Homily for Wedding Anniversary - Celebrating the Journey of Love (Tobit 8:4b-8; Colossians 3:12-17; Matthew 19:3-6)

Dear friends, what a joy it is to gather here today in the presence of God and all of you to celebrate this beautiful anniversary in the lives of [Name] and [Name]. Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone in your marriage journey! Today we don't just mark the passing of years, but we celebrate the deepening of love, the strengthening of commitment, and the countless moments of grace that have blessed your union. Let us begin with a brief prayer:

*Loving God, we thank you for the gift of [Name] and [Name]'s marriage. As we celebrate their anniversary today, may your Spirit fill us with gratitude for the past, joy in the present, and hope for the future you have planned for them. Amen.*

The readings you've chosen for today's celebration speak powerfully about the enduring nature of covenant love. In Colossians, St. Paul provides a beautiful blueprint for relationships that thrive: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Col 3:12). These virtues aren't just nice ideas—they're the practical, everyday choices that have sustained your marriage through both sunshine and storms.

What makes an anniversary so special is that it invites us to look back with gratitude and forward with hope. Looking back, we can see God's faithfulness woven through your story. Those virtues Paul mentions—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—haven't just been ideals but lived realities in your home, becoming more refined with each passing year.

The reading from Tobit offers us a glimpse into a marriage that begins with prayer. When Tobiah and Sarah retire to their wedding chamber, they first turn to God: "Let us pray and implore our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance" (Tobit 8:4). Their prayer acknowledges a profound truth that you have lived: a marriage rooted in God grows stronger with time. Like a fine wine that improves with age, your love has been enriched by the years of shared faith, shared struggles, and shared joys.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of marriage with divine authority: "What God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Matthew 19:6). These words remind us that your marriage isn't merely a human arrangement but a sacred bond blessed by God himself. The permanence Jesus speaks of isn't just about endurance—it's about a love that continually renews itself, finding fresh expressions and deeper dimensions as the years pass.

[Name] and [Name], your anniversary is a testament to the power of faithful love in a world that often settles for the temporary. Pope Francis reminds us in Amoris Laetitia that "The joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church." Today, your joy becomes our joy as we celebrate not just the milestone but the countless daily moments of fidelity that have brought you to this day.

The beauty of an anniversary is that it celebrates both constancy and growth. You are the same couple who exchanged vows years ago, yet your love has matured and expanded. St. John Chrysostom, that great champion of Christian marriage, described marital love as "a love exceeding all other loves," precisely because it has the capacity to deepen with time rather than diminish.

The Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament—a visible sign of God's invisible grace. Your marriage doesn't just reflect Christ's love; it makes that love present in the world. Each anniversary marks another year that God's grace has been active and visible through your covenant. When you forgive one another, Christ forgives. When you celebrate with one another, Christ celebrates. When you remain faithful through difficulties, Christ's faithfulness shines through you.

As you continue your festive celebration today and your journey together in the days to come, I offer three thoughts to carry with you:

First, treasure the story God has written through your marriage. Take time today to share memories—both the mountaintop moments and the valleys where grace carried you through. Your shared history is sacred ground.

Second, embrace the present moment with gratitude. In a world that's always rushing toward the next thing, an anniversary invites us to pause and simply appreciate the gift of now—the blessing of still being together, still growing, still discovering new dimensions of love.

Third, look to the future with hope. The God who has been faithful in your past promises to be faithful in your future. Each anniversary isn't just a milestone reached but a launching point for new adventures in love.

As we conclude, I'm reminded of the words from Colossians that follow our reading: "And let the peace of Christ control your hearts... And be thankful" (Col 3:15). This peace and thankfulness are evident in your lives and in your celebration today.

[Name] and [Name], may the God who brought you together continue to bless your union with abundant joy, deepening love, and countless reasons to celebrate in the years ahead. May your marriage continue to be a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for all of us. Congratulations once again on your anniversary!