The Brightest on a Lampstand
Homily on Thursday, 3rd Wk in OT, 29 Jan 2026, DBPH Chapel Talamban
The feast of St John Bosco is drawing near. Welcome to the eighth day of our novena in preparation for his feast day.
Do you know that here in the south there are at least two parishes whose patron is Don Bosco? They are St. John Bosco Parish in Cotcot, Liloan and St John Bosco Parish in Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental. There is still a third one, though not a parish church but only a chapel – the Shrine of St. John Bosco the Dreamer in Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu.
I dream of one day going for a pilgrimage from Liloan, all the way up to Lawaan, either on foot in the style of a “Cammino” or in a motorcade; and then from Lawaan to Toledo crossing the Tanon Straight to San Carlos City, going all the way up to Minoyan in Murcia. Up there on the mountain we have both Don Bosco’s Shrine and Retreat House that has been serving for around 40 years the young people of Negros, like a light set on the hilltop.
In today’s gospel (Mk 4:21-25), we hear Jesus saying “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed? Or shouldn’t it be placed on a lamp stand? I can say that among so many saints canonized by the Church, Don Bosco is that brightest lamp that has illuminated our lives simply because he did not keep his light all for himself.
During these past weeks and months that I have been going around to visit our houses, I have been heard so many testimonies from lay people about how much Don Bosco had made an impact in their lives. Some even claimed that they were once among the wolves transformed into sheep because of their contact with Don Bosco. So, we can truly say that the little boy who once grew up as a nobody, hidden in the countryside of Castelnuovo D’Asti, had truly become through the years a beacon of light for countless people like us. His ray of light has reached even as far us Cebu brightening the lives of so many of you, Maryville Homeowners, ever since Don Bosco was established here in 1995.
We all know that Don Bosco was born in 1815 to a simple family of farmers humbly tilling the land for a living. However, poverty did not keep John tilling the fields all his life. The difficulties and hardships in life especially after he lost his father at two years old did not prevent him from letting his light shine for all in the world to see. He did his best to become a working student so that he could finish his studies and achieve his dream of becoming a priest not for himself, not for his family, but for poor and abandoned youth. He applied in different jobs and in the process learned many different skills useful in life. Guided by his spiritual director he persevered in his vocation and was soon ordained a priest.
As a priest Don Bosco devoted his entire life ministering and educating the youth especially the poorest, the exploited and the most neglected ones in the city of Turin. In response to God’s call, Don Bosco became that light put on a lamp stand shining all his life to brighten the world of the young who was lost in the darkness of sin. He guided many of them who otherwise would have lost all their hopes for a better and brighter future. He was able to save many of them who could have ended up in prison or, if not, directly in hell.
Amazingly Don Bosco’s pastoral fruitfulness consisted not only of having saved young souls from hell, but above all, of having turned some of them into saints. Foremost among them was Dominic Savio, a saint at only fifteen years old, followed by Bl. Michael Rua who was the first Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation. Don Bosco’s lamp shone the brightest when the youth whom he transformed from wolves to sheep also turned out to become the Salesian Saints we have today.
Brothers and sisters, if only there are more significant adults who would let their light to shine on a lamp stand many more young people may be protected from all evil and harm and brought nearer to Jesus. We pray in this Eucharist that following the footsteps of St. John Bosco we may be that light for the young people of today, especially the poorest among the underprivileged youth. GiGsss!
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