A Prayer about Consummate Longings
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”
(Rev. 19:9–10)
Jesus, it’s not hard to understand why John fell down to worship the angel who delivered this stunning vision. For our oldest longings, greatest cravings, and deepest yearnings are claimed by what John saw: the wedding supper of the Lamb— the fullest expression of your great love for us.
We only foolishly think there’s some set of circumstances, some person, some relationship, some change in our world, some sensual experience that can satisfy the restlessness in our hearts. But we’re made for you, Jesus— designed to be fulfilled and completed only by you. You are the most loving and tender bridegroom who cherishes a most unlikely and ill deserving bride.
Jesus, because we’re called and guaranteed a place at this banquet; because you’ve set your affection upon us and find great delight in us; because we will spend eternity celebrating the only love that was ever enough, the only love that would never let us go— O Lord, for these incomparable gifts, we too fall down and worship you, for you alone are God and you alone are worthy.
Jesus, until that day when you consummate your marriage with us, help those of us who are married to love our spouses as you love us. Free us from unrealistic expectations of one another. Free us from having no expectations of one another. Free us from thinking you cannot renew broken, boring, passionless, purposeless marriages. In these temporary marriages of ours, bring childlike wonder and grace- full kindness to bear once again. We pray in your merciful and mighty name.
Amen.