The Sacrament of Marriage
Marriage between Christians is considered a sacrament as Jesus is present in the love of the two individuals. The sacrament of marriage is known as a primordial sacrament because it is known to have existed even before there was Christian priesthood. It is portrayed two ways in the Bible; in the Old Testament, marriage is compared with the covenant God made with Israel. However, in the New Testament, marriage is an image of the relationship of Christ and his Church.
The sacrament of marriage is the life- long union of a man and woman who commit themselves to one another physically and spiritually. The bond between the couple expresses the love Christ has for his people; it is a sacred and serious commitment. In marriage, love should be at its
greatest and most possible extent as “28 in the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,” (Ephesians 5:28-29) . This means that the unity between Jesus and the Church should be like that of a married couple. The wedding vows which are exchanged exemplify the love that should be expressed. There is love and loyalty which should exist in all situations- “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, (name) do take thee (name) to be my lawful wedded wife/ husband to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”