“If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I
do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there… But I will find in
the sacrament or Gospel the word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives
to me that forgiveness which was won on the Cross.” (AE 40, 214)
Matthew 19:4-6 - Laura Ann and John Eric St. Mark Lutheran Church – Saturday, October 21, 2006
In the Name of Jesus. Amen. Laura and John, what a great start you have had! Do y'all all know but these two met at a fish store. You can't get much better of a start than at a fish store!
The fish is one of the many symbols of the Christian Church. In the early church, Christians who would meet in secret would signal each other by the drawing the sign of a fish on the ground. Some even think that the word in Greek for fish, ICHTHYS, became an acronym for the words for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”
More appropriate to you two are the words of the early church father Tertullian. “Christians are like fish swimming in the waters of their baptisms.” That's you and two! That's all of us who are baptized into Christ. Our lives flow from – live and move – from the Lord's gifts.
Jesus, the Son of God, lived the perfect life that God requires of each of us and then died the death we deserve for the times we have not lived as we should. His death is our death to sin. His resurrection is our resurrection to new life. New life not lived for ourselves anymore – but for others. You for me, and me for you. And most specifically, Laura for John and John for Laura.
All of this is delivered to us in the waters of our Baptisms! Christians are like fish swimming in the waters of their baptism! You betcha! Nothing fishy about that!
But, you'll need more than fish tales to make it through this life – you'll need the words and promises of Christ. Specific to this day is today's Gospel, “What God has joined together let no one put asunder.”
The Lord is doing this wedding. He gives husbands to wives and He makes wives for husbands. How else could we explain this? John is a die-hard, I-set-my- wedding-for-10am-so-that-I-could-watch-the-Longhorns-at-play-in-the-evening UT fan. Laura is an Aggie. Only the Lord could do this!
The same Lord that brought you two together in that fish store has carried you each day to this day – where it gives Him great joy to bring you two together as husband and wife. Today, He shows us that He made you, Laura, for John and gave you, John, to Laura.
In the Old Testament reading, we are reminded that after the Lord God had made all the animals, He then formed man out of the dust of the earth. He breathed into him the breath of life and man, Adam, became of living being.
But, it was not good for Adam to be alone, so God made a helper suitable for him. The Lord God then brought all the beasts of the fields and bird of the air before Adam. But no helper was found for Adam.
We know the rest, don't we? The woman was formed from the rib that God took from the man. And when Adam saw his wife, he was so excited, he sang to her, “This one is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! She shall be called woman for she was taken from a man!”
But, they sinned. They disobeyed the God who created them. They took what wasn't given to them. And when God came to them, Adam despised Eve, pushing her forward and blaming her.
But, Adam had been there. He was there with her when she ate of the fruit God commanded her not to. He could have stopped her. He could have been a good husband. But he sinned and with his sin came death – death for Adam and his wife and death for all of us who are of the seed of Adam.
Which is why the FISH is a great thing to remember. When things get bad, look at your fish. When your teams play each other, remember the ICHTHYS. Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. And when you fight, and you will fight on days other than when your teams play, remember the water.
Fishes swim in the water. You two are like fishes swimming in the waters of your Baptism. Your lives are spent in Christ, in His gifts. Your lives flow from the forgiveness that Christ won for you on the Cross and delivers to you in the Word and the water.
The only way an Aggie and a Long Horn can stay married in this fallen world is in Christ. He brought you two together. He brings you two together today. He makes the two one and He will carry you through each day.
Christ died for you. You died with Him in Baptism. You died with Him too. He rose for you. You rose with Him in Baptism. You rose with Him too.
Remember who you are in Christ. You are baptized into His Name, born to new life, born to live not for yourselves, but for each other.
John, be Christ for your wife. Wash her sins away in the waters of the Lord's Baptism. Forgive her. Sanctify her. Cleanse her. She is without spot or blemish. She is holy. Defend her. Protect her. Cleanse her in His water and His name – just as Christ does with His Bride, the Church.
Laura, receive from your husband. Submit to him. Trust him. He has only good for you all the time, like Christ does for you. When he sins, forgive him.
Jesus will keep you together in His forgiveness and life. Let the water and the fish remind you. Swim in the waters of your baptism together.
Then, before you know it, the time for football games and swimming will come to an end. The Lord will call one of you to be with Him and death will part you.
Christ is faithful. He will carry you each day until that day.
John, I hear your game at eleven. Well, no matter who wins that game, you have already today. The Lord, clearly despite you, has given this wonderful woman to be your wife.
How can an Aggie love a Longhorn? Only Jesus. This isn't a fish tale. No, it's true.
"And what God has joined together let no one put asunder." In the name of Jesus. Amen.
