The Greatest Love Story
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. (John 3:29)
As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)
I sleep, but my heart is awake;
It is the voice of my beloved!
He knocks, saying,
“Open for me, my sister, my love,
My dove, my perfect one (Song of Solomon 5:2)
Each day of the Eucharistic Congress had a central message. The second day: The greatest love story. Fr. Mike Schmitz gave a powerful and beautiful talk of the story we all think we know, the story of a Father Who gave His only Son for us. The phrase that Fr. Mike kept repeating was, “You guys know this, I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.” Do we though? For myself, that love story unfolded in a whirlwind in those five glorious mountaintop days. It continues to unfold and reveal itself to me to this day. I shared that during the opening night of adoration we witnessed the triumphant entry of Jesus in the Eucharist to the proclaimation: He is here. As Jesus was brought to the altar I felt this truth resonate in every cell and I sensed the Lord ask me (rather cheekily), "[Do you feel me now?'] My answer to him was filled with both tears and laughter, “Yes Lord.” We were led through a simple prayer meditation, “Jesus, show me who you are.” As I repeated this prayer, closed my eyes, and entered my inner room, Jesus did not keep me waiting. In my mind’s eye I saw two hands forming a heart.
That image then became two hands holding a heart.
Which morphed into an Irish Claddagh ring
Jesus desires to be my Bridegroom, my Beloved. In that same moment of realization I was enveloped in a warmth as if someone had just draped a robe or blanket around my shoulders. Standing in the sea of 50,000 faithful, I became “the one”, the beloved, the betrothed. We might know the story, but we don’t truly live or experience the story when we remain in a spirit of passive observation. During our morning empower sessions we were repeatedly reminded that this love story isn’t a Hallmark movie but a Lifetime original (great pun). Jesus invites each of us into the betrothal in a uniquely beautiful way. The morning following my images of betrothal our very first speaker, Fr. John Burns, spoke to the heart of Jesus as Bridegroom. It was a moment of affirmation that the images I received in prayer were not my own. In Jewish custom in Jesus’ time, the bridegroom would travel to the intended’s home and draw up the marriage contract with her father. At that point, the bridegroom would then ask the intended if she would become betrothed. It was not simply a contract between two men, it was ultimately the decision of the woman to accept the bridegroom. Jesus approaches each of us similarly. He does not force the betrothal, He asks. When the woman gives her “yes” she is taken back to the bridegroom’s home for a celebratory feast (this is not yet the wedding) which symbolizes the provision and care to come. God is in the beautiful details. This is part of the love story that I certainly didn’t know. These small details can sometimes blow the story we thought we knew wide open. Jesus left us a betrothal feast, a promise of provision. We are invited to come to His earthly dwelling and to participate in His meal. Several years ago while attending weekday Mass I asked the Lord why these “extra” Masses always seemed so much more intimate and spiritual for me. I felt Him say, Sunday Mass is the obligation, but weekday Mass is a freewill ‘yes.’ The greatest love story is lived at every Mass. It is a lifetime original and Jesus awaits our ‘yes’. Come to the feast of heaven and earth. Meet your Bridegroom.
For reflection: Spend time with the Lord. Ask Him, “Show me who you are.”
If you skip or avoid Mass, ask yourself what is holding you back? Ask Jesus to give you a heart that can say ‘yes’ to meeting Him at Mass.
I have two videos below. The first is Fr. Mike’s talk at the Congress. Take the time to watch it and allow yourself to hear the story again. The second is a beautiful prayer that Fr. John Burns prayed over a group of Blessed is She retreat-ants. If you are a woman, you will not want to miss this.
