Fr. Joe Hennessy's Blog, page 5

Paradox, the birthing stretch Part 2

That is one thing that is getting through this hard head of mine, so many of the great spiritual truths appear to be paradoxical. “It is only when I am weak, it is then that I am strong” (Have not got the hang of that one yet. Work in progress ?) “Faith is a journey […]

Paradox-the birthing stretch

On the spiritual journey there is nothing but change. Changes we have no control over. Ours is a journey into surrender. A gradual surrender to the all-encompassing, all-embracing, loving hug of God. Since is The Great Lover, She/He does not in any way force us to respond by surrendering. I remember reading this quote of […]

Write like you’re dying!!! Part 3

Years ago I read this ever so challenging quote, ”write like you are dying.” I have kept this before me over the years as I journeyed with fellow travelers, preached, and wrote. We must tell the truth, when it is ”convenient and inconvenient.” The real healthy truth really hurts. Denial of the reality can last […]

Write like you’re dying!!! part 2

I see now, ever more clearly that as St. Paul says a priest is “a man taken from among men” to be in the service of The Holy Alone. A man who has failed and does fall and over and over, up to this present moment. I take great comfort in the words of Carl […]

Write like you’re dying!!!

I have not played golf in a long, long time, but the memories linger on. When you can say “I am are playing the back nine” this means you are finishing or close to finishing the round. Now when that applies to life, and you say you are finishing the back nine then the club […]

Home, part 3

I went on a hike and took a struggle with me. I have found out over the years, that when I have a challenge to face, Joe better take a hike. On these particular hikes, I seem to get what I need to know not necessarily what I want to know. Some of the truths […]

Home, part 2

To be healthy, we will have to face that which we prefer not to face, given a choice. To be spiritually healthy we have to face our own fears, and journey into our own darkness. It is then we are strong enough to face the familiar challenge. The challenge that comes with belonging to a […]

Home

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.” M. Basho. Home is a word that will crop up in conversation a great deal over the next many days, and weeks. Time that, hopefully, we will live in, and not just, exist in. We will be asked the question, “Are you going home […]

Two Shoes, Part 2

As St. Augustine wrote “the first book written was creation.” The second Bible written was with words. The creation, writing of that first book has taken billions of years and it is still being written to day. If we were told that there was a person chosen to continue to write the bible, we all […]

Two Shoes

I was hiking in The Tetons. As I found my way on the trail I looked up. Coming towards me at a very slow rate was a mature couple. Their appearance was eye popping. They appeared to have come from a photo shoot for a catalogue company. They were really dressed for the occasion as […]