24/08/2024
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Today is the wedding of my eldest sister. We are inside the church and everyone is patiently waiting for the arrival ng groom and bride. Until, the parents of the groom and he himself arrived and started to walk down the aisle to the altar. As I followed their march, my eyes were suddenly focused sa glass window displaying Jesus Christ carrying the crossโwith blood, gashes, and all. Then, a hard truth was delivered to my mind: Jesus is the groom, and the people is His bride.
In Ephesians 5:22-33, it says that the Church is the Bride of Christ. However, far from this sparkling and almost all-white celebrationโJesus Christ united us with God once more in the most painful way. Unlike my brother in law, the groom, walking with a big smileโthe Lord walked with His flesh separating from His body and excruciating pain all around it. Unlike all the ninang and ninong, clapping with joy to witness such lovely wedding, the mother and disciples and friends of Jesus are weeping and worrying. Unlike the bride who is moved and excited to be with her groom in the coming marriage, the brides before was hateful and angry, shouting to get Him crucified immediately.
The wedding I am witnessing is the groom bringing his bride to the altar with a sincere intention to unite them in God is really far different yet nearly the same on how Jesus had brought us to the Father. With all His forgiveness and love, that even in our sins and wickedness, He walked down that road of suffering to unite us with God. So that sin would no longer separate us from Him. Jesus Christ, as our groom cleared the pathโwe ourselves should be encounteringโfor us, His beloved bride.
It was not the all-white and glamorous wedding, but its preciousness and worth cannot be matched, ever.
Words: Maricar Pamplona
Photo: FreePix from Pinterest
