The Novel Coronavirus and the Book of Revelation-2020

It just so happens that at this horrific, historic time, when the novel coronavirus pandemic is raging through the world, my parish Bible study group, (meeting now on Zoom), is studying the Book of Revelation. This book is considered apocalyptic, meaning "unveiling." Right there in the last book of the Christian Bible, in the New Testament, are signs we are living through this modern day apocalypse, that was prophesied about over 2,000 years ago. As crazy as it sounds, this might be a taste of what the apocalypse would be like. I seriously don't think it will be the end of the world and certainly things are improving everyday, but I do think our lives will be changed for a long time, because of this unpredictable, evil-like virus. And for some sadly and unfortunately, the worst case scenario did happen and will happen. Too many needless deaths, premature and lonely deaths, because of humankind's carelessness and lack of respect for the natural world.
Perhaps people of other faiths with knowledge of Sacred Scripture are thinking this as well...but when we were not allowed to worship in Church on Easter Sunday and other horrific things happened that holy day, I said to myself, "Something is out of whack."
A few days ago while studying the Book, with Church friends in our Bible study group, these words jumped out at me (the living Word of God), "You have limited strength and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name" (Rev. 3:8).
Yes we all do have limited strength at this difficult and confusing time and we have to rely on the advice of medical experts and trust in God to see us through.
Also, "Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.  I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have so that no one may take your crown" (Rev. 3:10-11)
The word "endurance" appears 7 times in the Book of Revelation. We have to endure, have faith and trust in God and the experts and we will see this pass. This too shall pass and just perhaps, maybe?, could be?, we lived through the prophecy from the Book of Revelation.
Stay Well!
NJA

We've Lost Too Many Good New Yorkers To The Pandemic

How sad this pandemic is....so many lost lives, so much tragedy...good, decent people dying alone, away from their loved ones...Please God end this awful pandemic.
Not only New Yorkers, throughout the United States, all over the world, brave health care workers, essential workers, and others, just doing their job, trying to stay faithful to their jobs and dying from this awful, deadly virus. So many innocent people, trying to live and having their lives cut short.
Let's hope lessons are learned by the world community. Let's hope this never happens again and people are held accountable, so that this never happens again.
Wherever this virus came from, we are smarter than this. To be outsmarted by a virus, in this day and time, with so much advanced technology is absurd.
I hope and pray this never happens again.
Too much loss, so much pain. Good, decent people dying.
I never thought I would live through an experience like this. No one could have imagined this. Well, some people did but not enough attention was paid to them.
I pray the statistics and data continues to improve, the world gets back to normal soon and this is just a bad memory.
Please God saves us from ourselves.
NJA

"The World Kissing Its Own Darkness"- The Pandemic Continues Into Holy Week

"He said, write down the vision you had, and I wrote what I saw.
I saw the world kissing its own darkness.
It happened thus: I rose to meet the sunrise and suddenly over the hill
a horde appeared dragging a huge tarpaulin.
They covered unwary land and hapless city and all sweet water and fields.
And there was no surprise....."
Jessica Powers

When I read the poem, "The Vision" by Jessica Powers, I thought of the strange image I saw on TV of a temporary hospital that was set up in Central Park in NYC, to help treat coronavirus patients. Somehow the words, "I saw the world kissing its own darkness," and "a horde appeared dragging a huge tarpaulin," seemed to fit the scene in some absurd way.

These are trying times. A Holy Week to remember or maybe to forget. So much pain and suffering, loss, disappointment and death. No one deserves what happened. Families torn apart, people dying alone. Warrior-like doctors and nurses doing their best, in disbelief of what they're seeing and dealing with. Little did we know, when Lent began, that in this year 2020, there would be an assault from a deadly, evil, sneaky virus.
Will humankind learn from their errors? Will wet markets, throughout the world be closed to prevent future deadly viruses from leaping from animals to humans and causing havoc? I hope so. I pray this all ends soon and the world recovers and the world learns.
The economic fall out will be great, world economies may never look the same.
Uncharted territory.
As Christians, we have to maintain hope. In the Northeast, it is Spring.
NJA

Keep Your Immune System Strong During Pandemic-The Harshest Desert

While being prayerful and using this critical time to practice social distancing and some isolation, to do our part, remember the saints and other serious seekers of God, often went off by themselves and retreated or went within monasteries or convents to pray, to grow closer to God in solitude.

Also since I have been doing a lot of spring cleaning, I found an article about superfoods which help build up your immune system.....I've added a few others I've read about before. Eating healthy will help you protect your body and keep it strong.

