Is this Gospel too "demanding" for a joyful wedding day?

The Beatitudes are demanding, but they are also a description of where deep joy actually comes from. Couples who choose this Gospel tend to be making an intentional statement about what kind of marriage they are forming.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:1-12a

"The Beatitudes"

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Scripture text (World English Bible)

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 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 gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. 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 children of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Themes

the beatitudes
blessing
kingdom values
the upside-down kingdom
the marriage as witness

Reflection

Choosing the Beatitudes as the Gospel for your wedding is a striking pastoral move. These verses are the opening of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: the foundational charter of Christian discipleship. To proclaim them at a wedding is to say: this marriage we are beginning is meant to be a school of these beatitudes. The poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers: these are the kinds of people Christian marriage is meant to form.

For Catholic couples, the Beatitudes give the marriage an unmistakable orientation. The world's definition of a successful marriage tends to involve comfort, prosperity, and the avoidance of suffering. Jesus describes the blessed life in opposite terms: the poor, the mourning, the persecuted are the ones he calls makarioi, blessed. A marriage shaped by the Beatitudes will look strange to the surrounding culture. It will choose mercy over self-protection, peacemaking over winning arguments, hunger for righteousness over comfort.

The closing line, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven", frames the whole vocation in terms of eschatological joy. Christian marriage is for this life, but it is oriented toward the life to come. The vows you exchange today are seeds of a fruit that ripens in eternity.

Couples drawn to a Gospel that sets the marriage inside the larger drama of Christian discipleship often find the Beatitudes the most fitting choice. It is a Gospel for couples who know what they're signing up for.

Best for

·Couples who want to ground their marriage in the heart of Jesus' teaching
·Marriages oriented toward shared service, peacemaking, or work for justice
·Weddings on or near the feast of All Saints (Nov 1)
·Couples drawn to a less commonly chosen, more demanding Gospel reading

In the liturgy

A longer Gospel reading; allow time. Most lectionaries offer the long form; a shorter form is occasionally available. Pairs naturally with second readings on practical Christian life.

Pairs well with

Frequently asked questions

Is this Gospel too "demanding" for a joyful wedding day?: The Beatitudes are demanding, but they are also a description of where deep joy actually comes from. Couples who choose this Gospel tend to be making an intentional statement about what kind of marriage they are forming.

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