble man from Nazareth — not the expected fierce warrior, fighter king — was considered “last”.

    “…For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

    Anyone, regardless of status, reputation, or “sinful” past, may be called into discipleship at any time, in the way they are uniquely called by a Higher Voice.

    Discipleship, or Light Worker, or whatever label you want to slap on it, is not about saying the right words or being surrounded by others who also say the right words, nor is it about following a family tradition or cultural expectations. It’s about living your life authentically in devotion to Mother-Father God, asking how you can show up to humbly serve Creation, and then listening when the call comes, even when it seems insane from our human understanding — and it often does.

    In the Gospel reading, when Jesus says the doorway into Home is narrow, he means that it requires discipline and devotion to the connection with the soul — a path where the Higher Voice within is louder than useless chatter and egoic fears.

    This path is highly misunderstood, however, because it is not a logical path. But it was never meant to be within the bounds of human logic. It was always meant to be a path rooted in faith., built on the connection with the Highest Light found within ourselves, and trusting we’ll be caught with each leap of faith we take.

    The only way Home is through Christ, which means walking in faith and union in the Holy Trinity — Father/Mother, Son/Daughter, Holy Spirit — Mind, Body, Soul.

    This happens through aligning our thoughts and words *mind* with the call of our *soul* and then taking physical action *body* when we feel the call. The Union of the Holy Trinity, through Christ Consciousness.

    This is how Jesus lived as the Christ incarnate, and he wanted to show us what that looked like so we could follow in his footsteps towards Home. He embodied the Christ in flesh all the way until he experienced the ultimate physical/ego death and would ascend in the Highest Glory. Hallelujah!

    Hardships were never meant to just tear us down — not without the opportunity for redemption in Truth. We are simply being humbled so we may free our souls, embody our light, and be a lamppost to help others go within and find their soul’s unique way Home.

    La da da da…

    ……………………………………..

    Songs:
    “Ripple” – Grateful Dead
    There is a road, no simple highway
    Between the dawn and the dark of night
    And if you go, no one may follow
    That path is for your steps alone

    Ripple in still water
    When there is no pebble tossed
    Nor wind to blow

    You who choose to lead must Follow
    But if you fall you fall alone
    If you should stand then who’s to guide you?
    If I knew the way I would take you Home

    La da da da…

    “Humbling River” – Puscifer
    Braved the forests, braved the stone
    Braved the icy winds and fire
    Braved and beat them on my own
    Yet I’m helpless by the river

    Angel, angel, what have I done?
    I’ve faced the quakes, the wind, the fire
    I’ve conquered country, crown, and throne
    Why can’t I cross this river?

    Pay no mind to the battles you’ve won
    It’ll take a lot more than rage and muscle
    Open your heart and hands, my son
    Or you’ll never make it over the river

    It’ll take a lot more than words and guns
    A whole lot more than riches and muscle
    The hands of the many must join as one
    And together we’ll cross the river

    “Terrapin Station” – Grateful Dead
    Some rise, some fall, some climb
    To get to Terrapin

    “Way of the Triune God” – Tyler Childers
    I don’t need the laws of man
    To tell me what I ought to do
    He reached down and touched my hand
    And gave me quite a talkin’-to
    Gave it to me, strict in charge
    Somethin’ simple I could ponder
    ‘Til the role is called on high
    ‘Til we all meet over yonder

    Old time, screamin’ and shoutin’
    Go up, tell it on the mountain
    Faith too strong to be left doubtin’
    Way of the Triune God

    “Reflection” – Tool
    So crucify the ego, before it’s far too late
    And leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical
    And you will come to find that we are all one mind
    Capable of all that’s imagined and all conceivable
    So let the light touch you, and let the words spill through
    And let them pass right through, bringing out our hope and reason
    Before we pine away

    “All Around You” – Sturgill Simpson
    God is inside you
    All around you
    And up above
    Knowing
    Showing you the way

    Hymns:
    “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” – Prayer of St. Francis
    Make me a channel of your peace. 
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love. 
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord 
    And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope 
    Where there is darkness, only light 
    And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console 
    To be understood as to understand 
    To be loved as to love with all my soul. 

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned 
    In giving to all men that we receive 
    And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

    “Here I am, Lord”
    I, the Lord of the sea and sky,
    I have heard my people cry
    All who dwell in dark and sin
    My hand will save.

