Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the Wedding of Miggy and Gabbie, 4 January 2025, Our Lady of Ephesus Chapel, Silang, Cavite

Allow me to begin with a story. There was once a young professional who attended a dance party in their town hall. He was smart, good looking and gentlemanly. When he noticed one of the women who stood out from the crowd he kept watching her, trying to steal a quick glance every now and then. Then finally he dared to approach her and offered to dance. She felt honored. And so she obliged and they danced to the music like no other couple. When the music faded they returned to their seats. That night and for the rest of his life he danced with no other women but her. That was the beginning of the never-ending love story between G and L, Gregorio and Lourdes, my very own Dad and Mom. And if they could be both physically present here among us they would be celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary this year. May God bless their souls in heaven!

This brings us to another true-to-life story. Some years ago there was another young professional who went to a certain Christmas Bazaar and found an interesting art work on one of the displays. He asked the lady behind the table kung para saan daw yung ginagawa nyang art. But he got no satisfactory answer as the question seemed to have turned off the young lady. And so he just moved on to the next art displays. Unexpectedly, a few months later they would meet again on another occasion but this time in a more friendly atmosphere. Gradually as they found more occasions to meet up and spend time together, they found out that they actually have the same interests… in art, music, drinks and, above all, they realized that they both loved cats.

You see, for that girl, that guy she first met at the Bazaar was just like any other guy who would come and then go. Little did she know that that unexpected encounter with him would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would bring us all together today here in this wonderful church dedicated to our Lady of Ephesus. They are no other than Miggy and Gabbie. Thanks for inviting us all to witness the sealing of your amazing friendship that has blossomed into genuine love here in the sacrament of Matrimony.

Two months ago I had a privileged opportunity to have an intimate conversation with Miggy and Gabbie. And I was awed and amazed at the beautiful stories I heard from them. They could not but be filled with gratitude for the good values that their parents have instilled in them when they were much younger. They both consider their family as among the first blessings they have received and will always cherish in their lifetime. But nothing could ever equal the gift of friendship they found in each other.

Both of them could not forget those times when they would play online games together esp. yung IDV, when they would go for grocery shopping together. Gabbie still remembers well the “drive by” banana bread, and face masks. Miggy could never forget his first visit at 14C in CGS, that day nung pinakilala siya ni Gabbie sa Dad nya as her “fave person.” Do you remember that too, Gabbie? “Fave person” daw? I guess it was short of saying, “Dad, may boyfriend na ko!” Alam mo Gabbie, hindi lang si Miggy ang pinasaya mo nung araw na yon, kundi pati na rin ang Dad mo. You know why? kasi your Dad finally found an opportunity to court someone again after your Mom’s passing. And that lovely woman whom she married three years ago in this very same chapel on this very same month is also here with us today. Kuya Roy and Ate MG, Happy third wedding anniversary soon!

Having said all this, now we realize that the wedding that once upon a time happened at Cana, Galilee in the presence of Jesus, our Lord, is happening once again here and now, this time for Miggy and Gabbie.

Long ago, in Cana, what seemed to be simply water, God had turned into exquisite wine by a simple command when the wine was running out. Today we see, that what seemed to be tasteless water in the first meeting of Gabbie and Miggy has now been turned into an exquisite wine of priceless friendship. And God is bringing it to an even much higher level. He is transforming it today into the conjugal love that lasts forever in the Sacrament of Matrimony. If by the command of Jesus, the water in the jar ceased to be water as it turned into very good wine, today by the same Word of the Lord, the two of you, Gabbie and Miggy, will cease to be two separate persons, for you will now become one in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that is, one body and one spirit in God’s eternal love.

The amazing miracle that is happening today unseen by the human eyes is not just two people becoming one, but actually five persons becoming one, that is, the bride and the groom are made one with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament. Such a communion of five persons will certainly stand strong even before the most difficult of all trials and temptations, tragedies and tribulations. Trials: Gabbie & Miggy, marami kayong mababayaran pero kakaunti lang ang maibabayad ninyo. Temptations: maraming tutukso sa inyo upang magkahiwalay kayo. Tragedies: maraming mawawala sa inyo, kabilang na dyan ang mga pinakamamahal nyo. Tribulations: marami sa inyong puedeng dumating na sakit, pag-uusig, paghihirap at pagdurusa (katulad ng nangyari kanina). Maaaring kayo rin mismo ang magiging mabigat na krus na papasanin ninyo sa ayaw at sa gusto nyo. These are the four Ts that will constantly tease you esp. when you reach your 40s (four-zero)… And these will be there until your last breath. But know that four is definitely no match to five. The two of you united to the three divine persons of the Trinitarian God, whose nature is LOVE will always be able more powerful than any of the 4 Ts that will come in your new life beginning today on this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Moreover, while civil weddings are meant only to be a contract between two persons, and any civil government can declare it either for life, or legally dissolve it through divorce, Catholic Marriage goes beyond any human contract as it has been raised into a sacrament, a most sacred reality. It was instituted by God right from the very beginning of creation and sacramentalized by his Son, Jesus, who became man by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. We all believe what the Bible says that, according to the book of Genesis, after Eve was formed from the side of Adam, by God’s almighty power, the two of them became one body. And so, Jesus our Lord solemnly taught and proclaimed, “What God has joined together, let no one separate (Matt 19:6).

Gabbie and Miggy, Jesus is the very one who is represented by the priest and the community standing here before you and around you. He it is who will now take over your life together. In fact one of your beautiful realizations during our conversation in Kandle Cafe was that God himself was the one who mysteriously hand-picked you for each other, so that through your mutual love, selfless service and self-sacrifice, you may experience how much God loves you to the max, and that you in turn may become signs and bearers of his love for your future kids and those most in need. At the end of this faithful and fruitful married life together as best friends for life, God will definitely bless you in heaven to be one with him for all eternity.

Miggy and Gabbie, our prayerful wishes and support are with you. May Jesus’ love for us, which he sealed on the cross with his blood and whicou he sacramentalized in the Holy Eucharist, seal forever this conjugal bond you are now entering in Holy Matrimony. And we pray that the powerful Lord in his loving kindness and mercy may make you fruitful with God-fearing children and countless good works esp. to the needy. Above all we pray that these holy sacraments may empower them to persevere faithfully in God’s eternal love until you reach the very end of your marriage, who is God himself — to be in God’s loving embrace for all eternity.

Finally, Miggy and Gabbie, I want you to remember this: just as water was turned into wine at Cana, and the wine was turned into Christ’s blood in the Eucharist, so must your friendship and love be. From now on you are no longer simply tasteless water for each other. You are now exquisite wine poured together into Christ’s chalice to become Eucharist for the good of your family, for the life of the world and for the greater glory of God. GiGsss!

Disclaimer: This section of the website is a personal creative writing of the author and does not necessarily reflect the official views, opinion, or policies of the Salesians of Don Bosco – Philippines South Province. For concerns on the content, style, and grammar of this piece, please contact us.