Ed. Note: This is a homily from one of Fr. Mon’s wedding masses last year. As today is Valentine’s Day, it is a fitting entry on marriage and relationships, with lessons we can all relate to.

If a person’s vocation is married life, therefore the greatest adventure would be to find that one, true and only love. With so many dating sites and apps available, it’s easy to forget that, according to survey results, most people still meet their future spouse in the real world. However, there are some places that are better than others for meeting a potential partner. If you’re looking for love, you might want to consider meeting people in one of these six places.

According to an article, 6 Great Places to Meet the Love of Your Life: a Hobby Club, a volunteer project, a place of worship, a get-together organized by a friend, the office, and finally, somewhere unexpected. Also, it was said in the article, the best place to find love is the office. It makes especially sense for busy people, as we spend each day with our colleagues and get to know them well. Workplace romances typically end up in marriage. 

That is why we are here today. In 2014 Joe and Anna both found themselves working at Dentsu Philippines. Anna was with Creative, and Joe was in Accounts. The meeting started as friends because Joe was in a relationship at the time. The first impression Joe had of Anna was that although he found her very attractive she was very hard to talk to. On the other hand, Anna found Joe too outgoing and because he is from La Salle, social. But as the saying goes, “If it is meant to happen, it will happen.”

Joe and Anna, on your marriage, I have three bilins.

• First, remember now is not about “my dreams, my plans, my happiness”. From this point on it is about our dreams, our plans, and our happiness. It is also our pain, our sorrow, and our defeats. Two becomes one. While you have your similarities… both of you are God-fearing, family-oriented goal-getters and hard workers, you too have your differences. One is kuripot and one loves the finer things in life; one is a homebody and one loves walks in the park; one is an overthinker and one is just chill and “let us see what happens”; one is organized and the other is organized chaos; one is independent and the other is co-dependent. Enjoy your similarities and celebrate your differences. 
  
• Second, we pray that your marriage gives you children. Not the easiest to bring up these times, yet the joy they bring is priceless. Notice when you bring up your children, you will be repeating what your parents have said and made sermons about. You will realize that dad was right after all, mom was right after all. Not only that, you will bring into this marriage, things you learned from your parents:
  
  • Joe, from your dad Beng, you will bring into the marriage things like: Doing what is right, being the best provider for the family, and the strength of the father. From your mother Agnes, you will bring the care, the love, the sacrifice and the hard work of a mother which we know cannot be compared to anything in the world.
    
  • Anna from your late father, Elmer, you learned the importance of making memories – lots of it and yes, document it through photos. Yes, please have them printed. From your mom, Beatrice, life can be half filled or half empty, there is always the brighter side, there is always the silver lining and there is always something to smile and laugh about.
    
  • That is why honor your Fathers and Mothers. In Elmer’s case, we honor his memory. 
    
• Third, we are here in this world because God has given us a mission. Now, it is not only individually but as a couple. Make this world a better place to live in even if we seem to have lost our moral compass. Nowadays, the right is made wrong and the wrong is made right, and look at the evildoers who are very bold. Yet, continue to show the world that there is still so much love and goodness. Let this start at home. Joe, you have seen how Anna took care of her dad when he was sick. With this marriage, you will now be the man on the Talens side. A big shoe to fill but with God nothing is impossible. Embrace your new mission.

In closing, let me share with you a quote by Andre Marois: “A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.” It is has been nine years since Dentsu and now we are here in St. Therese. How time flies indeed when every moment counts. Congratulations on the new chapter of your lives and continue to make every moment count: Two becomes one, honor your father and mother, and make this world a better place.

May God bless this marriage – strong, happy, and filled with love.