    I who have made the stars of the night,
    I will make their darkness bright
    Who will bear my light to them?
    Whom shall I send?

    Here I am, Lord.
    Is it I Lord?
    I have heard you calling in the night.
    I will go Lord, if you lead me.
    I will hold your people in my heart.

    “Amazing Grace”
    ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    and grace my fears relieved;
    how precious did that grace appear
    the hour I first believed!

    Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come:
    ’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
    and grace will lead me home.
    ……………………………………..

    “The Canticle of the Sun” – Saint Francis of Assisi

    Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
    Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.

    To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
    and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

    Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
    especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.

    And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
    and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.

    Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
    in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

    Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
    and through the air, cloudy and serene,
    and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

    Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
    which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

    Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
    through whom You light the night;
    and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

    Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
    who sustains us and governs us and who produces
    varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

    Praised be You, my Lord,
    through those who give pardon for Your love,
    and bear infirmity and tribulation.

    Blessed are those who endure in peace
    for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

    Praised be You, my Lord,
    through our Sister Bodily Death,
    from whom no living man can escape.

    Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
    Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
    for the second death shall do them no harm.

    Praise and bless my Lord,
    and give Him thanks,
    and serve Him with great humility.
    Amen.

    ……………………………………..

    First Reading:
    Isaiah 66:18-21
    18 Thus says the LORD: I know their works and their thoughts, and I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. 19 I will set a sign among them; from them I will send fugitives to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their offering to the house of the LORD in clean vessels. 21 Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalm 117:1, 2
    R.(Mk 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
    1 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
    glorify him, all you peoples!
    R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
    2 For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
    and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
    R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
    5 Brothers and sisters,
    You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” 7 Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? 11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

    12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.

    Alleluia:
    John 14:6
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    6 I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;
    no one comes to the Father, except through me.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 13:22-30
    22 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. 25 After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. 26 And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ 27 Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
    ……………………………………..

  • Born Again

    Sunday, August 17, 2025
    Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    …
    First Reading:
    Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
    In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah was unjustly thrown into the cistern, awaiting his death by thirst and starvation. But before he fully met that fate, he was risen from the pit and lived.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalms 40:2, 3, 4, 14b, 18
    The responsorial psalm is a beautiful scriptural poem about the deaths and rebirths we often experience in our lives. When we are navigating the darkness, if we cry out to God for help, we will always be heard and answered. We just have to open our hearts, eyes, and ears to receive the answer — and then follow it (which is often the hardest part). Our cries are never in vain.

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:1-4
    The second reading talks about Jesus’ willingness to unjustly, yet humbly, carry his cross and be crucified. He endured the extreme slander of others, and set the highest example for us by making the ultimate sacrifice of the flesh, standing in the Highest Truth. The death of the flesh led to the soul’s ascension into Glory. Hosanna in the Highest!

    Alleluia:
    John 10:27
    “My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
    I know them, and they follow me.”

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 12:49-53
    In the Gospel reading, we hear Jesus say that he didn’t incarnate to bring peace; he came to ruffle some feathers. He came to disrupt humanity’s attachment to the flesh, or to the ego, in order to set our souls free. He warned it wouldn’t come easily though, because it would lead to separation — which oddly enough, is divinely intended to ultimately lead us to Unity.

    ……………………………………..

    The truth shall set you free.

    As valid as that statement is, if only it were that easy — am I right?

    It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes, because that means we might potentially upset some people. And the people-pleaser in many of us doesn’t wanna inconvenience anyone.

    Ope, ‘scuze me. Lemme just squeeze right past ya.

    Gotta keep the peace at all costs!

    But Jesus showed up and was like, “Yeah, f- that.”

    Okay, he probably didn’t say that, but basically. He did flip some tables once though, so I mean, I dunno…

    Jesus incarnated as the Holy Spirit in human form, wielding the Sword of His Tongue — the Sword of Truth — and people didn’t really like to hear what he had to say very much. Kinda pissed them off.

    The Jewish Temple and the Roman Empire had a quid-pro-quo relationship going on. Sure there was tension, but they could keep the “peace” if they each held up their ends of the bargain. Problem was, the relationship was built on greed and control, not on truth, love, and compassion. Not on integrity.

    Then Jesus showed up as the prophesied Messiah, shining his Light brighter than the blinding white flame of burning magnesium (that’s really freaking bright), claiming to build a new Kingdom built on Truth. But in order to do this, he first had to shine that Light on the shadows of the status quo.

