Readings for Weddings
First Reading
- A reading from the book of Genesis (1:26-28. 31.)
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.
- A reading from the book of Genesis (2:18-24.)
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.
- A reading from the book of Genesis (24:48-51. 58-67)
Abraham’s servant said to Laban, ‘I blessed the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who had so graciously led me to choose the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now tell me whether you are prepared to show kindness and goodness to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what to do.’
Laban and Bethuel replied, ‘This is from the Lord; it is not in our power to say yes or no to you. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has decreed.’ They called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Do you want to leave with this man?’ ‘I do,’ she replied. Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. They blessed Rebekah in these words: ‘Sister of ours, increase to thousands and tens of thousands! May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!’ Rebekah and her servants stood up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and departed. Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebecca looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us? The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebecca to his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.
The word of the Lord.
4 A reading from the book of Genesis (24:48-51. 58-67)
Abraham’s servant said to Laban, ‘I blessed the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who had so graciously led me to choose the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. Now tell me whether you are prepared to show kindness and goodness to my master; if not, say so, and I shall know what to do.’
Laban and Bethuel replied, ‘This is from the Lord; it is not in our power to say yes or no to you. Rebekah is there before you. Take her and go; and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has decreed.’ They called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Do you want to leave with this man?’ ‘I do,’ she replied. Accordingly they let their sister Rebekah go, with her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. They blessed Rebekah in these words: ‘Sister of ours, increase to thousands and tens of thousands!
May your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!’
Rebekah and her servants stood up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah and departed.
Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebecca looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us? The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebecca to his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.
The word of the Lord.
5 A reading from the book of Tobit (8:4-8)
The parents meanwhile had gone out and shut the door behind them. Tobias rose from the bed, and said to Sarah, ‘Get up, my sister! You and I must pray and petition our Lord to win his grace and his protection.’ She stood up, and they began praying for protection, and this was how he began: ‘You are blessed, O God of our fathers; blessed, too, is your name for ever and ever. Let the heavens bless you and all things you have made for evermore. It was you who created Adam, you who created Eve his wife to be his help and support; and from these two the human race was born. It was you who said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make him help mate 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 and bring us to old age together.’ And together they said, ‘Amen, Amen’,
The word of the Lord.
6 A reading from the Song of Songs (2:8-10,14,16; 8:6-7)
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 windows, He peers through the lattice. My beloved lifts up his voice,
he says to me, ‘Come hen, my love, my lovely one, come. My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock.
In the covert 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. Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as 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 torrents drown.
The word of the Lord.
7 A reading from the Book of Sirach (26: 1-4)
A loving partner is a safe shelter, whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A loving partner is something beyond price, there is no measuring their worth. A loving partner is a life-saving remedy, and those who respect their Lord find true love. For as a person is, so is their loved one. A gracious wife delights her husband, her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones; A gift from the Lord is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth. Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste soul.
A holy and decent woman adds grace upon grace; indeed, no price is worthy of her temperate soul.
Like the sun rising in the LORD’s heavens, the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
The word of the Lord.
- A reading from the prophet Jeremiah (31:31-34)
See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest it is the Lord who speaks.
The word of the Lord
9 A reading from the Book of Proverbs (31:10-13.19-20.30-31)
When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and makes cloth with skilful hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her a reward of her labours,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
The Word of the Lord.
The following reading or another from the same book or Acts is used during Eastertide (From Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday).
10 A reading from the Book of Revelations (19:1.5-9)
I, John, heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: “Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God.” A voice coming from the throne said:
“Praise our God, all you his servants, and you who revere him, small and great.”
Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said: “Alleluia! The Lord has established his reign, our God, the almighty.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready. She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment.”
(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.) Then the angel said to me,
“Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”
The Word of the Lord.
New Testament
1 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (8:31-35, 37-39)
With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at Gods right hand he stands and pleads for us.
Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or attacked. These are the trails through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.
For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
2 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans (12:1-2,9-18)
Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourselves to become self-satisfied. Never repay evil with evil but let everyone see that you are interested only in the highest ideals. Do all you can to live at peace with everyone.
The Word of the Lord.
3 A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians (12:31-13:8.)
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.
