Eucharistic meditation

Song of Songs 8:14: Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

John came to announce the imminent Advent of the Bridegroom. Jesus came to promise He would come again through His Spirit, who readies the Queen for yet another Advent of the Bridegroom. As Pastor Sumpter said, each Advent encourages us to prepare for an Advent to come.

All this coming and going – it seems that it would get frustrating.

The Bride in the Song of Songs goes through the same experience. She longs for her lover and he finally arrives, but then he is gone again. She doesn’t lose confidence when he departs. His departure only fills her with the flame of love that is stronger than death.

Jesus’ first coming as Bridegroom awakens the Bride’s desires, but His arrival and His departure leave the church longing for more, longing for the joy of His full presence as we diligently prepare for the wedding feast to come. His departure leaves the Spirit and the Bride uttering a single sigh: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

In the meantime, each advent of the Bridegroom has the same double effect. We celebrate Advent to rejoice in His coming, and as we celebrate Advent, we long for His coming again. We rejoice in His presence at this love feast, but this taste makes us hunger all the more for the wedding feast to come.