young love. old love.

Tan-Sy Wedding
August 23, 2009

Marlon and Maricel, friends and families, my brother priests, a blessed afternoon.
This is a wedding that will, for sure, be very memorable not only for the bride and groom but for all of us as well.
Marlon and Maricel have been preparing for this since last year but for those who know them, we can say that this wedding was 6 years in the making.
In my 3 years of stay in the parish, I have come to know Dra. Maricel and her family and Marlon as well. I am not exaggerating that they both possess wonderful values. I am not going to enumerate all of them but only 3 of which I hope will serve as guides as they embark in this daring adventure called love.

Allow me to share with you the 3 values - generosity, prayerfulness, commitment - through 3 inspiring stories I’ve read and I’ll try to intersperse it with my personal recollections and dealings with the loving couple.

First, generosity. This is by the well known author O. Henry.
A story is told about a young married couple whose names are Jim and Della. They are poor but very much in love with each other.
As Christmas approaches, Della wonders what to get Jim for Christmas. She would like to give him a watch chain for his gold watch, but she doesn't have enough money. Then she gets an idea. She has beautiful long hair. So Della decides to cut off her hair and sell it to buy the fancy chain for Jim's watch.
On Christmas Eve she returns home, and in her hand is beautiful box containing a gold watch chain which she purchased by selling her hair. Suddenly Della begins to worry. She knows Jim admired her long hair, and she wonders if he will be disappointed that she cut it off and sold it.
Della climbs the final flight of stairs leading to their tiny apartment. She unlocks the door and is surprised to find Jim home and waiting for her. In his hand is a neatly wrapped box containing his gift he purchased for her.
When Della removes her scarf Jim sees Della's short hair, and tears well up in his eyes. But she says nothing. He chokes back the tears and gives Della the gift box.
When Della opens it, she can't believe her eyes. There in the box is a set of beautiful silver combs for her long hair.
And when Jim opens his gift, he, too, is astonished. There inside the box is a beautiful gold chain for his gold pocket watch. Only the does Della realize that Jim pawned his gold watch to buy her the silver hair combs.
Far more beautiful than the gifts is the love they symbolize.
I first came to know Dra. Maricel through his mother, Tita Lina who goes to church everyday. I hope she will not take it against me if I say, she gives generously though anonymously. But still, everyone knows her to be generous for she helps not only the parish community but anyone who is in dire need. Through Tita Lina, I came to know the whole family, Tito Vic, Maricel, Heidi, etc. And I greatly admire that even with their wealth and good standing they lived a simple, exemplary life.

Second, prayerfullnes.
This one is a story by Anthony de Mello, SJ, from One Minute Wisdom.
A newly married couple said, "What shall we do to make our love endure?"
Said the Master, "Love other things together."
To pray is to express love for God, for the Other.
I have come to know Marlon when both he and Maricel attended our PREX (Parish Renewal Experience), a week end retreat for parishioners. And since then, I see them going to mass together, praying together, worshipping God with family and friends.

Third, committment
This is a by an unknown author, from A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and a girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
And the answer is given. "Yes, there is a more beautiful thing. It is the spectacle of an old man and an old woman finishing their journey together on that path. Their hands are gnarled, but still clasped; their faces are seamed, but still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another. Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."
Dra. Maricel’s generosity extended to sharing her God given talents, by serving others, for I see her often, sometimes with Marlon, as a regular volunteer in our parish monthly medical service.

There are many other inspiring values that Marlon and Maricel possess and that I am sure their friends and families will never tire of extolling but for now, on this graced occasion, I have enumerated these 3 for I hope that these will be of help to you both as you enter the married life.

Marlon and Maricel, continue to be generous to each other, to give of yourself totally in marriage, in love, knowing that as you come before our Father to express your total self giving, God will not be outdone in generosity, that he will bless you beyond your wildest dreams.

Maricel and Marlon, continue to be prayerful, to allow God to journey with you as husband and wife, and in the future, near future, I hope, as I am sure it is what your families also wish, that as you become not only husband and wife but also father and mother, you will teach your children and grandchildren to pray as Jesus has taught us knowing that as you come before our Lord Jesus to pray and to ask for heavenly blessing, God is always there, will always be there for you.

Marlon and Maricel, continue to commit yourself to each other, to share your time, talent and treasure to one another and to others that you may fall in love with each other every day, again and again, that you may grow deeper in sincere faith in God and love of neighbor, every moment, every day, knowing that as you come before the altar of the Lord to exchange your vows, to ask the Holy Spirit for strength to be faithful and true to your covenant of love, God has, is and will continue to commit himself to both of you, to be always there transforming the water of human love into the sweet wine of divine love, allowing you to share in the gift of everlasting love.

The question is asked, "Is there anything more beautiful in life than a boy and a girl clasping clean hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage? Can there be anything more beautiful than young love?"
The answer was, Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love. Old love."

Let me end with an old Irish blessing and prayer, for all its content, I know these may be a Chinese blessing also:

Marlon and Maricel:
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.

Marlon and Maricel:
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

I trust that it is our loving God who brought you two loving and beautiful couple together to share a young, promising love forever.

I pray that you will work together with this same God of ours for Him to bless your journey that as you grow old and reach the end of your adventure, though your hands may be gnarled, though your faces may be seamed, though your hearts may be physically bowed and tired, you may inspire us still as you proclaim, yes, young love is beautiful. So is old love.

Marlon and Maricel, congratulations and may God bless you both. Always.