Wedding Homily on Mark 10:6-9 (Genesis 1:26-28, 31a; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Mark 10:6-9)

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 celebrate this sacred covenant of marriage, we ask God's blessing upon them: May the Lord who has brought you together strengthen your love and fill your hearts with His grace as you begin this lifelong journey together.

Today, as we reflect on the Scripture readings chosen for this celebration, one powerful theme emerges clearly, especially from the words of Jesus in Mark's Gospel: **"What God has joined together, no human being must separate."** This divine joining—this profound unity of flesh and spirit—is the sacred foundation upon which [Name] and [Name]'s marriage will be built.

In our Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus takes us back to the very beginning of creation to reveal God's original plan for marriage. "From the beginning of creation," Jesus says, "God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is not merely poetic language—it is a profound reality that speaks to the very essence of what you, [Name] and [Name], are about to enter into.

This "becoming one flesh" that Jesus speaks of is illuminated further in our first reading from Genesis. When God created humanity in His image, He created them male and female, blessing them and calling them to be fruitful. The complementarity of man and woman reflects something of God's own nature—unity in diversity, communion of persons, fruitfulness of love. In creating marriage, God was not merely establishing a human institution but revealing something about His own divine life.

St. Paul deepens our understanding in the second reading when he reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. "The one who joins himself to the Lord becomes one spirit with him," Paul writes. Marriage is not merely a physical union but a spiritual one as well. The "one flesh" that Jesus speaks of encompasses your entire beings—body, mind, heart, and soul united in a covenant that mirrors Christ's own self-giving love.

[Name] and [Name], today you stand before God and this community to become "one flesh"—not just in a physical sense, but in every dimension of your lives. Your Catholic faith teaches that in this sacrament, your love becomes a living sign of Christ's love for His Church. The Catechism beautifully describes marriage as "an efficacious sign of Christ's presence" (CCC 1613). Through your covenant with each other, Christ Himself will be present in your home, in your daily interactions, in your joys and sorrows, in your successes and struggles.

This covenant of "becoming one flesh" has profound implications for your daily life together. First, it means that your lives are now inseparably bound together. Decisions that once affected only one of you will now affect both. Your joys will be multiplied because they are shared; your burdens will be lightened because they are carried together. St. John Chrysostom taught that in marriage, "the two become one person." This unity doesn't erase your individuality—rather, it creates something new and beautiful from the gift of your distinct personalities.

Second, this covenant calls you to grow in mutual self-giving. To become "one flesh" means to continually choose each other's good, to prefer each other's needs, to support each other's dreams. Pope Francis reminds us that love is not merely a feeling but a decision renewed each day. In his words, "The love of friendship unifies all aspects of marital life and helps family members to grow constantly" (Amoris Laetitia, 133). Each day will present new opportunities to choose love, to choose unity, to choose each other.

Third, this covenant is sealed and strengthened by God Himself. Jesus emphasizes that "what God has joined together, no human being must separate." Your marriage is not merely your own project—it is God's work in you and through you. When challenges arise—and they will—remember that the same God who joins you today will be with you always, giving you the grace to remain faithful to this covenant.

In practical terms, how might you live out this covenant of becoming "one flesh" in your daily lives? Let me suggest three simple ways:

First, pray together daily. Even if it's just a few moments before bed or at the beginning of your day, let prayer be the foundation of your unity. As the old saying goes, "The family that prays together stays together." In prayer, you invite God to be the center of your marriage, the source of your unity, the strength of your love.

Second, communicate openly and honestly. To be "one flesh" means to share not just your bodies but your thoughts, your feelings, your hopes, your fears. Make time each day to really listen to each other, to share what's on your heart, to dream together about your future. As Pope Francis advises, "Take time, quality time... to listen with patience and attention" (Amoris Laetitia, 137).

Third, forgive quickly and completely. In any marriage, there will be moments of hurt, misunderstanding, and disappointment. Don't let these moments drive a wedge between you. Instead, let them be opportunities to practice the merciful love that Christ has shown to us. Remember the words of St. Paul: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

[Name] and [Name], as you stand here today, surrounded by those who love you, know that you are also surrounded by God's grace. The covenant you make today—to become "one flesh," united in body and spirit—is a sacred gift from God. It is a journey of growing together, day by day, into the fullness of love that God desires for you.

May God, who has called you to this covenant of unity, strengthen you with His grace. May Christ, who made marriage a sacrament, be present in your home. And may the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of love between the Father and the Son, be the bond of love between you, helping you to truly become "what God has joined together"—one flesh, one heart, one life shared in love.