Readings for the Wedding Ceremony
Option A. Genesis 1:26-31
A reading from the book of Genesis.
God said, "Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth."
God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.
God blessed them, saying to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth."
God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good.
The Word of the Lord.
OR
Option B. Genesis 2:18-24
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate." So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts.
But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed:
"This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman, for this was taken from man."
This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
The Word of the Lord.
OR
Option C. Tobit 8:7-10
A reading from the book of Tobit.
God had heard the prayers of Tobias and Sarah. In his kindness, God had sent his messenger Raphael to bring them together in marriage, and to free Sarah from the difficulties which had so long tried her patience and trust.
On their wedding night, Tobias and Sarah sought God's continuing favour and protection; together, they praised God, beginning with these words of Tobias:
"You are blessed, O God of our fathers; blessed, too, is your name for ever and ever. Let the heavens bless you for evermore, and all things you have made.
"It was you who created Adam; you who created Eve his wife to be his help and support. It was you who said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make him a helpmate like himself.'
"And so I do not take my sister for any lustful motive; I do it in singleness of heart. Be kind enough to have pity on her and on me."
The prayer of Tobias was affirmed by these words of Sarah:
"Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: and let us both grow old together in health."
The Word of the Lord
OR
A reading from the Song of Songs.
I hear my Beloved. See how he comes leaping on the mountains, bounding over the hills. My Beloved is like a gazelle, like a young stag.
See where he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the window, he peers through the lattice.
My Beloved lifts up his voice, he says to me, "Come then, my love, my lovely one, come. My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is beautiful."
My Beloved is mine and I am his. He said to me: "Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as Death, jealousy relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself. Love no flood can quench, no torrent drown."
The Word of the Lord.
2. SECOND READING
Option X. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.
If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
Love does not come to an end.
The Word of the Lord.
OR
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.
You are God's chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.
Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The Word of the Lord.
OR
Option Z. 1 John 4:7-12
A reading from the first letter of John.
My dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.
God's love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only son so that we could have life through him; this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God's love for us when he sent his Son to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.
My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will love in us and his love will be complete in us.
The Word of the Lord.
3. GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
- For __________ and __________; that their love may be patient and kind, ready to trust and to endure whatever happens. Let us pray to the Lord. All Respond by saying "Lord, hear our prayer."
- For the parents, friends and relatives of __________ and __________; that the example of love and hospitality given by __________ and __________ in their married love may touch them, and those in need in our community. Let us pray to the Lord. All Respond by saying "Lord, hear our prayer."
- For married couples; that they may grow in mutual love and reflect that love in their family life and service of others. Let us pray to the Lord. All Respond by saying "Lord, hear our prayer."
- For members of the Church; that they may show the meaning of Christ's love by their love for one another. Let us pray to the Lord. All Respond by saying "Lord, hear our prayer."
- For the deceased relatives and friends of __________ and __________, especially ____________________ that they may experience the joys of eternal life. Let us pray to the Lord. All Respond by saying "Lord, hear our prayer."
