A Wedding Message (Short Homily)

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Pause)

It is a true joy to be here with Frank and Gaby (P) to be a part of this glorious day.

To be surrounded by family and friends (P) those who care deeply for both of you.

I considered it a true privilege when you asked me if I would officiate at your wedding ceremony.

You truly honored me and I will never forget this day.

After the service today, I sign this piece of paper (Hold up Marriage License).

This is your marriage license. It was given to you by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Everyone who has been married in Pennsylvania has one of these.

Some folks have it in a nice frame, hanging on the wall somewhere in their house.

Some might have it in a lock box with other important documents (P) to keep it safe.

Regardless of what you do with this piece of paper, I want to tell you a secret; (P) just between the three of us �

It is just a piece of paper. This piece of paper is not a marriage.

In fact, everything we are doing today is not a marriage.

Don�t get me wrong, this is a glorious day.

It is wonderful to be in this place, with all these people, witnessing your vows to one another.

But as wonderful as it is to be here, (P) don�t be confused: this is a marriage ceremony (P) a wedding, it is not a marriage.

What makes a marriage is what follows this day.

What makes a marriage is what you do tomorrow, and the next day, and the following weeks� months and years. (Long Pause)

Jesus shares these words with us:

�No one has a greater love than this,�. to lay down one�s life for one�s friends.�

Frank�. Gaby� Most likely you will never be asked to give up your life for each other.

But, you will have to give up yourself for each other

Marriage is not a piece of paper, it is a gift.

Gaby, today you will give yourself to Frank.

And Frank today you will give yourself to Gaby.

You will give rings to each other as a symbol of this giving (P) as a symbol of your solemn vow.

Frank, you will give yourself to Gaby, to share your life with her?

And Gaby, will you give yourself to Frank, to share your life with him?

Marriage is a gift, (P) it is a gift of yourself, (P) it is a gift of your life.

And it is not just for today.

It is for everyday (P) from this day forward,

Frank.. Gaby (P) you must constantly give yourselves to one another. That is a marriage.

It means letting go of petty things �. Like who is right and who is wrong.

It means putting your spouse�s interests � their wants, their desires � their happiness � ahead of your own.
It means, Frank, �that Gaby�s happiness is more important than yours.

And Gaby it means, before you smile about that too much, That Frank�s happiness is more important than yours. That is a marriage.

That is precisely what Jesus means when he gives his disciples their one and only commandment, �. to love one another.

That is what Paul means, (P) when he tells us to be (Slow) clothed in love.

That is what it means to become one flesh, (P) forever joined together.

You are the wedding gift (P) that you give to one another.

And your marriage is the gift (P) of continuing giving yourselves (P) to one another.

A warning.

(Slow) It must be both of you, (P) and