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January 10-17, 2007

A fairytale nothing

Warm-up Question:

What is your personal definition of a good marriage? How do you think can it be achieved?

 

A romantic, exotic resort bordered by a wide beach. A candlelight ceremony with the bride, a famous model dressed in silver and the groom, a musician, in black. The perfect occasion for New Year’s Day—a celebrity wedding—except that it never happened. British model Kate Moss and her fiancé Pete Doherty of the rock groups The Libertines and Babyshambles did not exchange vows on a beach in Thailand as reported by two different British newspapers, the Sun and the Daily Mirror.

The British press apparently had high hopes for Moss, who has come back from her last year’s very public cocaine problem in fine style, by signing several new modeling contracts and releasing her own clothing line. High hopes, however, do not make fact out of fiction.

It may be that Moss has good reason to postpone the happy day. The intended groom was arrested several times last year on drug charges and is currently is serving two year’s probation. If the media are looking for a fairytale wedding, it seems they will need to search elsewhere.

 

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think the two newspapers mentioned did not properly check the accuracy of the wedding story?
  2. Why are ordinary people often so fascinated by celebrities’ lives and especially their marriages?
  3. Why are celebrity relationships so often troubled? What factors, positive and negative, influence the success of such unions?
  4. What advice would you give to Kate Moss and Pete Doherty about improving their chances for a lasting marriage?

Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, January 14, 2007.
(Text links are to oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at Lectionary Readings.)

Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection
Marriage is getting rather a bad name in the modern world. Many think of it as temporary, unnecessary, or downright impossible. But today’s lessons show us how God feels about the matter. And since it was our Father who invented this institution, we might do well to listen.

In the Old Testament, marriage symbolizes God’s relationship with his people Israel. The word “husband” means “caretaker” and so God is, as he provides for and nurtures the faithful. In the lesson from Isaiah, the prophet brings a message of hope to Israel. She will no longer be ashamed before the surrounding nations, no longer called Shemamah (desolate) but Hephzibah (my delight is in her) and Beulah (married). Her union with God will be as close and joyous as the closest of all human bonds.

And, of course, the Gospel is Jesus’ famous miracle at the Cana wedding feast. The fact that he came to the wedding indicates that he considered the wedding and marriage significant. But he also did a miracle just to keep the party going. The wedding celebration was that important.

Jesus compares his love for the Church with a husband’s love for his bride, the unity of believers with him to the unity of a married couple, and the celebration of his second coming to a wedding banquet, full of hope, promise and delight. This single, earthly tradition is used to describe the best of circumstances and to reveal the most profound of eternal truths.

St. Paul reminds us that not everyone can or should enter into marriage with someone else, but we will all enter into eternal unity with Christ. Let us look forward to this happiest and holiest of celebrations and prepare for it with eager and faithful hearts.

Discussion Questions

  1. Think about the symbols and traditions honored at weddings: the bride’s white dress, the ring, giving toasts, throwing the bouquet and garter, gift giving, schmooshing cake into each other’s face, etc. Why are these things done and what do they represent (if anything)? What different traditions do other cultures have when it comes to weddings, celebrations, and marriage?
  2. How does a non-Christian or non-religious view of marriage compare to a Christian view? (See Genesis 2:18, 21-24, and Matthew 19:4-6)
  3. Have you ever thought about marriage or your own wedding? What do you hope for, consider important, or wonder about?
  4. Despite the Christian ideal, divorce among Christians is about as common as it is in society at large. Why do think this is? Can this trend be reversed? How? In what ways might our struggles with divorce relate to how we live in relationship with God?
  5. How do people prepare for marriage and a wedding? What comparisons can we make between these preparations and how we prepare our hearts and serve while we wait for Christ’s coming?

Discussion resources:

Activity Suggestions

Examine the wedding vows in the Lutheran Book of Worship statement-by-statement, pages 202-205. What does the minister say? Why? What do the two people promise? Why? What would you add or change? You can also look through other ELCA worship resources on weddings at http://www.elca.org/worship/liturgies/marriage.html

Suggested songs: "As the Deer" or "Like as the Hart" (contemporary) or "Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers", Lutheran Book of Worship, #25.
 

  Closing Prayer
Lord God, you call the Church, your bride, to purity, faithfulness and service. Lead and sustain us as we seek to maintain prepared hearts and holy lives in expectation of the great wedding feast to come. May the bond of marriage be blessed and upheld in our midst to remind us of our eternal bond with you. In the name of our loving Savior, Christ the bridegroom. Amen
 

Contributed by Sylvia Alloway
Granada Hills, CA
 

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.

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