I had the honor today of blessing a newly married couple – Marianne Brown and George Mutter. It was a small gathering, but full of romance and love and the joy of good friends knowing happiness in their midst.
Photo by Jon Fischer
George and Marianne are a beautiful match for one another. They are both creative, smart people with a lively curiosity about the world, and a generosity of spirit that draws others in to their world.
Being with them reminded me of the words in our marriage ceremony: That marriage “signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church.” If Christ’s relationship to us, the Church, is like a marriage, as we approach the time of being silent and listening to God, I hope the words of the marriage ceremony can being perspective to what we are about in this journey with Christ.
“Give us wisdom and devotion in the ordering of our common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. Grant that our wills may be so knit together in Your will, and our spirits in Your Spirit, that we may grow in love for you and one another all the days of our life. Give us grace, when we hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge our faults, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours. Make our life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. “
A blessing be upon Marianne and George. Let all the people say amen.
