The Rite of Marriage – Readings
Gospel Readings
Matthew 5:1-12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.
Seeing the crowds, Jesus 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.
’Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’
Matthew 5:13-16
You are the light of the world.
Jesus said to his disciples, 'You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
’You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’
Matthew 7:21.24-29
He built his house on the rock.
Jesus said to his disciples, '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.
Matthew 19:3-6
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.
Pharisees came up to Jesus and tested him by asking, 'Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?’ He answered, 'Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, „For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one”? So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.’
Matthew 22:35-40
This is the great and the first commandment. The second resembles it.
A lawyer, to disconcert Jesus, put a question, „Master, which is the great commandment of the Law?”
Jesus said, „You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself.
On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.”
Mark 10:6-9
They are no longer two but one.
Jesus said, '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.” So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together let not man put asunder.’
John 2:1-11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Them he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, Without knowing where it came from – although the servants who had drawn the water knew – the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.
John 15:9-12
Abide in my love.
Jesus said to his disciples, '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.’
John 15:12-16
This is my commandment, that you love one another.
Jesus said to his disciples, This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life, for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.’
John 17:20-26
That they may become perfectly one.
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 'Holy Father, I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou has sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world. 0 righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
