Part IV: Ezekiel’s Dream of the Temple:

Introduction

Ezekiel’s Dream Interpreted

Then he brought me back to the door of the [rebuilt – SML] temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate, that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side.

Going on eastward with a line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the loins. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back along the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw upon the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh.[[2] SML] And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea; from En-ge′di to En-eg′laim it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes [they do not receive the river flowing from the Temple – SML] will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt [dead, fallen man – SML]. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing” (Ez 47:1–12; all passages are from the RSVCE).     

Rev. Mitch Pacwa is a well-known and well-respected Scripture scholar. On March 20^th, 2007 he gave a homily that was broadcast on EWTN radio. His focus for the homily was a discussion of Ezekiel’s prophetic dream (Ez. 47:1–12) of the restoration of the Temple that was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587 BC. In the narrative of the dream, Ezekiel describes an interesting feature of the restored Temple: he describes a fresh water river that flows out from the altar within the Temple and down through the desert, transforming everything in its path into a paradise rich in vegetation and life. It continues to flow onward to the Dead Sea[3] which, as Pacwa describes it, is nine times saltier than the oceans. It is so salty that if you drink its water you will die. The high concentration of salt prevents life from surviving in or around it. It is utterly fruitless [cf. Judges 9:45]. Other rivers, such as the Jordan, flow into the Dead Sea but their waters immediately become salty. In Ezekiel’s vision, however, the waters that flow from the restored Temple turn the salty water of the Dead Sea (a.k.a. Salt Sea) into sweet/pure/fresh water.[4] As a result, its waters become fruitful and full of life, as does the land surrounding it. The Gospel reading for that same day was about a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years who couldn’t make it to the healing waters of Bethesda, or Beth-zatha as it is written in some manuscripts (Jn 5:1–16). By explaining how the two readings complement each other, Pacwa made the case that the Temple in Ezekiel’s vision was Jesus and that from Him would flow Living Water that heals the sick and transforms death into fruit-bearing life.[5]

There are two references to life in the above quoted passage and each has a distinctly different meaning. The context of the phrase “every living creature” seems to indicate every form of biological (organic) life; while the last reference in the phrase “every living creature which swarms will live” seems to be indicative of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit as a consequence of coming into contact with the river of Living Water. Hence, in this context, living refers to the eternal spirit/soul.

We must answer the question: why is it that only a “creature that swarms” will live? The answer comes by understanding the characteristics of a swarm. A swarm lives and functions coherently through interaction, and only through interaction (i.e. expression, in one form or another). For example: a single ant finds a sugar cube and a little while later, a multitude of ants are following the pheromone trail (as also do cockroaches) to that sweet delight;[6] bees inside a hive, watch the “dance” of another bee and acting on the basis of that dance are led to a source of food;[7] the six or seven birds surrounding a lead bird will modify their flight trajectory based on the sudden movements of a startled bird;[8] and, a locust transforms to swarming mode because of increased levels of serotonin brought on by tactile stimulation and other types of contact.[9] One might be tempted to think that the use of swarming in Scripture is simply implying living together through a sort of group coherence. That would be a reasonable interpretation were it not for the context in which it was used, i.e., the multiplication of grace among largely non-hierarchical “creatures” and the consequences thereof. While the Temple from which the Living Water proceeds has a hierarchy (a ministerial priesthood), the swarm does not. Grace is the communication/sending out of Living Water to man; calling him to communion with the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. When man follows the “call/communication/grace” that triggers the “swarming” instinct, he finds life.

Through the reception of the Sacraments of the Church, especially Baptism[10] and the Eucharist, we are enabled to communicate the Living Water of the Holy Spirit (in the language of the body) to those around us. The symbolism of “living creature” indicates this communication of grace occurs through man’s mouth/body when in a nuptial and fruitful/multiplicative union with the resurrected NC Temple.

Are There Billions and Billions of Temples??

Eucharist: What is it, Why is It?

