Lent is a journey within

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Joel 2:12-18 +++ 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 +++ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Lent is often portrayed as a journey of 40 days towards Easter starting today, Ash Wednesday. But deeper than a journey in time, it is a journey into the Father that starts in our hearts, deep within each one of us.

It is the season when we are invited to take time to look inside our hearts to see our true selves as sinful in order to meet God dwelling right inside us. The Prophet Joel in the first reading sets this tone of inner journey of conversion perfectly when he voiced out God’s call, speaking to us personally especially in this modern age:

“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:12-13).

*Photo by author, Buendia Ave., Makati City, 09 February 2026.*

Very often, we are concerned about our external appearance, of how we look to other people but God sees what is in our hearts, of what is really inside us. And the path inside us is to cleanse ourselves thoroughly of the dirt and smudges of sin; hence, the imposition of ashes on our forehead.

Ash has long been a cleansing agent. Long before these modern kitchen stoves and gadgets of today, we used firewood for cooking that blackened the bottom of cooking wares. There were no Scotch Brite nor dishwasher at that time so we would mix ashes and cleanser soap then with steel wool and eskoba, we scrubbed them on the dirty kaldero and kawali until they were sparklingly beautiful again.

It is the very imagery of that cleaning of darkened pots with ash and soap the priest conveys to us when he says “Repent and believe in the gospel” while putting those ashes on our foreheads.

To repent is more than being sorry and admitting our sins but also a firm resolve to change our sinful ways, to be converted by following Jesus Christ in his Cross, by being more loving like him. In his first Lenten Message, Pope Leo XIV reminds us that “Every path to conversion begins by allowing the word of God to touch our hearts and welcoming it with a docile spirit.” He proposes three specific ways in doing this: listening, fasting and together.

Listening. The Holy Father reminds us so beautifully that “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”

So true! But, so sad, too is the fact whom do we listen more these days? We live in a mass-mediated culture with so many young people practically living in the social media, taking and believing everything they read and see on their screen as the “gospel” truth that have only misled so many of us into various forms of miseries like emptiness, alienation from self and others, and even deaths.

Pope Leo explains that “Our God is one who seeks to involve us. Even today he shares with us who is in his heart. Because of this, listening to the word in the liturgy teaches us to listen to the truth of reality… In order to foster this inner openness to listening, we must allow God to listen as he does.” This is precisely the call of Jesus to us in the gospel when he repeatedly spoke of “God seeing you in secret” – God is always listening to us but do we listen to him?

In order to truly listen to God, first we must learn his language which is silence. See how the word “silent” is a palindrome of “listen” which is the reason why we have two ears so that we may listen more than speak. Remember also the shape of our ears – when placed together they form a heart because listening is not letting the words pass through the other ear nor keep in one’s head to understand but meant to bring down into our hearts so we can be more loving and kind, leading to oneness and bonding with the other persons.

Here we can adopt the suggestions of the CBCP that we fast this Lent on social media: no more cellphones before sleep and after waking up; limit social media and streaming time; observe device-free meals and gatherings; replace screen time with prayer and making time to be with others personally.

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2025.*

Fasting. According to Pope Leo, “fasting is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God.” He explains that “because it involves the body, fasting makes it easier to recognize what we ‘hunger’ for and what we deem necessary for our sustenance. Moreover, it helps us identify and order our ‘appetites,’ keeping our hunger and thirst for justice alive and freeing us from complacency.”

Again, let us use our Filipino language in understanding fasting and abstinence as well. Fasting is linked with abstaining from food. For us Filipinos, the most common practice of fasting and abstinence is avoiding meat like no meat on Fridays; meat in Filipino is laman. Therefore, when we say “no meat” it literally means walang laman which means empty in Filipino. It is when we are empty of ourselves that we become filled with God and his word, eventually of others especially the sick and suffering.

In a very interesting way, Pope Leo XIV invites us beginning this Lent to fast with our “tongue”: “Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgment, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, in social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.”

*Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com*

Together. Finally, the Holy Father sums up that listening and fasting must both lead to the common good, the unity of peoples because “conversion refers not only to one’s conscience, but also to the quality of our relationships and dialogue. It means allowing ourselves to be challenged by reality and recognizing what truly guides our desires” not only as a community but especially in our “thirst for justice and reconciliation”.

