Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the 13th Sunday in OT; 28 June 2026, Maryville Chapel, Talamban

Three years ago, I remember having gone to Mantalongon, to concelebrate in the funeral Mass of a certain Tatay Imok. When the Mass began and we were processing towards the altar something immediately struck me. It was the unexpectedly huge turnout of people at the Mass. Tatay Imok was just a simple and ordinary farmer who lived and worked in the field far away from the church and the Barangay proper, and yet I could clearly feel how much impact he had made on his fellow farmers and co-parishioners within his short life of sixty years. One of his sons in fact is a Salesian of Don Bosco who eventually got ordained priest the year after in 2024. Back in 2009, Tatay Imok did not think twice in giving his blessing to his son who wanted to enter the seminary in Don Bosco Lawaan. And from that day onwards he and his wife would often send to our seminary several sacks of assorted vegetables for free. Grabe gyud and ilahang kindness and generosity!

I still remember that day, when I went up to Mantalongon to pay a visit to their family (his son Tonton was still a Prenovice at that time). At the end of my visit Tatay Imok himself carried the sack filled with vegetables several meters downhill towards the road and loaded it on our vehicle. He said it was their offering to the community. I was deeply moved. Now I am certain that the kindness and generosity of Tatay Imok will never go unrewarded by God who is never outdone in generosity.

Today’s first reading from the second book of Kings (2 Kings 4:8 – 11, 14 – 16a) narrates to us a touching story of another farmer whose name was Elisha. Despite the ordinariness of his occupation his story found its way in the Bible as he ended up becoming the next great prophet to succeed Elijah. But how did Elisha become a prophet? Here is how it happened. While he was busily at work in the field holding the plow drawn by several cows, the great prophet Elijah came to him and threw his cloak over him. When Elisha felt the cloak on his shoulders he immediately perceived a divine call. He felt as if God was telling him “You are mine. (Ikaw akoa. IKAW AY AKIN).” And so, upon realizing that it was God calling him, Elisha promptly responded and became God’s prophet succeeding Elijah.

Now, the particular passage proclaimed for us today highlights how God rewards the kindness shown to his chosen servants, the prophets. In that place called Shunem where Elisha started to do his ministry, there was a certain woman – simple but influential – who did something different that the others did not do. Every time Elisha would come over to Shunem to exercise his ministry, she and her husband would offer to him food and a room accommodation for free. One day, therefore, out of gratitude for their kindness and generosity, or their “kaayo” (in Cebuano), Elisha came forward and invoked a heavenly blessing upon his kind hosts. Since he came to know that they were childless, he promised that they would soon be blessed with a baby boy. And so it happened. When Elisha returned to Shunem the following year, she was already fondling a baby, her first born son.

What is this ancient story telling us today? I believe it is this: neither the woman’s name nor her husband’s were ever recorded in the Biblical; nevertheless their exceptional deeds of kindness and generosity were never forgotten. In fact surprisingly, they were blessed in a very special way by God who sees everything and rewards every good deed. Moreover their story, no matter how seemingly insignificant it might be, had eventually become part of biblical history, immortalized by the sacred writers in order that everyone who reads it might be inspired by their example and do likewise.

This is precisely the good news proclaimed by Jesus for us today as recorded by St Matthew (Mt 10:37 – 42). He said that whoever receives any of his disciples actually receives him. And whoever offers to any of them even just a cup of cold water will never go unrewarded but blessed by his heavenly Father. We, Filipinos, have a beautiful Tagalog term for this, it is KABUTIHANG-LOOB.

Dear brothers and sisters, isn’t this so assuring especially for you who regularly come to Mass and quietly share your blessings to the Church whether in cash or in kind (particularly to your community here in Maryville)? Aren’t these words from the Scriptures very encouraging for those of you who extend your help and support to us Priests, whether we are Salesians, Augustinians, Jesuits or Diocesan, simply because we serve God and his people particularly the poor and the marginalized? Jesus assures you that God who sees your good deeds will certainly bless you beyond measure.

God’s Word today, however, is not only an assurance of a reward, but it is also challenge for us to act on his Word day by day. Our acts of kindness should not be directed only to his priests and other church ministers. It should actually be extended to all of Christ’s disciples. Please listen to the exact words that Jesus said: “Whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple – amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” These words mean that even the smallest acts of kindness which you do for each other as Catholics will never go unrewarded by the Lord, whether we are inside this church, at home, at work, in school or elsewhere.

Last week the whole nation was shocked by the senseless shooting inside San Jose National High School in Leyte by two minors. While such violent attack that had killed three students and wounded many others had traumatized countless other students and teachers, one heroic act had stood out – that of Chris Lorenz Fabian, who bravely blocked the door of their classroom in order to save his classmates from the armed suspects. He eventually died being hit by the gunfire. He was only 15 years of age, and his selfless act of heroism will never be forgotten.

Yes we all are confronted with a much bigger challenge as followers of Jesus. And it goes beyond the giving of material gifts or monetary help. What is that BIGGER CHALLENGE? It is offering our life bravely and generously to God for the good of others. The prophet Elisha was already secure in life. Like other farmers he had his own field, cattle and the loving support of his own family. And yet when he received the call of the Lord for greater service, he left everything both family and field and surrendered himself entirely to the Lord as a prophet for his people. And because of his prompt and selfless response to God’s call, he never went hungry, thirsty or without anything to wear. He never experienced being homeless or helpless all his life as a prophet. God has always been there to provide for his needs through the good and kind-hearted people he met along the way.

To the kids and youth who are here, to the adults and the elderly as well, if God is calling you to greater service in the Church, hear this. Do not be afraid to respond with your brave and generous YES, even if it would mean leaving behind your family and loved ones. God who is the source of all good will take care of you and the loved ones you are leaving behind. He will be there to provide for all your needs, and he will make sure that your generosity will never go unrewarded both in this life and in the life to come.

May our Eucharist today inspire us and empower us to busy ourselves selflessly with good deeds for others and follow the path towards the fullness of life which the Gospel is showing to us. GiGsss!

P.S. Here is sharing with you one last story about another young farmer. His name is Giovanni. When he was around fifteen years old Giovanni met an elderly priest, by the name of Fr Calosso, who became his mentor and spiritual director.

One day when he came to know that the old priest was dying Giovanni rushed to his side hoping he could still do something to help him recover. But it was too late. After several hours the priest eventually died. The good news is, before the priest actually died he entrusted to Giovanni, his spiritual son, the key to his safe bequeathing to him all the savings of his entire life so that the boy could pursue his dream of becoming a priest one day.

However, here is the twist. When his nephew and other relatives arrived for Fr Calosso’s burial, Giovanni handed over to them the key to the priest’s safe. Despite being blessed with the key to the old priest’s treasures, Giovanni chose the way of kindness and detachment by surrendering to the old priest’s family what he desperately needed for his seminary formation and future mission.

The good news is, Giovanni’s kind gesture did not go unrewarded. Later on the Lord sent him good and kind-hearted people who helped him respond to God’s call and challenge. Eventually he was able to enter the seminary, and in 1841 he was ordained a priest. Today he is known simply as Don Bosco.

Although financially challenged Don Bosco took into his pastoral care hundreds and thousands of young people who were poor, abandoned, uneducated and marginalized. By God’s providence he was able to offer them food, lodging, education, and technical skills training all for free. After having accomplished his mission at 72 years old Don Bosco received the eternal reward promised by the Lord to good and faithful servants and was soon glorified among the saints in heaven.