Sarah & Hunter: Married

I was honored to take part in the wedding ceremony of my dear friends Sarah and Hunter on May 22 as they said “I do” under a beautiful live oak tree on the inter-coastal water way in Sheldon, SC. Sarah and I became best friends officially on the first day of kindergarten when we sat next to each other in Ms. Surface’s class. Needless to say, we’ve got a bit of history behind us. We became inseparable and even dressed alike for a lot of our elementary school careers (who can forget about our Limited Too attire or Keds). Our friendship did weather the storms of puberty, high school and college.

Sarah and Hunter have a great relationship of mutual respect and a strong foundation of friendship. I was so blessed to be an officiant and stand with them as they made their vows and entered into the covenant that made the two of them one in the eyes of the Lord.  I gave the homily at the beginning of the ceremony.

Here is the homily:

Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. Hunter and
Sarah you are entering now into an agreement that brings about a relationship
of commitment. Covenant is a dynamic exchange that is a legal transaction but
also highly relational and spiritual. In Scripture when covenant is made
between two parties it always involves three parts:

A symbol

A promise

A sacrifice

In the Old Testament when covenant was made one party had to
bring an animal to sacrifice. The covenant could not be made without the shedding
of blood. Now there were specific protocols on how the sacrifice was to be
made- the animal was cut in to two symmetrical halves and the halves laid apart
from one another and then the two parties entering into the agreement would
walk back and forth between the pieces of the animal through the blood and the guts.

 

Today you are following the same example set forth by God’s
word and you too have come with the intent of exchanging rings as a symbol,
exchanging vows as a promise

 

But what about the sacrifice?

What about the blood shed?

 

The beautiful thing is that we as God’s children no longer
have to bring an animal to sacrifice. We no longer have to shed blood to make a
binding contract or to atone for sin because God himself put on the flesh of humanity
and walked the earth pure and sinless to die on our behalf so that we could
forever become united with Him. The blood has been shed for you.

 

But there is more. Sarah and Hunter if you look around you
will notice that much sacrifice has been made on your behalf. Your family has
walked this life beside you, loved you, supported you and your parents, in
particular have paved the way for you by giving of themselves and their own
blood, sweat and tears. They celebrated your victories with you and wept with
you in the valleys. Your parents and many people in this community surrounding
you have shown you what sacrifice looks like through the example of their lives
and service to you. And if you turn around and look this community right now it
is split in two right down the middle and you will, when you are ready walk
down that aisle to seal the covenant that you are making. The sacrifice has
been made but it is far from over. From this day forth you both must
continually be to mindful of one another- to lay down your own rights,
attitudes and preferences in favor of the other. The sacrifice you make now is
one that brings death to your flesh but life to your spirit and your
marriage.  

 

Your marriage covenant is an echo of the covenant that God
has made with his people. Your marriage and your love are a portrait that God
gives to the world as an image and a shadow of his eternal love for his people.
So may you give to one another as generously as you have been given to and may
you always follow the example set forth by the Giver of all good gifts.

 

Colossians Chapter 3:
verses 12-16 says
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all of these virtues put on
love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ
dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and
as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to
God.

Sarah and Hunter, I wish you all the best. I look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate together.