In the Old Testament the shared enjoyment of bread and salt, or of salt alone, served to establish lasting covenants (cf. Num 18:19; 2 Chron 13:5; cf. Hauck, TDNT I, p. 228). Salt is regarded as a guarantee of durability. It is a remedy against putrefaction, against the corruption that pertains to the nature of death. To eat is always to hold death at bay—it is a way of preserving life. The “eating of salt” by Jesus after the Resurrection, which we therefore encounter as a sign of new and everlasting life, points to the risen Lord’s new banquet with his followers. It is a covenant-event, and in this sense it has an inner association with the Last Supper, when the Lord established the New Covenant. So the mysterious cipher of eating salt expresses an inner bond between the meal on the eve of Jesus’ Passion and the risen Lord’s new table fellowship: he gives himself to his followers as food and thus makes them sharers in his life, in life itself.[28]

And this [The Eucharist] is indeed that clean oblation which cannot be defiled by any unworthiness or malice of those that offer it, which the Lord foretold by Malachias was to be offered in every place clean to His name.” (Session xxii, Ch. 1). The offering of this clean oblation was predicted by the prophet Malachias in the following words: “I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts; and I will not receive a gift of your hand. For from the rising of the sun even to the going down My name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to My name a clean oblation.” (Malach. 1: 10-11). All the Fathers of the Church consider this passage to refer to the Sacrifice of the Mass. For this prophecy does not find its fulfillment in the Old Testament, but in the New, wherein also are fulfilled the words which were spoken by God the Father to His Son: “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance.” (Ps. 2: 7-8). This was accomplished when the heathen were converted to the Faith by the preaching of the Apostles. The sacrifice here predicted by Malachias cannot be that which was offered by Christ on the Cross, as non-Catholics assert; for that was made in one place only, on Calvary, not in every place, as the prophet declares. Nor can the supposition be entertained that the prophecy refers to a sacrifice of praise or of good works [on the altar of the heart — SML], for these are no oblation in the proper sense of the word [see endnote for proper definition of “oblation”[32]], nor are they always a “clean oblation;” prophet says: “All our justices are before Thee as a filthy rag.” (Is. 64: 6).[33] As a high priest in the OT had priests of the Levites who offered sacrifice on the altar; the High Priest in the order of Melchisedech, Jesus, made his Apostles priests when he said, do this in memory of me.[34]

What Does the Eucharist “Do” For Us? How Does it Do It?

When I [Jesus] am ascended, thou shalt see nothing, thou shalt have everything. Thou shalt sit down under My shadow with great delight, and My fruit shall be sweet to thy taste. Thou shalt have Me whole and entire. I will be near thee, I will be in thee [not the language of mere friendship — SML]; I will come into thy heart [critical component of later discussion] a whole Saviour, a whole Christ—in all My fullness as God and man—in the awful virtue of that Body and Blood, which has been taken into the Divine Person of the Word, and is indivisible from it, and has atoned for the sins of the world—not by external contact, not by partial possession, not by momentary approaches, not by a barren manifestation, but inward in presence, and intimate in fruition [again, not the language of mere friendship], a principle of life and a seed of immortality, that thou mayest ‘bring forth fruit unto God’”(Cardinal St. John Neuman, Lectures on Justification, p. 216-219).[35]

“[v. 54] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. [v. 55] For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. [v. 56] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. [v. 57] As the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. [v. 58] This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for eve. (John 6:54–58)”

Salt, Water, Light, and the Transfiguration

As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world [corresponds with the Transfiguration – SML]." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay [recall the meta-sense-able significance of “living” mud/clay] of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Silo′am" (which means Sent; only the Son and the Holy Spirit are sent into creation ... the Father is never sent, but sends out ... communicates – SML). So he went and washed and came back seeing (Jn. 9:1-7).

Water & Blood Flowed From the Pierced Heart of Jesus

The Mouth and the Language of the Body

The Heart of the Eucharist

Science of the Heart

1.       Neurologically (using the nervous system);

2.      Biochemically (e.g., hormones);

3.      Energetically (e.g., electromagnetic energy, i.e., light), and;

4.      Biophysically (e.g. pulse waves from the beating heart).[64]

1).    St Gertrude the Great had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As a result of her purity of heart, she was granted a mystical encounter with St. John the Evangelist, the beloved Apostle who was given the singular honor of resting his head on the bosom/heart of Jesus during the Last Supper. In the Spirit, St. John took her to Jesus so that she, too, could lay her head on the bosom of Jesus. Then, as she felt the constant pulsations (the spiritual heart does not pulsate) of the Divine Heart, and rejoiced exceedingly thereat, she said to St. John: “Beloved of God, didst not thou feel those pulsations when thou wert lying on the Lord’s breast at the Last Supper?” “Yes,” he replied; “and this with such plenitude, that liquid does not enter more rapidly into bread than the sweetness of those pleasures penetrated my soul (clearly indicating Jesus’ physical – pre-crucified – heart and resurrected glorified heart), so that my spirit became more ardent than water under the action of a glowing fire.”[87] Note that the sweet pleasures of Jesus’ beating physical heart penetrated St. John’s soul. Also note: as was revealed above, science has shown that the heart’s pulse wave energy communicates with the body.

