Marriage of Dr. & Mrs. Kanagaratnam - 21 Oct 1942

We have here a beautiful outline picture of a quiet home in Palestine at the time of our Lord’s birth. The husband and wife, Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, were both of priestly descent, and in their modest lives were lovely types of Old Testament godliness. These simple saints lived, as all married believers should do, yoked together in the sweet exercise of godliness, and helping each other to high and noble things.

They were righteous before God. Theirs was a genuine piety. They were counted righteous not merely by men judged by the standards of the world, but even by God who knows the innermost thoughts of every heart. It is not that they were without sin, but when they committed sin they made an effort not to repeat the sinful act or thought. It is a high commendation, indeed, that the writer of the Gospel gives them when he affirms that they were righteous before God.

Secondly, we notice that theirs was a mutual piety – they were both righteous before God. They were not unequally yoked together. There was harmony in the home even in the matter of their religious faith and worship. It is a blessed thing when those who are joined together in marriage are also joined to the Lord. They were of one mind in the matter of their religious ideals and worship. They knelt down together for their family prayers. They knelt down side by side at the altar in the temple when they went to take their offerings to God.

Again we are told that they walked in the commandments and the ordinances of the Lord. Their religion was one that manifested itself in their daily walk and conversation. Religion was the controlling motive of all that they did and said in their entire life. In the performance of their daily duty people were able to see their deep faith in God.

Lastly we are told that they were blameless. It is not that they were sinless. This commendation shows that they were exemplary observers of God’s laws. It also teaches us that their character was irreproachable and that they would not knowingly or willingly indulge in sin.

My friends, as you start on this great venture of making a Christian home, I should like to place before you this picture of the quiet home in Palestine where two devoted servants of the Lord dwelt in perfect harmony and love united to one another and to God. In their relationships one to another, in their dealings with their neighbours, and in their performance of the daily duties entrusted to them they had only one aim, and that was to please God and to glorify and worship Him.

I wonder if you have ever noticed the deep meaning underlying the arrangement of the Anglican Marriage Service. The service is in two distinct parts. First, there is the solemnization of marriage which takes place there at the chancel steps. The Priest has the authority, both from the Church and the State, to unite the two persons in Holy Matrimony, and when he pronounces that they are man and wife the marriage ceremony is complete. They are husband and wife. The second half of the service is worship. Leaving behind the best man, the bridesmaid and others the husband and wife go to the altar to offer their marriage to God. Their first act after marriage is worship. Their friends and relations are eagerly waiting to offer their congratulations and good wishes, but the married couple are taught that their first duty is to go to God and worship Him. They should begin their married life asking for God’s guidance and strength. The purpose of the arrangement in the Service is to teach the newly married couple the great lesson, that the worship of God must take the foremost place in their lives.

My friends, you have begun your married life by first coming to God and praying for his guidance and strength. It is our wish and prayer that you would give your first thoughts to God every day of your life. From the very beginning make it a rule of your life to kneel together by your bedside for prayer. Worship of God, public and private, should find a prominent place in your life. God has called you to the great and noble work of healing. If you give God the first place in all your thoughts, He will enable you to heal not only the body, but also the minds and the souls of people. In all your many contacts with people may your sole aim be to please God and glorify Him. Your love for one another will be hallowed and strengthened if you will learn to love and fear the Lord.

May God bless you both abundantly and give you a happy and fruitful life, and may it be said of you both as it was said of Zacharias and Elizabeth, ‘They were righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.’