Matt and Val's Wedding Sermon

May God add a blessing to the reading, hearing and living out of these for us today.

Passion for social justice

A desire to get things done

They have had plenty of opportunities to

Marriages Invite Us to Take the Long View

In counseling we’ve looked back to the past, and we have looked forward to the future that you will one day create with each other.

But this is a good time to take the long view

In Matthew 25 Jesus does a similar thing

He asks his disciples to imagine at the very end of time and is separating the sheep and the goats to imagine what that view is like

What really matters most?

In the day to day of work and life what really matters most?

In those disagreements that are sure to come to be able to zoom out, to give thanks to God, and to wonder with God where you might be called to next, that is what marriage is about to take the long view

And to act in the now

The passages that we just read were all about Christian community they were an invitation and an instruction for how we ought to treat one another.

And although they are not explicitly talking about a marriage these are the things that make up a marriage. I want to re-read just a few of the verses that we just read:

Philippians 2:4 NRSV

4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

1 John 4:16b NRSV

16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Ephesians 4:29 NRSV

29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

And I want to re-read particularly those last words

Ephesians 4:32–5:2 NRSV

32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Marriage invites you both to take the long view and to remain in the moment.

Certainly there will be many more times of joy

Certainly there will be many struggles as well

But in all things there is a choice

A choice to love one another

A choice to put the other before yourself

A choice a choice take the long view

And a choice to remain in the moment

Transition to vows