Again, our Filipino word for listening says it all: pakikinig leads to pagniniig or intimacy which is oneness, communion, and bonding. True conversion leads to communion that begins with reconciliation as St. Paul called on us today in the second reading, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (1Cor. 5:20,6:2).”

As we receive the ash on our foreheads today, let us have moments of silence to listen to God’s voice we have stifled in our hearts, let us fast from talking and scrolling, and together we help each other to truly journey inside our true selves to meet God this Lent. To meet God is to die into one’s self, one’s sins, one’s selfishness as well dying literally speaking which the old formula of imposition of ash solemnly declares, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Let’s face it: it is the reality of death that we have often tried to deny and escape in life that have kept our hearts consumed with all these distractions in modern life that have led us into sins and meaninglessness. Let us start anew today in Christ Jesus to find ourselves and God within our hearts. Amen. A blessed Ash Wednesday to you!

Help me understand, Lord…

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 17 February 2026
James 1:12-18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 8:14-21

*Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 09 January 2026.*

Help me understand,
Lord Jesus!
Until now like your Apostles,
I grapple and still baffled
by your immense love for me,
your boundless care and grace
that most of the time I still don't
get what you mean when you
speak to me.

How I see myself
seated there in your boat,
side by side with the Twelve,
thinking along the same line,
still could not get your point
vis-a-vis your recent gifts
and blessings.

No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is not alteration or shadow caused by change (James 1:13-17).

This is another thing that
must be clarified among us,
Lord Jesus: God tests us but
never tempts us!

God tests us,
allows us to be tested
to strengthen our faith,
to make us grow and mature
as persons dependent in him;
temptations are pressures
and enticements to lure us
into sin,
to disobey God
that comes from many sources
like pride and selfishness,
the world and its comforts,
and the devil himself.

This is the leaven of the Pharisees
we must take guard against always,
Lord Jesus;
keep us focused on you alone,
clear me of doubts
and self-serving interests,
to be always open to you
 by sharpening my perception
of your loving presence.
Amen.

Ask in Faith

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 16 February 2026
James 1:1-11 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 8:11-13

*Photo by author, Tagaytay City, February 2023.*

Let me be focused
on you alone, Lord Jesus:
like many others today
who are facing 
trials and difficulties, 
when a lot of situations 
and people are testing 
my patience and endurance;
grant us the courage
and wisdom,
and perseverance
in seeking your
wisdom.

But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8).

How sad, 
dear Jesus,
when storms come
in our lives, we often lose
our focus on you;
instead of praying
and strengthening our
inner self and will,
that is when we waste time
with our various coping
mechanisms that do nothing
to help us solve our problems
but even worsen them;
keep us centered in you alone,
Lord - convinced and contented
not like the Pharisees who keep
on asking your for signs despite
they have seen all your works.
Amen.

Integrity is living faith in Christ

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 15 February 2026
Sirach 15:15-20 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ><}}}}*> Matthew 5:17-37

It is a day after Valentine’s, also the final Sunday before we take a long break from Ordinary Time to start the 40 days of Lent this Ash Wednesday leading us to Easter that lasts until the month of May. It is so lovely and timely that we hear Jesus teaching us this Sunday to examine our hearts always so that we can live our faith in him daily, of remaining blessed in his beatitudes.

We are still at the sermon on the mount with Jesus giving us a series of general teachings illustrated in some concrete examples. However, keep in mind these are not new teachings as Jesus himself clarified he had come not to abolish but to fulfill the laws. In the light of the Beatitudes he taught us the other Sunday, Jesus is now directing us to look deeper into our hearts, to make it whole again in him and stay blessed unlike the scribes and the Pharisees.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

This is not the first time we have heard the word “righteousness” in Matthew who used it to describe Joseph in his Christmas story as “a righteous man” (Mt.1:19).

Being righteous for the Jews is being holy which is obeying and living by the laws and commandments of God. Unfortunately, they got centered with the letters of the laws as insisted by their scribes and Pharisees. When Jesus came, they have forgotten God himself as well as the value of the human person and life itself for which the laws were meant to be. Matthew rectified this at the start of his gospel with the story of the annunciation of Christ’s birth to Joseph who obeyed God’s command expressed in his love for Mary whom he took as his wife then pregnant with the Savior he named as “Jesus”.

