Marry Me

A Reflection on the First Reading for January 20th, 2019:
​Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

​Isaiah 62.1-5 

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.

The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

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​From my teenage years through to my early twenties I was very wary of romantic relationships. I concurrently desired and disliked the idea of being seen and known – it was everything I hoped for and feared. Not believing that anyone would love me as I am, I found security in maintaining a certain distance from men – rejecting others before they could reject me.

Over time, I began to witness wonderful Christ-centered relationships between men and women. Initially, my heart was afraid to hope for this kind of relationship, as I believed that I was not worthy or capable of being loved in that way. However, as I drew closer to Christ, I found God speaking to me in prayer in unexpected ways. He didn’t only express fatherly love and friendship, but through scripture and in personal prayer time he also ‘romanced’ me. I remember the first time I read Isaiah 62 – the Holy Spirit convicted me that He was not only speaking to the people of Jerusalem… He spoke to me.

I understood that He loves me with tireless love that protects and accomplishes my salvation. He wasn’t content to leave me in my fear, but He sought me out and pursued me. He promised me a new name – in Jewish tradition, akin to a new identity. No longer forsaken or desolate, but “My Delight Is in Her”. This is who I am to Him. He wants to marry me – to rejoice over me.
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This spousal imagery is found throughout the Bible, and the love between husband and wife is consistently chosen by God as an icon of His love for humanity. The idea isn’t always easy to grasp, it’s mysterious and intense, but He gives us abundant reason to believe it is true. We are His Bride, individually and collectively, and the Love He offers us is free, faithful, total, and, with our cooperation, fruitful. To believe that any of us is not worthy of romantic love is false – a lie that only serves to separate us from the love we are made for. God desires us, longs for us, delights in us, and will draw us into the deepest intimacy if only we allow Him in.

"God does not delight in me because I am worthy or perfect; He loves me because He is Love."

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Today, I am engaged to be married in less than 200 days – and I am so eager to receive this amazing sacrament with my fiancé. Much healing has occurred in the past decade, but I know my freely given “yes” to this journey toward marriage is only possible because of the love of God that I have experienced first-hand. God does not delight in me because I am worthy or perfect; He loves me because He is Love. Love is His essence – and He Loves me for my own sake.
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Do not lose hope if you struggle to perceive how you are desired and delighted in, no matter where you are in your vocational discernment. His desire is to be one with you – and regardless of whether He calls you into oneness with another person in marriage, He will absolutely invite you to be His Bride. 

​Kendra Chisholm

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