This year in NCAA Season 93, the Lyceum of the
Philippines University Pirates defeated the San Beda Red Lions in the
elimination round en route to an 18-0 card. The Pirates were determined to win
the championship with a record of no defeat this season. But they failed. On
November 10, the Pirates were defeated by the Red Lions in NCAA 93 Finals, Game
1 of the best-of-three series at the Araneta Coliseum. When the Pirates’ coach
Topex Robinson was asked what happened to their team, he owed complete responsibility
for the loss. He said, “Just like what I told them, it’s my fault, I
made some bad decisions, bad coaching. I’ll try to lead them better come game
2. My players played well, they really did well and I’m sorry, it’s my fault.
I’ll be a better coach next game.” When coach Topex said this, I can
say it is not the championship title he holds but his character that makes him
a good coach. A good coach creates a feeling of safety in his relationship with
his players; there is no rash judgment and criticism. The players play the way
they are, express themselves in the game, and yet they feel emotionally safe
with their coach. They know their coach will never leave them but will rather
lead them to improve their being day after day.
Jovy, as a basketball coach, I believe you also
possess such character. The said character could make you a good coach and at
the same time an ideal husband. On this wedding day, you create a feeling of
safety in your relationship with Maria Fe as your wife; there is no rash judgment
and criticism. She can act the way she is, expresses herself, and yet she feels
emotionally safe with you as her husband. She knows you will never leave her
but will rather lead her to improve your relationship as husband and wife day
after day. On this day, you make your wife, Maria Fe, feel safe with your plan
that your relationship is going somewhere. May you then have the capacity and
willingness to establish a deeper commitment with your wife after this wedding.
Jovy, be an answered prayer to your wife, Maria Fe.
Maria Fe, if your husband Jovy is an answered
prayer to you, then be always the greatest blessing to him. Trust your husband,
Jovy that he is always emotionally available and honest to you. Trust that Jovy
is not a man who will bend to the whims of other people but the one who will
never hurt you in any way. As a judge, judge him according to your love for him
and not according to what he can or cannot do. As a woman of justice, give to
him what he truly deserves, give him his due. Yet do not forget as a wife, give
him your unconditional love because love is the only good reason for you to
stay in a relationship though you might get a million reasons to walk away.
Jovy and Maria Fe, two good people who fall in love
with each other do not always mean they become a good couple. It is a reality
that some relationships do not last long. In order for your relationship, Jovy
and Maria Fe, to last at least for a lifetime if not forever, both of you need
to welcome Jesus every day in your midst. I think I do not have to tell you
this because by merely looking at your wedding invitation, both of you can find
the initial of your names, J for Jovy and M for Maria Fe. But what is the
symbol between these two letters? I hope everybody sees the cross. It is the
cross which reminds us all of Jesus. Jesus is in your midst Jovy and Maria Fe
as you begin your Day One as a married couple. The cross between your initials
shall bring you to the reality which the Gospel of John 15: 9-12 presents, i.e,
that your joy as a couple may be complete. When your joy is complete, what else
shall you ask for? When your joy is complete, you do not want it to end. When
both of you do not want your joy to end, then you remain in the love of Jesus.
When you remain in the love of Jesus, you stay in your relationship. When you
stay in your relationship, then your love may last forever. It is only with
Jesus that love has its forever.
To end this homily, Jovy and Maria Fe, it is a mystery how your hearts come together: for a coach who could be seen in a basketball court and for a judge in a Municipal Trial Court. But today, you do not call it a mystery anymore but a miracle. You do not have to ask why but rather believe in the miracle that God sends the right person for you at the right time and in the right place. God gives you to each other to show you what is real; there is more to life with just how you feel. Jovy and Maria Fe, God made you for each other. You are meant to be for each other that is why you are now both beautiful especially the bride in white. We pray then that from now until your very last breath, this day you will cherish, as the both of you look so beautiful especially the bride in white. Amen.
