1. John 2:1-11

This passage is traditionally called ‘The Wedding Feast at Cana’, and depicts a wedding with Jesus and his mother Mary in attendance, where water jugs are converted to fine wine. Embedded in the story is the strength of faith – Mary encourages the servers to do whatever Jesus commands, and it ends with the disciples believing in him. Like the servers, it teaches that those who demonstrate faith in Jesus will experience good and abundant things in this life and the next.

2. Matthew 5:1-12a

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” In one of the most recognisable passages from Matthew’s gospel, the reading tells that real happiness is not a fantasy of perpetual glee, but it is found in life’s ordinary mix of bitter and sweet. Known as the Beatitudes, the word “blessed” is used repeatedly in this passage, and can also be understood as ‘happy’ or ‘fortunate’.

3. Mark 10: 6-9

“From the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh…Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” Similar to a passage in the Gospel according to Matthew, this reading is the clearest expression of marriage in the Gospels, and reflects the church’s firm foundation on the indissolubility of marriage.

4. John 15: 12-16

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, the words of this passage tie into the sacrificial love of married couples, where couples can embrace the image of loving their spouses until death.

5. Matthew 22: 35-40

Asked which commandment of the law is the greatest, Jesus replied “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” While it is not explicitly linked to marriage, couples with a genuine commitment to improving the wellbeing of others will greatly relate to this reading.