Deacon Mike Meyer / Saturday, June 7, 2025 / Categories: Blog, Homilies Two Rings, One Love A Wedding Homily When I asked Laura and Sean during our last marriage prep session what their favorite movies were, they enthusiastically replied in stereo, “The Lord of the Rings.” I was shocked, not because they both had the same favorite movie, but because The Lord of the Rings is one of the most confusing movies I’ve ever tried to watch. The very beginning of the first movie, the only one I could bear to watch, begins with a summary of the prehistory of the Ring of Power. Apparently, twenty rings were initially divided among the elves, dwarves, and men, I don’t know why, but the Dark Lord Sauron forged one ring for himself that would rule the other rings and give him dominion over the free peoples of Middle-Earth. What a stark contrast from the rings that Laura and Sean will exchange today. In The Lord of the Rings, we have one ring forged and hoarded in the evil quest for power; in marriage, we have two rings forged and shared in love. In our Gospel passage, Jesus tells us that when a man and a woman are joined in marriage, the two become one. What does that mean? Well, it doesn’t mean losing your identities or personal interests. Sean doesn’t have to take up figuring skating and Laura doesn’t have to play hockey for their marriage to succeed, though the outfit exchange would be pretty amusing. Think of marriage, instead, as a journey in the same direction and with the same purpose. It involves mutual support and a willingness to offer oneself for the good of the other, like when Sam says to Frodo who’s struggling under the burden of the Ring of Power as they climb Mount Doom: “I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you.” Marriage, then, is the conscious gift of oneself to another as a faithful traveling companion through both the calm and turbulent times of life. As Pope Francis explained, we don’t get married once all problems are solved; we get married “to face problems together.”[1] Life is beautiful, but it can be tough, too. Fortunately, married couples are never alone. Of course, you’ll have each other and the support of family and friends to carry you to a happy old age together, but there’s one power present in your marriage that’s greater than all the earthly support you’ll receive in your lifetime combined – God. You see, Saint James tells us that God is love, so whenever a man and woman forge their marriage in love, as different as they may be, the two become one in the One Love that is God. To borrow Arwen’s words to Aragorn, “Love is like a symphony, each instrument playing its own part, but together, creating a beautiful and harmonious melody.” That love, which is God, will never leave your side, but it’s up to you to acknowledge and rely on God’s loving presence in your life. The power of God’s love will be with you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. It’ll strengthen you, Sean, when Laura’s need to get everything done right away gets a little annoying, and it’ll comfort you, Laura, when Sean’s sneezes scratch your last nerve. Keep God in your life—pray before meals together, hang a crucifix in your home, go to Mass together—and you’ll quickly find God’s real, active presence in your marriage and how much God, how much love, sustains you as One. I have to admit that witnessing your marriage is a bit surreal for me. While yours isn’t the first wedding of my children’s generation that I’ve done, it is the first I’ve celebrated for someone who’s been such a beautiful fixture in the Meyer household for so many years. The Meyer family extends to you all of our love and support. It’s been a great privilege and blessing to get to know you, Sean, and to walk with you both on your journey toward marriage. I was kind of hoping that Laura would have reprised her eighth grade role as Fiona from Shrek today, wearing green makeup and an Ogre-sized body suit and dress for the wedding, but you both look stunning nonetheless. When we talked in marriage prep about your shared love of The Lord of the Rings, I told you that I’d give it another try. After learning more about it while preparing this homily, I assure you that I have no intention of doing that. I’m even more confused than I was before. What I’m not confused about, though, is your love for each other. I see it in the way you look at each other, in the way Laura turns to Sean for reassurance, and how Sean goes out of his way to make sure Laura’s comfortable. In a moment, you’ll exchange your vows and your rings. Never forget that those vows and rings were forged in One Love, and that that One Love is God. Readings: Sirach 26:1-4, 13-26; Psalm 33; Colossians 3:12-17; Mark 10:6-9 [1] Pope Francis (February 14, 2014). Aim High Print 292 Please login or register to post comments.