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10 OCTOBER 2022 | DENVER CATHOLIC T H E W E D D I N G F E A S T The word of God speaks of the mystery of salvation through many images. One of the most beautiful is that of the wedding feast. The wedding analogy helps us to under- stand some aspects of the mystery of salvation that shed a great light to deepen our understanding of the Eucharist. The mystery of our salvation does not consist only in the forgiveness of sins. To this extraordinary gift, we must add another, if possible, more admirable one: the mystery of sanctification. God wants to work a great conversion in us. This transformation consists in passing from the condition of sinful men to that of adopted sons of God and heirs of glory. The nuptial image helps us to contemplate this mystery. Marriage is a covenant that makes husband and wife one f lesh. "This is a great mystery, I say this in regard to Christ and the Church " (Eph 5:32). The word of God shows that the marriage covenant is made by God in the image of the union of Christ with the Church. Therefore, what happens in mar- riage can help us to understand the mystery of salvation. It happens in human life that marriage makes a family. For example, if the son of a king is united in marriage with a woman who is not of the royal family, that woman will become queen. In a similar but much more profound way, it happens with the members of the Church united in nuptial covenant with Christ. We know that God has only one Son. We profess it every time we pray the Creed. How is it possi- ble for us to be his children too? It is only possible by being sons in the Son, that is, through the intimate union with Christ of which we are speaking. W H A T I S T H E M A S S ? This consideration opens the door for us to ref lect on what the Mass is in the context best suited to under- standing it. The Eucharist is a mystery of love (sacramentum caritatis). In light of this affirmation, the Mass appears as a mystery of presence, sacrifice and communion. 5 The Eucharist is one of the seven sacraments. Of course, the Mass shares the common nature of the other sacraments. These are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, through which divine life is communicated. The sac- raments, including the Eucharist, are instruments of salvation. 5 cf. Lawrence Feingold, The Eucharist. Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice, and Communion, Emmaus Academic, Ohio 2018 P R E S E N C E A N D S H A R I N G Christ wanted to remain truly present at Mass. He wants to share his life, that is, to live together with his pilgrim Bride on earth. This presence of God in his creatures is not the only one we know. To better understand what makes this presence of Jesus in the Eucharist special, let us compare it with the others. We know that he is present as Creator in all creatures by essence, presence, and potency. Moreover, faith teaches that the Blessed Trinity dwells in the souls of those who are in a state of grace and possess the theological virtue of charity. In this case, God is present not only as Creator, but also as Father and Friend. Now, in these ways of God being present in his creatures and in the souls of the just, he is present as God. On the other hand, after the Incarnation, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinit y, during his earthly life, made himself present in this world not only as true God, but also as true man. The Eucharist sacramentally prolongs this presence of the humanit y of Christ who wants to share his life with the Church as a husband does with his wife. The mystery of Jesus' spousal love for his Church shines forth most beautifully in the mystery of the substantial conversion of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. ⊲