Year of Jubilee

Elena Massa

It is always a joy to attend a wedding and witness a young couple exchange their vow of love, loyalty, and commitment. As heartfelt as their words might be, I doubt either one of them truly understands the depth of it all. There will be blood, sweat and tears sprinkled throughout their marriage that will bring them back to the vow that they made on their wedding day.

To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

On September 14, 1968 Sal and I made that vow before God and our family and friends. It is safe to say we have experienced the highs and the lows presented by the challenge of those words. We have been poor and we have been richer. We’ve been healthy and battled illness. I dare say there were times we might have thought we didn’t sign up for this. . . That would be the for better or worse part! But somehow we understood the priceless value, permanence, and satisfaction of love that is bound together before God by a powerful vow. And that is to be cherished above all.

And now as we celebrate our 50th year of marriage, the final part of that vow looms before us. We are grateful that we made it this far, and my heart rests in the assurance that the best is yet to be. I like to think of the 50th year of marriage as the Year of Jubilee. I am truly grateful that the Lord’s favor has been for us and with us all these years.  

I’ve been reading through Song of Solomon. It is an allegorical illustration of the love that God has for his people. It also illustrates the love a husband and wife should follow till death do they part. There is no real key verse within the book, but for me I found a fitting appendage to the vow we made 50 years ago.

       

Place me like a seal over your heart or like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death and it’s jealousy is as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love; neither can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with everything he owned, his offer would be utterly despised. Song of Solomon 8:6-7.latest Running Sneakers | Official Images Of The Air Jordan 4 University Blue WMNS Shimmer Bronze Eclipse DJ0675-200 , Fitforhealth