Saturday, November 16, 2002
Homily Wedding of Lindsay Street and Chris Gobar

Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm 145:8-18
1Corinthians 12:31-13:13
John 15:9-12


The Readings that Lindsay and Chris have selected for their Wedding day reflects I believe their mature intentions regarding their future Lives together.
For they have come to the realization that God is an Essential part of Christian Marriage.

God's Dream was that the Love that makes the Trinity what it is, would be shared with all men and women.
A Dream that began in the Garden of Eden and continued down through the ages, through Abraham and Sarah, through Isaac and Rebekah, through Joseph and Mary and down to today with Lindsay and Chris.

And so today, Lindsay and Chris carry on the Dream of God, the Dream mentioned in our First Reading.
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them shall become One Body".

Lindsay and Chris, with all of the wedding preparation that you've been through, I'm sure that you're well aware that marriage will present many challenges.

One of the most important of these challenges will be, to be Great Witnesses for Christ, especially in a world, which seems to have forgotten His Dream.

The Reading you chose from Saint Paul's Letter to the people of Corinth is one of the most eloquent descriptions of Love that has ever been written.
No poet, no songwriter, has ever done better.
Love is Patient, and Kind, it is not jealous, it is not rude, True Love never ends.

In our Gospel John tells us how we are to Pray as Jesus Prayed not for ourselves, but for others and have Christ in our Hearts.

Of all human relationships, Christian Marriage is the One that can express most Fully the Qualities of Living that are from God Himself.

Fidelity, Strong Constant Unconditional Love, forgiveness, Trust, The Creation of New Life, Tenderness and Compassion, are some of the Qualities of God's Love that are made Real, that become a reality in Marriage.

FINALLY their Wedding day has come.
We have arrived to their Personal Holy Day. As this day has drawn near, the two of you have received a lot of advice, and certainly before the day is over, you will receive a lot more.

What is the one most important Word of advice you can receive for your Marriage? What is the number one Rule for your Marriage to be happy, and for your Life to be Fulfilling?

Regarding Marriage, most would probably say, "The most important thing is:
To Love each other."
Yes to Love each other is a must. However!

The First, Most Important Thing is to: "Love the Lord your God."
God is to be First, and we are to Love Him with all our Hearts.

There are three partners to a successful Marriage: the husband, the wife and God.

And God must always be FIRST.

Why?
First of all, only He can fully Satisfy our Heart.
A husband and wife can make each other happy, but can never Fully Satisfy each other's deepest longings.

If they set out on marriage expecting to make each other perfectly content, they will end up frustrated and disappointed.
The human heart was made for God and is restless until it rests in Him.

Beside this, it is only when we Love God that we are Able to Love one another.
The Power to Love, to give ourselves away in good times and bad, in sickness and health, all the days of our life, comes from God!

We cannot rely on our own strength!
The Vows you make today Are Humanly Speaking, not only difficult but impossible to fulfill.
Yet, we do not rely on only human strength.

The two of you, Chris and Lindsay are not the only ones making Vows here today.
God is making a Vow.
He Says, "I will be with you, and I will give you every ounce of strength you need to be Faithful to each other no matter what!"
God Promises that here today!

That is why you are getting Married before His Altar, rather than at home, or at your favorite spot in the park, or at the beach.
You make your Vows before the Altar of God, because you know that you cannot do this without Him.

You want to Root your Marriage and your Lives in God.
You want to respond to Him.
How will you do that ?
First of all, Pray together.
You are joining your Lives here today.
Join your Prayers as well.

Also, Nourish yourselves and your children on the Word of God in Scripture and the Teachings of the Church!
Make use of the Sacraments of the Church, to draw you even closer to Christ and each other.

Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength.
Then Chris and Lindsay, I promise you in the Name of Christ that you will be able to Love one another all the days of your Life!

If you have comments or suggestions, please send it to info@stpatrickokc.org.