Wedding Homily

for Darcy and Matt... [Gen. 1:26-28 / Eph 5:1-2, 22-33 / John 2:1-11]

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lord Jesus says in the Book of Revelation: “Behold, I make all things new.” And He meant it. All things. And among the things He makes new is marriage. God’s original plan for marriage - that man and woman become one, that they provide a safe and joyful home for children, that they show the image of God upon the earth - this came to shipwreck with the fall, as you recall.

When God called Adam to account for the sin, he hid behind his wife. “The woman you gave to be with me, SHE gave me of the fruit and I ate.” The woman of course tries to hide behind the serpent: “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” But even before the calling to account, Adam and Eve showed how estranged they’d become from each other, by hiding behind the fig leaf fashions. They no longer trusted each other completely and that proved to actually be rather wise. For each betrayed the other.

And so marriage after the fall became this struggle for domination: a place for playing “who’s the boss!” And though we joke about it constantly, we know its no joking matter. The beautiful and wonderful thing that God created at the get go we have made all too often into an institution where two people pick away at each other until they finally are emotionally alienated and live together without the joy of living together or they go their separate ways. Think of the divorce rate in this country!

Rather dismal for a wedding homily, I know, but it’s best to look things in the face. Without the Lord Jesus making all things new, weddings are only so-so celebrations. But with the Lord Jesus, well, it’s a whole different ball-game.

Behold, I make all things new. And his first miracle then, his first sign, takes place at a wedding - Cana of Galilee. Ordinary, plain, boring water into extraordinary, sparkling, joyful wine. And not just any wine, but wine so good that the steward of the feast is amazed and demands to know why the Bridegroom did the silly thing of keeping back the good stuff till the folks were a bit too happy to enjoy its rich flavor. And there is Jesus, his eyes sparkling in delight! He delights in marriage and He has come to make it new.

St. Paul in today’s epistle hinted at the newness of what happens when a marriage is taken up into the Lord. First thing that goes is this “who’s the boss” business, because in marriage made new in Christ, HE gets to be the boss, the Lord, the one who says how things go.

To both of you He says: remember you’re dear children of the heavenly Father and so walk in love just as I have loved you and given myself as a sweet smelling sacrifice to forgive your sins - as you will taste shortly in the Holy Eucharist. And then to you, Darcy, He says: “submit to Matt as you would to me; receive from him the gifts I have placed for you in him, and remember to reverence and honor him as My gift to you.” And to you, Matt, He says: “Love Darcy, Matt. Love her as I have loved the church. That’s a laying down your life kind of love. That’s a seeking always what’s best for her and not merely consulting only what you want.”

Jesus says to both of you: “Do you see it, children? When people watch you, as you interact with each other - as your children will one watch you, as your neighbors observe you, as your friends check you out, this is what I want them to see: a miniature of my church and me! I want your relationship to be an icon, a visible portrayal of my self-giving love for the Church and her loyalty and devotion to me. So I will make your relationship new and you will be one - in me!”

And because the Church lives always from the forgiveness of sins that is in the Lord, because we do fail to live as He has invited us and summoned into living, His forgiveness will be the key to your relationship as well. For you will both fail to fully take the Lord up on His gracious invitation - and so you will both need to extend the Lord’s forgiveness to each other. And take it from an old married man - it’s something you’d best do every day. Before the sun sets. Before you lay down your head to go to sleep. Forgive each other in the Lord, and that forgiveness will continue to unite you together as one and your imitation of Christ and the Church will only grow.

And so the Lord Jesus, present at Your wedding to bless you, present in your married life as you give your ear to His Words, your mouths to His body and blood, and your hands to His service - He will go on blessing you. He will go on taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. Water into wine. Joy overflowing.

And the very best of all? When the man and his wife are together in the Lord, there will never be a parting. One of the things our Lord makes new is life itself. And so united to Him, living in His resurrected life, you share together a life that death cannot destroy. Matt, Jesus not only gives you a wife today; He reminds you that this wife is your beloved sister in Him and that together you share a life that will last forever. Darcy, same for you. Matt is not only your husband, but your brother in the Lamb of God, and as you both remain in Him, neither of you will ever be lost to the other for all eternity. Now that is a great gift indeed!

What a great God! And how wise you are to have begun your marriage with Him, under His blessing, and with His body and blood, uniting you to Him and so even closer to each other. “Behold, I make all things new.” Matt made new. Darcy made new. Their marriage, made new. New in Him to whom be glory forever with His all-holy Father and His life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages! Amen!

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ JEsus. Amen.