Many people are moved by the image of the Church as the Bride of Christ. It’s one of the most beautiful ways Scripture describes God’s love for His people. This image tells us that our relationship with Christ isn’t distant or merely formal—it is deeply personal, intimate, and rooted in love. Just as a bride and groom give themselves completely to one another, so Christ has given Himself totally to His Church.
In the Letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul writes, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). Here we see that Jesus’ love for us is not symbolic—it’s sacrificial. On the Cross, He gave His very life for His Bride. His love is faithful and enduring; He sanctifies the Church, cleansing her so that she might be “holy and without blemish.” This is why the Church is not simply an institution—it is a living, beloved community united to Christ in covenant love.
Throughout Scripture, God’s love for His people is often described in the language of marriage. In the Old Testament, the prophets speak of Israel as a bride whom God loves even when she turns away (see Hosea 2). In the New Testament, that promise is fulfilled in Christ, who unites heaven and earth in a new and everlasting covenant. The wedding feast of the Lamb, described in the Book of Revelation, shows the final joy when the Church—perfected in holiness—will be united forever with her Bridegroom in glory.
For us, this mystery means that the Church’s relationship with Christ is not only something we observe but something we live. Each of us, as members of the Church, is invited into this spousal love—a love that is faithful, forgiving, and self-giving. When we receive the Eucharist, we share in this union: the Bride receiving the life of her Bridegroom. Every act of faith, service, and love becomes a way of deepening our communion with Him.
The Church is not just an organization we belong to—it is a love story we are part of.
May we learn to love Christ as He has loved us, faithfully and completely, until that day when we share in the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
