The readings during the Ceremony are read from the Old Testament, New Testament and the Gospel. Matthew 19:4-6 emphasises the fact that the couple will become one thought "A Man will leave his Father and Mother and unite with his Wife". Ephesians 5:"Your God's dear children you must try to be like Him". This reading tells the couple to possess the qualities of marriage such as faith and understanding. These are two of the qualities Jesus had for us while preaching on Earth. Peter 3:1-9 says "You must all have the same attitude and the same feelings, love one another as brother and sister". This reading tells the couple to submit to one another. Marriage should not be a reason to show off but to respect one another as Sarah and Abraham did. These readings help assist a couple as they are a reflection of God's love. The couple can find answers to their problems through these readings. In a way the readings would be a source to their marriage. Through looking at past examples of marriages such as Sarah and Abraham, the couple can reflect their behaviour of the olden marriages.
Actions are also considered as an important role as to assisting a married couple. At the beginning of the Ceremony the whole congregation stands up as a sign of acceptance to the marriage and a welcoming of a new life. The father gives away his daughter away and places her hand on the groom. The farther is agreeing with the marriage and accepting that his daughter is starting a new family. This will assist the couple because they will have support from the congregation but most important of all their family. Families disagreeing with the marriage mainly cause marriage breakdown. With acceptance from the family a marriage can survive. The exchange of wedding rings occurs. The rings are either Gold or Silver. This symbolises that the marriage is precious and practical. Precious because God's love is precious and practical because God works through the marriage to help it grow stronger. The ring is in form of a circular shape to symbolise that the Kingdom of God lasts forever, like marriage. This helps assist the couple, as the rings are a sign that the couple is united both in their eyes and each other. The register is signed for legal reasons, splitting all the couples' belongings in half. This assists the couple because they will become closer to their next of kin than they are to their family. The couple will leave the church together. This will assist the couple in future because a new life can be started open to having a new family.
Marriage is a public affair because it is lived out in the local community. Marriage is a sign for the church because God is reflected in the love the husband and wife hold.
Question A2 R.E
Christians believe that marriage is a sacrament of "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace". The outward nature is unravelled through the vows and the outward nature is highlighted through the covenant the couple makes.
There are major expectations in a marriage. A permanent marriage lasts for a lifetime; in the eyes of the Catholic Church "No human being must separate what God has joined" (Mark 10:1-2). This is a major challenge for society today because it is difficult for some humans to stay loyal to one another. A couple may have disagreements along the marriage or a partner may become psychically and mentally intolerable, divorce is usually the answer to some marriages. Divorce may have advantages for the couple but when children are involved, this separation may be disastrous to their lives. This disastrous effect may be reflected through the child's schoolwork and behaviour towards others. If a couple can resolve their problems divorce may not be the answer to their problems. No one but the couple should be involved in a marriage as the lord commanded "Do not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14) staying with one partner may prove difficulty for many partners. As a result many engage in affairs outside the marriage, which lead to break ups and suffering for those involved. The world encourages affairs in various ways mainly in the pop world, reflected through lyrics such as "say it wasn't you", encouraging the partner to lie and get away with the affair. When the other partner finds out they may feel the whole world cave in on them. When your partner makes their wedding vows, promising never to cheat but goes ahead and commits adultery all that the partner promised on the wedding day would have meant nothing to them. The partner should not have engaged on the marriage if they knew they would not be loyal towards the other. All marriages are open to having as many children, all marriages are fruitful. In today's society women tend to favour careers over starting a family. Women's roles are changing and men tend to stay home and look after the children. Celebrities such as Madonna influence this type of life; who balances her pop career with two children. Women can not see that she has the money to pay for a minder and therefore work. These days' children are becoming more expensive to bring up because the demand their parents to satisfy there want and needs. Later on in life the child may want to go to University or Collage, which again costs money. This puts couples off the idea of having children. A couple's relationship is bought together through God's love. This is proven difficult in today's world, as Christians do not acknowledge God in their lives. Pope John Paul says, "Christ's love for the Church is everlasting and can never be broken, the covenant between a man and a woman joined in Christian marriage is indissoluble and irrevocable as this". In society people break their covenant without serious thought about the marriage. These people may marry for material things or just in hope to find love in that partner. This marriage may lack communication and expression of love. As a result to this one of the partners may stay out late hours leaving the other to suspect whether they are alone or with somebody else, the marriage then lacks trust. "It is not right for a man to live alone" (Genesis2: 18) because the companionship between the partners is lost. The marriage slowly begins to lack support form each partner breaking the covenant between he couple. God made man to support each other not just through the goods times but the bad. When a couple is married "Two become one" (Mark 10:5-9) "In total union of love" (Pope John Paul) couples today do not just marry for love but for beauty, money or popularity. A perfect example of this is when two people are bought together and married thought a competition and entertain the public. Marriages like this do not pose strong foundations and therefore cannot last a lifetime. Two becoming one in a marriage is repeated in Gospel highlighting the importance of the statement in marriage. Marriage is a mirror of God's love therefore an inspiration from God. This love is the same love from God because the couple is able to reproduce, as God created man and forgive others, as God forgave all our sins. A happy marriage basses its foundations on honesty, respect, support, guidance, faith and understanding. These qualities are those Jesus offered to us while on earth in the name of the Father. When a marriage is based on these qualities children, friends, family and strangers are influenced by the marriage. When strangers see the couple on the street, for example holding hands they will reflect upon a positive marriage. Children would, in the future consider marriage, as they will see all the advantages of marriage their parents possess. Families would support the marriage for life. The kingdom of God is built on stronger foundations through this influential behaviour to the community. In future, these people will also spread the kingdom, therefore "bearing fruit". The previous example of a marriage bought together by television lacked a strong foundation and therefore stood no chance of survival. God's love was not allowed to work through the couple, inspiring them to set a good example to the others. A couple should allow God's love to work through them bringing the couple closer together. All the major Christian teachings must be reflected upon in order for a marriage to survive disastrous events throughout.