Shoebotham Wedding Celebration

Welcome

Hello, my name is Kenneth, I’ve had the good pleasure of being Jeff’s brother-in-law for almost 14 years. I’m happy to welcome you all on this momentous day! As we are gathered together from all over the country to celebrate the marriage union of Jeff and Miquela. A happy day indeed!

Homily

Jeff and Miquela asked if I would begin today’s events with a quick word on marriage and the Bible. As I’ve gotten to know Miquela a bit, I’ve discovered that we have a mutual love for JRR Tolkien. Tolkien was a master story-teller who crafted an epic tale called The Lord of the Rings. He was a lover of fairytales and fables and, as an Oxford scholar, wrote on them with authority. He knew that the best stories always communicated and reflected some sense of reality. The best fairytales take you into a fictional, imaginative space to teach you something of the real world that you might not have seen as clearly or wonderfully by other means. I’d like to reflect briefly on one particular (and common) theme in fairytales today as we consider what the Bible says about marriage. Have you ever noticed that there are quite a few fairytales where a valiant prince slays a great dragon to save his fair maiden? The two little flower girls are my beautiful daughters, and they could rattle off a handful of stories where this takes place. Think of Prince Eric destroying Ursula to save Ariel in The Little mermaid, or Prince Phillip slaying the dragon and awakening Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, or The Red Cross Knight, known as Saint George of Merry England, killing the great dragon to save the princess Una. Thinking along Tolkien’s line, what does this common fictional theme reflect about the real world?

There’s a call and response in some church traditions that goes like this: The adult says, “What’s the story of the Bible?” and the children respond, “Kill the dragon, get the girl!” The story of the Bible leads up to the moment when a brave royal Son slays the ancient dragon, the main antagonist of the biblical story, and wins his Bride…and you guessed it, they live happily ever after! The New testament often refers to the Church (which is made up of people who follow King Jesus) as his bride, and marriage is often used as an analogy for the relationship Jesus has with his people. You see Tolkien claimed that good, lasting fairytales have the ring of reality floating in the air of their fictional world. That this Prince/Dragon/Maiden motif is so pervasive in the old stories, Tolkien says they are opening us up to a wonderful reality in the true story of the whole world. Namely, that you and I are in helpless bondage to sin, death, and the Devil (that dragon of old), and a good Prince has come to rescue us, through victory over death and the dragon, and through unmerited mercy in the forgiveness of sins. The fairytales we grew up on have been mysteriously, sometimes dimly, but faithfully reflecting this truth all along.

Paul the Apostle, an ancient follower of Jesus said this to the Christians in Ephesus (in modern day Turkey): “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her...As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Paul continues, “This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife, and the wife must respect her husband.” Do you hear what Paul is saying? It’s quite remarkable, every marriage is telling a true story. It’s either telling it well, or poorly. But every marriage, Christian or not, is reflecting the reality of Jesus’s love for his people. Paul is saying that when you see a man and a woman, wholly commited to one another in mutual love and respect, you are catching a glimpse of Jesus’ sacrificial, unfailing love for his Bride. The Bible places serious theological weight on all marriages.

So Jeff and Miquela, know that your marriage is telling a beautiful ancient story, cosmic in scope, even more epic, and certainly more true, than The Lord of the Rings. Let me state the obvious, marriage is hard. But look how the story works, loyal sacrificial love is the ONLY thing that can withstand the most challenging moments. Mutual giving produces mutual getting. As you go in marriage, tell the story of Jesus and his church well. Shower one another with love, and like Jesus, be ready to lay your life down for the sake of your spouse.

Let me pray for this couple. Father in heaven, you sent your Son to rescue us from sin and death. Your valiant prince, Jesus, has mortally wounded our great adversary. He, and he alone, has won his bride through self sacrifice. I pray for Jeff and Miquela that you would bind them together in such a way that they would faithfully retell your great story in their marriage, in their faithful love and commitment to one another. I pray this for Jesus’ names sake.

Vows & Rings

Speaking of rings and commitment, it would be fitting now for Jeff and Miquela to publically commit to one another and exchange rings. They have both prepared their vows. After they say them, they will exchange rings as an ever-present reminder of the permanence of their vows.

Kiss

Jeff, would you like to kiss your bride?

Mr. & Mrs. Shoebotham

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Mr. & Mrs. Shoebotham!