Righteousness or holiness is not being sinless but being filled with God, living our faith in Christ by witnessing his gospel. From the Greek word holos that means “whole” not broken, holiness in a sense is what we call as integrity.

Holiness, righteousness, and integrity all begin in the heart that we find expressed in the sixth Beatitude taught by Jesus two Sundays ago, “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God” (Mt.5:8).

*Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com*

A clean heart is a loving heart. We can only see God and the other persons with a loving heart. The human intellect cannot know most especially God as St. Paul tells us in the second reading.

In the same manner, we know the other person not with the intellect but always with the heart as the Little Prince said, “What is essential is invisible to the eye; it is only with the heart that one can truly see” while Marvin Gaye expressed it so beautifully in his 1971 hit “What’s Going On” with the lines “we have to put some lovin’ here today” so we can understand each other.

Indeed, the heart is the very center or core of every person because everything flows from the heart. And this is what Jesus himself underscores in his three admonitions against anger, lust, and falsehoods this Sunday. In all three teachings, we find how love is severely damaged when we quarrel against each other, when we take everyone as things and objects to be used, and when we lack the sincerity in our words.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna”(Mt.5:21-22).

First thing we notice in these three teachings is its construction where Jesus first mentioned what was said by the ancestors in the phrase “You have heard” immediately followed by his own take, “But, I say to you.”

Again, Jesus is not contradicting the laws given by Moses and elaborated by their elders; Jesus was actually expressing its fullness in him found in love that begins in the heart which St. Paul reiterated in his letters that love is the perfection of the laws and commandments of God.

Whenever we quarrel in words or in deeds, we not only break our ties with each other as brothers and sisters but even with God we call “our Father”. Remember, love of God is love of one another. And the sad part of this reality is our being cut off from God even if we don’t admit it. And even if we know we have nothing against anyone, we surely feel the break-up in our selves due to the lack of love and charity, most of all, of peace. That is why Jesus added that when in our worship we realize a brother or sister has anything against us, we must first reconcile with him or her. That is why before the Holy Communion, we give the greeting of peace with one another who represents the person we are at odds with. The responsibility becomes more pronounced if the person is in the same assembly we are in if we really want to have a meaningful and holy communion.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt.5:27-28).

Here we go again with the issues of marital infidelity as well as of divorce: at the very core of this is the equality of every person, of every man and woman as being created in the image and likeness of God with same equal dignity. Jesus reminds us today that there is no difference between man and woman when it comes to marriage because the same duties of fidelity bind each partner. Most of all, Jesus has consistently taught how we must go beyond the Laws when it comes to marriage because every spouse is an image of himself, of his saving grace. Hence, we must reject every temptation and inappropriate words and actions that may destroy unity and love of couples and even in our other relationships as family and friends.

*Photo by author, Makati City, 09 February 2026.*

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.” Anything more is from the evil one” (Mt.5:33-34).

This last admonition is perhaps most needed these days when we are bombarded with too much fake news as well as our own words are empty. Shakespeare said it so well in Hamlet, “words, words, words” wherein we think and believe that the more we increase our words, the more it becomes true and meaningful.

Of course, it it totally untrue as Jesus reminded us today to be truthful always. In Genesis, we are told in the story of creation how God shared only this power of words, of language with humans alone. Our ability to speak is a sharing in God’s power that demands responsibilities (Spiderman). Hence in the first reading, Ben Sirach reminds us to be responsible in choosing good than evil like in choosing between “fire and water”, “life and death”. Ben Sirach’s short reminders are very timely in this age of social media where “influencers” choose for us not only the candidates to elect but even the food to eat and clothes to wear. Being free is to decide, to choose knowingly what is good.

This Sunday, Jesus invites us to look into our hearts, to cleanse it of evil and sins so that he may dwell and reign completely in our hearts so we can have integrity and remain blessed and holy in him. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead, everyone!

