A few weeks ago, I officiated the wedding of parishioners Oseloka (Bobby) and Chika Chira. Chika is somewhat new to our congregation, but many of you know Bobby as a member of the Vestry and head of the Usher Corps. Both Bobby and Chika grew up in religious households and were steeped in the Christian faith as children. They continue to prioritize their faith as adults, which is no surprise given the faithfulness of their families. To my utter delight, that faithfulness was on full display on their wedding day.
One of the highlights of the ceremony is “tying the knot.” This expression comes from the ritual of the minister wrapping her stole around the couple’s right hands and pronouncing them married. After the pronouncement comes these words: “Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.” Then the stole is unwrapped and the couple releases their hands.
When I pronounced Bobby and Chika husband and wife, everyone erupted into applause. This is not typical; usually applause is saved for the presentation of the couple at the end. The “I now present to you…” part, followed by the kiss.
But the joy for Bobby and Chika could not be contained. What’s more, the next part turned into a call and response. When I said, “Those whom God has joined together,” everyone shouted, “let no one put asunder!”
The enthusiasm continued. After the pronouncement of marriage comes the Lord’s Prayer followed by prayers for the couple. When I invited the congregation to stand for prayer, I heard a man near the front say, “You got it!” as he popped up out of his seat. I thought to myself, “Amen” before I even started to pray.
People turn to the church for important life events whether they are nominally Christian, devoted followers of Jesus, or somewhere in between. While holy matrimony is always a blessed and sacred event, it makes such a difference when the couple falls on the devoted end of that spectrum. The same can be said of a funeral for a Christian who walked with Christ their entire life, or the baptism of a child whose parents fully appreciate the gravity and joy of the Sacrament. Somehow God’s light shines brighter because of their faithfulness.
This dynamic is true in everyday life as well. God is always granting us moments of grace – the phone call from a friend just when you needed it most, the creative solution to a problem after you’ve been wracking your brain endlessly, a random act of kindness that lifts your spirits (whether you performed the act or received it). The list goes on. Have you noticed that the strength of your faith makes God’s grace all the sweeter? More powerful? More obvious? Perhaps you’ve also noticed that telling someone about a grace-filled moment increases its impact even more.
May your faith meet God’s grace today and every day. And may the two grow in such proportion that you become a blessing to those around you.
On that note, congratulations, Bobby and Chika! You are certainly a blessing to our community.
Adrian+
