Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Memorial of St. Agatha, Virgin & Martyr, 05 February 2026 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:7-13
Photo by author, Taiwan, 15 February 2019.
Thank you, dear God our loving Father for the gift of freedom we often misinterpret as doing whatever pleases us; the prophets and kings of Old Testament like David before his death reminded everyone to remain faithful to you, O God, to always choose you and your ways and commandments but since then until now, we abuse our freedom and still refuse to choose what is good, refusing to follow and obey you, O God.
When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: “I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, and the Lord may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf….” (1 Kings 2:1-4).
We know what happened with Solomon and the rest of all their kings with a few exceptions: they all turned away from you, O God that disaster fell on them not as your punishment but as consequences of their abuse of freedom; teach us in Jesus Christ who had come to show us the way to true freedom by choosing you, O God, doing your will, doing and being good by being faithful.
How wonderful, O God, that despite our abuse of freedom, you have remained faithful to us, loving us, forgiving us like King David, and still calling us to follow you in Christ Jesus; let us trust you more by choosing you and your ways, letting go of our baggage and other false securities so we can travel light and preach effectively, totally free and faithful to you through others.
Through the intercession of St. Agatha who witnessed Christ and his gospel at a very young age, may we have the courage to remain true to your call and teachings. Amen.
Photo by author, Mt. St. Paul Retreat House, La Trinidad, Benguet, February 2020.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 04 February 2026 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:1-6
Photo by author, Sakura trees in Taiwan, February 2019.
God our loving and merciful Father: teach us today to have the courage and most of all the maturity not only to say sorry when we have sinned and erred but most especially to admit and own our sins and mistakes like King David in today's first reading.
When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the Lord: “It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred” (2 Samuel 24:17).
Teach us to grow in Jesus, dear Father because for as long as we are blinded by our greatness we measure in our stature and income, accomplishments and accolades, we shall always be like King David in the first reading believing only in our selves, hiding in so many ways like census the subtle arrogance that rules our lives, forgetting or disregarding your grace and mercy in our achievements in life that when things go wrong, we blame others and point fingers at everyone except our selves.
Let us be true and sincere dear Jesus today to find where we put our security in our day to day living so that we may also find where you, O God, sad to say, "fit" into our lives due to our lack of faith in you. Amen.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 03 February 2026
Photo by author, 31 January 2026.
One of the Christmas gifts I have received last year was a scented candle personally made by one of our nurses who accompanies me in visiting our patients on Sundays.
Though I had already thanked her when she handed me her gift last Christmas, I had to thank her again last Sunday because I had it unboxed only recently. Most of all, because I loved it so much as I light candles on my altar when praying.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus to the Temple (February 2) also known as the Feast of the Candlemass wherein candles were blessed outside the church after which the people led by the priest enters to begin the Mass in a procession with lighted candles.
Candlemass is a beautiful celebration, especially when done properly by priests. Its origin dates back to more than 1500 years ago in France where it started when people incorporated the blessing of candles into the Feast of the Presentation then known with its Eastern title as “the Encounter” to refer to how Simeon with the Prophetess Anna met the child Jesus being offered by his parents Joseph and Mary to the temple 40 days after Christmas.
According to St. Luke, Simeon sang the following upon meeting the child Jesus Christ.
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:29-32).
In proclaiming Jesus Christ as the “light” of salvation for the nations, the early French Christians thought of having the blessing of candles and procession of lighted candles to signify Jesus as the only and true light of the world. Hence, it came to be known also as “Candlemass” or Candelaria in the Spanish-speaking countries.
Although candles are no longer used as a major source of lighting in homes and other places, it is still used in almost all churches, monasteries and other houses of worship around the world, gaining a renewed popularity lately among the younger generation. It is a most welcomed development in our modern time as more and more people are rediscovering the need for spiritual growth of whatever label. And right in the midst of this is the candle as a tool for better prayer periods.
Unfortunately, this beautiful tradition of the candles is dying in our country. How ironic that we who belong to the Third World have switched to electric vigil lamps and candles while those in the First World still use the traditional candles in their homes and churches.
Photo by author, Jerusalem, April 2017.
