The Church the Bride

Ephesians 5:23-25 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

• Bridegroom is her source: Eve was formed from the rib of Adam (Gen 2:22-23); the Church was formed from the side of Jesus when he was pierced on the cross and water and blood (representing the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist) poured out (Jn 19:34)

• Protected by her bridegroom: Adam watched as Eve succumbed to Satan's temptations and then participated in the fall (Gen 3:6); Tobias, a new Adam, exorcised a demon from his bride Sarah, a new Eve (Tob 8:2-3); Jesus is always with the Church (Mt 28:20) which will prevail against the gates of hell (Mt 16:18) and be guided by the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13)

• Gifts for the bride: Abraham sent his senior servant with many gifts to choose a bride (Rebekah) for his beloved son Isaac (Gen 24:2-27); God the Father sent the Holy Spirit with his gifts to the Church for his beloved Son Jesus (Acts 2:4)

• Stone rolled away for the bride: by Jacob for Rachel to water her sheep from the well (Gen 29:10); by an angel to reveal to the Church the empty tomb and Jesus's resurrection (Mt 28:2)

• Food for the bride provided by the bridegroom:

  • Boaz gave his future bride Ruth roasted grain to eat (Ruth 2:14); Jesus the new Boaz gives the Church the Eucharist (Mt 26:26), the bread of eternal life to eat (Jn 6:51)

  • Wedding feast: King Ahasuerus gave a great feast for his queen Esther (Est 2:14); Jesus, the King of Kings, gives the Church a marriage supper in the Eucharist (Rev 19:7, 9)

• Spousal love: God for Israel (Hos 2:18,21); Jesus for his Church (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7)