COMING TO WORSHIP
In every act of worship, the Church approaches Christ not as a distant figure, but as the Bride coming to meet her Bridegroom. Scripture reveals this profound mystery again and again: Christ the Head unites Himself to His Body, the Church, and invites each believer into a relationship marked by faith, fidelity, and love.
For those already walking the path of faith, worship deepens the bond first formed in baptism and strengthened through the sacraments—the very actions by which Christ loves His Bride on earth. For those still seeking, wondering, or beginning to feel drawn toward belonging, worship becomes a place of encounter, enquiry, and gentle invitation. Here we learn what it means to follow Christ, to take up the cross with Him, and to grow into the life He offers. As you explore this page, may you sense the Bridegroom’s call and discover the beauty of coming to worship with His Church.
JESUS THE BRIDEGROOM AWAITS HIS BRIDE
A special image of Church is that of “the Body of Christ”, where Christ is the “head” of the body, and we are the “members” of the body. (I Corinthians 12: 12-27).
The concept of the union of Christ and Church is understood even more wondrously in the picture of a new Jerusalem coming down from heaven as “the Bride of Christ”. It is described in the Book of Revelation, Ch 21 & 22.
That church is one Body with Christ in the same way as Bride is one with Groom. (Matthew 9: 15, John 3: 29, Revelation 21: 2)
The “marriage bond” is faith on the part of the Church, and faithfulness on the part of Christ.
“Espousal” is sealed by the sacrifice that Christ offered on the cross, and by his bride accepting his invitation to take up the cross also and follow him.
“Consummation” awaits, as indicated in Revelation 3: 21, “Anyone who is victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I have myself overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne.”
How does this all begin to happen for each of us? This is a great mystery into which as persons we are initiated by baptism and strengthened by sharing in the other sacraments. Altogether there are seven sacraments, which are the actions by which Christ the groom loves his bride, the Church on earth.
For those already belonging to the Church by reason of faith and sacramental initiation, there is a way of life all members should take to heart and mind and reflect in their lives. For those wondering about really beginning to belong there is a time of enquiry, instruction, and “engagement”.
These are matters for consideration and development, particularly in patient reflection on what the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5: 22 – 33.