How I envy churches in North America and Europe with their plethora of all kinds of candles used and sold even in the simplest churches and stores! During a Holy Land pilgrimage in the 2017 Easter Season, one of the things I appreciated and admired next to the pilgrim sites were the lovely and regal designs of paschal candles in the churches we visited that made me wonder why nobody makes them here in our predominantly Catholic country.
Candles have always have a special place in the life of our faith and the Church since its early beginnings. From the Latin words candere and candela that mean “to shine”, it evolved into the Middle and Old English words candele and candel.
Aside from lighting the gatherings of the early Christians especially in the catacombs to evade arrests during the persecution, candles have always been used to signify Christ as the light of the world guiding our paths as Christians in every celebration, from Baptism to Weddings and Funerals.
Candles do not only make rooms shine but most especially the souls and the hearts of those who cultivate a prayer life. It has that unique warmth that can soothe and calm those who are agitated or worried with life’s many trials and challenges.
Every time we light a candle during prayer periods, our inner selves are made brighter as they evoke in us so much feelings of the Divine presence. Their little lights that flicker remind us of our feeble selves whose life could be easily snuffed out with a single blow.
The scent of burning candle permeates our senses, calming us within, inviting us to leave all our worries in life as we lay our cards out in the open to God. A candles warmth can dissolve every hardness within us, purifying us within and becoming empty and open for God’s grace to work in us.
Photo by author, Mt. St. Paul Retreat House, La Trinidad, Benguet, January 2025.
In a sense, candles may be considered as a sacrament too which is defined as a visible sign with invisible power.
The very act of lighting a candle is already the start of prayer, something like the making of the sign of the Cross. I strongly recommend for those who wish to aid their prayer periods with candles to use matches not lighters that are artificial.
Lighting a candle for prayer especially in the morning can rouse our senses. The striking of the match with its sudden burst of light to kindle the candle is like an angel had suddenly come down to assure us that our prayer is heard by God, that God is with us at the very moment or at least reminds us we have turned into the mode of praying.
The strong scent of the burning matchstick also adds flavor and aroma to the prayer period especially in the early morning when the whole world is still dark and everyone still asleep with you as the only one awake with God.
Lighting a candle first thing first upon waking up can help us avoid from getting our cellphones or turning on the radio or the TV. A lighted candle can prevent us from being distracted by these modern gadgets that keep us away from God and from one another.
Lighting a candle during a prayer period in our room or home works like the candlelight dinner that sets us to a lovely communion with God our beloved. The slow burning of a candle reminds us even in our busiest morning that we are at prayer in the presence of God, that we need to slow down too in our lives, to be conscious of our selves, surroundings and time so we can set our sights to God alone like a beloved in a candlelight dinner date.
At night time, the sight of the candle burning in one’s room is most dramatic as we close the day. Actually, it is during night time that the Church prays the Canticle of Simeon.
A painting of Simeon with the Child Jesus from the dailyprayerblog.blogspot.com
Imagine that scene at the temple when Simeon sang as he held the Child Jesus in his arms – of his readiness to die, to go in peace, after seeing Christ the light of salvation. In the darkness of the night punctuated only by a burning candle, we are able to examine our hearts of the many things we have done and failed to do the whole day. These become clearer in the light of the candle that penetrates our hearts and conscience, piercing and rending our souls to remove the darkness within us, exposing the festering anger or bitterness and sadness hiding inside, melting them away with its warmth so we may go to sleep clean and ready to continue with life – here or hereafter like Simeon.
One last note about candles as we end this reflection.
Monks use a candle snuffer in extinguishing candles in their chapels and monasteries. These are long metal instruments with tips like a bell that monks hover above a candle, slowly covering it until its light is snuffed out, hence, the name candle snuffer.
My candle snuffer at the foreground of my altar.
If you want to be serious in praying better with lighted candles, you may buy those small candle snuffers for home use available at some candle shops in the malls. If there is no candle snuffer, one may use the cover of the candle to snuff out the light. What is important is that as we close our prayers with the lighted candle as companion, we don’t simply blow its light to abruptly end its glow.
When blowing the candle used in prayer, do it slowly as if you are whispering. Do it with solemnity.
