Watching new couples refine their efforts to prepare, to complete each other, learning how to love another person, we begin to learn that love is the persistence of the Creator. Love is life-making, for loving is a way towards Love, and Life itself. I once heard a priest say that the marriage union is like the bread and wine of the Eucharist, two persons actively becoming the body and blood of Christ. The beginning of a couple's continuing focus on preparations for a holy communion, a holy marriage, and on living two as one. As my father used to say, "All marriages are made in Heaven, but the maintenance is done right here on Earth."
The earthly desires of each half of the union are valid considerations for harmony in a marriage journey, but "So they are no longer two but one flesh" is the desired destination. A destination found in the preparation of "continually completing" each other and becoming one. Jesus tells a story of a bridegroom, who went to finalize the plans to bring his bride to his house for their wedding ceremony. It appeared to be routine matter of signing the marriage contract with the bride's father, load up the maiden, and return home.
Yet, for whatever reason the bridegroom was gone longer than anticipated. His staff had presumed that it might be dark when he returned with his bride. They brought lamps to light the couple's way into the home. It was a practical gesture, so that none would stumble in the dark, but also a symbol of respect for them, offering a welcoming a lighted procession into their new life together.
Jesus tells that, in the preparations for the bridegroom's return, half of the staff proved wise, the others foolish. Those who presumed that their master would return immediately, failed to bring enough oil to keep their lamps burning, should he be delayed. The wise had no knowledge of when the bridegroom would return, but brought provisions to wait patiently and prepared, for whenever he came. At midnight, after a long delay, the cry went out, "Behold the Bridegroom". Those prepared went into the banquet with him, but the others, who tried to make their preparations after the return, were shut out and not recognized.
Biblical scholars have interpreted this parable to be Jesus' allusion to the delay of his return. After his resurrection, Jesus' followers expected him to return within their lifetime to judge the world and inaugurate the kingdom of G_d. These disciples continued in their prayers and doing as the Messiah had instructed them. As years passed and the original disciples began to die, some followers became impatient, and perhaps lax in their faith and preparations presuming that tomorrow would be soon enough to prepare.
In the beginnings of faith, like in a wedding, all are excited, but the delayed gratification of perfection causes some to let their faith lose its fuel, and begin to flicker like the lamps of the foolish servants. The cry will surely go out to announce the arrival of the Bridegroom. We must be ready to meet him. Prepared with scripture, spiritual disciplines, and practices of the faith. Prepared by loving much, yearning deeply, and keeping a watch for Him, and with each other. These preparations are the oil of an inward anointing, a wedding gift from G_d. These are the oil by which we keep our lamps burning brightly. These are the Earthly maintenance and preparations "continually perfecting and completing us." Then in the fullness of time, we may enter with joy into the endless celebration of the Heavenly marriage.
Pax,
jbt
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