When the Homily is about Immunology

"By the power vested in me by the state of ______________ (insert state name here)"

Most every wedding in the United States includes this phrase uttered by the pastor, minister, or public official as he/she introduces the newly married couple. But you will not hear it said at an Orthodox wedding (or at least you shouldn't :) )...because the authority to marry people is NOT vested in anyone by the state...but by the CHURCH! In marriage the Church offers the Holy Mystery of marriage, rather than officiating at a legal ceremony.

Our theology of salvation seems to be reflected in our theology of marriage.

Apparently, in predominantly Orthodox cultures, divorce is virtually unknown. And according to the speaker of a seminar I watched today, this is due in part to a proper understanding of WHAT marriage is. And what marriage is NOT is a legal agreement fostered by the state.

In the end, the state or even society can redefine marriage all they want (such as same sex marriages), but ultimately a proper understanding of marriage limits such authority to the Church and the Church alone.