Krystel Gayle and Christian Arvin's Wedding

Krystel and Arvin, beginning today, I ask you to remember or even memorize this Bible verse taken from 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” It is presumed that once a couple decides to get married, they do love each other. But not all married couples stay together in love. They separate. They are separated by sins such as adultery, concubinage, infidelity, drunkenness and gambling to mention a few. Sin interferes with the way the couple should love. It does not only hurt the offended spouse, but it even causes great harm to their marital relationship.

Krystel and Arvin, when love covers a multitude of sins, this does not mean that the offended party should ignore or condone any sin that is committed against him/her and their marital relationship. Rather, it means that the offended party is ready to forgive while the offending party repents and changes her/his ways. All these they do for the good of their marriage.  All these they can do with an intense love. An intense love is a love that is patterned after the love of Jesus. Jesus Himself said this, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13: 35).

I believe that both of you, Krystel and Arvin understand me as your Spiritual Director why I like you to keep in mind these words, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Remember Arvin in 2015, the first time you saw Krystel in your school, you experienced the thrill of the so-called love at first sight. Though you watched her at the canteen during breaktime, you also watched her at the carinderia during lunchtime. Remember Krystel, you were a campus queen enjoying a celebrity status among your peers during those times. Aside from being famous, you still had the time to serve God being an active youth leader of the Sto. Nino Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Revival Community. It was during the Charismatic Community prayer meeting at the chapel of Saint Lawrence the Deacon that the two of you personally met.  It was at that time Arvin when you prayed to God that Krystel shall be your lifetime partner as if God destined the two of you to meet at the chapel. From then on, everything seemed to be okay between the two of you until in 2018, Arvin you committed a big mistake that could have ruined your relationship. But Krystel was kind enough to forgive you and you started all over again to win her trust. Thus, I quote to you this Bible verse, 1 Peter 4:8 that states, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins” to tell you to be always ready to forgive each other and change for the betterment of your relationships.

Arvin, you are now a married man. It does not matter now whether what you feel is love at first sight or not. What matters is that you stay in love at last sight or even at out of sight. Many men wanted to get Krystel’s attention, yet she has choosen you from among them. She has been faithful to you. Be faithful to her too. You can only be faithful to her when you are aware that God is watching you. So, pray every day to be mindful that God is always present in your marriage.

Krystel, you are now a married woman. Maintain your beauty, not only physically but above all spiritually. Pray to God that your husband Arvin always sees the beauty of having you as his wife. If you have to give him one reason to stay with you, that reason should be your love for God.

Arvin and Krystel, starting today, let your love for each other be intense. Amen.