Today is our 40th. We have many prayers of gratitude – and no way to list all of them without making this posting more personal than I intend. It’s enough to say thank you to our four children, spouses, fiancées, brothers, sisters, parents, nieces, nephews and a host of friends and colleagues.
The scripture makes extensive use extensive use of images of marriage and sexuality in depicting God’s personal and passionate love for us. Here are a few examples for your meditation.
n speaking to his people, God said:
You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. I passed by and saw that you were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. Ezekiel 16:7-8
Advice to a young man:
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Eccl: 9:9
May you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts delight you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs 9:19
A young woman calls out to her lover:
Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits. Song of songs 4:15-17
God rejoices over us:
For as a young man marries a virgin, So your builder will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, So your God will rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5
And, last, St. Paul speaks to the impulse that sends us to buy lingerie:
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
…
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less dignified we treat with special honor. And the parts that are undignified are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given dignity honor to the parts that lacked it. 1 Corinthians 12:12-24
When we moved to Charlottesville in 1970, we were fortunate to join a strong parish and to benefit from the preaching of Msgr. Chester P. Michael. We have raised four children and a niece and nephew; are blessed with two grandchildren; and have had interesting and challenging careers. I played a bit part in the drama ending the cold war. My wife has taught generations of gifted children.
We can only say thank you and pray for all of you who have helped us along the way.
Best wishes and congratulations to you and your bride!
Posted by: Elena | August 01, 2006 at 09:53 AM