We have gathered here this day to witness a marriage. We will hear the promises that this man and woman will make to one another. They will be making a commitment. They will promise to love one another; to be faithful to one another; to be true to one another during good times as well as during bad times. The only thing that can break this commitment is death.

Does this sound frightening? Why in the world would anyone want to make such a commitment? No one knows what the future may hold. How can anyone make such promises not knowing what tomorrow will bring?

We all need someone to share our lives with; to share our hopes; our dreams; our disappointments with. There is a story told about a minister who just loved to play golf. One Sunday morning he arose to a beautiful day and decided to go golfing. He telephoned his council president and informed her that he was ill. He then took his golf clubs and headed for the golf course. St. Peter and St. John were looking down at this from heaven and they were upset by the pastor’s behavior. “We must do something,” shouted St. John. “Don’t worry,” said St. Peter. “I’ve got an idea.” The first hole was a par 5, over 600 yards. The pastor teed up the ball, swung, and the ball sailed 600 yards, rolled up on the green, and went into the hole. “Why did you do that?” shouted St. John. “I thought you were going to punish him for playing golf instead of going to church!” “I did punish him,” replied St. Peter. “He has just hit the greatest golf shot that golfer has ever hit, and whom is he going to tell?” The point of the story is that we all need someone to share our lives with; that life has no meaning unless we have someone to share it with.

But why marriage? No one knows what the future may hold. It may bring fame and fortune. It may bring poverty and illness. Yet no matter what life may bring to us, we have someone with whom we can share our joys and sorrows; someone who is commited to us; someone whom we can count on; someone who we know cares about us.

How would you feel if marriage vows were conditional? You would never be sure when the other person might want to dissolve the marriage. You could become ill; your husband or wife might not desire to stay by you during such a circumstance.

But marriage is non-conditional. You still may become ill, but you know that you can count on your husband or wife to stand by you. This is one thing in life that you can count on. Why? Because that person has commited himself/herself to you. Don’t you find that reassuring, knowing that you have someone who will stand beside you in life, someone you can share your life with? May you always remember the promises that you made to one another on this your wedding day. Amen

— Paul N. FrankTrinity Evangelical Lutheran ChurchFreeport, Pennsylvania