Overcoming “Solomon” in us to become “Syro-Phoenician woman”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 12 February 2026
1 Kings 11:4-13 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 7:24-30

*Photo by author, Mt. St. Paul Retreat House, La Trinidad, Benguet, February 2020.*

Lord Jesus Christ,
help me find 
my way back home
to you again;
I am like King Solomon
at this stage:
lost and empty,
confused despite being wise
in world's standards;
like Solomon,
I have been ruled by my
emotions and many other 
considerations as I rationalise
everything that have all led
me to sin and bad behavior;
grant me O Lord Jesus
that wisdom found in your
way of the Cross where truth
and goodness reign.

Lord Jesus Christ,
grant me humility
that leads to intimacy 
in you wherein I find my
true place in life
and in society like 
that Syrophoenician woman
who begged you to heal her
daughter; what a beautiful
image of your love for us,
finding us,
going where we are;
how blessed are we like
that pagan woman
who recognized you,
Jesus, passing through
a foreign land!

Help us regain
the wisdom of Solomon
of knowing and doing
what is true and good
while remaining humble
and sincere like the
Syrophoenician woman.
Amen.

“Do not disturb”: Pagpapala ng mga may-sakit

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-11 ng Pebrero 2026

*Larawan kuha ni Arkitek Philip Santiago, Lourdes, France, Oktubre 2025.*

Isa sa mga turo sa amin ni Bp. Almario (+) noong kami ay mga seminarista pa ay huwag na huwag daw kaming maglalagay sa pintuan ng aming silid kapag naging pari na ng “Do not disturb” sign.

Paliwanag niya sa amin ay buhay ng mga pari ang palaging maistorbo at magambala lalo na kung mayroong may-sakit at naghihingalo ano mang oras gaya ng hating-gabi at madaling-araw.

Naalala ko ang turo niyang iyon noong Lunes sa aking homilya tungkol sa ebanghelyo na si Hesus ay “inistorbo” ng mga tao nang tumawid ng lawa at dumaong sila sa Capernaum.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Lawa ng Galilea, Israel, Mayo 2017.*

Noong panahong iyon, sina Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay tumawid ng lawa, at pagdating sa Genesaret ay isinadsad nila ang bangka. Paglunsad nila, nakilala siya agad ng mga tao kaya’t nagmamadaling nilibot ng mga ito ang mga pook sa paligid; at ang mga maysakit, na nakaratay na sa higaan ay dinala nila kay Hesus, saanman nila mabalitaang naroon siya. At saanman siya dumating, maging sa nayon, lungsod, o kabukiran, ay dinadala sa liwasan ang mga maysakit, at isinasamo sa kanya na pahipuin sila kahit man lang sa palawit ng kanyang kasuutan. At lahat ng makahipo nito ay gumagaling (Marcos 6:53-56).

Imagine natin ang eksenang ito: ni hindi na nakapagpahinga man lang si Hesus pagdating sa Capernaum. Ni hindi niya nakuhang bumuwelo. Agad-agad Siya na sumama sa mga tao. Kung ano man mga plano Niya marahil noong mga araw na iyon ay Kanyang ipinagpaliban para sa mga tao, lalo na sa mga may-sakit.

At iyon naman ang totoo kay Hesus – palagi Siyang may panahon sa bawat isa sa atin. Kaya nga hindi naman Siya pumapalag sa mga humihipo sa Kanyang damit upang gumaling sa kanilang mga sakit. Kailanman ay hindi pinigilan ni Hesus mga tao na siya ay istorbohin upang magpagaling, mangaral at magpaliwanag. Minsan nga ay inaya niya Kanyang mga alagad tumungo sa ilang na pook upang mamahinga ngunit wala Siyang nagawa kungdi ang maawa nang makita Niya na nauna pang dumating sa kanila ang mga tao na parang mga “tupang walang pastol” kaya tinuruan Niya at pinagaling mga may-sakit. At pagkaraan ay pinakain pa!

Napaka-gandang katangian ni Hesus ang kanyang pagtugon sa mga pang-aabala lalo ng mga may-sakit at naghihingalo. Ito marahil ang kaganapan ng ating panalanging “disturb me Lord” sapagkat tunay tayo nagagambala ng Panginoon tuwing kinakilanga at pinaglilingkuran natin ang mga may-sakit at maging iba pang mga nahihirapan sa buhay.

