The contemplative essay is written by Priest Joseph Gleason, an American Orthodox priest who relocated with his large family to Rostov the Great in Russia’s Golden Ring. There, he serves, farms, writes, and teaches English.
I. The Primal Sacrifice
For love’s sake, a pure and holy sacrifice was necessary. A flawless man, completely sinless, closed his eyes to the world’s light. His blameless flesh was offered, resulting in a deep and gory wound in his side.
[1]
From this sacred sacrifice, God created a pure and spotless bride, granting her the breath of life she could not have attained on her own.
God did not permit His holy one to remain asleep forever.
[2] He healed Adam, awakened him, and introduced him to his beautiful bride.
And Adam declared,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.”
[3]
Thus, heaven and earth rejoiced in the first wedding.
The initial sacrifice of holy flesh was solely for the sake of love. Not for sin, which had not yet occurred, nor for wrath, as there was none. This holy sacrifice was made to bestow the gifts of life and love. By partaking in the flesh and blood of this holy man, Eve could share in the same human nature as her husband, uniting them in the closest bond of love.
The First Adam was wounded in the side,
[4] so he could have a bride.
[5] Many years later, the Second Adam
[6] was wounded in His side
[7], to have a bride.
[8]
The soldier’s spear pierced His holy side, and blood and water flowed—symbolizing Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist—setting apart His holy Church as the pure and spotless Bride of Christ. By partaking of His Body and Blood
[9], we share in the same glorified human nature as Christ, enabling us to unite with Him in the closest bond of love.
God was pleased to wound the Second Adam
[10] for the same reason He was pleased to wound the First Adam – out of love alone. By sacrificing His own flesh, Adam had a wife, and by sacrificing His own body, Jesus gained a Church, as true love manifests through genuine selflessness.
Eve was created through the sacrifice of Adam’s flesh.
The Church was created through the sacrifice of Christ’s flesh.
Eve received Life through the sacrifice of Adam’s flesh.
The Church receives Resurrection through the sacrifice of Christ’s flesh.
The Gospel was foreshadowed by the sacrifice of Adam’s flesh.
[11]
The Gospel was fulfilled by the sacrifice of Christ’s flesh.
In Genesis, we witness the marriage of Adam and Eve, while in Revelation, we encounter the marriage supper of the Lamb, symbolizing the mystical union between Christ and the Church.
[12]
In Genesis, God walked in the garden seeking fellowship with His people. In Revelation, the apostle John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And a powerful voice from heaven declared, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This passage highlights the beginning and end of the Bible, which both depict perfect weddings symbolizing the sacred union between husband and wife, as well as the everlasting love between God and humanity.
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