The Gospel was read from the ESV first, then, because the majority of the young people in the congregation were unchurched I repeated the verse using The Message.
This homily was especially important because the couple's child is due in 6 months.
Passage Mark 10:6-9:
5 -9 Jesus said, "Moses wrote this command only as a concession to your hardhearted ways. In the original creation, God made male and female to be together. Because of this, a man leaves father and mother, and in marriage he becomes one flesh with a woman—no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart."
No longer 2 individuals but forming a new unity. Forming one….
no small thing…this unity…this oneness.
It means that today that we are witnessing both a mature and godly decision.
It means that B and H have decided to do what the world does not readily support.
It means that we are in the presence of something holy and something much bigger than ourselves….
The world says…why do this? It’s almost meaningless… marriage is an outdated waste of paper. It has become an alternative to dating and not much more.
We here today say that building family through marriage means that we are more than just self loving comfort seekers. It means that we are willing to become a part of something much bigger than ourselves. It means that we are willing to take part in the divine. It means that we are willing to build this new family on more than promises but on solid rock.
There is a reason why we don’t do private weddings with no witnesses. One is legal. the other is that this day involves us all. Like at a baptism where the whole congregation, in effect, becomes the Christian family of the baptized, we here today will covenant and promise the Lord God that we will do all in our power to support and uphold B and H in this amazingly wonderful and at times terribly difficult endeavor called marriage.
This does not mean that we meddle, but it does mean that we care. B and H If you are having trouble…the best people to go to are people who have been married a loooooong time and still speak to eachother. You have a few of those in your life.
So…finally…B and H. I have some advice. I know, you’re shocked by that. Listen to your vows. If you mean what you are saying you are centering your marriage on the eternal and not what you see around you. If you let Jesus into your marriage…Jesus will magnify your joys as much as he will hold you and cradle you through the tough times.
God is joyful that we are here today, God is joyful that you are doing this.
God is present in this moment. Pay attention. and God bless you both.
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