THURSDAY, THIRTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Rv 18:1-2,21-23; 19:1-3,9 Ps 100:1-5 Lk 21:20-28
THE WEDDING INVITATION
As we near the end of the liturgical year, the readings at mass revolve around the apocalyptic times. Amid the prophesies of doom and destruction, there is a ray of hope for the upright: ‘The wedding feast of the Lamb’. Our response to them must be like the psalm, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb.” The good news is that we are all invited. The Lamb represents Jesus Christ and His Bride the Church.
No human allegory can adequately describe how dear to the heart of God is His Church. The closest that we can get to this portrayal is to liken this love to the love shared between two lovers; a bridegroom and his bride (cf. Hos 2:19). Just as they give themselves wholly to one another so that they are no longer two but one, the Lord gives Himself entirely to the Church and the Church which comprises all those who love Him, are called to give themselves totally to Him. This union of love is described as the marriage feast of the lamb because the redeemed will feast forever on the love of God. The marriage of the lamb takes place not just at the macro level at the end of time, but also at an individual level in the heart of a person who becomes united with Him through love. God is the bridegroom and our soul is His bride. Therefore, we are all invited individually, here and now, to the marriage feast of the lamb which can take place in your heart even before we die. The mystics describe this happy moment as ‘Union with God’.
How can the bride respond to this invitation? By giving herself to Him in love, keeping nothing back. Prayer is the door that opens the account of this love story. Taking time to be with our beloved and building up our relationship with Him, involves time and effort. And just as every love story is not complete without sacrifice, this love story too needs this little ingredient to have a happy ending.
Response: Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
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