3rd Day of Simbang Gabi 2017

The wedding of Charles the Prince of Wales and Diana was dubbed as a “fairytale wedding” and the “wedding of the century”. It was the first time to see it real that a common citizen like Diana married a prince. Thus, millions of people watched on television to see this grand wedding. The United Kingdom had even a national holiday on that day to mark the wedding. However, the couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

This wedding of the century is far different from the wedding of Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1: 18-25). Joseph and Mary were already betrothed and were already considered as husband and wife by Jewish tradition and customs. Their actual marriage, the taking of the wife by her husband to his home, was what they were both anticipating to happen. It was at this moment that Joseph learned of the situation of Mary. He learned that Mary was pregnant and the child was the Son of God. Joseph was a righteous man and he could not afford to take Mary to his home because he believed she belongs to God alone. But he knew that Mary could be put to death for just being an unwed mother as this was considered immoral. Thanks to the angel Gabriel! He appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained to him that what happened to Mary was about the fulfilment of a prophecy that a virgin would bear a child who was to be the Messiah. The Lord thereof commanded him to take Mary home as his wife. This wedding story of Joseph and Mary is not romantic yet it could be considered as a dream wedding. It was a wedding allowed by God as announced by an angel in a dream. It was a wedding too real to believe in as it revealed to us that even Mary and Joseph had their share of problems, worries and anxiety. Despite what they had been through, they remained faithful to God and God never abandoned them. Thus our Gospel reminds us today that no matter what happens to a righteous person, God has a plan for him or her. Whatever problems, worries and anxiety come to the home of a husband and wife, if they are both faithful to God, God will unfold His plan for them. A wedding is not therefore just a family affair. God wills that a wedding can be a source of His grace. Amen.