The Bridegroom Comes! A Reflection on the Great Wedding Feast That Advent Announces
By Msgr. Charles Pope
The coming of Christ at Christmas was as an infant and thus we don't usually think of wedding imagery. Yet since the first coming of Christ has certainly already been fulfilled, we now focus more on His second coming, of which the first coming is a sacramental reminder.
Thus, in Advent, our longing and excitement are also directed to His glorious second coming. Mother Church, the New Jerusalem, our Mother, looks for her groom Jesus to come again all His glory:
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ? I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear" (Rev 21:2-3; 19:7-8).
This longing remains until Mother Church, Christ's beautiful bride, hears these words from Him: Surge amica mea, speciosa mea et veni! (Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one and come!) (Song of Songs 2:10). Her longing cannot be quenched until He comes again in all His radiant beauty and majesty. Until then she longs, looks, and waits.
Although some of her children have attained to this glory, she waits and longs until the number of her elect children are complete and she, in her fullness, will go to be with her spouse forever in beatific glory.
One of the great Advent hymns of the Protestant tradition, "Wake, O Wake," picks up this bridal theme and "weds" it with Advent longing. This particular translation (from the German) is a masterpiece; it is both biblical and artistic:
Wake, O wake with tidings thrilling;
The Watchmen all the air are filling;
Arise, Jerusalem, Arise!
Midnight strikes, no more delaying;
"The hour has come," we hear them saying;
Where are ye all ye virgins wise?
The bridegroom comes in sight
Raise high, your torches bright!
Alleluia!
The wedding song swells loud and strong;
Go forth and join the festal throng.
Zion hears the watchman shouting;
Her heart leaps up with joy undoubting;
She stands and waits with eager eyes!
She her love from heaven descending;
Adorned with truth and grace unending;
Her light burns clear her star doth rise!
Now come our precious crown;
Lord Jesus, God's own Son;
Hosanna!
Let us prepare to follow there
Where in thy supper we may share.
Yes, there is a great wedding feast in every liturgy, and its culmination looks to the glorious second coming of Jesus. This Christmas, look to your wedding garment, which the Lord gave you at baptism to bring unstained to the great judgment seat of Christ. The Bridegroom comes! Let us go out to meet Christ the Lord (cf Matt 25:6).
This article has been reprinted here by permission of the author after original publication at the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.-http://blog.adw.org/2016/11/bridegroom-comes-reflection-great-wedding-feast-advent-announces/


- The Word
- Prayer
- Contributors
- Father Edward Horkan
- Stu Nolan
- Father Jerry Pokorsky
- Msgr. Charles Pope
- Father Paul Scalia
- In the Spotlight
- Acton PowerBlog
- Bench Memos
- Father Boquet
- Catholic Thing
- First Things
- LifeSite News
- Father Longenecker
- National Catholic Register
- Ed Peters
- Monsignor Pope
- Father Spitzer
- Truth & Charity Forum
- Faithful Commentary
- Papal Audiences
- Adoremus
- Atonement
- Big Pulpit
- Blue Hermit
- Cabrini Center
- Catholic Answers
- Catholic Vote
- Courageous Priest
- Crisis
- Curt Jester
- Father DeCelles
- Digital Nun
- Dominicana
- Encourage & Teach
- To Find Fruit
- Father Cassian Folsom
- Friars of Renewal
- Inst. for Catholic Culture
- Just A Brother
- Liturgy Reflections
- Kathryn Lopez
- New Advent
- Path of Life
- Patrick Madrid
- Magis Center
- Nun Blog
- Nun Speak
- Pauline Faithways
- Father Percy
- Pilgrim & Priest
- Sr. Rose at Movies
- Spiritual Exercises
- Whosoever Desires
- Windows to the Soul
- World Report
- WorldWatch
- More Faithful Commentary
- Directory
- + New Additions
- + By Clergy
- + By Consecrated
- Glorious Streaming
- Air Maria
- EWTN
- Fr. James Farfaglia
- Journey Home
- We Are One Body
- Holy Devotions
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Marian Consecration
- BVM, Flame of Love
- Virtual Pilgrimage
- Virtual Vatican
- Holy Pursuits
- Scripture Reading Plan
- Family Catechism
- Catechism Reading Plan
- Lenten Reading Plan
- Reflections
- Holy Treasure
- Search Scripture
- Search Catechism
- Church Fathers
- Encyclicals
- Encyclopedia
- Summa Theologica
- Library
- American Philosophy
- Magna Carta
- Va Declaration of Rights
- Decl. of Independence
- The Constitution
- Bill of Rights
- Fed. Judiciary Act 1789
- Edmund Burke
- + on Revolution
- Charles de Montesquieu
- + on Spirit of Laws
- Federalist Papers
- Anti-Federalist Papers
- The Founding Fathers
- Alexis de Tocqueville
- + Democracy in America
- The National Debt
- Debt Clock
- Religious Liberty
- Alliance Defense
- Becket Fund
- + "Unacceptable"
- + Mandate Info
- Thomas More Law Center
- The Culture of Life
- etherScout Search Tool
- Faithful Scouts
- Human Life International
- + Talking Points
- Life Decisions International
- LifeSiteNews
- Spirit & Life
- Truth & Charity Forum
- WitnessWorks Foundation
- World Report
- WorldWatch
- Holy Orders
- Adoration Sisters
- Byzantines
- Daughters of Charity
- Daughters of Divine Hope
- Daughters of Divine Zeal
- Daughters of St. Paul
- Norbertines
- Our Lady Immaculate
- Passionists
- PIME Missionaries
- Salesians
- + Scriptural Reflections
- Salesians Don Bosco
- Sisters of Poor
- Seminarians' Dictionary
- + Benedictines
- Sisters
- Nuns
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- + Carmelites
- Sisters
- Sister Helena
- + Dominicans
- Preaching Friars
- Alabama
- California
- District of Columbia
- + The Thomist
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas
- + Franciscans
- Felicians
- Capuchin
- Marians of Immaculate
- Mercedarian
- Poor Clares
- Renewal
- Readings for Today
- Spirituality
- Vocations
- Arizona
- Illinois (Alton)
- Illinois (Chicago)
- Illinois 3rd Order
- Maine
- New York
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- + Jesuits
- Society of Jesus
- + Trappists
- Trappists (CA)
- Trappists (MS)
WitnessWorks Foundation
For a Culture of Life
4 Family Life Lane
Front Royal, VA 22630
Facebook