2).     Phillip Neri, “kept the longest vigils and received the most abundant consolations. In this catacomb, a few days before Pentecost in 1544, the well-known miracle of his heart took place. Bacci describes it thus: ‘While he was with the greatest earnestness asking of the Holy [Spirit] His gifts, there appeared to him a globe of fire, which entered into his mouth [symbolizing his scriptural mouth, the body – SML] and lodged in his breast; and thereupon he was suddenly surprised with such a fire of love, that, unable to bear it, he threw himself on the ground, and, like one trying to cool himself, bared his breast to temper in some measure the flame which he felt .... all his body began to shake with a violent tremour; and putting his hand to his bosom, he felt by the side of his heart, a swelling about as big as a man's fist ... The cause of this swelling was discovered by the doctors who examined his body after death. The saint's heart had been dilated [expanded – SML] under the sudden impulse of love, and in order that it might have sufficient room to move, two ribs had been broken, and curved in the form of an arch. From the time of the miracle till his death, his heart would palpitate (beat-SML) violently whenever he performed any spiritual action [emphasis SML].”[88] This miracle shows that the Light of the Holy Spirit produces a physical impact on the heart of flesh. For those who try to dismiss this by saying it was all spiritual, not physical, let us take a look at another miracle

3).     The same sort of phenomenon occurred with St. Gemma Galgani, but with minor differences from those surrounding St. Neri. “St. Galgani experienced an increasingly intense burning beginning in the center of her heart and then radiating outward. She describes the sensation as a hot poker penetrating her, so intense she needed ice to cool it. This pain and burning was not merely spiritual, but also physical. The skin in the area of the heart was actually burned. When Venerable Father Germanus Ruoppolo C.P. placed a thermometer on the skin, the mercury immediately ascended to the upper limit of the gauge. This type of manifestation of the Spirit’s dwelling in the heart was experienced by St. Padre Pio (his skin temperature, especially during Mass, was over 120 degrees, the upper limit of the thermometer), and also St. Paul of the Cross. Galgani said that while this burning caused great pain to her body, she did not desire that excruciating pain to stop because of the sweetness it produced in the very depths of her soul (i.e. the mouth/body breathed in the Divine, causing the inner heart to overflow and be expressed via the body, especially the human heart). The palpitations of her physical [SML] heart during this phenomenon were so great, her chair and bed would shake, even though she herself remained quite calm. Like Phillip Neri, St. Gemma’s heart was also expanded. So much so that three of her ribs were broken at almost right angles. When her body was exhumed, physicians found that decomposition of the body had begun … except for the heart. It was found incorrupt, full of blood, fresh, healthy, and flexible.”[89] Note that Divine light does not produce heat. Moses was exposed to it, and Jesus was transfigured by it. Heat is generated when created high-frequency electromagnetic radiation is absorbed into matter, such as the flesh in close proximity to the physical heart, such as what happened during Eve’s creation.

Evidence Gleaned From Eucharistic Miracles

1.       The first occurred in 750 A.D. at a church in the Italian town of Lanciano. When the ‘veil’ of bread and wine were miraculously withdrawn from a consecrated host, human flesh and blood appeared! While this happened in the 8^th century, several scientific tests have since been performed. The testing revealed that the flesh was from a human heart, and the blood was the same type as was Jesus’ blood? The flesh, in section, was determined to have present: 1) the myocardium, which is the part of the human heart that generates the largest electromagnetic field in the body; 2) the vagus nerve, which is responsible for sending messages from the heart to the larynx (voice box; remember all those passages talking about the lambs knowing the voice of incarnate God) and on to the brain, and; 3) the left ventricle, which is the part of the heart that pumps the blood through the body.[90]

2.      The second miracle occurred in 2008 when a consecrated host was inadvertently dropped onto the ground during a Mass celebrated in the eastern Polish town of Sokolka. Following Church practice, the priest placed the consecrated host in water to dissolve it, thus removing the Real Presence of Jesus. Several days later, however, a nun found that the consecrated host had not dissolved completely. She discovered that a red mark had appeared on its surface. The red mark appeared to be blood, but was, in fact, human tissue. Two medical doctors separately determined the tissue was heart muscle tissue (from the myocardium).[91]