Every candle used at prayer becomes blessed, demanding some sort of reverence as companions in our prayer life and journey. Of course, it would be good if you can have your candles blessed by the priest for use at home to ward off negative vibes but more important than that is we grow in our prayer life, we become like lighted candles who give light to others in Christ. Like our candles, we also become a prayer to God in our very selves. Amen.Have a blessed week.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 30 January 2026 2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 4:26-34
Photo by author, Museo Valenzuela & the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 21 January 2026.
Thank you Lord Jesus for the Friday break, the penultimate day of this month of January 2026; it was a heavy week and a very long month for most of us we thought would never end.
We are thankful Lord today because we are still with you with many of us struggling in our prayer lives, persevering in being good and everything like being king and understanding and forgiving; indeed, like your parable today, everything good begins so small like the seed scattered in the field that sprout and grow while the farmer sleeps and rises night and day without really knowing how; but that is how it is also with sin and evil that always begins so small, so subtle like in the experience of David in the first reading: he had been complacent in his life falling into temptations of lust that led into murder.
Dear Jesus, remind us always to never take little things for granted - whether small deeds that lead to holiness or small sins that may leave us stuck in a moment we can't get out of according to Bono of U2:
You've got to get yourself together You've got stuck in a moment And now you can't get out of it Don't say that later will be better Now you're stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it
We pray, Lord Jesus for those feeling stuck in a moment or a sin or a vice or a relationship that they can't get out of; give them the courage to quit and return to you, even little by little. Amen.
*I know what you are thinking but this is a good piece from U2's 2000 album "All That You Can't Leave Behind"... it might help you pray better.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 29 January 2026 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Mark 4:21-25
Photo by author, Mt. Arayat, Pampanga, 28 January 2026.
How lovely it must be, dear Jesus, if there were few sunrise each year like in other places of the world; maybe everybody would be up very early for those few mornings we can witness a sunrise to see and behold; as I have told you Lord last Sunday, I have always loved sunrise with its subtle yet intense appeal of light slowly bursting forth, light breaking out to brighten the earth and life in it.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light… To the one who has, more will be given; from the ones who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Mark 4:21-22, 25).
Thank you, dear Jesus for that reassurance today of God continually pouring out his grace on us today as he reveals further to us his glory and majesty in you, our light, the true light of the world never hidden and finally brought out to the world; grant me the grace of courage to bring out your light in me, Jesus; enough with too much hiding of you, now is the time to reveal you Jesus in me, through me; take away my being too shy even ashamed and afraid of letting your light shine in me, Jesus in this time everybody is so fascinated with the artificial lights of the world that dazzle us at first and slowly blinds us until we could not see the realities anymore; like King David in the first reading, make us realize that it is in our weaknesses when you, O Lord, can shine most and work most. Amen.
Photo by author, La Paz, Tarlac CLLEX, 28 January 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church, 28 January 2026 2 Samuel 7:4-7 <*[[[[>< +++ ><]]]]*> Mark 4:1-20
Photo by Nikola u010cedu00edkovu00e1 on Pexels.com
"May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita."
A Filipino saying to express how news and rumors travel so fast because "The soil (or land) has ears, news has wings."
It sounds funny, Lord Jesus that this saying came to my mind upon hearing your parable that started with your words "Hear this! A sower went out..." and ended, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear" (Mark 4:3, 9).
What an art you have endowed each of us Lord with two ears so that we may listen and hear twice than speak; how lovely you have shaped our ears that when put together, they look like a heart and yet, we rarely listen at all to you and with others.
Make us like the good soil, Jesus: open to receive your words, open to welcome your many possibilities, open to simply be ourselves so that you may transform us like the seeds that grew and produced fruits.
Remind us, Lord Jesus, like David by Nathan that far more better than buildings on land is our hearts where you desire most to dwell; may our hearts remain your temple planted on good, firm soil that it may be felt alive always.
Teach us to imitate your great Saint Thomas Aquinas we remember today: that we may cultivate to prepare our hearts and minds to become like the good soil so that your seeds of the Gospel may grow and bear fruit for your greater glory. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 27 January 2026 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19 <*{{{{>< +++ ><}}}}*> Mark 3:31-35
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, August 2017.
