Our Incredible Marriage with God – Jul 08 – Homily – Fr Terrance
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Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jul 08, 2023, on how the Covenant that Christ established with us by dying on the Cross is very much like a marriage with God in many, many ways.
Today, Jesus presents Himself as the Bridegroom, likening his ministry to a wedding. This harks back to God's covenant with Israel on Mount Sinai, seen as a divine marriage where God was the Bridegroom, Israel the Bride ( Jeremiah 2:1-2 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/2?1-2 and Ezekiel 16:8 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/16?8). God promised a renewed covenant, including the forgiveness of sins and steadfast love. An ancient Jewish text referenced a future marriage ceremony in the Messianic days (Hosea 2:20 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hosea/2?20 and Isaiah 54:4 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/54?4).
When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Bridegroom (John 3:29 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?29), he signified Jesus as the one establishing this new covenant. This included Gentiles, evident in instances like the wedding at Cana where Jesus provides wine (John 2:3 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?3 and John 2:4 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/2?4) and at the Last Supper (Matthew 26 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/26 and 1 Corinthians 11:25 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/11?25).
The encounter with the Samaritan woman (John 4 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/4) and his promise of 'living water' symbolizing the Holy Spirit, as well as the ritual bath preceding a Jewish wedding, further emphasize Jesus as the bridegroom. This is manifested when his heart is pierced on the cross and water flows (John 19:34 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?34) and in his promise of rivers of living water flowing from his heart (John 7:37-38 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7?37-38).
Jesus's crucifixion day is his wedding day (Matthew 9:15 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?15), and his ascension is akin to a bridegroom preparing a home for his bride (John 14:2-3 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?2-3). In the Book of Revelation, the unveiling of Christ's bride occurs, who's referred to as the New Jerusalem and the New Israel, ultimately revealing the wedding of Jesus and the Church in a new Eden (Revelation 22:1 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/22?1). The end times will only come when His bride, the Church, is ready.
All from the book by Dr Brant Pitre, Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told - https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Bridegroom-Greatest-Love-Story/dp/0770435459
00:00 – Introduction
00:15 – Understanding Jesus as the Bridegroom
01:26 – The Role of Sin and Adultery in Breaking the Covenant
02:03 – God's Promise of a New Marriage Covenant
02:46 – Salvation and Union with God: The Ultimate Goal
03:51 – New Testament, Wedding Feast at Cana
05:25 – The Last Supper: Establishment of the New Covenant
06:13 – The Crucifixion: Ultimate Sacrifice and Fulfillment of Covenant
06:23 – Jesus & Samaritan Woman at the Well
07:50 - Jesus as the provider of living water
08:15 - Symbolism of blood and water in the sacraments
08:48 - His crucifixion as a marriage
10:20 - Jesus' journey: Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension
11:07 - Preparing a place for His bride
12:03 - Unveiling the Bride: The Book of Revelation and the church as Christ's bride
13:41 - The Ultimate Marriage: Heaven as the marriage of the Lamb
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Gregory Grassi and companions - Opt Mem
Readings: Saturday 13th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070823.cfm
1st: gen 27:1-5, 15-29
Resp: psa 135:1-6
Gsp: mat 9:14-17
More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=671&r=1437
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