tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30994562.post2036584096048257269..comments2023-11-02T08:46:01.355+00:00Comments on Fr Peter's Blog: And now, ecclesiology ...Fr Peter Weatherbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11999604618871073417noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30994562.post-87408745437965294342009-01-23T18:02:00.000+00:002009-01-23T18:02:00.000+00:00Having been married, perhaps I have a different pe...Having been married, perhaps I have a different personal view of us as a 'bride of Christ'. When one marries, one pledges oneself to the other person. In the Roman Catholic rite, the bride & groom marry each other: the priest is there to guide and preside over the Sacrament, not to actually do it.<BR/><BR/>The Catholic view of marriage is sacramental: it is a sacred relationship, in this case with one's spouse. It brings the parallel between the husband/wife with me/god. (not that my husband is god-like, <I>per se</I> - grin)<BR/><BR/>Because Marriage is sacramental, it is also inescapable (civil divorce not being recognized) - you can't just back out of your relationship with your spouse anymore than you can just abandon God.<BR/><BR/>Marriage must be voluntary and in full understanding of its sacramental nature. (failure of either of these can be grounds for annulment) <BR/><BR/>so ...<BR/><BR/>Seeing ourselves as the Bride of Christ should emphasize<BR/> <BR/>- our willingness to embrace God<BR/><BR/>- our choice to belong is made in full knowledge of our responsibilities within that relationship<BR/><BR/>- our membership is not something we can just abandon<BR/><BR/>- it is a commitment to the other, which in this case means the church has a commitment to us, as well as us to the church as a vehicle for our relationship with God.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Just about everything boils down to a relationship: us/God, us/church, Church/God, me/you ... and in each of these, there are mutual obligations and expectations.<BR/><BR/>Being a disciple of Christ can be just as frustrating, challenging, and rewarding as being married.Gopher MPHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04164727896040737732noreply@blogger.com