THE "IN-Thing" IN MARRIAGE

A Homily on Marriage

John 2: 1 – 11 (The Wedding at Cana)

In the 2007 Marriage Statistics report, NSO has recorded 490, 054 registered marriages in the country. The report also notes that most of these marriages happened during the month of May. The marrying age for women is between 20 – 24 years old while for men between 25 – 29 years old. 41% of these marriages took place in civil courts while only 36% had their marriage solemnized in the Catholic Church.

I am sharing with you these figures because a few moments from now you will become part of this sector in society. After exchanging your vows and promising to hold on to each other before God, you will become one body. You will share one dream, one vision, one direction in life. That is why before I proceed, let me ask you a final question, “ Sure na ba kayo?” “Game na ba kayo?”

Our Gospel today taken from John is about Jesus together with his mother and the disciples being invited to a wedding. Noteworthy in this narrative is that the first miracle of Jesus took place not during his preaching or feeding of the five thousand but in a wedding. Thus, we have the impression on the significance of marriage in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Since marriage is the “IN Thing” these days rather than the priesthood or the religious life, let me then share with you three “IN” terms which we can draw from the Gospel story: INvitation, INtercession, and INspiration.

INVITATION

The Gospel begins with John telling us that Jesus together with his mother and his disciples were invited to a wedding feast in Cana in Galilee. This is probably the reason why the wine ran out because of the Twelve who were in attendance.

I know that months before this wedding day, you have sent a lot of invitations from friends and loved ones here and abroad. You were busy preparing the text, the lay-out, and the design of your invitation. However, I would like to believe that you have chosen to get married in the Church because this is your way of INVITING the Lord to join you in your married life. Let me then thank you for inviting the Lord to be with you at this very moment. However, such invitation does not end after the party and honeymoon. Friends, I ask you to continue inviting the Lord in your family life soon. How? By developing a prayer habit in your life. As Fr. Patrick puts it, “the family that prays together, stays together.” Just as conversations with your loved ones are needed for your relationship to last, you also need to converse with the Lord in prayer so that you can stay together as husband and wife and later on as parents to your children. As the famous lyrics of a song tells us, “in good times, in bad times, I’ll be on your side forevermore, that what friends are for." Please start befriending PRAYER today for the Lord will be on your side forevermore.

INTERCESSION

When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told his Son about the situation. At first, Jesus was hesitant. But in the end, he conceded to the request of his mother. Mary’s intercession worked!

In you married life, you too will experience a “running out of wine.” You will run out of time, talent, and treasure. You will become tired, lonely, worried, and wearied. However, do not forget to ask the intercession of those people close to you. After your wedding party, you try to go over the video of this Mass. Look at those people who joined you in your celebration. These are the people whom you can ask for help when you feel that you are running out of wine. Go to your parents, to your siblings, to your sponsors, to your friends, and to those who love you. Never ask help from “illegal wives or husbands!” But most especially, ask the intercession of Mary and the saints. Ask help from our Lord to give you not just an abundance but the choicest wine in your married life. Since you have invited him today, for sure, he will be most willing to help you soon.

INSPIRATION

After the experience of the first miracle, the narrative concludes with the disciples starting to believe in Jesus. The disciples were inspired by their Master.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa “isang linggong pag-ibig.” Let me tell you straight that marriage has no expiration date. Only death can end your married life. Thus, there is a need for each one of you to draw inspiration from one another. As you grow older in your married life, you will experience a lot of changes. Beauty, glory, and even your treasury will fade away. However, this fading away does not give you the reason to expire. Rather, you must be inspired to move on. The older the wine, the better. Your married life must be like an aged wine. Magkalami, magkadugay ug dili magkadugay, magkagutay-gutay!”

Friends, after this homily, before God and your loved ones, you will promise not to leave each other in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and only death can set you apart. I pray that you will always INVITE the Lord through your prayer life; INTERCEDE help from your loved ones; and INSPIRE one another come what may.

Marriage is an “IN Thing” today! Therefore, INVITE…INTERCEDE…AND INSPIRE!

Ed Sheeran has this to say “How many times do I have to tell you. Even when you’re crying, you’re beautiful too. The world is beating you down; but I’m around through every mood. ‘Cause all of me, loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections. ‘Cause all of me, loves all of you.”

Marriage is a proof that God loves you; that He loves all your curves and all your edges, and all your perfect imperfections. Friends, be like God! Though you are crying, though the world is beating you down, promise not to leave one another ‘cause all of me loves all of you.’ Amen!

Congratulations and best wishes!

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