Pastor’s Corner “Jesus’ Great ‘I Do’”

Marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, binding both to self-giving love and exclusive fidelity. … The covenantal union of man and woman in marriage signifies the communion between Christ, the heavenly bridegroom, and the church, his holy bride (Ephesians 5:32). While all do not marry, Holy Matrimony symbolizes the union all Christians share with their Lord.

This is how our Book of Common Prayer describes marriage, drawing on the biblical witness to marriage in its creation in Genesis, its celebration in Song of Songs, its symbolism in the Prophets, its affirmation in the Gospels, and its explication in the Epistles. No wonder in an Anglican wedding ceremony the Priest declares, “Marriage is commended by Holy Scripture to be held in honor among all people” (p.201).

Each marriage is intended by our heavenly Father to be a living image of the self-giving communion between Jesus and the church – a promise-keeping love that pursues what is best for the other regardless of the cost, removes all barriers to unity, chooses death to self so the other might live, and creates even more life to share with others. No marriage does this perfectly, of course, which is why marriage points beyond itself to the great “I do” that Jesus speaks to us.

This Sunday, we have the unusual and beautiful opportunity to witness “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage” during the second service. Antonio and Dana will stand in the midst of our church family to have their vows joined and upheld by God’s blessing, “filling them with all spiritual benediction and grace, that they may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting.” The Father’s strengthening embrace of this marriage speaks to all of us his unyielding embrace of our union with his Son.

On this special day at both services, all married couples also will be invited to stand and renew their vows to each other. As we rejoice in these renewed promises, all will be reminded of Jesus’ unyielding promise to love, comfort, honor, and keep each one of us, and to be faithful to each one of us every day of our life into eternity.

My prayer is that every one of you will hear Jesus saying, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away. Set me as a seal upon your heart” (Song of Songs 2:13; 3:6).

Your Pastor in Christ,