Jesus Christ has many titles according to his relationship with mankind. He is Prince of Peace and King of Kings, Lord, Savior and even Friend. But did you know that He is also our Lover and Spouse?

As a young man marries a virgin, so shall your builder marry you (Is. 62).

I’ve said here many times that all earthly marriages are a sign and preparation for something else, something more. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

God has revealed his innermost secret: God himself is an eternal exchange of love, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he has destined us to share in that exchange (CCC 221).

This is what Christ came to earth and became man for, to make a marriage of mankind to himself so that we can share in that eternal exchange of love that is the Trinity.

This passage from the Song of Songs (2:8-14), which was the first reading at Mass this Tuesday, wonderfully illustrates the beautiful, saving event we are preparing to celebrate on Saturday:

Hark! my lover–here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
Here he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks; he says to me,
“Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come!
“For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!

“O my dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see you,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and you are lovely.”

Are you prepared to welcome the Bridegroom (Mt. 25:1-13)??