my life is good

there’s a thread through our story telling of the sacrifice jesus made not to marry.  he gave up a wife and a family.  the last temptation of christ.  but standing in line at cvs waiting for my prescription, i’m reminded that tis not so.  a gossipy tabloid blares the news that royal wedding bells will ring.  the palace says it’s speculation, but i’m reminded.

when a king’s son is married the world takes note.  the lavish tale lives on and on.  the details catalogued, anticipated and watched with gladness, with envy.  when the invitation arrives, possibly still hand delivered, and you are on the guest list, you can know at the very least, that you may be in for the best meal of your life.  the paper and the words spell out the location and the time.  even the deciding what to wear is an event.

i have such an invitation.  except when the son of god comes for his bride it’ll be so glorious the whole damn thing is just over.  the current way life is lived is changed when that marriage is consummated.

that’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace.  you’ll watch abraham, isaac, jacob and all the prophets march into god’s kingdom.  you’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north and south and sit down at the table of god’s kingdom.  and all the time you’ll be outside looking in — and wondering what happened.  this is the great reversal; the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.  (luke 13:28-30)

god’s guest list looks different than an earthly royal wedding.  if your father owned, well…everything, and he was about to throw a wedding for his only child, who knows what kind of party might ensue.  we have no idea.

so, no, i don’t agree that jesus missed the boat on marriage.  the limited form that we see here on the planet, even the splendor of majestic earthly kingdoms ends up divorced and young men walk down aisles with no mother present, is not what he was hoping for.  he’s come to start a fire and how he wishes it was already burning.

~z