Reflections for Couples who are Married or Preparing for Marriage

Good and gracious Lord. We are here today to slow down the pace of our lives, to get away from the hustle and bustle of our lives to hear you speak to us about the sacredness of our lives. We have chosen to walk together as people preparing for marriage or as people already married.

This life has many challenges, difficulties, and conflicts but there are also moments of grace and happiness. It seems like it is very difficult to pause and to remember that You Lord, are with us every moment of every day. We all need to pause and re-learn how to listen to the Whisperings of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

This series of thoughts and articles are designed to assist all of us to pause and to remember that we are all the Creator’s children, equal but different, similar and dissimilar, open and closed but each and all of us striving to live the example and model set for us by Mary, Joseph, and Jesus – The Holy Family.

“If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I ‘m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

“Victor Hugo said it eloquently when he said, “there is a truth that once was spoken, to love another person is to see the Face of God.”

And of course: “Love is patient, kind, never gives up, cares for others more than the self” and Paul in 1 Corinthians13:1-13 says it far better than I.

Open our hearts, break open the Word, inspire us and reignite the fire of Love that is within each of us. Help us to recall our promises to each other and to heal where we need to be healed and help us to lift each other up as we celebrate the great gift of our I DO!

Reflection questions, if you choose:

1. How do these words make me/us feel about our relationship?

• How have I/we paused in the last week, month, year? Have long since I/we really paused?

• How is your marriage and/or preparation for marriage like that of the Holy Family?