Beautiful

The Church is deeply loved by Christ. In the Song of Songs, a shepherd beholds his maiden and declares that she is lovely and beautiful. In the same way, Christ gazes with love upon His Church. She is like an army adorned with banners, ready to prove and uphold her allegiance to Him. She is virtuous and unique, the apple of His eye. Because she is filled with the Holy Spirit, she is like the City of Jerusalem, where God Himself abides.

The Church is seen in the eyes of others as blessed, different from the rest of the world, set apart for the Lord. She shines like the dawn. She is as beautiful as the moon and bright as the sun because she reflects the radiance of the King of kings Whose light dispels every darkness. The Church is not beautiful without the beauty of Christ shining through her. She is only made lovely by the love that Christ has shown her first. It is because of Jesus’ love poured out upon His Church that she is a sight to behold.

What of this beauty do we share with others as a Church? How much of Christ’s love do we willingly present to those who do not yet know Him? Because Jesus loves His Church with a complete, everlasting, and sacrificial love, let us prepare ourselves to reflect this love in the ways He has so graciously given it to us. O Lord, let the Light of Christ radiate from us as we draw nearer to You.