Wednesday, May 13, 2020

More On The Coronavirus and the Book of Revelation

My parish Bible study group met again on Zoom this week and it's working out better than I thought. Of course, we miss the getting together in person but it is working.
I love Scripture Study and I think every parish should have a well planned, well organized Scripture Study group or maybe two. I love the New Collegeville Bible Commentaries, I think they're excellent and great for a study group.
So in between reading the Scriptures and discussing them and the commentary the question came up again this week....  how strange that we just so happen to be studying this Book of the Bible, at this time and is it just a coincidence or is there a deeper meaning? Also, some of us feel that we are living through a modern day apocalypse (unveiling) of some sort, to some degree, and a reminder of how fragile life really is.
Besides the horrific pain, suffering and loss that the coronavirus is causing throughout the world and the other problems such as hunger, isolation and hopelessness associated with it, people can't worship God properly or as they are accustomed to. Most of the churches in the United States remain empty and those that are opening have new restrictions (One I heard of from Florida will have only 25% capacity). The strange new reality of life during and after the pandemic.
So this week as we studied the Book of Revelation, I thought this verse was a prophecy we are living through right here in New York unfortunately.
"Those from every people, tribe, tongue and nation will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days and they will not allow their corpses to be buried." (Rev.11:9)
God help us and may this horrific trial pass.
Things seem to be improving. Somewhat.
NJA