Kaya naman tuwing ginugunita ang Birhen ng Lourdes sa ika-11 ng Pebrero, atin ring ipinagdiriwang ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga May-Sakit. Bantog ang maraming himala ng kagalingan sa pamamagitan ng pamimintuho sa Birhen ng Lourdes. Itinuturing din na mapaghimala ang bukal ng tubig doon sa Lourdes, France na ipinahukay ng Mahal na Birhen sa pinagpakitaan niyang bata noon na ngayon ay Santa na, si St. Bernadette Soubirous.

Itinakda ni San Juan Pablo II noong Mayo 13, 1992 at isinabay sa kapistahan ng Lourdes ang World Day of the Sick upang aniya ay “ating makita sa mga may-sakit ang mukha ni Kristo na sa Kanyang pagpapakasakit, pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay natamo ang kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan.”

Bakit nga ba gayon na lamang ang pagpapahalaga ng Diyos sa mga may-sakit? Dahil lang ba sa sila’y mahihina at walang halos magagawa kaya kailangan nating tulungan at kalingain?

Maraming dahilan ang ating maiisip na pawang mga patungkol sa mga may-sakit dahil nga sa sila ay mahihina, maraming tinitiis at iniindang hirap sa kanilang karamdaman.

Ngunit, marahil hindi sumagi sa ating isipan ang malaking pagpapala na hatid sa atin ng mga may-sakit dahil sa pamamagitan nila ay ating nakikita, nararanasan pagliligtas ni Kristo. Gaya ng sinabi ni San Juan Pablo II, sa kanila ating nakikita ang mukha ni Kristo na nagligtas sa atin sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang pagpapasakit, pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay.

Tatlong katotohanan aking napagtanto na biyayang binabahagi sa atin ng mga may-sakit at naghihingalo.

Personal nating nararanasan si Hesus sa mga may-sakit.

Tunay lamang nating masasabing “Katawan ni Kristo” ang Banal na Ostiya kung nahawakan natin ang maruming sugat at balat ng isang may-sakit, o naglinis at nagpaligo sa may-sakit. Higit itong totoo kapag pamilya natin ang may sakit na inaalagaan at kinakalinga.

May mga pagkakataong tuwing konsekrasyon habang binibigkas ko yung mga sinabi at ginawa ni Hesus sa Huling Hapunan (institution narrative) saka dumarating sa aking gunita mga pasyente na aking hinawakan, hinipo… o nilinisan. Namamangha ako sa biyaya na nagawa ko lahat yun gayong mahina aking sikmura (sabi po ng aking Ina noong nabubuhay pa siya, sa lahat daw ng matakaw ako mahina ang sikmura!).

Mahirap ipaliwanag ni ilarawan aking nadarama sa mga pagkakataon na iyon madalas ako ay naluluha, parang may daluyong sa aking dibdib na biglang gagaan at ang tanging nasasabi ko ay basta ganun yun! Totoo nga sabi ni San Juan Pablo II na ating nakikita mukha ni Kristo sa may-sakit. Ito marahil ay sapagkat sila man nakikita na si Kristo.

Ang mga may-sakit pinaka-malapit kay Kristo.

Sa Ebanghelyo ayon kay San Lukas, tiniyak ni Hesus kay Dimas na “ngayon din isasama kita sa paraiso” (23:43). Hindi sinabi ni Hesus na mamyang alas-tres pagkamatay ko o sa Linggo sa aking pagkabuhay. Ang sinabi ni Hesus ay ngayon din habang sila ay nakabayubay sa krus.

Alalaong-baga, sa pangungusap na iyon ni Hesus, inilalahad niya sa atin ang katotohanan na ang pintuan ng langit ay narito mismo sa lupang ibabaw. Higit sa lahat, pumapasok tayo sa langit kapag tayo naroon sa krus ng pagtitiis at paghihirap. Kaya hindi kataka-taka na natatanaw na ng mga may-sakit at mga naghihingalo ang langit na kanilang pupuntahan maging si Kristo na kanilang hahantungan.

Aking napansin sa marami kong pasyente na naihanda sa pagpanaw, mayroon tila “cycle” na sila at ang mga bantay na pinagdaraanan. Una, yung pasyente ang palaging umiiyak dahil takot o galit sa kanilang sinapit. Sino nga ba hindi matatakot at maiiyak kung malaman mo na mamatay ka na dahil sa iyong sakit.