    Many of the Jews winced at Jesus’ Light and had trouble accepting him as the Messiah. They believed the true Messiah would be a mighty ruler, establishing an Israeli army to overtake Rome. They expected their Messiah to subscribe to their separation mindset and take their side.

    But nope, Jesus didn’t come to overthrow Rome like the Jews expected. He came to overthrow Rome *and* the corruption within the Jewish Temple. Not by taking anybody’s side, but by challenging *both sides*. Not by wielding a literal sword, but by wielding the Sword of Truth.

    Hold up…this us vs. them, taking-a-side stuff sounds kinda familiar, doesn’t it? Gosh, where have I heard that before…

    *Ahem* Anyway…

    He was deemed blasphemous because he delivered the Truth of the ever-expanding message of God. He brought new truth and new wisdom. He called people out, even the highest of the hierarchy in the Temple, on their un-heart-centeredness, self-serving agendas, their hypocrisy, and their need for validation and praise.

    How dare he!

    I mean, they even released a murderer in exchange for Jesus’ crucifixion.. They really did not like him very much.

    Jesus was fully aware of what would happen to him, and you can see in multiple verses in the Gospels that he was in agony and felt the dread of his fate (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:41-44). He knew what was coming, and he was scared. Even Jesus, the human incarnate of Christ, was scared. But he leaned into God, surrendered to the call, and did it anyway.

    “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.“

    He endured the ultimate surrender of the flesh.

    Jesus is the personification of the ego death — the crucifixion of the flesh in order for the soul to rise and be Born Again in Glory. May the choirs of the angels rejoice! Hallelujah!
    ..

    Embodying your truth will sometimes create what appears to be separation among some key people in your life. But remember, this so-called separation is just an illusion of the flesh, of the ego. As we surrender and allow the ego to die — even if it is absolutely terrifyingly terrifying — our souls will be caught by the Most High, and be risen up in glory.

    This will ultimately lead us all, everyone, every single one of us, back to Unity Consciousness. To Christ Consciousness.

    As above, so below.
    As within, so without.
    On Earth, as it is in Heaven.

    That’s my prayer for us, anyway.
    Lord, hear our prayer.

    Our Creator knows our struggles and wants to lead us back Home. Like the painting in the Sistine Chapel, God is perpetually reaching out to Adam, waiting for Adam to reach back out to God.

    God hears your calls. Do you hear God’s?

    ……………………………………..

    Hymn:
    “Amazing Grace”
    1 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
    that saved a wretch like me!
    I once was lost, but now am found,
    was blind, but now I see.

    2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    and grace my fears relieved;
    how precious did that grace appear
    the hour I first believed!

    3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come:
    ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
    and grace will lead me home.

    Songs:
    “Home in Your Heart” – Elephant Revival
    Falling down,
    Spin me ‘round.
    No one said this would be easy now,
    But you’ve gotta keep moving somehow.

    Don’t push that river,
    Let the river move you along.
    There’s Home in your heart when there’s heart in your home.
    Don’t force nothing and something will come around,
    Light as a feather when you’re homeward bound,
    Light as a feather when you’re home.

    “Gravity” – A Perfect Circle
    I am surrendering to the gravity and the unknown
    Catch me, heal me, lift me back up to the Sun
    I choose to live

    “Reflection” – Tool
    It’s calling me…
    .
    I must crucify the ego before it’s far too late
    I pray the light lifts me out
    Before I pine away
    ..
    So crucify the ego, before it’s far too late
    And leave behind this place so negative and blind and cynical
    And you will come to find that we are all one mind
    Capable of all that’s imagined and all conceivable
    So let the light touch you, and let the words spill through
    And let them pass right through, bringing out our hope and reason
    Before we pine away

    “All Around You” – Sturgill Simpson
    God is inside you
    All around you
    And up above
    Knowing
    Showing you the way
    ……………………………………..

    First Reading:
    Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
    4 In those days, the princes said to the king: “Jeremiah ought to be put to death; he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such things to them; he is not interested in the welfare of our people, but in their ruin.” 5 King Zedekiah answered: “He is in your power”; for the king could do nothing with them. 6 And so they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah, which was in the quarters of the guard, letting him down with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.

