1. When speaking about God, the word ‘COVENANT’ is often used. The word implies that a SOLEMN AGREEMENT between two parties establishing a relationship of LOVE and FIDELITY has taken place. “Covenant’… is the MASTER word we use to answer the question “What is the bible all about?” ‘COVENANT’ best expresses our understanding of why God DID what he DID and SAID what he SAID. COVENANT also applies to Christian Marriage. ‘Covenant’ is the MASTER word to answer the Questions… “What is Marriage all about?” And “What can I do to make it work”?
2. The Christian UNDERSTANDING of marriage has taken a beating of late. Covenant has been replaced with selfish desires which are often devoid of God. It has become then, increasingly important for the Christian Community to communicate its’ understanding of ‘Covenantal Marriage’. All in a effort to ‘TURN THE TIDE’ back to CHRIST CENTERED Loving and Faithful relationships. The Catholic community have worked hard at this. Our young and energetic couples, like ____N____ and ____N____, have been thoroughly instructed and coached in “Covenant Marriage” with its Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities. And with all other churches, we continue to TEACH about True Christian Love, so that those who have committed their lives to Christ, REMAIN ENCOURAGED to grow in the SECURITY of why God SAID what he SAID about marriage and why he wants us to DO what he tells us to DO in marriage. The FOUNDATION for marriage that our young couple is entering into, though sometimes regrettably FORGOTTEN, is the belief that God is totally involved. Their VOWS are going to be RATIFIED or Blessed by God the FATHER. God the SON will GRACE this union as its SOURCE of love and its’ STRENGTH to remain faithful. And God the SPIRIT will enable them to use His Gifts and Virtues to become GODS LOVE to each other and the world. Covenant marriage is not just some PIE IN THE SKY concept brought on by some HOKEY words. Christian Marriage calls us to a specific way of life. It call us to obey its’ commands. Surely therefore Gods presence IS A MUST that will enable it to SUCCEED as we place our TRUST in Him.
3. The Reading from Genesis you have selected speaks WELL to the Question of “WHAT is the marriage Covenant is all about?”
Some of the tenets God expressed in the reading that help us KNOW THE COVENANT are:
- “…it is not good for man to be alone” God created us in His image. As each person of the Trinity shares their life in a loving relationship, so we to have a unique companion to share life.
- “… you are free to eat of all except the Tree of Good and Evil” The Covenant has binding parameters…RULES we must follow.
- “…the animals, none proved to be a suitable partner.” Here God states He created us male and female in equal and complimentary persons to love and to continue creation. “Be fertile and multiply”.
- ”This one at last is bone of my bone…” and ending with “and the two shall become one.” Here the love that Christ has for His church, speaks to the sign of love that sexual intercourse is to marriage, where husband and wife give totally of themselves to their spouse. This is why contraception is forbidden inside marriage.
4. Important to know is that these and all other covenant tenets in scripture for marriage, came even before man acted out in disobedience, In essence, God Created all things… in order to Covenant. He established with Adam and Eve, who were the highest order of creation, that relation-ship of LOVE and FIEDLITY. So that from the VERY BEGINNING God had a special way for us to live. Adam and Eve for selfish reasons did not trust in God and REJECTED IT the covenant.
It’s not until the New Testament that God (as Jesus) established the New and Everlasting Covenant. It’s His love, Trust and Fidelity for his Father and his Church that now becomes the model by which all Christians live. And His death on the CROSS became the ULTIMATE way of expressing that love. All these virtues of Christ, LOVE, TRUST, FIDELITY and TOTAL SELF GIVING, are what we STIRVE to imitate.
____N___ and ____N___, you in your vows make this promise, because this is what God willed us to do ‘FROM THE BEGINNING’.
5. My dearest lovers, the Corinthians verses are excellent in teaching us the way we must live to ‘Make our marriage work”. We use these verses as a reminder of the BETTER WAYS of loving our spouse.
It tells us the way we communicate our love, is in our THOUGHTS, WORDS or ACTIONS. But in a Covenant relationship it speaks of how Human Love is to become divine love (The Better way). Divine love is perfectly communicated in the Trinity. There are no negative elements attached to their love. We then are encouraged to Communicate our needs and our love to our spouse in similar fashion.
We have a right to speak our heart: when you are HAPPY, SAD, CONTENT, ANGRY or in NEED of the others affections, etc. But what must NOT be added in our EXPRESSING or in ANSWERING the needs, are the negative words, emotions and actions that TARE down your love and relationship. Impatience, Rudeness, unkindness or jealousy ARE some of those NEGATIVES that tare down a relationship.
6. ____N___ and ____N___, as you proceed from this church, having entered into a SOLOMEN AGGREMENT with God, remember this: Living God’s plan for marriage is not and never was intended to be a BALL & CHAIN around your leg or RING thru your nose. Yet being married to the person you love and who loves you will present challenges and rewards. Covenantal marriage, with God as its foundation, is meant to help you do the perfect thing in marriage in every situation. It helps to make the HARD, ENDURABLE; the GOOD, extremely SWEET. The seemingly MUNDANE moments in life, FULFILLING; and the suffering and LITTLE DEATHS we have; MEANINGFUL.
7. It is with these thoughts I would like to give you my Gift. (Pause) As you see this Crucifix everyday on your wall…let it be a reminder of His Selfless Love which you daily try to imitate for the betterment of your spouse and the surety that your marriage will succeed. God Bless you both in your marriage.
Recent Comments