Ngunit unti-unti habang kanilang natatanggap ang kanilang kalagayan at karamdaman, naiiba ang sitwasyon: ang mga may-sakit ang puno ng tuwa at sigla at lakas ng loob habang ang mga mahal sa buhay ang bagabag at naiiyak. Ito marahil ay sapagkat natatanaw na nga ng mga may-sakit kanilang tutunguhan lalo na kung sila ay naihanda o nakapaghandang mabuti spiritually. Hindi na sila umiiyak dahil batid nilang mas mabuti ang kanilang pupuntahan. Ang mga naiiwan ang kinakabahan at umiiyak dahil walang katiyakan silang nakikita sa buhay. Paano na kapag pumanaw na si itay o si inay o sino mang mahal natin sa buhay? Paano tayo? Hindi natin alam ano susunod sa buhay natin di tulad ng papanaw na sigurado na ang langit!

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Basilika ng Manaoag, Pangasinan, 09 Enero 2026.*

Napaka-buti ng Diyos.

Kumbinsido ako lalo ngayon mula nang maging chaplain ako sa ospital na napaka-buti ng Diyos, na mahal na mahal niya tayong lahat. Nakatitiyak ako na mas marami pa rin ang nasa langit kesa nasa impiyerno.

Hanggang sa kahuli-hulihan, ibig ng Diyos tayo ay masagip kaya nga naparito Kanyang Anak na si Jesu-Kristo. Ang tanging napupunta lang sa impiyerno ay yaong sadyang ayaw sa Diyos.

Madalas sinasabi sa akin ng mga duktor at nurse dito sa ospital ay “Father hinitay lang po kayo ng pasyente bago pumanaw.” Kasi nga bihirang-bihira mga pumapanaw na pasyente na hindi ko napupuntahan. Ako mismo ay nagtataka: kapag wala ako, walang naghihingalo? At kung mayroon man, palaging inaabutan ko pa kahit na anong layo pa aking panggalingan! Gayun din kung hatinggabi o madaling-araw: nagigising ako maski sa text ng mga nurse kung mayroong mag-request ng pagpapahid ng langis.

Sadyang mabuti ang Diyos at mahal Niya tayong lahat na hindi Siya tatawag ng sino man kung hindi naman sa Kanya uuwi at hihimlay.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Chapel of angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Marso 2025.*

Sa loob ng limang taong pagiging kapelyan ko sa Fatima University Medical Center sa Valenzuela, naranasan ko maraming pagpapala mula sa mga dinadalaw na pasyente na nagpalalim at nagpayabong sa aking katauhan hindi lamang sa aking pagkapari.

Dahil sa kanila, lalong naging makahulugan at makatotohanan sa akin ang bawat pagdiriwang ng Banal na Eukaristiya kung saan tunay na tunay ngang dumarating si Hesus sa Kanyang Katawan at Dugo.

Totoong nakakapagod ang dumalaw lalo na ang mag-alaga ng may-sakit ngunit mayroong ibang kagaanan ng kalooban itong hatid sa ating katauhan na sagad hanggang ating budhi. Kaya nga, sakali mang pakiramdam natin tayo ay nagagambala o naiistorbo ng mga may-sakit sa kanilang pangangailangan, nawa ating ituring ang mga pagkakataong iyon ay mismong ang Panginoong Hesus nag-aanyaya sa atin ng Kanyang pagpapala na Siya ay maranasan at maka-ugnayan. Amen.

Mary, an overflowing of God’s grace

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes & World Day of Sick,
11 February 2026
Isaiah 66:10-14     ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>     John 2:1-11

*Photo by Architect Philip Santiago, Lourdes, France, October 2025.*

Praise and glory to you O God, 
our loving and merciful Father 
who has given us a wonderful 
and most kind Mother in Mary
the Blessed Virgin through 
Jesus Christ your Son.

From the beginning 
since Jesus Christ began his ministry 
to our present time, 
the Blessed Virgin Mary 
has always been with Jesus 
showing us your great signs 
of presence, 
of generosity, 
and of life 
first anticipated 
at the wedding feast at Cana.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water” (John 2:1-5, 7).