Your words today are very interesting, God our loving Father: both the first reading and the gospel show us a setting of people gathered, inside and outside a circle of crowd; but, what makes it so interesting is the fact that more than the location of being "inside" and "outside" in any setting especially in gathering and in coming to you, what truly matters most is our action, of what are we doing because many times, we may be "inside" without doing your will while be "outside" doing your will.
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:31-35).
Thank you dear Jesus for coming to us, bringing us closer to you, to God our Father, and most especially with everyone; how sad at times when we are seated right in your circle yet too far from you and others because we are away from your will, from your very self, from your works; it does not really matter wherever we are seated but where we stand in you and with you in doing the will of God.
Teach us to imitate King David who rejoiced triumphantly in the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant where he was closest to God's presence not because of the Ark but most because of his care for the people around to whom "he distributed to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raising cake" (2Samuel 6:19).
Let us come to you, in you, and through you, dear Jesus in holy communion welcoming everyone with our loving service so that no one may feel far and outside from you and one another. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, 26 January 2026 2 Timothy 1:1-8 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Mark 3:22-30
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.
Let me not be ashamed of witnessing, of testifying for you, Lord Jesus Christ; let me not be ashamed of you, Jesus in this time when things of God and of virtues and holiness are looked down upon as old fashioned, so conservative, fill me with your "grace, mercy, and peace", Lord like what St. Paul prayed for his disciple Timothy.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord…(2 Timothy 1:6-8).
As I prayed St. Paul's letter to Timothy, I felt as if those very words were spoken too to me by you, Jesus - thank you so much, Lord! I feel shy but so encouraged too because indeed everything we have is a pure grace from you, Jesus; even our calling is a gift you have freely given us, Jesus; that is why, grant me the courage not to be ashamed to proclaim your truth always; grant me the courage not to be ashamed to witness your love and mercy and justice with others especially those with less in life. Amen.
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 25 January 2026 Isaiah 8:23-9:3 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.17 ><}}}}*> Matthew 4:12-23
Photo by author, sunrise at the Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2019.
More than a month ago at the Midnight Mass of Christmas we have heard this Sunday’s first reading, that beautiful prophecy by Isaiah fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s coming.
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of Jordan, the district of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone (Isaiah 8:23-9:1).
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled… (Matthew 4:12-14).
As we move forward into Ordinary Time, we hear anew one of the most beautiful promises in the Old Testament of how the coming of the Christ is the “breaking of dawn of salvation” as Zechariah sang in his Benedictus after naming his son “John” when light bursts forth to dispel the darkness that had enveloped us for a long time.
Photo by author, sunrise at the Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Notice that it is those who live and walk in darkness literally and figuratively speaking are always the first to come forward into the light like the people in Galilee at that time, especially the towns of Zebulun and Naphtali who were actually names of Jacob’s two other sons. Their tribes settled in that area of Galilee that was at the border with other pagan countries always subjected to wars and conflicts with foreigners. Their lands were literally in the dark, never at peace as if forsaken.
Here lies the good news of this Sunday: after hearing the news of John’s arrest, Jesus launched his public ministry. Notice how plain and simple was Matthew’s narration, “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested” – it was another period of darkness for the people with rampant violence and injustice. However, it was not totally dark at all: see how Jesus withdrew to Galilee; Christ’s “withdrawing” to Galilee was not something negative but actually more of a positive development. Jesus chose to begin his ministry in that forsaken province of Galilee to show his love and concern for the people long forgotten. Remember how at that time that Jerusalem was the center of everything, something like an “imperial Manila” we call these days.
Here we find again that imagery of Jesus like in his birth that happened during the darkest night of the year that 30 years later, he chose to go to the darkest region of Israel to bring light of salvation to everyone. Jesus comes to us most in moment of darkness in our lives! When we are troubled by sins and problems, never lose that spark within for Christ had come, is coming and continues to come to us! Matthew mentioned this prophecy of Isaiah of the great light shining in the land of gloom not really for his readers then and now to remember what God had done in the past but to make us all aware always that God continues to send us his Son Jesus in these dark moments of our lives. In telling us how Jesus began his ministry by withdrawing to Galilee in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Matthew wants us to be aware of what God has done for us, of giving us Jesus, the true Light of the world right into the many darkness we are going through in life today.
