by Fr. Tommy Lane
A couple was having some trouble agreeing so they did the right thing, they went to a marriage counselor. After a few visits, and a lot of questioning and listening, the counselor said he had discovered the main problem. He stood up, went over to the woman and asked her to stand up, and he gave her a hug. He looked at her husband and said, “This is what your wife needs, at least once a day!” The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, “OK. What time would you like me to bring her back to you tomorrow for her hug?”
In our first reading, God speaking through the prophet Hosea, spoke of Israel as his wife. Unfortunately Israel, the wife, had forgotten about her husband God. That is something that could also happen in a Celtic Tiger economy. So how is God going to get his wife, Israel, to love him again. When a disaster strikes, when a cross comes, when plans are all upset, only then will she be able to see the love of God her husband for her. God says through Hosea:
I am going to lure her
And lead her out into the wilderness
And speak to her heart.
Then she will respond to me as she did when she was young.
Although Hosea says God will lure Israel out into the desert, God does not inflict suffering on us. Suffering comes because of the events of life, and in those moments we are more open to God. Isn’t it true to say that people pray more when they are in trouble than when everything is going well? So when we are lured out into the desert of suffering, God speaks to our heart, and the message he had for Israel through Hosea is beautiful, “I will betroth you to myself for ever.”
When Jesus came, it was a wedding. God married the human race. Jesus describes himself in our Gospel as the groom during the wedding festivities. During a wedding nobody fasts but everybody eats well. While Jesus was on earth, it was a long wedding, and that was not a time for fasting,
“Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of fasting while the bridegroom is still with them?”
Whenever I officiate at a marriage I explain to the couple beforehand that it is not just the two of them who are getting married, but because their marriage in the Church is a sacrament Jesus is also uniting himself specially with them. Normally the couple uses three candles, two candles to symbolize each of them which are lit at the beginning of the wedding Mass, and after they exchange their vows, they light the third candle and extinguish the other two to symbolize that they are now one. I give couples the option to see the symbolism of the candles in a different way, the two outer candles still symbolize themselves but the candle in the middle represents Jesus and that candle is lit after they exchange their vows and all three candles remain lighting until the end of the Mass. They like the that symbolism, showing that not only did they marry each other but because their marriage is a sacrament, Jesus also married them on their wedding day. Most couples that I marry choose that option.
One of the things the Bible says about marriage is “They are no longer two but one”. That happens to us each time we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. We are no longer two but one, Jesus and you are one. Don’t waste that most intimate moment with Jesus. When you return to your seat spend several minutes in love with Jesus. You are no longer two but one.
Jesus we thank you that you were born as one of us. You showed how much you loved us when you died for us. We thank you that we become aware of being one with you on special occasions, and during each Mass. When we receive you today in Holy Communion, let us know how much you love us. May we become one with you today, like never before. May we always remain in your love and may your love heal all the hurts of our lives.
This homily was delivered when I was engaged in parish ministry in Ireland before joining the faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland.
More homilies for the Eighth Sunday Year B
Bride and Groom - the love of Jesus for us
Related Homilies: Jesus - new wine in new wineskins expanding our vision
stories about
God’s Love for us