The Veil was torn - Laetitia van Schalkwyk

 

Two months before my wedding, I was at my hairdresser deciding on different styles concerning my hair for the wedding.

The next moment, the woman in the chair next to me said: 

“Only remember, when it is your second wedding, when you enter, your veil is not supposed to cover your face”.

I was dumbfounded.

Not that I needed to, but I started explaining to her that although it is my second marriage, it is my fiancé’s first marriage.

What I did not tell her is that my fiancé and I already had a conversation about the veil, and it was his desire to experience a veil moment with me.

She was still not convinced and carried on: “Before you do such a thing, first check with your pastor”.

I left it at that because not only was I about to marry a Pastor but also the Pastor that was going to do the marriage confirmation, is a friend as well and I know he would say:

“You are free to do as you please.  We are not under the law anymore”.

This incident encouraged me to do some research.

Funny thing is the veil’s history varies based on who you ask.

Some say, the bridal veil shows the modesty and purity of the bride and her reverence for God, but it also reminds us of the temple veil that was torn in two when Christ died on the cross. Removing the veil ended the separation between God and man, giving believers access into the very presence of God.

Others hold the tradition that the father of the bride must lower the veil on his daughter’s face, to ‘gift’ her to her new husband.  The husband then lifts the veil, symbolising his new ownership of his bride.

According to history the veil did not come off until after the marriage was consummated.   The reason for that was that a man had the right to annul the marriage, if the woman was not attractive in his eyes.

Wow!  Imagine that rejection!

Are wedding veils only for virgins?  No.  A veil has absolutely nothing to do with virginity. 

Famously in Genesis, Leah wore a bridal veil when she was married to Jacob.  It’s purpose, however, seemed to be more for Laban’s benefit than anything else.

A veil is also mentioned in Genesis 24:65 when Rebecca meets Isaac for the first time.  However, I read that the purpose of this custom was to hide the bride’s face from the groom so that the marriage would not be spoiled in case she was not pretty.

To me personally, the veil is a reminder of Christ’s selfless act of dying on the cross and allows me to have an intimate relationship with God because the veil of the temple that separated us from God was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). 

In the same way, marriage is a selfless act and once the veil is removed from the bride’s face it symbolizes that the groom is now able to be intimate with his bride.  Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His church, you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 in the Passion Translation reads:

“Don’t you realize that together you have become God’s inner sanctuary and that the Spirit of God makes his permanent home in you?”

So, guess what?

I wore my veil with pride & grace because God says in His word that He makes all things new.

Revelation 21:5 in The Passion Translation reads:

“And God-Enthroned spoke to me and said, “Consider this! I am making everything to be new and fresh.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 says:

“Stop dwelling on the past.

  Don’t even remember these former things.

 I am doing something brand new, something unheard of.

 Even now it sprouts and grows and matures.

 Don’t you perceive it?

 I will make a way in the wilderness.

And rivers in the desert".

May you have a wonderful blessed day.

Laetitia van Schalkwyk