A Profound Mystery
Belonging to Christ as “a bride in relationship to her loving and caring bridegroom (Eph 5:25-32) [1] is my most cherished image. Though “bride,” is absent from the passage, its meaning “is a profound mystery … I am talking about Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32). Having been under loved and well loved, this interconnectedness with Christ is richer, dearer as my husband ministers love to me. “Christ loved … and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25). “It was on the cross that our Lord gave himself up for his bride … all the more telling, since ekklesia is feminine.” [2] Encouraging my education and vocation, Ray lovingly sacrifices. Christ’s “mak[ing] her holy, cleansing her …washing with water” (Eph 5:26), loving her as is, but transforming her as “separate for himself a people for his own possession” [3] is profound. Paul possibly “was alluding to the purification of the bride before the marriage ceremony (Ezek 16:9).” [4] His “radiant church” (Eph 5:27a) “in unsullied sp