The Springtime of Redemption
A poetic reflection on preparing for the wedding banquet of eternal life
The wedding garment of our souls becomes soiled and stained as we travel through this land of exile but our Bridegroom offers us His Precious Blood and living water for the cleansing of our garments. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a nuptial sacrament in that through the confession and absolution of our sins, our wedding garment is purified and made ready to meet our Bridegroom in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the foretaste of the heavenly wedding feast.
In this poem, I reflect on this gift of redemption that the Father offers us through Christ, the Bridegroom of our souls and the Healer of our hearts.
The Springtime of Redemption
The Wedding Feast is prepared.
The Father calls,
“Come, all you who hunger,
all you who thirst;
Come, eat and drink,
Drink deeply of My Love.”
I hear His invitation -
my heart thrills within me,
yet I weep.
My wedding garment is tattered and torn.
How dare I enter the King’s wedding feast
soiled and stained?
Behold, the voice of the Bridegroom!
See how He comes,
leaping over the mountains of my sins,
bounding over the hills of my misery.
My dirty and disgraced garment draws Him to me.
He looks in at the window of my heart;
He peers through the lattice of my shame.
He speaks!
He says to me, His repentant bride,
“Be not afraid. It is I.
I come to restore your wedding garment.
See the wounds where the nails pierced My hands?
See the cleft in My side where the sword tore open My flesh?
In My Blood, flowing from these wounds
of Love,
Your wedding garment is cleansed, purified, restored.
You are made new in Me.
Come then, My love, My lovely one come.
For see the winter of your exile is over.
The springtime of redemption has come.
Arise and come away with Me, My love!”
The Wedding Feast is prepared.
The Father of the Bride and the Bridegroom calls,
“Come, all you who hunger,
all you who thirst.
Come to My banqueting hall and
I will raise My banner of Love over you.”
My Bridegroom takes my hand
and together
We enter the Wedding Feast
the Father has prepared.
My Divine Bridegroom and I,
His redeemed Bride,
rejoice together as we eat
and drink deeply
at the Father’s Banquet of Love.
Laura Ercolino
February 14, 2024
Ash Wednesday
As lead singer of LIVING WATERS, I approve this message....
Amen! So beautiful, Laura, thank you.
Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect Providence and your awesome Greatness.