Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the 1st Sunday of Lent, 22 Feb 2026, St John Bosco Parish, Cotcot, Liloan

We have just begun the season of Lent. This season consists of forty days to help us Catholics prepare for the yearly celebration of the Paschal Mysteries, that is, the celebration of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. In this season God offers us the opportunity to experience his infinite mercy. He wants that we be forgiven from the sin that burdens us and from all our faults and failures. He himself is calling out to us today, saying “Come back to me with all your heart.”

In the Gospel we have heard today the Lord shows us the human reality of temptation that comes from the evil one. We all experience being tempted to sin. Sometimes we are able to resist it but at other times we easily give in. The first reading from the Book of Genesis provides us with the reason why we sin. Adam and Eve, who stand as our first parents, started it all in the Garden of Eden. They were tempted by the serpent, and instead of obeying God, they chose to follow their own desires. And so they sinned.

Up until today all men and women continue to follow the same pattern. Whenever we are tempted many fall into sin. But it doesn’t mean that, because we have given in to sinful temptations, we can just give up the good fight against the evil one and just enjoy a life of sinful pleasures until we die.

My brothers and sisters, while our God is a God of mercy and compassion, he is also a God of justice and holiness. He wants us, followers of Jesus, to be men and women of character and integrity, that is, tough Christians with inner strength, armed with spiritual weapons and heavenly powers. The good news is that by our Baptism and Confirmation we have already been gifted and empowered by the divine Spirit, ready anytime to put up a good fight against any trial and temptation and to strive constantly to do God’s will.

Temptation is very real. In fact, Jesus, our Lord, had also been tempted by the evil one – not just once, but many times. He was tempted in the desert as we have heard the gospel story a while ago. He was tempted to turn stones into bread so he could have the pleasure of satisfying his own hunger; he was tempted to acquire all the power in this world simply by bowing down to Satan. He was tempted to gain popularity the easy way, instead of having to die on the cross to fulfil his mission of saving humankind from sin.

And, after winning a victory over the devil’s three temptations in the desert, he would be tempted again for several times during his public ministry. Let me show you those instances. After Jesus fed the five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, he was tempted by the PEOPLE who wanted to crown him instantly as their king. Did he accept it?

Next, after a day of preaching the good news, healing the sick and gaining a big crowd of followers, Jesus was tempted by the PEOPLE to just stay only in that village or town, instead of moving on to the next village where his ministry was also needed. Did he stay?

And then, on the night before he was put to death, he was again tempted at the garden of Gethsemane, either to just sleep like his three disciples or to just run away and escape the bitter passion on the cross. Did he run away?

Finally, while hanging on the cross, tormented by excruciating pain, Jesus was again tempted and challenged by the religious authorities and mocked by the PEOPLE to come down and save himself from death as a clear sign of his being God’s Son and the promised Messiah. Did he come down from the cross? You see, contrary to what many of us think, Jesus as a man was indeed tempted as many times as we experience being tempted ourselves.

The good news is that in front of every trial and temptation, Jesus consistently won the battle and emerged victorious. He never succumbed to any of the tempting voices coming from either Satan or from fellowmen who wanted his downfall. He was the first ever to win the Grand Slam, not in tennis but in real life. Armed with God’s word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus succeeded to put up a good fight and remained faithful to his identity as God’s beloved Son. Despite the enormous challenges during the last three years of his life he persevered until the end in accomplishing his mission as Savior of the world the hard, difficult and painful way.

And so, in Jesus who remained obedient to the Father till the end of his life we too can obtain all the strength we need to repent from our sins, return to the Father, and remain faithful to our calling as true sons and daughters of God.

It is within this context that we see Lent as the opportune time to make a return to the Lord. The Lord knows how weak we are and how difficult it can be to overcome the temptation to sin. And so instead of condemning us for the many times we have fallen into sin and offend an ever faithful and loving God, the Lord offers mercy, forgiveness and peace. With empathy he proclaims to us, “This is the time of fulfilment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.”

Let us therefore heed the call. Let us grab the chance and opportunity especially during this Lenten season. Let us repent, give up sin and firmly reject every temptation from the evil one. Let the words of the Responsorial Psalm be our prayer today and everyday “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.” May, Jesus who triumphed over sin, reign once again in our hearts.

Let me now conclude with an inspiring story taken from the life of our Patron, St John Bosco. Shortly after his priestly ordination in 1841, Don Bosco was offered as his first assignment to work as a private chaplain to a wealthy family. When he asked about the specific tasks expected of him, he was told that he would be a tutor to the growing up kids at home. The offer seemed to be so alluring since the work wasn’t that difficult and the salary – so much higher than the ordinary.

Surprisingly, however, Don Bosco declined the offer, because he felt that assignment was not really meant for him. It was like a big temptation that would draw him away from his real mission, which he clearly saw in his “Dream at Nine.” On his part, Fr Joseph Cafasso, his Spiritual Director, was not at all surprised why Don Bosco refused the lucrative offer. He just gave the newly ordained priest an interim apostolate while continuing his pastoral studies, and he assured him that God would soon show him the way to fulfil his dream of working for poor and abandoned youth, and eventually of “transforming wolves to lambs and sheep.”

As we now offer this Holy Sacrifice on the altar, let us turn to God our strength. It is he who has been sustaining us through all the trials, temptations and tribulations of life. And we pray that, through the intercession of St John Bosco, and of Mary Help of Christians, we may always have the courage to say NO to every form of temptation, and say YES to God’s invitation to come back to him and to follow Jesus more closely with all our heart. GiGsss!

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