4 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians (5:2,21-33)
Follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up for us as an offering and a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy by washing her in cleansing water with a form of words, so that when he took the Church to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church because we are part of his Body. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the two become one flesh. This mystery has great significance, but I am applying it to Christ and the Church. To sum up: you also, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wife respect her husband.
The Word of the Lord.
5 A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians (3: 12-17)
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 the 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 it’s 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.
6 A reading from the first letter of St Peter (3:1-9)
Wives should be obedient to their husbands. Then, if there are some husbands who have not yet obeyed the word, they may find themselves won over, without a word spoken, by the way their wives behave, when they see how faithful and conscientious they are. Do not dress up for show: doing up your hair, wearing gold bracelets and fine clothes; all this should be inside, in a person’s heart, imperishable: the ornament of a sweet and gentle disposition – this is what is precious in the sight of God. That was how the holy women of the past dressed attractively – they hoped in God and were tender and obedient to their husbands; like Sarah, who was obedient to Abraham, and called him her lord. You are now her children, as long as you live good lives and do not fear or worry.
In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, through she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace. This will stop anything from coming in the way of your prayers.
Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. Never pay back one wrong with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing yourself.
The Word of the Lord.
7 A reading from the first letter of St John (4: 7-12)
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 he 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 live in us And his love will be complete in us.
The Word of the Lord
8 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans. (15: 1b–3a. 5–7. 13)
We should not think of ourselves. Each of us should think of his neighbours and help them to become stronger Christians. Christ did not think of himself. And may he who helps us when we refuse to give up, help you all to be tolerant with each other, following the example of Christ Jesus, so that united in mind and voice you may give glory to to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It can only be to God’s glory, then, that you treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you. May the God of hope bring you such joy and peace in your faith that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all bounds to hope.
The word of the Lord.
9 A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (4:4-9)
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord
10 A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (13:1-4a, 5-6b)
Brothers and sisters: Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you are also in the body. Let marriage be honoured by all and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have for he has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you. Thus we may say with confidence: The Lord is my helper, And I will not be afraid
The word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
(One of the following is either sung or read before the proclamation of the Gospel.)
1 Alleluia, Alleluia! Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Alleluia! (1 John 4:7b)
2 Alleluia, Alleluia! God is love; Let us love one another, as God has loved us. Alleluia! (1 John 4:8b and 11)
3 Alleluia, Alleluia! If we love one another,God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us. Alleluia! (1 John 4:12)
4 Alleluia, Alleluia! Whoever remains in love, remains in God and God in him. Alleluia! (1 John 4:16)
The Gospel
(the whole congregation stands out of respect to listen to the Gospel being proclaimed, as they are the words of Christ himself)
1 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. (5:1-12)
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up to the hill. There he sat down, and was joined by the disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How happy are the poor in spirit;
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
They shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
They shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
They shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
They shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
They shall seek God.
Happy the peacemakers:
They shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
The Gospel of the Lord.
2 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (5:13-16)
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
3 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (7:21,24-29)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
The Gospel of the Lord.
4 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (19:3-6)
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said “Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?” Jesus answered: “Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife, and he two become one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
5 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (22:35-40)
A lawyer, to disconcert Jesus, put a question, “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your hear, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole law, and the prophets also.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
6 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (10:6-9)
Jesus said: “From the beginning of creation God made them male and female. That is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
7 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (2:1-11)
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said, “Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” There were six stone jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”, and they filled them to the brim. “Draw some out now,” he told them, “and take it to the steward.” They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the stewards who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said: “People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.” This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
8 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (15:9-12)
Jesus said to his disciples;
‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
You will remain in my love,
Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments And remain in his love.
I have told you this
So that my own joy may be in you
And your joy be complete
This is my commandment:
Love one another,
As I have loved you’.
The Gospel of the Lord
9 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (15:12-16)
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘This my commandment: love one another,
as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you. I shall no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends,
because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me,
no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last;
so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
10 A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (17:20-26)
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: “Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also
who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us,
as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me. I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one. With me in them and you in me,
may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me and that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am,
so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known
that you have sent me. I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known,
so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.”
The Gospel of the Lord.