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Risen Lamb Writings
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"Risen Lamb Writings"

"The Wonderful Stream"

          Together, Sts. Matthew, Mark and Luke each relate that at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil in the sanctuary in the temple was torn in two (Mt. 27:51;Mark 15:38;Luke 23:45). Only St. John relates, however, that after Jesus was already dead on the cross, a Roman soldier with a lance "breached the wall of the holy temple" ( St. John Chyrsostom, cited in Heart of the Redeemer, p.88):

"One soldier thrust his lance into his side and immediately, blood and water flowed out"

(John 19:34).

 Here, the holy temple in question is the Temple of Jesus' own Body (see John 2:21). As we read in the Roman Missal, "You made the Body of Your Son…the Temple consecrated to you" (preface for the ritual mass for "The Dedication of a church and an altar", p. 1070). From within the "Temple wall", now breached, comes forth 'the fragrance of the sweetest incense, and the rich aroma of perfumes, from the scented Sanctuary and aromatic Altar'. The Temple of his Body is opened to all.

           We are reminded that during the time of the Exodus, the people of the desert generation witnessed Moses strike the rock at Massah and Meribah (Ex. 17:5-6). There, water gushed forth from the rock to quench their thirst. St. Paul, referring to this event, says, "They drank from the spiritual rock…the rock was Christ"     (1Cr. 10:4). In chapter 47 of The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, Ezekiel describes a vision he has had of the Temple in Jerusalem:

"I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east"

(Ezek. 47:1).

The direction of the east symbolizes the Resurrected Lamb, the "sun who rises and never sets", through whom  the "dawning" of a new age in the history of salvation has come. In Ezekiel's vision this water originates from the altar of offering in the temple. This vision is fulfilled in the piercing of Jesus' heart while he hangs on the "altar of the cross":

"This is the fountain of life which takes its rise from the wound of Christ and washes over the whole earth"

(Heart of the Redeemer, p. 45).

          From the altar of Jesus' heart this life-giving stream goes forth to heal, to freshen--to transform a wounded, sinful world. The ends of the earth are "watered by the flow from the sanctuary" of his love. The new Sanctuary is his risen body: Jesus is the holy Sanctuary of the presence of God. Intercessors are called to take part in the holiness of this Temple: "For the temple of God, which you are, is holy" (1 Cr. 3:17B). We unite our prayer and offering with the "fragrant flow"--the life-giving power that originates from the altar of Jesus' own heart. Our intercession--united to the unique mediation of the Lamb of God--becomes life-giving streams for humanity--streams of grace cascading--witnessing to the inexhaustible vitality of love.

Questions:

1) How am I experiencing the 'fragrance' of Jesus' Love in my life right now?

2) How is God calling the 'temple of my body' to a deeper holiness?

Scriptures:

Ps. 46:5-6; Is. 44:3; Zech. 14:8; John 4:13-14; 1Cr. 3:16-17.

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