Reflection for Saturday, July 5, 2008: 13th week in Ordinary Time.
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Authors
Hauser, Dick, S.J.
Issue Date
2008-07-05
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Essay
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en_US
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"Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is present?"||In today's gospel Jesus presents himself to his disciples -- and to us -- as our bridegroom. Jesus says he desires to relate to them as a bridegroom relates to a bride!|I have to confess the invitation to such intimacy makes me uncomfortable.|I seem to be more comfortable focusing on what Jesus does for us, that is, when he presents himself to us as our savior, shepherd and friend -- our way, our truth our life. I am comfortable acknowledging Jesus as savior of humanity, and for saving me as part of the human race.|But I am taken aback when Jesus reveals what he desires from us individually, that is, when he invites us to be with him in the most intimate human relationship - bridegroom and bride. |I am daunted by the invitation to respond to Jesus with the intimacy of bridegroom and bride.|But he is outspoken to his disciples. He asserts that he does not want them simply to "patch up" their former relationship with God -- patching up old cloth and old wineskins won't do. Jesus invites his disciples to a new relationship -- new cloth, new wineskins.|Can he really mean it? What do we do now? Can we accept the invitation?|But what Jesus asks Jesus gives. We can only pray for the grace to remove our resistance and to allow Jesus to draw us into this spousal intimacy.|Lord, teach us how to let you be our bridegroom!
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University Ministry, Creighton University.
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These reflections may not be sold or used commercially without permission. Personal or parish use is permitted.
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Lectionary number: 382