Dear Jyotsana and Aditya, my priestly brethren, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Today is a memorable day for both Jyotsana and Aditya. I am sure that they will cherish these memorable moments lifelong. As they begin a new journey in life, receiving the sacrament of marriage at the sanctuary of the Lord, in tpresence of family members, relatives, friends, and well-wishers- they are overwhelmed with happiness. We too share in your happiness and offer our prayers and blessings on this auspicious day.
Through this sacrament of marriage Aditya and Jyotsana are entering into a covenantal relationship which is more than a contract. You know a covenant is irrevocable. You are giving your personal consent to live together as partners for whole life with openness to life and commitment to faithful love. This relationship of love is an unconditional offering you make to one another.
As you are getting ready to make the sacred vow to be united as husband and wife for the rest of your lives I would like to share the advice given by St Paul. According to him, the spouses should accept the vocation to be a prophetic, visible sign of the unbreakable covenant between Jesus and His Church. We are aware of the covenantal relationship between Jesus and Church. Church submitting herself to Jesus and Jesus loving his Church even at the cost of His life. The model of Christian marriage as per St. Paul is the way Jesus loved the Church and the church submitted herself to Jesus: He advises wives to submit to their husbands……He is highlighting the example of church… Just as the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands. St. Paul is giving advice to husbands also… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church… even at the cost of sacrificing His own life. Yes, he demands a total mutual self-giving.
My dear young couple, the intimate union of marriage, as a mutual giving of two persons demand total fidelity and an unbreakable union from your part. You are called to grow continually in your communion through day to day fidelity to your marriage promise of total mutual self-giving. The sacrament of matrimony gives you the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ loved His church. The grace of the sacrament perfects your human love and strengthens your indissoluble unity.
I too have something to share with you…Aditya…Jyotsana… you might have been interacting for quite some time… you might have shared your dreams …. But still Aditya, you are a mystery to Jyotsana… and Jyotsana you are still a mystery to Aditya. However, this mystery will be revealed day by day…..The bright and dark shades of your personalities will be revealed…. And after years of marriage you may feel that your partner has changed a lot. Success of marriage depends on how patiently you have accepted this change. You might have heard married couples criticizing their spouses telling ….. John…I am fed up …. You have changed a lot…. you were not like this at the time of marriage…John may rebuke and shout back…..Hey…Maria, you too have changed… As years pass by partners may become cold in their relationships losing all warmth and affection. This can happen in your life also…..The basic thing you must keep in mind is… life partners are not perfect couples in all respects. There may be shortcomings in their personalities. In the early state of married life, one will see only the positive shades of the partner's personality. However, day by day partners are revealed to each other. As years pass by it becomes difficult for many to adjust with their life partner. Life becomes miserable such that one will see only the negative side of his or her partner. Lack of patience among the couples makes situations further worse. Simple solution is to have the courage and patience to accept the mystery of the personality of the partner being revealed day by day….Your prayer to Lord who has united in the sacrament of marriage is to give patience and courage to love and accept my life partner as he or she is…
Recently I have read a blog of a renowned American author Richard Paul Evans titled 'How I saved my marriage’. He shares about the troubled days of his married life and how he has struggled to save his married life through self-understanding and mutual respect. In one of his troubled days, he experiences the loving provenience of God that enlightens him that he cannot change his partner but he can change only himself. This brings a tremendous change in his attitude towards his life partner. Everyday morning he began to ask his wife: “How can I make your day better?" Though initially, his wife did not respond positively later she was moved by her husband's ingenuity and openness. Then onwards there occurs a marked change in their life.
Before concluding I would like to appreciate parents of both Aditya and Jyotsana. They have undertaken a lot of sacrifices from their part in upbringing their children. Now they have a feeling of satisfaction in fulfilling their responsibility. Of course, they are the happiest people in the lot…. Moreover, I would like to remind Aditya and Jyotsana to ensure the loving providence of God in your life and strengthen your faith in Jesus to experience the blessings of the sacrament of marriage throughout your life. May the intercession of Mary, Mother of God who was at the wedding of Cana, be always with you always….
Once again on behalf of the entire community I wish you a happy married life. May… God Almighty shower his blessings to have a fruitful married life.