    8 Ebed-melech, a court official, went there from the palace and said to him: 9 “My lord king, these men have been at fault in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah, casting him into the cistern. He will die of famine on the spot, for there is no more food in the city.” 10 Then the king ordered Ebed-melech the Cushite to take three men along with him, and draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die.

    Responsorial Psalm:
    Psalms 40:2, 3, 4, 18
    R. (14b) Lord, come to my aid!
    2a I have waited, waited for the LORD,
    and he stooped toward me.
    R. Lord, come to my aid!
    2bThe LORD heard my cry.
    3 He drew me out of the pit of destruction,
     out of the mud of the swamp;
    he set my feet upon a crag;
     he made firm my steps.
    R. Lord, come to my aid!
    4 And he put a new song into my mouth,
     a hymn to our God.
    Many shall look on in awe
     and trust in the LORD.
    R. Lord, come to my aid!
    18 Though I am afflicted and poor,
     yet the LORD thinks of me.
    You are my help and my deliverer;
     O my God, hold not back!
    R. Lord, come to my aid!

    Second Reading:
    Hebrews 12:1-4
    1 Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us 2 while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. 3 Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

    Alleluia:
    John 10:27
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.
    27 My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
    I know them, and they follow me.
    R. Alleluia, alleluia.

    Gospel Reading:
    Luke 12:49-53
    49 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
    ……………………………………..

Hi there! My name is Jenafer. Welcome to Jen + Juice, my own little corner of the internet where I jabber on about some things I wanna jabber on about. Thank you for being here!

I randomly got hit with some inspiration to create a blog where I dive into the weekly Catholic Mass readings from my own esoteric and mystical perspective. I’ll maybe throw in some astrology, some songs I like that vibe with the weekly teachings, and maybe some of my own relatable personal experiences — we’ll see what comes up each week. It’s something I’m already doing on my own anyway, so I figured why not throw it together in some blog posts for anyone else interested in hearing my musings. Some other little posts might get peppered in here and there too, if it strikes my fancy…if there’s anything I wanna jabber on about.

I know this little endeavor of mine might ruffle a few feathers, but I also know I’m feeling called to do it anyway. Whether you’re a practicing Christian who possibly won’t like my perspective because it could be little different from what you’re used to, or you’re carrying some religious trauma and the talk of anything Christian-related tastes a little sour in your mouth — either way, this page might make you sit uneasily in your seat. But I’ve sat in both of those seats before, so I get it. Self-imposed prisons are indeed pretty uncomfortable.

If you take Scripture as the ultimate truth, or if you simply receive it as a symbolic archetypal message, or if you’re just curious about what I wanna jabber on about, I’m happy to have any and all of you here. There is some sweet juicy-juice that can be squeezed from the fruit of the Holy Spirit if you get out of your own way and give it a little taste.

Perhaps those ruffling feathers will catch the wind of my words and set the uneasy souls free.

What I share in this space is my own truth in how I understand the Holy Trinity, Biblical Scripture, and the Word of the Most High. I have a little different approach than the dogmatic perspective many of you have been exposed to, myself included.

Though I am incredibly grateful for my Catholic upbringing, it has taken me a lot of work to find the truth within myself through my own relationship with the Holy Spirit — including the complete destruction and denial of anything remotely godlike at one point in my life during a very dark, dark night of the soul. But this denial and destruction was when I hit my rock bottom, where I was able to rebuild my inner Temple with the integrity of my own soul’s solid foundation. I am a forever student in life, trying my darnedest to walk humbly with presence, as a living prayer in devotion, and not through what someone else outside of me projects as ultimate truth.

I believe God’s Word is ever-expanding — just as the New Testament built onto the Old Testament, and the “newer” books in the Old Testament built onto the first five books found in the Torah — we’re not finished writing the story. For me, there’s more truth available to be sought beyond the limits of Biblical Scripture, so I will include my unique little pieces to the puzzle to create my own weekly “sermons” or “homilies”, if you will.

With that being said, please seek truth within yourself as well. Take what resonates with what I share here (and what you consume in your own religious/spiritual seeking), and leave what doesn’t. I am not anyone’s guru, and I will never claim to be. I’m here to humbly share my perspective of truth that I have found along my own journey, but I’m not here to convince you to share my same perspective. You are your own guru, and you have your own free will. Please always use it with discernment.

Okay, now come and taste the sweet, juicy nectar of the Holy Spirit with me.

Cheers…