How wonderful 
to recall and meditate
 on this first miracle of Jesus
of turning water into wine
 at the wedding feast at Cana
 through the intercession
 of his Mother,
 the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Through Mary,
 your abundant blessings,
 O God, have continued
to overflow upon us
 even after she is now
with you and Jesus
 as Queen
of heaven and earth.

How true were your words
 to the Prophet Isaiah
 that you shall send Israel a mother
 who shall comfort us,
 a mother in whom you shall
 spread prosperity and blessings
 (Isaiah 66:10-14).

How lovely that 
more than 1800 years after Cana,
another miracle happened anew
using the same element of water
through Mary in Lourdes, France;
how amazing in both Cana
and Lourdes, Jesus asserted
water as the primordial element
 of life and symbol of humanity;
most amazing Lord Jesus
that since that miracle at Cana,
your life continues to overflow
upon us through Mary your
Mother and our Mother too
in Lourdes, France.

Like the servers at Cana,
Mary told the young St. Bernadette
at Lourdes to dig on earth 
so water may burst forth as spring, 
like life coming out of the womb of the earth; 
until now, that spring has been 
the source of many healings 
and other miracles 
among generations of peoples 
from all walks of life and nations;
these waters of Lourdes
remain as symbols 
of fruitfulness and of healing, 
of maternity in Mary 
who cares most to us 
and the sick  
in Jesus our Savior.

Give us the grace, 
dear Jesus
the gifts of purity 
and cleanliness 
in our hearts 
so that we may become 
like Mary at Cana and Lourdes,
a vessel of your healing 
and compassion 
especially for the sick 
of the world.

Grant us, 
dear Jesus,
the gift of listening
and docility like the servers
in Cana and 
St. Bernadette in Lourdes 
to always "do whatever
you tell us."
Amen.

God in our hearts

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Scholastica, Virgin, 10 February 2026
1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> Mark 7:1-13

*Photo by author, Museo de Valenzuela’s replica of “Arkong Bato” with the pointed facade of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima as background, 21 January 2026.*

How true were the words
of your great King and Servant
Solomon, O God our mighty Father,
that nothing like "the heavens
and the highest heavens" 
can contain you 
much less the temple he had built
or anything that we have 
in this time;
yet, you have promised us
to hear our prayers when we come
to pray to you,
to call on you
in temples and churches
human hands have made
that are not enough to have you.

Forgive us, Lord,
when we try to "contain" you,
"keep" you in specific places
not just churches and temples
and oratories;
most of all,
forgive us, Lord,
when we lack 
the reverence and intimacy
we must have with you
when inside the church
and other sacred places;
Jesus' words in today's gospel
cuts us to the heart of our hypocrisies,
"This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teachings as doctrines human precepts"
(Mark 7:6).

O dear Jesus
present in the Blessed Tabernacle,
empty me of my pride
so that You may reign 
in my heart
always.
Amen.

*Photo by author, Chapel of the Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.*

Being present in God

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 09 February 2026
1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:53-56

*Photo by author, Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag, Pangasinan, 09 January 2026.*

God our loving Father,
your words today in the first
reading and gospel are 
both quick-paced,
everything seemed to happened
so fast: the arrival and 
enthronement of the Ark of the
Covenant in the Temple of Jerusalem
and of people rushing to Jesus 
at Gennesaret after crossing
the lake of Galilee.

Both scenes are exactly like
my life today - everything is 
happening so fast
and I feel left behind,
tired and exhausted;
if I could just touch 
Jesus Christ's cloak
to be healed,
to be comforted,
to be renewed.

When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud, since the Lord’s glory had filled the temple of the Lord. Then Solomon said, “The Lord intends to dwell in the dark cloud; I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever” (1Kings 8:10-13).

The dark clouds remain
above me, Jesus
and thank you for staying,
for remaining in me;
thank you, Jesus,
for being close to us,
for allowing yourself to be
interrupted
 by our many concerns
that we can touch you
like in Genessaret
where people lived freely
and joyfully regardless of their
faith and culture
as they were simply present
in each moment like when you
crossed over the lake
and allowed yourself
 to be interrupted
even led by them;
teach me to be true to myself
like those in Genessaret
expressing to you my desires
not just what I want;
let me be present with you
as you are present in me each day.
Amen.

