Wedding Homily: Reflect God’s Light

I had the honor of witnessing the marriage of one of my best friends from high school. Below is most of my homily, I omitted personal references.

Whenever you look up at the sky on a clear night and there isn’t a new moon, the beauty of the moon brightly shinning thousands of miles away dominates the sky. The moon, whether full or just a slim crescent, shines over you, its light piercing the darkness.

Yet, the moon doesn’t have any light of its own. The moon cannot produce its own light, but rather must remain content at reflecting the light of the sun. The more she reflects a light which is not her own, the more beautiful she becomes. For the moon to pretend this light is her own would be foolish, since her beauty depends entirely on her ability to reflect the light of the sun. The moon is receptive and humble by offering herself entirely to shine the light of the sun.

“You are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

The light of Jesus Christ, a light which radiates Truth, Goodness and Beauty, is a light which cannot be contained. The charge to every Christian, to every disciple of Jesus Christ, is to spread this light which is the presence of God among his people. Those who think the light is their own are fools, but those who recognize the source of this eternal transcendent light, are glorified by God.

As you unite your lives today, you are called to be bearers of this light of Truth, Goodness and Beauty. Let your marriage be a light for your family and friends, always remembering the source of that light. It is with humility, by offering your whole bodies as a spiritual offering to God, that you will live out your marriage gracefully. It is by recognizing and seeking God’s infinite and merciful light that you will have a strong, healthy marriage.

Do not conform yourselves to this age, writes Saint Paul, but be transfigured by the light of God, so you may know what is good and pleasing and perfect. The light of God will help your love be sincere, will make you rejoice in hope and endure in affliction.

The Church of Christ envisions a world transfigured by the light of God, not people merely following a set of rules or regulations. This is our task: to become humble and reflective like the moon in the sky, reflecting a light which is not our own, so the world may be a better place.

The light will shine the most when you recognize that the love you profess for each other is a reflection of God’s eternal love for you. In the sacrament of marriage, God draws husband and wife into the eternal mystery of Himself, making your union a concrete, human manifestation of his unconditional, boundless love.

God’s Providence has brought you together, not luck, not chance, not fate. May He now bless you with Truth, Goodness and Beauty. May your union be transformed by His light so you may shine brightly among the stars of heaven. May every joy and blessing be yours, and may you live a long, happy life together.