Follow Me ‘Thank you for your witness of faithful love’ By Bishop Terry R. LaValley

September 11, 2024

Editor’s note: The following is Bishop Terry R. LaValley’s homily for the Marriage Jubilee Mass, celebrated Sept. 8 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.

Our Old Testament reading today from Isaiah is about fear and about faithfulness. God tells Isaiah his prophet, “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Why not fear? Because “Here is your God.” Fear is a natural and normal and necessary human emotion. It is the other side of desire, for the more we desire anything, the more we fear to lose it or miss it. That’s true of everything we desire.

So many today are hesitant and afraid to decide to enter this permanent intimate partnership of life and love we call the vocation of marriage. So…the number of weddings taking place in our Churches is down significantly. Also, there is real fear to be open to co-creating with God new human life – children. We fear what it means for our finances. Maybe serious health concerns surface. Hear the Lord again: “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not!” Why: “Here is your God.” God, Jesus Christ wants to be the third Partner in wedded love. That doesn’t mean that there will always be smooth sailing, but it does mean you will not be sailing alone.

I’ve shared before that I received a gift years ago of a print of Jesus in a boat with a couple of His disciples. He is sleeping on a pad and the stormy waves are lapping up over the edge of the boat. The disciples are terrified.
You’re familiar with the Gospel scene. They wake Jesus up for Him to do something. Jesus awakens and responds with the question: “Why are you afraid? Do you not have faith? I am here.” That print is hung on the wall near the door of my chapel. When I finish morning prayer and leave the chapel to begin the new day, I gaze at the picture. With the unknown day ahead, I am reminded: “Be strong. Fear not! Here is your God.”

We fear not because we know our God is faithful and always with us. Married couples, you have given yourselves for the good of the other and you have done this faithfully, time and again, for days and years and decades. Certainly, not without much sacrifice and tears. The fruit of that love and fidelity has borne beautiful fruit for many of you – your children, many of whom join us here today.

When we look at the miracles in the Gospels, such as todays, and the incredible miracle of the Catholic Church, which in spite of the human failings of her leaders and members, has been the world’s most powerful agent of holiness and civilization for two thousand years, all fear and hesitancy should evaporate. The sign of your witness to married love is so powerful and needs to be proclaimed from the rooftops.

No family is perfect. No spouse has all the answers. None of us is a perfect saint, but we are Christ’s friends and messengers, and He will work through us to spread His light into the dark corners of the world around us, if we give Him the chance. And we do that through our Christ-centered words, example, and actions. You do that as a faith-filled spouse whose daily sacrifice for the sake of loved ones are a powerful, inspiring sign of hope for us all.

Over breakfast one morning, Cathy said to her husband, Peter “I bet you don’t know what day this is.” “Of course I do,” Peter indignantly answered. Then he went out the door on his way to the office. At 10 a.m., the doorbell rang, and when Cathy opened the door, she was handed a box containing a dozen long-stemmed red roses. At 1 p.m., a foil-wrapped, two-pound box of her favorite chocolates arrived. Later, a boutique delivered a designer dress. Cathy couldn’t wait for Peter to come home. “First the flowers, then the candy, and then the dress!” she exclaimed, “I’ve never spent a more wonderful Groundhog Day in my whole life!” Men, as I’m sure you have already learned, ‘tis better safe than sorry!

My friends, our society today must pay better attention to the love story that your lives reveal. Your love story teaches us all lessons on fidelity, commitment and sacrifice. All married couples struggle and sacrifice.

It is in the struggles of loving that Christian discipleship is lived out and made perfect. A marriage jubilee is truly an occasion for you and your families, and especially for this family of faith to thank God for the blessings you are. Thank you for your witness of faithful love. Thank you for taking the leap of faith, knowing that Jesus is your constant Companion in life’s struggles. Thank you for coming and sharing your joy at Eucharist. Congratulations to you and your families and God bless you all!