Wedding Homily #2

    On behalf of Arthur and Karen welcome and thank you for coming to share in their joy during this special moment in their lives.  It is traditional in the church for the priest to offer a few words of reflection.  Since I came to priesthood later in life, I am fortunate to have personal experience of thirty years of marriage to draw upon in these comments. 

    Now humor me when I share this analogy. Some of you may find it odd initially, but I think you will see the connection. This is a place I’m familiar with and, often, think of it when I reflect upon my past marriage.
The analogy: Marriage is like an extended trip to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

    Yes…I noticed a few chuckles…I’m not talking about Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, but the physical place itself. For a few moments, let me take you on this journey and explain why.
    We start on Main Street, USA.  This represents your home life up to this point.  This is where we find friends, families, careers, faith life and religious upbringing.  The gospel today speaks about this, “a wise man built his house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffet the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.”  A solid tradition of love, family life and religion is a rock upon which two people can build a life together.  Choosing to start a marriage together here in the Church in the presence of God is a wonderful sign; an acknowledgment of the source of all strength, our Lord and Savior. A firm commitment to your faith can help set roots on Main Street.
    After leaving Main Street, there are many choices.  Let's go to the right and visit Tomorrowland.  Tomorrow, you will spend the first complete day as husband and wife.  The vows you will make in a few moments will be put into practice tomorrow and every day “until death do you part”.  If I learned anything in my marriage, it is to pay attention to the words of our second reading, “love is patient.. it is not quick-tempered... it does not brood over injury.” For all of your tomorrows, remember to be patient with one another.  Remember your love for each other and remember to forgive each other quickly.  In most marriages there are plenty of opportunities to say, “I'm sorry” and then kiss and make up.  Please don't wait for your spouse to do it first.
    Continuing our circle around the park brings us to Fantasyland.  In deference to Eva and your friends and families, I'll leave that land to your private time and skip right over to Frontierland.    There will be many new frontiers to cross in your life together.  Some already have been handled like living arrangements and custody questions, but more are coming.  They may creep up as pizza toppings, favorite restaurant, how to handle your finances or which car to buy.  As those frontiers come, please keep in mind the words from the first reading today, “and the two of them become one body”.  Through the grace of God, after today, you are a husband and wife, united in God, one body, but still two minds.  Work together on these new frontiers as you find them.  Frontiers can be a bit rough and unpredictable.  Keeping God in a prominent place in your life together can provide a stable point to build upon to handle the rough times.  Visiting that little frontier church can bring a group of like minded new friends into your life to help as well.
    The final place to visit is Adventureland.  Your life together is a new adventure just starting.  Keep the excitement in your life.  Plan each day as a new adventure together.  Plan those days together and you will never have to worry about growing apart.  At times, there may be different plans for adventure, but compromise and love will always win out. Please don't think that I am saying that all your adventures must be together.  Couple time is really important, so is some private time.  Make room for both in your relationship.
    So, I leave you with Father Chris' recipe for a good long marriage. Stay rooted on Main Street, where God, family and love are always present, but also spend your tomorrows conquering new frontiers and having adventures together.