Girlie and Jose's Wedding

 
My dear friends in Christ, it is good that you are here today to witness the wedding of the century here at St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Banga, Aklan. Though, this is not the kind of the wedding of the century you know, let me explain why this is still fit to be called a wedding of the century.

Most of us, if not all, have attended weddings celebrated twice between two people. Usually, the first was a civil wedding, then followed by the church wedding. There is also an instance that a Catholic was married to a non-Catholic; sometimes they had their first wedding celebrated in the non-Catholic rites, then followed by their wedding in the Catholic Church.

But today, Girlie and Jose are not only celebrating their church wedding in the Catholic Church for the first time. Rather, their first wedding took place at the San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Parish, Camaligan, Batan, Aklan. Today’s wedding celebration is but the second time. At the very least, this is how we look at this wedding. But to explain further, in the eyes of the Church, this is not a second wedding. Their wedding in Camaligan, Batan, Aklan is binding once and for all. Their marriage bond was already sealed by God in the celebration of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The Church teaches that what God has joined together, let no man put asunder (Mark 10:9) -and thus, the “I do” the promise they made before God and before His Church satisfied the requirements for the sacrament of marriage. If this is so, then why do we have this wedding celebration today between Girlie and Jose? It is because, when they celebrated their wedding in Camaligan, Batan, Aklan, it was a sacrament and was solemnly celebrated according to the rites of the Holy Mother, the Church, excluding the compliance of the legal requirement. The failure to comply with the legal requisites did not destroy the grace already bestowed on Girlie and Jose, but it stood as a barrier for the two to fully express the sacramental life together.

Now, as they have complied with both the essential and formal requisites imposed by the State, today’s wedding celebration removes the barrier so that everybody can fully see what has already been there -a valid marriage. In other words, this is not actually a second wedding. This is somewhat a confirmation and even solemnize the very same promise, the “I do” made years ago. The love of Girlie and Jose does not change. Their commitment does not change. The only change that this celebration brings to Girlie and Jose is that the barrier is gone. Girlie and Jose, your marriage can now stand fully and freely, not only as a sacrament blessed by God but also as a legally binding marital union recognized by the State. You can now bring your one, true, lifelong marriage into the light. You can now say your marriage is fully blessed by God. Amen.