That such a work should find its way into the sacred Scriptures is no accident. Contrary to the views of some misguided Christians, human love and sexuality are not to be viewed as something filthy or disgusting or unmentionable, but, when enjoyed in the commitment of marriage, are gifts from God! Our marriage ceremonies recognize that basic reality and affirm it and bless it. This is all God’s idea, then. What can we say but, Thank you God!
The presence of the Song of Songs in sacred Scripture is also accepted as symbolic of God’s passionate love for humanity. Early on the first Christians began to see in the Song of Songs the expressions of the love of Christ for his church and vice versa. They called the church "the bride of Christ" and Christ was the bridegroom. As in marriage a man and a woman become one body, so Christ and church have become one body.
Thus, central to the teaching of the Church is the incarnation: Christ, as God in the flesh, God in a human body. Again, the blessing upon humanity’s embodied existence. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son… Sunday School children learn that from an early age as the most important thing to know. As the world’s Lover, God’s desire is for union with everyone, so that all might enjoy Life at its best and deepest.
Our love—in both marriage and in all of life--is to be modeled after God’s love. So Jesus said to his followers: Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. How did Jesus love? God’s way: Passionately he entered into his mission of welcoming in table fellowship all the marginalized people—the so-called sinners and outcasts--of his country.
Well, as Christ is, so is the Church to be, and because marriage is a symbol of the Church, so is your marriage to be, Pete and Pamela. Thus, thinking of the passionate love of God for confused humanity, St. Paul urged us to stay clear on how we are to live: God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. Our mission is to be signs of God’s love in the world.
A big order! If you, Pete and Pamela, should falter in passionate, sacrificial love for each other, re-read the Song of Songs. That ought to recharge your batteries! And if you begin to grow weary of loving others as Christ has first loved you, remember you are married also to Christ: a world-lover so passionate he willingly suffered death in order to show on Easter the fulfillment of the ancient words: The passion of love bursting into flame is more powerful than death, stronger than the grave. In other words, nothing can separate us from God’s love! You may therefore trust that his passion of love will be present in your marriage so that your life together becomes true Church: united in Christ, and one with each other, a living, loving sacrifice for the world, especially for the marginalized, the hopeless, and the poor. Amen.