Articles

In the Arms of the Bridegroom

First Comes Love

When you first meet that someone special, you introduce yourselves and the conversation might at first be very superficial. A relationship has not yet been officially established, but you are both excited that you are getting to know each other and as time goes on the conversations get longer as you both begin to open up and share who you really are. The walls that we put up to protect ourselves come crashing down and we are open to one another in complete vulnerability.

The same is true when God enters our lives. He approaches as a gentlemen would and let’s you know that He is interested in you. You might feel a calling in your heart, that’s Him asking you to let Him in. He isn’t forceful or abusive, but He definitely can be persistent.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” ~ Revelation 3:20

If you do decide that you want to get to know God, you probably start to pray. At this stage, your prayers might not be deep or profound, but the fact that you are on speaking terms is all that matters. And as you begin to converse more and more with God He reveals more about Himself to you. He is truth (Jn 14:6). You begin to see God in a whole new light and the doubts begin to fade away as well as your preconceived notions about Him. It is at this point that you begin to open yourself up and pour out your heart (1 Sm 1:9-19).

Now that you have begun to get to know each other a little bit better you might decide that it’s time to make it official. You begin a committed relationship with each other and promise to be exclusive. You start to spend more time together and you can’t get enough of each other. It’s like you want to spend every waking moment with one another and nothing else in the world seems to matter. You might even start to tell your friends about this new person. You are probably overcome with feelings and emotions that you’ve never felt before.

Again, this applies directly to a relationship with God. At this point in time you are really pursuing Him. You are going to church regularly and you might even start to get involved in a group or ministry—anything that would allow you to come close to Him. You have made a decision to change your life and you consider yourself a believer. This is a big deal for you and your friends might start to notice a change in you and ask you about it. You are more than happy to tell them that you have found God. You are on fire for the Lord!

Then Comes Marriage

As your new relationship progresses and begins to get even more serious, you feel it’s time to introduce your special someone to your family. It might be a formal dinner or perhaps just a casual introduction, but the point is that now the family knows about the two of you. They will most likely tell you whether they support you in this relationship or not.

Now that your friends and family know about your relationship you might decide that you are ready to spend the rest of your life together. You both profess your love for each other, but this love is not a mere feeling. The love that you profess is a decision, a commitment to one another that you will be faithful and true. It’s a big event and you invite friends and family out to witness the forming of this special covenant. This is a big change in your life as two become one forever.

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.” ~ Genesis 2:24-25

It might sound weird to consider yourself married to God, but it’s actually a pretty good way to describe your relationship at this point. Through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) you are brought into the Church, you become a member of the family. It’s what defines you as a Christian, whether you are a good Christian or not depends on the way you live your faith that is a gift of your relationship with God.

Just as marriage between a husband and a wife brings the two together as one, so your relationship with God will bring you together with Him. Obviously, Heaven is this oneness with God in it’s fullest form, but during our lives on Earth this union—or communion—is achieved in the Eucharist.

“For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” ~ John 6:55-56

Jesus Christ is present body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. It is through this coming together in communion that our relationship with God is brought to it’s Earthly fulfillment. Through this communion we are made holy by He who is holy (Lev 11:44).

Then Comes the Baby in the Baby Carriage

The obvious fruits of marriage are children (CCC 1652), so it’s no surprise that the next step is to start a family. The husband and wife come together as one to bear fruit, which are an extension of themselves and a blessing to the world. Your commitment to your spouse and your children “helps to overcome self-absorption, egoism, pursuit of one’s own pleasure, and to open oneself to the other, to mutual aid and to self-giving.” (CCC 1609)

The same is true through your union to God. As a initiated member of the Church you can truly call yourself the Bride of Christ. It is He that makes you holy and allows you to “work out your salvation. (Phil 2:12)” The fruits of your union cannot be had without Him. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child on her own without the seed of her husband, it is the Holy Spirit that you receive through your communion with God. This Spirit works within you guiding you and helping you to live for your spouse, Jesus Christ.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23

These fruits are life-changing, and although children are a blessing, it is not an easy task to raise them. You may find that your relationship with your spouse begins to fade a little as you face the difficulties of parenting. Caring for your children takes away from the one-on-one time that you used to cherish with your spouse. This can lead you to distance yourself from your spouse in order to focus on your children. The romance dwindles and it is now that you become more family-oriented. A good way to help keep the romance going is to schedule time for just you and your spouse to be together. Whether a date night or a romantic getaway for the two of you, this is much needed time for you to rekindle the romance.

With a husband like Jesus you will also begin to see many blessings in your life, but you will face struggles as well. The fruits you receive from the Spirit will prompt you to live out your faith and you will begin to change your lifestyle, perhaps offering your time for the service of the poor. You are tasked with caring for your brothers and sisters and living in community might take time away from your time with God. Although this can hamper your relationship with Him, it can also help to bring you closer. It’s important to remember that you are not trading one for the other, just as you wouldn’t trade your children for your spouse. God still comes first and your relationship with Him remains essential, but your service to His people helps you to understand His love for you. When you begin to feel as if you are drifting away from God, it’s important to make time for you to be with Him one-on-one. This time can be scheduled prayer time or Scripture reading, Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass, or even a weekend retreat. He always has time for you, so it’s important that you make time for Him.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

I know many of you might not have ever thought of your relationship with God as a marriage—especially the men—but through this beautiful image you can better understand the dynamics of this relationship and strive to do everything you can to improve it. The nuptial relationship we share with God can be found throughout the Bible. In fact, it’s interesting to note that the Bible begins with a wedding and ends with a wedding. The beginning, of course, being the union of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; and the conclusion in Revelation with Jesus and His bride the Church. Many times God reproaches the Israelites for worshipping false gods and considers this a form of adultery. At first it might seem strange, but we are meant to see our relationship with Him as a marriage, then it all makes sense.

May you live happily ever after in the arms of the bridegroom, Jesus Christ.