3.      The third Eucharistic miracle took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1996. Once again, a consecrated host was dropped on the ground and subsequently placed in water to dissolve. After about nine days, it took on the appearance of blood and tissue. Samples were then sent to three different laboratories for analysis (circa 1996, 1999, and 2004). The last two labs were not informed of the story behind, or origin of, the samples, except to say that they were from a man who died. The results showed that the samples contained both red and white blood cells. The tissue was determined to be heart muscle tissue (myocardia) from the left ventricle.[92] Are you ready to be amazed? The blood cells were found to be alive and functioning. The cells from the heart muscle tissue were found to be moving and still beating [still generating electromagnetic radiation — SML]. Dr. Frederick Zugibe determined the tissue was from a man whose heart had been severely traumatized. The blood type and DNA exactly matched the blood/tissue sample from Lanciano and, therefore, were from the same person. The blood samples were determined to be 100% identical to blood samples taken from the Shroud of Turin and from the Sudarium of Oviedo (thought to be part of the burial cloth that had been wrapped around the head of Jesus).[93][94] The Church has not yet ruled on the authenticity of these miracles.

4.      The most recent miracle occurred in Legnica, Poland, on Christmas day of 2013. Once again, the consecrated host fell to the ground, after which it was placed in the water-filled vasculum. Subsequently, the sacramental veil (accidents of bread and wine) was lifted from the host revealing human flesh, which was later determined, by independent testing/research facilities, to be human heart muscle. Like the other miracles, the heart tissue showed forensic signs of great agony. In 2016, the Vatican approved this miracle and ordered the local bishop to set up a place for adoration of the heart of Jesus made visible to the faithful.[95][96] My listing of the particulars of each of these miracles is minimal. I would highly recommend visiting Carlo Acutis’ website (see endnotes) for a more in-depth appreciation of those miracles.

Endnotes:

Citation: R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, & D. Brown, (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 618). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Citation: Brant James Pitre, Jesus the Bridegroom (p. 139). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Citation: Pitre, Jesus the Bridegroom, p. 139.

Citation: Fr. John A. Hardon, “History and Theology of Grace: Actual Graces,” http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Grace/Grace_013.htm therealpresence.org. Used with permission from Inter Mirifica.

Citation: Fr. John A. Hardon S.J., “History and Theology of Grace: Grace Considered Extensively,” The Real Presence Association, http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Grace/Grace_002.htm#05: Inter Mirifica, 1998 (accessed 06/23/2014).

Cited by McCraty: Armour, J.A., “Peripheral autonomic neuronal interactions in cardiac regulation,” Neurocardiology, J.A. Armour and J.L. Ardell, Editors (Oxford University Press: New York, 1994). p. 219-244.

Cited by McCraty: Armour, J.A., Anatomy and function of the intrathoracic neurons regulating the mammalian heart, in Reflex Control of the Circulation, I.H. Zucker and J.P. Gilmore, Editors. 1991, CRC Press: Boca Raton. p. 1-37; and also, Armour, J.A., “Potential clinical relevance of the ‘little brain’ on the mammalian heart." Exp Physiol, 2008. 93(2): p. 165-76.

Cited by Voeikov: Szent-Gyorgi A (1957) Bioenergetics Academic Press. New York [Back translation from a Russian edition of the book: GIZ Fiz-Mat.Literature, Moscow, 1960, pp 54-56].

Journal Source: Stephan W. Kohl, Lev Weiner, Leonid Schwartsburd, Leonid Konstantinovski, Linda J. W. Shimon, Yehoshoa Ben-David, Mark A. Iron, and David Milstein. “Consecutive Thermal H₂and Light-Induced O₂ Evolution from Water Promoted by a Metal Complex.” Science, 2009; 324 (5923): 74 DOI: 10.1126/science.1168600.

Cited by McCraty: McCraty, R., Atkinson, M., Tomasino, D., & Bradley, R. T, “The coherent heart: Heart-brain interactions, psychophysiological coherence, and the emergence of system-wide order.” Integral Review, 2009. 5 (2): p. 10-115; and also Damasio, A.R., Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason and the Human Brain, (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons: 1994).

Citation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, "Magnetic field measurements of the human heart at room temperature.," ScienceDaily.com, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091211131520.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher: ScienceDaily, L.L.C., December 26, 2009 (accessed 12-26-2009).

Citation: Cochem, The Incredible Catholic Mass, pp. 7-8. Used with permission from Tan Books.