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by Lito Dawa Mk. 12:28-34 
T wo weeks ago, I attended the simplest church wedding I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I was one of the principal sponsors; at the same time a candle sponsor, a veil sponsor, a cord sponsor, and an altar boy as I assisted the couple in professing their wedding vows. They only have one male principal sponsor, three female sponsors, a ring bearer and an array bearer.
The couple's parents wore casual dresses. The groom’s attire was a pair of black pants and a white polo. The bride wore a simple gown. After the wedding ceremony, we went straight to a park for the wedding reception. Community members were the ones who arranged the venue and distributed the food for the visitors.
The couple initially planned for a civil wedding, because of the wrong perception that a church wedding is expensive. But the groom heeded the advice of his head servant to have a church wedding instead.
We have a standing community policy not to assign married members as moderators, prayer leaders and speakers if they have yet to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony. And we are happy that a number of our members professed their marriage vows in the church after joining our community.
My wife and I were once suspended by our nun-mentor and friend from taking part in any church activities because we were only civilly married. We did not take it against her. Instead, we decided to have our church wedding the soonest time possible. Upon learning the schedule of our wedding, she immediately allowed us to resume our church activities.
Jesus shared with us the greatest commandments: the love of God and the love of our neighbors. We can only show our love to God by loving our neighbors. It is our duty to share with our brethren the significance of our sacraments. We have to remind them that receiving these sacraments will bring us closer to God.
Fr. Ric Torrefiel, spiritual director of the Friends of the Divine Mercy, once shared in his homily that couples living together without receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony will not enter heaven. You are only married in the eyes of the people, but not in the eyes of God. That is why our Catholic Church offers mass weddings for free. So the perception that a church wedding is expensive is not true after all.
Friends, we only have one God to follow and obey. Loving God means we have to follow every commandment He has given us. Our Church gave us the sacraments and it is paramount for us to receive every sacrament applicable to us. During this season of Lent, let us take a look at the Seven Sacraments we have and use it for our own benefit and salvation.
Prayer:
Loving God, we thank You for giving us the wisdom to understand and put into practice the greatest commandments of loving You and our neighbors. Send forth Your Holy Spirit to guide us as we strive to consistently obey Your will for us. Amen. |
