Deus Vult – God Wills
Homily on the Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist, First Religious Profession, 24 June 2026, DBFC Chapel, Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu
“I praise you for I am wonderfully made.” This line of the Responsorial Psalm taken from Psalm 139 somehow expresses what we feel today on this double celebration of the Birth of St John the Baptist and the birth of our three Novices in the Society of St Francis de Sales.
Today with great joy in our hearts, we gather in this beautiful shrine to witness the First Religious Profession of Novices Jude, Mario and Naoki on this solemn feast of John the Baptist’s Nativity. We recall that just a few days ago DBFC had celebrated two other significant events. The first one took place last Saturday, the Installation of Fr Godofredo Atienza as the new Rector along with Fr Roneldo Vilbar as Novice Director for a second term. The second took place only last Monday, the canonical admission of seven Novices who officially began their Novitiate formation year. We realize how abundantly blest we really are with God’s manifold gifts – grace upon grace upon grace. And the timing of all these joyful events seems to be so perfect for today we celebrate God’s faithfulness in the birth of an infant to an old and childless couple signaling the dawn of our salvation.
Allow me first to expound on the solemn feast we are celebrating today in solidarity with all the Churches spread throughout the world. The gospel we have heard presents to us the wonderful story of the birth of St. John the Baptist.
Everyone in the neighbourhood of Bethany was actually getting excited for the elderly couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah who, after being childless since their wedding day, were soon expecting a baby. So, when finally the infant was born, joy and happiness filled everyone’s heart. However when Elizabeth named him John all the relatives were taken aback, for that name seemed foreign to their clan.
The amazing part of the story, however, is this. When they asked the father what name he wanted to give his son, Zechariah, who was still unable to speak, wrote on a tablet the name John, confirming what his wife had said. And at that very moment, to the great surprise of everyone, he was able to speak again after nine months of being mute. Zechariah must have been awestruck by the unexpected twists and turns of events in his life. Bursting with joy, he blessed God proclaiming his praises like he never did before. He finally realized that his long period of waiting was truly worthwhile, and that God had never really forgotten his promise. On the contrary the Lord remains ever faithful to his covenant forever.
What inspiration can we get from the gospel story of today? Baby John was just a tiny embryo in his mother’s womb and yet he already made an enormous impact in the world outside of him. During the visitation the moment Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt for joy within his mother’s womb and probably he even started dancing inside when the two women hugged each other. Even without seeing the world outside, baby John had already been able to feel the presence of the Savior coming so close to him during that intimate encounter between the two expectant mothers.
Moreover, when baby John was given a name by his father, the muted Zechariah was able to speak again, and, moved by the Holy Spirit, he proclaimed the praises of God. You see no matter how small the infant John might be, he was able to make a big impact on his family, and on the people surrounding them. He in fact would eventually grow up to be the last prophet of the Old Testament who would proclaim a baptism of repentance to make way for the coming Messiah.
Brothers and sisters, even before John the Baptist was born God already knew him and set him apart for a special mission. In like manner, even before you and I were born, God already knew us and has set us apart for a special mission that can change the course of history.
Dear Novice-Professandi, today is your birth in the Salesian Congregation. We rejoice with you for you have persevered throughout the many years of your formation to take this bold step of making your First Religious Profession in the Society of St. Francis de Sales.
Seeing you makes me remember the day when I myself made my First Profession 41 years ago in Don Bosco Canlubang. We were around 25 Novices at that time including three from Sri Lanka. Although the celebration was much simpler and very private with no one from our families present, nevertheless we felt the pure joy of offering ourselves totally to the Lord, to become one with him in the vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity.
Dearly beloved parents of our Professandi, we feel happy and blessed by your presence today. The Church and in particular the Salesian Congregation is sincerely thankful that you have allowed your sons to offer themselves to God. Your sons were God’s big blessing to your family. Today they have become your most precious offering back to God (even if it hurts, kahit masakit, bisan pa nga lisod sa inyong dughan). Certainly this huge sacrifice you are making will never go unrewarded by the Lord who can never be outdone in generosity. May you be a big inspiration to many other parents who are still hesitating to allow their sons and daughters to enter the religious life.
Dearly beloved Novice-Professandi, do you realize the preciousness of this moment? It is not only you but also your whole family making this precious offering to God, who had gifted you to them. But their offering can be acceptable to the Lord only for as long as your self-offering today is truly selfless, total and perpetual (though canonically your temporary vows may only be for one year). Therefore, strive to make this offering today total, selfless and forever for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
The offering your YES to God is both inspiring and amazing. Like what was proclaimed in the first reading (Isaiah 49:1 – 6), the Lord who formed you in your mother’s womb already knew you. He had already called you and had chosen you even before you were born. As you grew up you heard God calling you, and you have gradually recognized his voice by leaving home and entering the formation center. Now we thank you for responding courageously and generously with a BIG definitive YES to Him who loves you for who you are despite your weakness, despite your failures, despite your sins. May many more young people be inspired to give their YESes also to God with no fear, with no hesitation, and with no condition whatsoever.
You have rightly chosen the name “Deus Vult” Novices, which means “God wills it.” You have reached the conviction that this indeed is God’s will and plan – that you offer yourselves holy and blameless in his sight through the profession of the evangelical counsels. This is not only between you and God. The fact that you are going to do this publicly means you are going to become part of this religious congregation of priests and brothers who are totally dedicated to the education and evangelization of countless youth especially those at the fringes of the Church and of society with no hope of a bright future. Just these past days and weeks we have been hearing the cry of so many young people who are victims of violence injustice and various forms of exploitation and addiction – many of them are deprived, depraved, depressed and in despair, they are lost like sheep without a shepherd. You are the answer to their prayers. God is sending you to shepherd them.
Brothers and sisters, why are these three young men here in front of us so resolved to give up the world and become Salesians of Don Bosco? There is no other reason except their passion for Christ and their burning zeal to dedicate their lives entirely to the young following the footsteps of St. John Bosco. Therefore, let us rejoice in the choice they have made precisely on this Golden Jubilee of DBFC. And let us pray during this Mass that our brothers Jude, Mario and Naoki who are offering their lives on this altar may be so abundantly blessed by God, in the same way that the five loaves and two fish were blessed by the Lord long ago, so that the miracle of multiplication may continue to take place to fully satisfy the deep hunger of today’s youth for Jesus.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose presence at the wedding in Cana made the servants witness the water turn into wine, bless you with her maternal presence, so that, as you strive to keep doing whatever Jesus tells you to do, you too may see miracles happening in your life – wolves turning to lambs and sheep, and sheep transforming into good shepherds after the Heart of Christ. GiGsss!