More than the news overseas that we have heard like wars and the breaking apart of world peace and order with America suddenly flexing its muscles to remind everyone they are still great and powerful or the very frustrating corrupt lawmakers of the country, we are all in some form of being in the midst of darkness in our personal lives too like a sick loved one or a problematic brother or sister.
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
God has delivered us from slaveries of sin and selfishness in Christ’s coming and presence among us. Surely there would always be darkness and shadows in our lives this 2026 but Jesus is telling us today in his withdrawing to Galilee after hearing John’s arrest that we need to get out of our own darkness! There is no more darkness in Christ’s coming; it is us who have darkened our lives with our selfish interests like the quarrels and animosities against one another that St. Paul warned against in the second reading.
Every time we destroy our unity, our oneness, we plunge ourselves into darkness. Whenever we refuse to bow down, when we refuse to give way, when we refuse to forgive even forgo or let go of others inanities, we go back to darkness. Inasmuch as Jesus Christ is the great light who shone on the many darkness of our lives, he is calling us like the first four disciples to bring his light to others.
Was it really that easy for the brothers Simon and Andrew, especially brothers James and John to immediately leave behind their livelihood and father so easily for Jesus? Not really. Matthew need not go into details about their call and conversion because most likely, they went through the same stages we have gone through or going through right now as we pray and reflect about our life direction. Like us today, Simon and Andrew, James and John experienced burn out, searching for meaning in life that after listening to the words of Jesus, they felt and saw him as the light enlightening everything for them. They saw in Jesus their lives and very person getting clearer that they decided to follow him and become fishers of men.
How far are we willing to repent and be converted in the light of Christ to start anew living in the land of loving God, self, and others?
Photo by author, Bolinao, Pangasinan, 19 April 2022.
I have always loved sunrise. Though sunsets are more colorful and dramatic like a spectacular show called palabas in Filipino, sunrise is different: it is more of paloob, an inside movement that is subtle yet intense when light steals into shadows as the sun is gradually breaking open the darkness to reveal what is unseen.
That is why our Filipino term for sunrise is more evocative of its deeper meaning as pagbubukang liwayway which literally means breaking of dawn. Every morning person (madrugeño in Spanish) knows so well those feelings of being up before sunrise, of exactly catching the breaking of dawn that is always joyful and liberating with a certain kind of lightness and relief from deep within because another day is given us.
Maybe it is a carry over with my having worked for three years in the graveyard shift covering the police beat while still working at GMA News in the late 1980’s. But more recently, I feel that imagery of coming forward into the light resonates most after a good confession when we deeply realize God’s immense love, that God is not that really angry at all with us because of our sins, that there is a bright light to always look forward in this life amid all the darkness and shadows enveloping us.
Today is the National Bible Sunday. It is when we prayerfully read the Sacred Scriptures everyday that we see the light of Christ in our selves, in our lives. The more we pray the Scriptures, the more we are enlightened, the more we are filled with the light of Christ that enables us to see too his light on the face of those we meet daily. Let us step out of our darkness in life this Sunday and everyday to henceforth experience and share Christ. Amen. Have a blessed, enlightening week ahead!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 23 January 2026 1 Samuel 24:3-21 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 3:13-19
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, 2019.
In this time of too much violence not only in media but in real life especially those we witness and experience in ordinary streets near and far from our places of comfort to those larger than life violence taking place in the high seas and other countries, may your words today remind us, our dear loving Father to imitate David your servant of old.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed and a father to me.’ Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life” (1 Samuel 24:9-12).
Teach us, dear Father, to show respect to your anointed leaders among us, from our family and home into our leaders in school, office and work, government and the church; despite their flaws and even abuses, help us to transcend these and try to find your favor in giving them to us; may we pray for them to be more reasonable, just and fair in the exercise of their office and position.
Teach us, dear Father, to look anew to them repeatedly and try to find your image in them; may Jesus be the main factor we must consider in obeying them, respecting them, and in recognizing their power and authority; may we not resort to violence often preceded by betrayals perpetrated by those supposed to be closest to those in authority. Amen.
Photo by author, Dominican Hill, Baguio City, January 2019.
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