W O R D O N M A R R I A G E
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. {Ephesians 5:22-33 NIV}
Today in Calgary, a young man looks back and remembers what his dad promised a long time ago. There is a lovely woman who likewise glimpses and knows what his dad promised. Covenants were sealed then and this day, the same blessing remains.
Badong stands before God and witnesses to speak his intent towards Olivia harking back to the spectacle of the first marriage in the Garden.
The man is called to love without limits while the woman is invited to follow with sweet resolve. The arrangement is referred to as Covenant for it is God Himself who walks in their midst to guarantee their flourishing.
In everything, Badong sees Olivia beyond compare. She goes first next to God. He leads with gentle and kind intentions seeking her benefit above all. If his very life requires this pursuit, he does so with tenacious resolve, in obedience to His Master, whose love for the church reflects his imitation.
In all things, Olivia respects Badong without trepidation. He remains the lord of her home. She commits to making him look good at all times. And thus, she receives affection, provision and protection from her respectful poise.
As time passes, their unity stands in the fulcrum of Christ’s promised presence. When their candles wane and extinguish due to expected life storms, they remember their vows and understand why their marriage holds steady. It is because of the One who remains faithful all the days of their lives. Every squall and storm will be stilled in deference to the Maker of heaven and earth.
As both declare their “I do’s” before God and people, we are called to observe the resplendence of another miracle that stays unabridged: the covenant of lasting marriage.
For as God solely declares, as they become one, no one and nothing alters their sacred union. It has been defined well and needs no further amendments .
They shall be blessed by His outstanding and loyal love, signed and sealed by their Redeemer’s life and energized by the daily hope of unparalleled grace.
Let Christ’s holy kiss be their daily refuge today and for always.
