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One or more of the
following passages from Holy Scripture may be read. Between the
Readings, a Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sung or said. Appropriate
Psalms follow the Bible Readings. (American Standard Version)
Other passages may also be appropriate and several are offered for
consideration. You are free to consider other possibilities but should
always consult with the Officiant who is presiding.
Suggested Scripture
Combinations
·
Genesis
(1:26-28); I Corinthians (13:1-13); Matthew (7:21, 24-29)
["The greatest of these is love"]
·
Genesis
(2:15-24); Ephesians (5:1-2, 21-33); Mark (10:6-9, 13-16)
[" . . . a man shall leave his mother and a woman shall leave her home .
. . "]
·
Isaiah (25:1,
4a, 6-9); Revelation (19:6-9); John (2:1-11)
[Wedding feasts -- The Wedding at Cana]
Genesis
2:15-24
The LORD God took the
man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the
LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of
the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall
not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." Then the LORD
God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him
a helper fit for him." So out of the ground the LORD God formed every
beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the
man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every
living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle,
and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for
the man there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused
a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his
ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the LORD God
had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his
wife, and they become one flesh.
I Corinthians 13:1-13
"If I speak in the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a
clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have,
and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain
nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it
is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not
irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in
the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass
away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass
away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but
when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a
child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a
child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a
mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope,
love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
I Corinthians 13
(excerpts from the J. B. Philips' paraphrase)
“If I speak with the
eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I have become no more
than blaring brass, or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of
foretelling the future, and hold in my mind not only all human
knowledge, but [even] the very secrets of God, and if I also have that
absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to
nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess...but have no love, I
achieve precisely nothing. This love of which I speak is slow to lose
patience -- it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not
possessive: it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish
inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners, and does
not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account
of evil, or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary,
it shares the joy of those who live by the truth. Love knows no limit to
its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can
outlast anything. Love never fails...In this life we have three lasting
qualities -- faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Proverbs 31:10-31
(New International Version)
“A wife of noble
character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband
has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him
good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and
works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her
food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food
for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field
and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about
her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that
her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her
hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She
opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it
snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in
scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen
and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes
his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and
sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with
strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with
wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the
affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her
children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises
her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is
deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to
be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring
her praise at the city gate.”
Ephesians
5:1-2, 21-33
Therefore be imitators
of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and
gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Be
subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to
your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife
as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its
Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject
in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ
loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify
her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he
might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle
or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so
husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his
wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes
and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of
his body. "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 mystery
is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the
church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let
the wife see that she respects her husband.
Colossians
3:12-17
"Put on then, as God's
chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness,
meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one
body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach
and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever
you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him."
I John 4:7-16
"Beloved, let us love
one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and
knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In
this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only
Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love,
not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the
expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God
abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we
abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the
Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God
abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has
for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God
abides in him."
Matthew
5:1-10
Seeing the crowds, he
went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied."
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew
7:21, 24-29
"Not every one who says
to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Every one then who hears these
words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house
upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been
founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and
does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the
sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." And
when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his
teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their
scribes.
Mark
10:6-9, 13-16
"But from the beginning
of creation, '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. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What
therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." And they
were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the
disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said
to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such
belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took
them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
John
2:1-11
On the third day there
was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;
Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the
wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And
Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has
not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells
you." Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of
purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them,
"Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said
to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast."
So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now
become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants
who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the
bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and
when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the
good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in
Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John
15:9-12
"As the Father has loved
me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments,
you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy
may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you."
Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, "Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
creeps upon the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God
blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill
the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon
the earth."
Ruth
1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Entreat
me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I
will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my
people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I
be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if even death parts me
from you."
Song of Solomon
2:10-13
My beloved speaks and
says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the
winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the
earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is
heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are
in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and
come away."
Song of Solomon
8:6-7
"Set me as a seal upon
your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death,
jealousy is cruel as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most
vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown
it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be
utterly scorned."
Suggested Psalms
Psalms
127:1-5
"Unless the LORD builds
the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches
over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you
rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for
he gives to his beloved sleep. Lo, sons are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are
the sons of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of
them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in
the gate."
Psalms
128:1-6
"Blessed is every one
who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of
the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with
you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your
children will be like olive shoots around your table. Lo, thus shall the
man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you
see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see
your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!"
Suggested Benedictions
Numbers
6:24-26
“The LORD bless thee,
and keep thee: The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious
unto thee: The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee
peace.”
I Timothy 1:17
“Now unto the King
eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory
forever and ever, Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now the God of peace,
that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you
perfect in every good work, working in you that which is well pleasing
in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever,
Amen.”
Jude v. 24
“Now unto Him that is
able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our
Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever,
Amen.”
Other suggested
Bible readings:
·
Genesis 2:4-9
·
Ecclesiastes
3:1-11
·
Jeremiah
31:31-32a, 33-34a
·
Romans
12:1-2, 9-13
·
Ephesians
3:14-19
·
Matthew
5:13-16
·
Matthew
22:1-14
·
Matthew
22:35-40
·
Luke 24:13-35
·
John 17:20-26
Supplemental Readings
Saint Augustine
"We cannot love unless
someone has loved us first. The source of our love for God can only be
found in the fact that God loved us first. This love is not something we
generate ourselves; it comes to us through the Holy Spirit who has been
given to us."
From "Waiting on
God", by Simone Weil
"Before all things, God
is love. Before all things, God loves himself. This love, this
friendship of God, is the Trinity. Between the terms united by this
relation of divine love there is more than nearness; there is infinite
nearness or identity. But, resulting from the Creation, the Incarnation
and the Passion, there is also infinite distance. The totality of space
and the totality of time, interposing their immensity, put an infinite
distance between God and God.
Lovers or friends desire
two things. The one is to love each other so much that they enter into
each other and only make one being. The other is to love each other so
much that, having half the globe between them, their union will not be
diminished in the slightest degree. All any human being desires here
below is perfectly realized in God. We have all these impossible desires
within us as a mark of our destination.
The love between God and
God, which in itself is God, is this bond of double virtue; the bond
which unites two beings so closely that they are no longer
distinguishable and really form a single unity, and the bond which
stretches across distance and triumphs over infinite separation.
It is only necessary to
know that love is a direction and not a state of the soul."
From "The Strength
to Love" , by Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The meaning of love is
not to be confused with some sentimental outpouring. Love is something
much more than emotional bosh. An overflowing love which seeks nothing
in return, is the love of God operating in the human heart. Love is the
most durable power in the world . . . the most potent instrument
available in mankind’s quest for peace and security. The great military
leaders of the past have gone, and their empires have crumbled and
burned to ashes. But the empire of Jesus, built solidly and majestically
on the foundation of love, is still growing." |
