One from Two
Sermon
Together Till Death Us Do Part
(Name) and (name) , on this your wedding day, grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
If I read Scripture correctly, today you two will become one. For our Lord said: "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one'? So they are no longer two but one. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." Matthew 19:4-6
Now that's rather peculiar addition. When I went to school one plus one equaled two. Jesus is saying that in the profound event of marriage, one plus one still equals one.
Of course there are different ways of looking at this mystery. One man said, "When the preacher told us on our wedding day that we two would become one, my bride had already decided which one."
Or, as one wife said to a friend, "It's so neat, my husband and I like the same things. Of course, it took him twenty years to learn!"
That's not exactly what Jesus had in mind. Let's look at it.
Our Lord said two persons become one. In other words, although you are two distinct individuals, your lives are blended into one entity. We've even got a name for it. You are now a couple. A couple. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Instead of being single, you are a married couple. Your two pasts become one present. Shared responsibility is fashioned out of individual freedoms. Individual goals are now mutual dreams. There are lots of ways in which two are transformed into one.
Jesus said that a man leaves his parents (of course the woman does, too), so two homes are left and a new home is established. In other words, out of two family trees a new sapling is planted. Each home creates new traditions out of old memories.
In a few minutes, in the Name of God, you will become husband and wife. Your two names will become one. That is important, for names are symbols, and to share the same name illustrates to the world, in a concrete way, the unity of marriage.
Your union as husband and wife was designed by God to be permanent. In no sense should marriage ever be looked upon as experimental or temporary. Jesus was veiy clear in stating that no one should ever try to divide a husband and wife. What God joins together, no one must separate.
The fact that God creates one from two in marriage may sound very romantic, and let me assure you it most certainly is. But times will come when you rebel against this unity. There will be days when each of you may wonder what you saw in the other and you will speak words of disappointment and anger. You may even intentionally hurt each other and may think you would be better off alone. But you are one - you belong together.
Sometimes our wills become so hardened we do not remember that. So it is important for us to worship together and share the good news of Jesus. Through prayer, the healing power of God can penetrate our wills so he can empower us to work out our problems, to overcome our trials, and to experience his comforting presence in our pain. With our Lord's help, a marriage can grow stronger and love can become deeper. We can enjoy the oneness we share in the marriage bond.
The gifts of married life are precious indeed. One oft-used quote substantiates this: "Sharing with another multiplies your joys and divides your sorrows." That is especially true in marriage. When something good happens to us we want to let it out; we have to share it. To have someone who gets excited for you and with you is truly wonderful; it increases your joy. Similarly, when we are disappointed and sadness envelops us, it is good to have someone, someone who cares for us above all others, who will embrace us and give us the assurance of their affection and faithfulness. To have someone stand by you, when a marathon hurt pays a visit, is a great gift.
So it is, ________ and _________, your lives are now so intertwined that you two are one. Whatever happens to one, the repercussions will be felt by the other. Plan on practicing sensitivity to each other. Support and encourage each other. Let your affection show in deed as well as word. Work for the happiness of the other, and your life together will be richer and more fulfilling, because you two are one.
Finally, in the mystery of marriage, as you foster love for each other, your love for God can be increased. I encourage you to worship him and serve him, as with one voice, one life. That will bring a wonderful warmth to your relationship, as Christ brings his divine love to enhance your earthly love. Therein lies joy and happiness in marriage beyond all your hopes and expectations. Amen
If I read Scripture correctly, today you two will become one. For our Lord said: "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one'? So they are no longer two but one. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." Matthew 19:4-6
Now that's rather peculiar addition. When I went to school one plus one equaled two. Jesus is saying that in the profound event of marriage, one plus one still equals one.
Of course there are different ways of looking at this mystery. One man said, "When the preacher told us on our wedding day that we two would become one, my bride had already decided which one."
Or, as one wife said to a friend, "It's so neat, my husband and I like the same things. Of course, it took him twenty years to learn!"
That's not exactly what Jesus had in mind. Let's look at it.
Our Lord said two persons become one. In other words, although you are two distinct individuals, your lives are blended into one entity. We've even got a name for it. You are now a couple. A couple. It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Instead of being single, you are a married couple. Your two pasts become one present. Shared responsibility is fashioned out of individual freedoms. Individual goals are now mutual dreams. There are lots of ways in which two are transformed into one.
Jesus said that a man leaves his parents (of course the woman does, too), so two homes are left and a new home is established. In other words, out of two family trees a new sapling is planted. Each home creates new traditions out of old memories.
In a few minutes, in the Name of God, you will become husband and wife. Your two names will become one. That is important, for names are symbols, and to share the same name illustrates to the world, in a concrete way, the unity of marriage.
Your union as husband and wife was designed by God to be permanent. In no sense should marriage ever be looked upon as experimental or temporary. Jesus was veiy clear in stating that no one should ever try to divide a husband and wife. What God joins together, no one must separate.
The fact that God creates one from two in marriage may sound very romantic, and let me assure you it most certainly is. But times will come when you rebel against this unity. There will be days when each of you may wonder what you saw in the other and you will speak words of disappointment and anger. You may even intentionally hurt each other and may think you would be better off alone. But you are one - you belong together.
Sometimes our wills become so hardened we do not remember that. So it is important for us to worship together and share the good news of Jesus. Through prayer, the healing power of God can penetrate our wills so he can empower us to work out our problems, to overcome our trials, and to experience his comforting presence in our pain. With our Lord's help, a marriage can grow stronger and love can become deeper. We can enjoy the oneness we share in the marriage bond.
The gifts of married life are precious indeed. One oft-used quote substantiates this: "Sharing with another multiplies your joys and divides your sorrows." That is especially true in marriage. When something good happens to us we want to let it out; we have to share it. To have someone who gets excited for you and with you is truly wonderful; it increases your joy. Similarly, when we are disappointed and sadness envelops us, it is good to have someone, someone who cares for us above all others, who will embrace us and give us the assurance of their affection and faithfulness. To have someone stand by you, when a marathon hurt pays a visit, is a great gift.
So it is, ________ and _________, your lives are now so intertwined that you two are one. Whatever happens to one, the repercussions will be felt by the other. Plan on practicing sensitivity to each other. Support and encourage each other. Let your affection show in deed as well as word. Work for the happiness of the other, and your life together will be richer and more fulfilling, because you two are one.
Finally, in the mystery of marriage, as you foster love for each other, your love for God can be increased. I encourage you to worship him and serve him, as with one voice, one life. That will bring a wonderful warmth to your relationship, as Christ brings his divine love to enhance your earthly love. Therein lies joy and happiness in marriage beyond all your hopes and expectations. Amen
