GOSPEL READING:
John 3:22-3022 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been put in prison. 25 Now a discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying. 26 And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him." 27 John answered, "No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. 29 He 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 full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease."
Meditation: Do you know the joy of the Lord? When some
friends of John the Baptist complain that all the people are now
going to Jesus, John in his characteristic humility exclaimed that
he was not the Messiah but only the messenger sent to prepare his
way. John describes the Messiah as the Bridegroom and himself as
the friend of the Bridegroom. The image of the groom delighting in
his bride and the joy of the wedding feast is used in the Bible as
a sign or symbol of God's covenant love and joy in being united
with his people, whom he calls his bride. As the bridegroom
rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you
(Isaiah 62:5).
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit John recognized that Jesus
was the anointed Messiah, sent from the Father in heaven to
reunite his people to himself. John acted as the groom's best man
in arranging the marriage and in making preparations for the
marriage feast. John and his disciples now rejoice that the
Bridegroom has come to make his bride, the people of God, ready
for the marriage feast. The New Testament tells us that Christ's
blood which was shed upon the cross as the atoning sacrifice for
our sins, seals us in a new covenant between God and his
people. The Book of Revelation depicts the final fulfillment and
consummation of this new covenant relationship at the marriage
feast of the "Lamb and his Bride" in the New Jerusalem (see
Revelations 21-22). Do you look with joyful anticipation to the
consummation of God's plan for his people at the end of the ages?
Lord Jesus, may I never forget the love you have poured out for me when you shed your blood upon the Cross of Calvary for my sins and for my salvation. May your love always grow in me and your hope fill me with joy as I wait for your return in glory when all of your people will be fully united with you at your heavenly banquet feast in the New Jerusalem.
Psalm 149:1-6,9
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre!
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
9b This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Christ is the husband of the church his bride, by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"This means he alone is the husband of the church (John 3:29), he
is the expectation of the nations, and the prophets removed their
sandals while offering to him a union of nuptial grace. He is the
bridegroom; I am the friend of the bridegroom. I rejoice because
he is coming, because I hear the nuptial chant, because now we do
not hear the harsh penalties for sinners, the harsh torments of
the law, but the forgiveness of offenses, the cry of joy, the
sound of cheerfulness, the rejoicing of the nuptial feast." (excerpt
from ON THE PATRIARCHS 4.22)
