"Risen Lamb Writings"

"An Easter Earthquake"

         It is clear right now that the world is being shaken by the Corona virus--shaken not only by the disease aspect of the virus itself, but also shaken in fear of the unknown, shaken out of daily routines and life-styles--perhaps even shaken out of a sense of misplaced priorities and an attitude of taking many things for granted. God can use this "shakeup" to bring forth much good. Hence, this must be a time of intense, contemplative intercession. God wants a vast harvest of converted hearts! In the opening Gospel of "Palm Sunday" Mass this year, in St. Matthew's gospel we hear that when Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem for the last time, "The whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" Then, later in the gospel passion account from St. Matthew during mass, after Jesus dies on the cross we hear that, "the earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised."The truth is that the whole reality of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is "earth shattering news"!

         Woe to the world that is no longer awestruck by the stupendous reality of this earth shattering news. Woe to the world that lives as if Jesus never lived. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, very often we have to be "shaken to awaken". We read in Ephesians 5:14, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Is the time we are currently living through, then, in part a "wake up call"? I believe so. In the Gospel of St. Matthew proclaimed On Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil Mass this year we hear that on the day of the Resurrection, "Behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it." This Easter earthquake no doubt registered a magnitude "10.0 on the Resurrection Richter Scale". Talk about the "seismology of salvation"! The word seismology--the geophysical science of earthquakes--comes from a word that means, "to shake". In short, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is an earth shattering event.

         In the insurance industry, damage caused by a natural event like an earthquake is called an "act of God". An act of God means that it is an event that cannot be controlled. During the current pandemic who's really in control of a virus that is not understood scientifically, is highly contagious and has no vaccine?! Certainly, humanity is not in control. The truth is that only God is in control. From beginning to end, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus was always and only an "act of God". In truth the world cannot control the Risen Lamb of God. Contemplative intercessors must "seize the day" during this shakeup to storm heaven on behalf of a multitude of souls.

         In "The Exsultet: The Proclamation of Easter" that is sung towards the beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass, one line reads, "Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy..." Here's some Holy Saturday "seismology"! In The Acts of The Apostles in one scene we are told of the new, Pentecost community of believers, "As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Although we are celebrating Easter differently this year cannot our homes still become both upper rooms, places of vibrant encounter with the "earth moving" resurrected Jesus, and houses of prayer for others?!

         We often read on the labels of various liquids and medication bottles the words, "shake well before using". I sense that among other things God is using this current time in our world to call many hearts back to Him--to shake many out of the value system of the world. This is a moment of God's Mercy at work. God desires to use many people to further extend His Kingdom. First, however, we need to be shaken. May we never take the gift of the costly, sacrificial love of Jesus for granted. In fact, as contemplative intercessors may we be "movers and shakers" during this current opportunity for humanity. May the empowered prayer of intercession continue to impact hearts to the extent of heart-felt conversion.

Scriptures: Haggai 2:6-9; Acts 2:36-41

Questions:

1)   Am I living in fear or in fired-up faith during the current pandemic?

2)   Am I seizing the opportunity to intercede for souls during this time, or am I too self-preoccupied?