Homily for renewal of marriage vows (Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a; John 2:1-11)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather to witness these couples renew their sacred vows, we are reminded of God's original design for marriage. In our first reading from Genesis, we hear those profound words: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him." After creating the animals and birds, none proved to be a suitable partner for Adam. Only when God created woman from man's very rib did Adam exclaim with joy: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." The sacred text concludes with that beautiful declaration that has echoed through the centuries: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh."

This divine blueprint for marriage reveals something profound about human nature and God's plan. We are created for communion—for deep, abiding relationship. Marriage is not merely a social contract but a covenant relationship that reflects God's own faithful love.

In Psalm 128, we hear the psalmist describe the blessings that flow from a life lived in reverence for the Lord: "Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored." The psalm paints a beautiful picture of family life centered on God: a fruitful vine, children like olive plants around the table, prosperity and peace. This vision of marriage and family life reminds us that fidelity to God's ways brings genuine happiness and fulfillment.

Yet we know that married life is not without its challenges. The path of love is not always smooth. This is why St. Paul's words to the Corinthians offer such profound wisdom for married couples. In what is perhaps the most eloquent description of love ever written, Paul tells us: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

These words are not merely poetic sentiments for wedding ceremonies. They describe the daily commitment required in marriage—a commitment to patience when your spouse tries your patience; kindness when you feel irritated; humility when you want to insist on your own way; forgiveness when you've been hurt; and perseverance through all of life's challenges. This is the love that builds a marriage that can withstand the test of time.

And finally, in our Gospel reading, we witness Jesus' first public miracle at the wedding feast in Cana. It is profoundly significant that Christ chose a wedding as the setting for his first sign. By his presence at this celebration and through his miraculous transformation of water into wine, Jesus sanctifies marriage and reveals it as a sign of God's covenant love.

Notice what happens in this story: the wine runs out—a potential embarrassment for the newlyweds. Mary, with a mother's attentiveness, notices this need and brings it to Jesus. "They have no wine," she says simply. Despite Jesus' seeming reluctance—"My hour has not yet come"—Mary instructs the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." This leads to an abundance of the finest wine, far better than what had been served before.

What a beautiful image for marriage! There will be times in every marriage when "the wine runs out"—when the initial excitement fades, when difficulties arise, when love seems to have grown cold. These are precisely the moments to turn to Christ, to invite him into your marriage anew, to "do whatever he tells you." And when you do, Christ can transform the ordinary water of your daily lives into the choicest wine of renewed love and commitment.

Pope Francis reminds us that "the joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church." In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, he writes: "The strength of the family lies in its capacity to love and to teach how to love." This is the great mission of married couples—to be living witnesses of God's faithful, self-giving love.

St. John Paul II, in his Theology of the Body, taught that the physical union of husband and wife is meant to be a visible sign of God's invisible grace—a sacramental reality that makes present Christ's love for his Church. In this light, we can understand why marriage is not simply a private arrangement between two individuals but a public covenant with profound spiritual significance.

Today, as these couples renew their vows, they recommit themselves to this sacred covenant. They say once again, "I choose you, I commit to you, I will love you faithfully all the days of my life." And in so doing, they witness to us all about the nature of God's love—a love that is faithful, enduring, and life-giving.

Dear couples: As you renew your vows today, remember that your marriage is not just about your happiness, though God certainly desires your joy. Your marriage is also a witness—a living sign of Christ's faithful love for his Church. When you forgive one another, you reveal God's mercy. When you serve one another, you embody Christ's self-giving love. When you persevere through difficulties, you demonstrate God's faithfulness.

And to all of us: Let us support these couples and all married couples with our prayers and encouragement. In a world that often trivializes commitment, let us honor the sacred covenant of marriage. And let us all—married or single—strive to embody that love described by St. Paul: patient, kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not insisting on its own way, not irritable or resentful, but rejoicing in the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things.

For indeed, "love never fails." And when our earthly marriages end, as they must, in death, the love that we have cultivated will remain, transformed and perfected in God's eternal kingdom.

May God bless these couples as they renew their commitment today, and may he bless all marriages represented here, strengthening them in fidelity and love. And may all of us grow in that love which never fails.

Amen.