Wedding Sermons for Young Couples - (Genesis 1:26-28, 31a; Colossians 3:12-17; Matthew 7:21, 24-29)

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 begin, let us pray briefly: Lord, bless this young couple with your presence as they build their "House on You, the Rock" – the unshakable foundation that will sustain them through all of life's seasons. Amen.

Today, as we celebrate this sacred covenant, the Scripture readings you've chosen speak profoundly to what creates a marriage that endures. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus concludes his Sermon on the Mount with a powerful image that captures the essence of faithful love: "Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock" (Matthew 7:24). This "House on Rock" will be our guiding theme today – a vivid picture of what your marriage is called to become.

What does it mean to build your marriage on rock? Jesus makes it clear: it means hearing his words and putting them into practice. This isn't merely intellectual agreement with Christ's teachings, but the daily decision to live them out. Notice the contrast Jesus draws between those who merely say "Lord, Lord" and those who actually do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21). Your marriage vows today aren't just beautiful words exchanged, but commitments that must be lived each day through concrete actions of love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

The foundation matters because the storms will come. Jesus doesn't say "if the rain falls and the floods come and the winds blow" but "when" these challenges arise (Matthew 7:25). Every marriage faces difficulties – health challenges, financial pressures, misunderstandings, the demands of work and family. What determines whether a marriage stands or falls isn't the absence of storms but the strength of its foundation.

This foundation begins with your understanding of who you are as man and woman. In Genesis 1:27, we hear that God created humanity in his image – "male and female he created them." Saint John Paul II, in his Theology of the Body, emphasized that this complementarity is no accident. Your differences as man and woman aren't obstacles to overcome but gifts that allow you to image God's love more fully. The blessing God gives the first couple – "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) – reveals that marriage naturally opens to new life, reflecting God's own creative love.

[Name] and [Name], this theme of building your "House on Rock" will be lived out in your marriage through the virtues Saint Paul describes in Colossians. Notice how he begins: "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). These aren't optional accessories but the essential garments of Christian love. Just as you wouldn't leave home without proper clothing, don't enter any day of your marriage without intentionally "putting on" these virtues. Also notice that Paul doesn't say "feel compassionate", but rather "put on compassion"—suggesting that love is both a feeling and a choice, something you must deliberately practice each day.

Paul continues with perhaps the most crucial foundation stone: "Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive" (Colossians 3:13). The Catholic tradition has always recognized that forgiveness isn't a one-time event but a daily practice in marriage. Saint Augustine taught that the bond of marriage is strengthened not by romantic passion alone but by this mutual forgiveness that mirrors Christ's own mercy. When you forgive as Christ forgives – completely, without keeping score – you lay another solid stone in your foundation.

And what holds all these virtues together? "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:14). This love – agape in Greek – isn't primarily a feeling but a decision, a commitment to seek the good of the other even when it's difficult. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Deus Caritas Est, this love "seeks the good of the beloved: it becomes renunciation and it is ready, and even willing, for sacrifice."

The Church teaches that marriage is not merely a human institution but a sacrament – a visible sign of God's invisible grace. This "House on Rock" you build together becomes a dwelling place not just for the two of you but for God himself. Your love becomes a living witness to Christ's love for his Church. As the Catechism states, "The consent by which the spouses mutually give and receive one another is sealed by God himself" (CCC 1639). This divine seal means you're never building alone – God is the master builder working alongside you.

So how do you practically build this "House on Rock" in your daily life together? Let me offer three cornerstone practices:

First, pray together daily. Even if it's just a few minutes, this shared time with God anchors your day in what matters most. Saint Teresa of Ávila said, "Prayer is an act of love." When you pray together, you invite God to be the third strand in the cord of your marriage, making it infinitely stronger.

Second, practice the art of loving attention. In our distracted world, giving your full presence to each other is increasingly rare and precious. Put away phones, look into each other's eyes, and listen not just to words but to the heart behind them. Pope Francis calls this "the spirituality of communion" – recognizing the divine light in your spouse even on difficult days.

Third, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Paul's instruction in Colossians 3:16 isn't just for individuals but for marriages. Read Scripture together, reflect on its wisdom, and let it shape your decisions. When faced with challenges, ask, "What would Jesus do in this situation?" Let his teachings be the blueprint for your "House on Rock."

[Name] and [Name], as you stand here today, remember that the foundation you lay determines everything that follows. The beauty of your wedding day will fade in memory, but the quality of your foundation will determine decades of life together. In the words of Genesis, God looked at what he had made and found it "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Similarly, when your marriage is built on the rock of Christ's teachings – on forgiveness, sacrifice, and faithful commitment – God looks upon it with the same delight.

May the God who established marriage as a reflection of his covenant love continue to build your "House on Rock" – a dwelling place of joy, peace, and unfailing love that stands firm through all of life's seasons. And may all who encounter your marriage see in it a glimpse of Christ's own faithful love for his people.