Wedding Homily for Older Couple - "A Covenant of Unity" (Tobit 8:4b-8; Romans 15:1b-3a, 5-7, 13; John 17:20-26)

Dear friends, what a joy it is to gather here today in the presence of God and all of you to witness this beautiful moment in the lives of [Name] and [Name]. As we gather to witness and celebrate this sacred covenant of marriage, we are invited to reflect on a profound theme that runs through the Scripture readings [Name] and [Name] have chosen – the theme of a "Covenant of Unity."

In each of these beautiful passages, we see how God calls us to a unity that transcends our individual selves – a unity rooted in love, sustained by prayer, and strengthened through mutual support. This Covenant of Unity is not merely about two becoming one, but about how your marriage becomes a living witness to God's unifying love in our world.

The readings you've selected offer us a rich tapestry of what this Covenant of Unity means in marriage. In the Book of Tobit, we hear the beautiful prayer of Tobias and Sarah on their wedding night: "Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together" (Tobit 8:7). This intimate prayer reveals how unity in marriage begins with a shared spiritual foundation. Notice how they don't simply pray for themselves individually, but together they turn to God, acknowledging that their union is blessed and sustained by the Creator who "made Adam and gave him Eve his wife" (Tobit 8:6).

This unity is further illuminated in Jesus' profound prayer in John's Gospel, where he prays "that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us" (John 17:21). Here, Jesus reveals the deepest mystery of unity – that marriage is not simply a human arrangement but a reflection of the divine communion between the Father and Son. [Name] and [Name], your marriage is called to mirror this Trinitarian love, where unity doesn't dissolve your uniqueness but perfects it.

St. Paul then provides practical guidance for living out this Covenant of Unity when he writes, "Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). In marriage, this welcoming means creating a space where both of you can be fully yourselves while growing together. It means bearing "the weaknesses of those who are not strong" (Romans 15:1) – supporting each other through life's inevitable challenges with patience and understanding.

[Name] and [Name], you come to this altar today with the wisdom and experience that years bring. Your Covenant of Unity will be enriched by the life lessons you've already learned and the self-knowledge you've gained. This isn't the impetuous unity of youth, but a deliberate, mature covenant made with eyes wide open to both the joys and challenges that lie ahead.

The Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament – a visible sign of God's invisible grace. Your Covenant of Unity becomes a living witness to the world of how Christ loves His Church. As Pope Francis reminds us in Amoris Laetitia, marriage is not merely about feelings that come and go, but about a decision to love that grows deeper through shared experiences, challenges overcome together, and daily choices to put the other first.

How might you nurture this Covenant of Unity in your daily lives together? First, through prayer – not only individually, but together, like Tobias and Sarah. Make time to pray with and for each other, recognizing that God is the source and sustainer of your love. Second, practice the art of "welcoming one another" as St. Paul encourages – creating space for honest communication, listening without judgment, and embracing each other's differences as gifts rather than obstacles. Finally, remember that your unity extends beyond yourselves – your marriage is called to be a source of unity and blessing for your families, friends, and community.

[Name] and [Name], as you begin this new chapter together, may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). May your Covenant of Unity be a testament to God's faithful love, a source of joy in good times, strength in difficult times, and a witness to all of what is possible when two hearts are united in Christ. May the unity for which Jesus prayed become ever more real in your lives together, "that the love with which [the Father] loved [Jesus] may be in [You], and [Jesus] may stay in [You] forever" (John 17:26). Amen.