Bloghardt's Reflector

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. So, the way that Christ is the head of the Church is the way a husband is the head of His wife. The way the Church submits to Christ is the way the wife submits to her husband.

Now, Christ doesn't fold His arms and bark orders out to His Bride.   "I want my dinner now. Get me my beer! Clean the house!" That's the way of Moses and the Law.

Christ does what for the Church? Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus loves the Church. He gave Himself up for her on the Cross. He made her holy. He cleansed her with the waters of Baptism.

He presented her to Himself a glorious church - no spots, no wrinkles, or any such thing. He made her holy and without blemish.

Husbands, love your wives that way. Give up your lives for them. Wash them with water and the word. Speak forgiveness over her. Cleanse her.

The way of the Law is the way of finding faults - too fat, too dirty, not smart enough, too smart, disrespectful, not doing what I asked to do, not doing what I want when I want it done, you serve me.

That's Moses. That's not Jesus. Jesus finds no fault in His bride. He doesn't point out faults, that's Moses' job. He takes sins upon Himself, forgives them, and gives life. Any faults, any sins, He washes away with the water which flows from His crucified side.

Husbands do that. They feed and nourish their wives with the forgiveness Christ, the Bridegroom, won for them on the Tree. They do whatever they do for their wives - even dying for them. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

And the Church, His Bride, receives her Bridegrooms' service. She receives forgiveness, she receives washing, she receives holiness and blemishless-ness from her Groom. She even is fed by Him - He gives her His Body and Blood for the remission of her sins.

Faith, that's receiving gifts from God. Faith is receiving the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation which was won for us on the Cross.

The submission done by the Church is to be on the receiving end of all that Christ did for her. Wives be submissive to your husbands means, "Wives receive from your husbands as you receive from the Lord."

Let your husband love you, wash you, sanctify you, cleanse you, and take away your wrinkles and blemishes. Submission means letting your husband do everything that he does FOR YOU - even dying for you.

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. To speak about husbands and wives is to talk about what's going on with Christ and His Bride, the Church.

That's the secret: All of this that you are learning this week at the Frio isn't so much about husbands and wives as it is about Christ and what He did for His Bride - died for her, rose for her, washed her clean, sanctified her, and made her spotless and without blemish.

That's you, His Bride. That's you, the members of His Body. And that's received by faith alone.

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Hey Padre, how was Illinois? I've a question for you. Please do not mistake me- I'm not trying to be a smart butt. However, you once told me to not settle for a guy I don't totally like. Yet this blogermon states that the way of the law is to find faults (too fat, too dirty, etc.) How can I be like Jesus (not Moses) & not settle for someone / something I don't completely approve? For example, (hypothetically speaking) what if my father does his best to love my mother in the way that Christ loves the Church, but he still feels that she's too fat, too dumb, etc. What if he wants something more or someone else? He's responsible for his own happiness- my mother can't make him happy. He's settling for my mother, & he must live w/ her for the REST of his LIFE & love her in the way Christ loves the Church. (Remember, this is all hypothetical. Please do not suspect that my parents are having marital problems. I'm merely using them as a quick example.) Que hace, Padre?