Colton Crain 5/12/11 Marriage Homily Paper

First Reading
A reading from the Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16a; 8:6-7a Hark! my loverhere he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one, and come! O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, Let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely. My lover belongs to me and I to him. He says to me: Set me as a seal on your heart,

as a seal on your arm; For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. The word of the Lord.

Second Reading
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12:3113:8a Brothers and sisters: Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous,

it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. The word of the Lord.

Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus said to his disciples: You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, here it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily
We Gather here today to celebrate the wonderful sacrament of marriage of the two whom stand before us, John Doe and Jane Soe. They come before us today to take a new step in their relationship to love each other unconditionally forever in every way. As it says in the first reading My lover belongs to me and I to him gives the message that they are always to be there for each other no matter what and that they should be the only ones to share this bond because as we join them today they will become and be known by one flesh, one existence in this world. This should stay still Till Death Do Us Part because death is love its powerful movement between the couple changes them completely from a change of lifestyle and devotion. Many sacrifices will be made for the eachother. Some days they might not get along as well as others but all that matters is that the love is there through whatever happens. marriage is about imaging the sacrificial love of Christ on the cross, the problems then do not become so large. The two must also shine their love for all to be seen love is nothing if it is hidden as the gospel says Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, here it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. By making their vows today they are making a contract. One of the strongest contracts on earth, to love. They promise each other themselves and their every being to be devoted to their relationship until death. This contract reflects Gods love for us, that it is an unconditional love for the other and they will love them no matter what. Love is patient, Love is Kind, Love never fails. As the marriage

progresses they will soon have children of their own too nurture and take care of themselves. This is one of the hardest and stress enduing things to go through as a couple, They experience things such as lack of sleep, financial issues, frustration and more. But this is normal it is life. It is like a test of their relationship if it is true or not. Any married couple to get through having a child together surely love each other and will make it over any other obstacle in their way. It is their job to reach an ultimate goal after marriage it is their job to strive and get each other to heaven. You must lay down your whole life for the other, your whole heart, your whole mind, your whole body, for this wonderful sacrament of marriage. Today in our society we hear so much about love. Its everywhere and cannot escape it in songs, on tv, talked about at work ect. But you realize this nation lacks love and it needs love. People believe love is a feeling but it is far from it. Love is a choice we all make at one point in our lives to become one. I see in this marriage how you look at each other and the respect you give each other every day you choose to love each other. Every day you have to choose to lay down your life, desires, goals, wishes and thoughts for the sake of your spouse. Youll also notice as you life you life married you DON'T have to do anything for the spouse but you'll find you WANT to do everything for them just to be with them. You will see this now , a week from now, a few years from now, even 70 years from now. You have a strong desire to be with the one you love and you cant explain what drives it it just seems to come. And you find a way to be together. Love is not something to find, it comes to you. As long as you keep your life focused on God you will never loose the meaning of Love.