The Church’s heart is occupied with the work of the Holy Spirit within her, as He prepares her for the everlasting wedding. The apostle says, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). He shares the thoughts of John the Baptist who said, “ He who has the bride is the bridegroom ; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled” (John 3:29). Also, Christ says, “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom” (Matt. 25:1).
Christ revealed the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church which continues even after His ascension to heaven, saying, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26). And He continues His words about the Holy Spirit saying, “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you … He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:5–7, 14).
From before the foundation of the world, God through His love for humanity was always preparing everything for us to enter His divine bosom, so that we may live in a never-ending, eternal wedding, and an uninterrupted heavenly feast. If humanity’s fall deprived us of abiding in God our source of joy, and caused us to live with a feeling of isolation from Him and even enmity with Him, the Word of God the Only Begotten Son, through His divine love, humbled Himself that He may betroth humanity to Himself after offering us His precious blood on the cross (1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23).
St. Jacob of Sarug says, “Your nation rose with a sinful heart to kill You! ‘Go forth, daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him, on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart’ (Song. 3:11) … They despised their father and hated Him in Sinai, and when His Son was incarnate for their salvation, they arrested Him and crucified Him as they danced, laughed, scorned and mocked.
“Come, Moses, see the bride whom you led out of Egypt, what she is doing with her pure Bridegroom! Come see the banquet that she has prepared for Him. She brought myrrh, mixed vinegar, and took off her sword. Instead of manna, she gave Him vinegar, instead of the sweet water He prepared for her, she placed bitterness in His sweet water (Ex. 15:25). The chosen vine brought forth wild grapes (Isa. 5:2).”