So here they are:
Black Tea
Celery
Cherries and blueberries (frozen is OK)
Oranges
Nuts and seeds
Mushrooms
Onions
Garlic (great in soups and making pasta sauce)
Pomegranate juice
Quinoa
Sunflower seeds
Whole grain cereal (organic)

Stay healthy
Let's pray this trial is over quickly.
When we were led into the desert at the beginning of Lent, no one expected "the desert" to be as harsh as its been this year. We will never forget the Lent of 2020.

NJA

The Great Warning-The Coronavirus Pandemic

The more I hear and listen to news reports, the more convinced I am, that the coronavirus pandemic   is a warning humankind is being given. The Great Warning.......
All the greed, pride, and blatant ignoring of the Ten Commandments as well as the Seven Deadly Sins amongst others, is out of hand and has been for along time. God is patient, but perhaps God can no longer protect us from the ignorance we show, or the lack of wisdom. Can it be that no matter how obvious the problems are, how obvious the changes that need to take place are, we continue like business as usual and in many cases, sin wins the day. Pornography, child sexual abuse, exploitation of children and women, animal abuse, selfishness, disregard for the created world.....the list goes on..........
People need to be more just, kind, compassionate, selfless and Christ-like. All the evils of this world, which cause pain and suffering to many innocents, must be corrected.
God is patient but if we are intent on destroying humanity, because of ignorance, greed, and lack of wisdom, what can God do?
We have warnings in the Scriptures, we have sacred books and writings, from many religious traditions. We know "what is pleasing to the Lord." We know what builds-up and creates harmony, goodness and love. Sin and evil deeds are not pleasing to God and cause disturbance and pain.
I hope and pray, please Lord, that humankind wakes up, does the right thing, abides in truth before we unknowingly destroy it all.
Christians are suppose to live in hope. Hope is essential to Christians. I am trying to be hopeful, but when I cannot even receive Holy Communion, because of the pandemic, I know for sure, things are out of whack. Please Lord, show us mercy and show us the way.
NJA

Putting All Fears and Anxiety on the Altar of God During Coronavirus Pandemic

We are living through strange times......for me, watching the Mass on TV on a Sunday morning instead of going to Church is something I never thought I would do. But I did it today.
Looking at empty grocery store shelves in America in 2020, who could of thought such a thing would happen?
This is the new normal, at least for the time being and its unsettling.
But its a good time especially since it's Lent to do Spring cleaning, to shed some things that are no longer needed. Since I will be spending more time than usual in the house, it's a good time, to gather up clothing I don't need or wear anymore and give it to charity. And other things as well.....
There are positive things that can be done, in this strange new day- to- day reality.
I hope its over soon, I hope the pandemic and historic time we are living through passes quickly.
I pray for the sick and their caregivers and those homebound.

These words from St. Teresa of Avila, a great Carmelite Spanish saint and Doctor of the Church, gave me some comfort today:

Be not anxious, have no fear
All is passing, God is near.
Love unchanging, that is God
Bear then all things patiently.
Who possesses God has all, 
Wanting nothing great or small
God suffices, God alone
You are God's, make God your own.
And oh yes, Rejoice!  
St Teresa of Avila

I would add, if I may "And yes, live in hope, because as Christians we are called to be hopeful, in the midst of trials and uncertainty, we have hope that the Lord is with us and will get us through."
Amen.
NJA

Fear and Uncertainty in the World Because of the Coronavirus

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus throughout the world, there is much fear and anxiety. The government is trying to allay people's fears but that hasn't kept people from hoarding sanitizers and face masks. And then there are the conspiracy theories that abound, which are quite frightening.
People who would normally be very much in control and level-headed were seen "fighting" over a can of tuna fish at the food co-op in Park Slope, Brooklyn (according to news reports). Say it isn't so! People want to have canned goods on hand, in case, God forbid it gets worse, which is a good idea. But let civility prevail. Maybe we are living in the end times!
There are new guidelines for receiving Holy Communion at Mass, in the Diocese where I am right now....and only the Eucharist will be provided during Communion.  Congregants are encouraged to give a bow or hand gesture instead of a handshake or hug during the Sign of Peace. Sanitizers are being used by the priests and liturgical ministers at Mass.
Holy water has been removed from the Holy water fonts, as a precaution. (Empty holy water fonts? I hope that's not mentioned in the Book of Revelation, as a sign of the end times).
In another part of the world, right in Pope Francis' "backyard," the coronavirus is causing havoc in Italy and also in Iran and South Korea. Pope Francis hasn't been feeling well, but not due to the virus.
The elderly and those with compromised immune systems are in the most danger from coronavirus.
What can we do besides washing our hands properly, using common sense, stop touching our faces as much as possible and pray for the best outcome and an end to the epidemic.
As Christians, we have no other choice but to humble ourselves before God and ask that humankind learns from past mistakes and goes forward smarter and wiser.
Lord, have mercy on us!
NJA