Being the light of Christ

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 08 February 2026
Isaiah 58:7-10 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ><}}}}*> Matthew 5:13-16

*Photo by author, Carmelite Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 22 January 2026.*

We continue today Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount that started last Sunday when he called “Blessed” are the poor in spirt, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted and insulted falsely.

These blessed ones are not different kinds of persons but every disciple of Jesus Christ who is the truly Blessed One who is poor and meek, hungry and thirsty, merciful and clean of heart. Blessedness is an inner disposition, a being than doing.

And so this Sunday, Jesus reminds his disciples that include us today, of our dignity and responsibility in being blessed, as if telling us, “Blessed are you… You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

We whom Jesus called “blessed” already possess the kingdom but in a hidden manner; that is why we as his disciples must make it shine upon the world in our lives, in our witnessing especially in this age that has turned away from God and holiness.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:13, 14-16).

*“Simeon’s Moment” by American illustrator Ron DiCianni. From* http://www.tapestryproductions.com

Last February two we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple that is also known as Candlemass or Candelaria where Simeon recognized the Child Jesus as the “light of the nations”.

It is one of the beautiful feasts we have with the blessing and lighting of candles outside the church; then, led by the priest, the people enter the church with lighted candles to signify Jesus Christ as our only light and fulfillment in this life.

Jesus asserts that this Sunday. The Bible itself teems with so many references of God being the source of light with Israel as bearer of that light. This explains our first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah:

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusations and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (Isaiah 58:8-10).

So beautiful! And what a prophecy fulfilled in Christ that continues to happen today among us, his blessed ones as disciples!

To be a Christian especially nowadays is to be the bearer of the light of Christ, to illumine the darkness among us especially in this world that has become so fascinated with artificial lights like studio lights that emphasize and focus on men and women, on their fame and glory and wealth. How ironic that the more artificial lights we flood the world these days, the darker life becomes with more crimes, more abuses, and more emptiness and meaninglessness within us.

*Photo by author, Mt. St. Paul ?Retreat House, La Trinidad, Benguet, January 2025.*

Bringing the light of Christ, sharing his light is being holy, being good, being a blessed one, doing what is right, what is true, what is good as Isaiah reminded the people in the first reading.

Bringing the light of Christ, sharing his light is sharing Jesus to the world that we become the God’s answer to the cries and pleas of his people for mercy and justice, for healing and comfort.

Hence, bringing the light of Christ, sharing his light is actually to bring out Jesus within us who had come to us sacramentally in Baptism and continues to come to us in the Sacraments especially the Holy Eucharist we celebrate on Sundays.

Problem is we keep on hiding Jesus within us. This is why he calls us not to hide him like a lamp placed under a bushel basket but let him be like a lampstand that illumines the house.

We are the light of Jesus Christ who shines before others with our good deeds that make God known to others. Not the other way around. Young people call them as “performative” like performative couple, performative student or performative employee. They are all performance, all for the show or the content. Puro palabas, walang paloob kaya walang laman. These are the very ones that Jesus warned to “take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them” (Mt. 6:1) which we shall hear soon in Lent.

How sad that many people today have become “performative” – pakitang-tao as we say in Filipino who would go to great extent of publicizing everything they say and do like many of the so-called content creators and vloggers. This is most painfully true in the Church of priests and laypeople posting in social media everything they do or “perform” that are always empty of meaning and any sense at all.

Bringing the light of Christ, sharing his light always leads to God’s glory, not to us humans.

Let us keep in our hearts the words of St. Paul today in our second reading:

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

*Photo by Architect Philip C. Santiago, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel, October 2025.*

Being the light of Christ in the world is to bring Jesus Christ himself, not ourselves. It is being one in Jesus in his Cross where there is more of inner fulfillment and joy than mere success and happiness.

Being the light of Christ in the world is more than having all those quotable quotes and lofty proses and poetry nor of those grand plans and visions and programs left on paper but never materialized in reality.

Bringing the light of Christ in the world is being wounded and scarred by the Cross, always fading from the light so that only Jesus remains.

Like John the Baptist his Precursor, may his words be our prayer always: “Jesus must increase and I must decrease. Amen. Have an enlightening and illumining week ahead brothers and sisters in Christ!