Friday, March 11, 2011

Living the Story #3, Lent 2011



"Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?" Matt 9:15

Last night, we hosted two families at our home for a wedding rehearsal dinner. This weekend, I will be the celebrant of my first ever wedding. Amie is the coordinator of the ceremony. Pulling off a wedding is a bit stressful but in the middle of it all, there are these celebrations...showers, dinners and parties.

Some of these folks in our home last night were meeting each other for the first time as the groom is from England and the bride from here in the valley. It was fun to host this meal and be able to witness these two families get to know one another. Together in some way for the rest of their lives because of the love between the bride and groom.

The scripture above is from a story in Matthew where John the Baptist's disciples are trying to figure out why Jesus' disciples are so happy all the time...eating and drinking and hanging out with friends. And this was Jesus' way of saying, "It won't always be this way, sad days are ahead but while we're here, while we're together, let's enjoy it."

For sure, sad days are ahead for our bride and groom. When you marry someone, you sign up to share each others joy, heartache, laughter and struggle. But you walk through it together.

The Bible tells us that Jesus endured the pain of the cross for the joy that was before him. That joy was for sure being reunited with the Father but not just that. The joy in front of Jesus that made him able to choose the cross was you and I. Reunited with the Father and bringing a whole family with him.

And hard days are still ahead but while we're here, while we have each other, let's enjoy it.

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