FALLING IN LOVE...STAYING IN LOVE @ 50

HOMILY ON THE OCCASION OF THE 

50^th GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY OF 

MR. AND MRS. ROMEO AND JESUSA PENAFLOR

What’s with the number 50?

Well, Genesis, which is the first book of the Bible, has 50 chapters. God also promised Abraham that he will not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if Abraham can find 50 righteous people in that city. God also instructed ancient Israel that every 50^th year is a Jubilee year which means that all debts are cancelled and all properties are returned to their original owners. We have also to remember that 50 days after the Resurrection, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

However, the number 50 is made more meaningful for us today because we remember  50 years ago, inside the Catholic Church of Mandurriao in Iloilo, before Fr. Agustin Espallardo, surrounded with their families and friends, Romeo and Jesusa, promised before the Lord to love one another in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death puts them apart

And now, we are gathered to join them in renewing today that promise of love made 50 years ago. And so, let us give our greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Romeo and Jesusa Penaflor through a round of applause.

I am very sure that after this Mass, there is that one popular question we would like to ask our celebrants: What is your secret? What is your secret to forever?

One time I saw this on Facebook: “Everybody knows how to fall in love, but only a few people know how to stay in love.” What it is saying is that everyone is born to love but not everyone can persevere in love. Why? Because not everyone understand, and practice, the real meaning of love.

St. Paul in our first reading today teaches us that love is not a mere feeling but a practice of virtues. And I know that Sir Romeo and Ma’am Jesusa will fully agree with me. You were able to reach fifty because for you love is not just a feeling but an everyday practice of the virtues of forgiveness, respect, understanding, care and concern. Love for you is active. Love for you is something which changes the person for the better. And so, Sir Romeo and Mam Jesusa, thank you for teaching us today how it is to truly, madly, and deeply love the other.

After this Golden Wedding liturgy, I will no longer tell you to take good care of your children. I will no longer admonish you Sir Romeo to love Jesusa your wife as Christ loves his Church. I will no longer remind you Ma’am Jesusa to be a loving housewife. I will no longer tell you those things, not because marriage expires after 50 years but because our celebration today is enough proof that you have been faithful and fruitful to the promises you made fifty years ago.

However, in our Gospel today, Jesus encourages each of us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Simply said, Jesus is inviting us to be witnesses of his love in the world today. And this for me is your challenge Sir Romeo and Ma’am Jesusa – that you to continue to love one another in the next 50 years so that others, especially those who are planning to get married or those who are in difficult moments in their married life, will be able to draw inspiration from you; that seeing you, they will be able to say, naa gyud diay forever! This for me is your vocation starting today – that you show to the world that marriage is possible, that marriage is positive!

Rokcy and Ricky in the movie, Bride for Rent, once interviewed Lola Czarina and Lolo Banjamin who have been married for 51 years. There was only one question for the couple: “What is your secret in married life?”

Lolo Benjamin was silent, but Lola Czarina said, “Many told me that I can already leave my husband because he no longer remembers me. However, I cannot do it because I have a promise. I made a promise to have and to hold for richer or for poorer and in sickness and in health. Such promise for me is my secret, our secret.” 

A poem attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, a Jesuit Priest, goes to say:

“Nothing is more practical than… falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.

It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.”

So, to Sir Romeo and Ma’am Jesusa, continue to “fall in love and stay in love” for it will decide everything! Amen!