Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 26 June 2026 2 Kings 25:1-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 8:1-4
Photo by author, St. Anthony De Padua Chapel, D’Alta Tagaytay, Tagaytay City, 02 June 2026.
Glory and praise to you, merciful God and Father for this wonderful last Friday of June 2026 as you present us with two images of human sufferings: in the first reading is the final siege of Jerusalem with the capture of its king Zedekiah who rebelled against his Babylonian masters and conquerors and the leper who approached Jesus Christ to do homage, begging for his healing.
Many times, we are like Zedekiah who willingly submit ourselves to the forces of evil and eventually end up miserably in their hands: "Then king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon" (2 Kings 25:6-7).
You never punish us your people, Lord; all our misfortunes and miseries are brought about by our or others sinfulness; hence, keep us faithful to you, to return to you while still early before we could not get out and be stuck in a difficult situation like Zedekiah.
Teach us to be humble like that leper who approached Jesus after coming down from a mountain: "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed immediately (Matthew 8:2-4).
To whom shall we go, Lord Jesus but to you alone; let us suffer in you, with you on the cross for you not only have the words of life but because you too have gone through our sufferings and felt its pains that you will nothing for us but healing and cleansing, absolution and freedom.
In a special way, dear Jesus, we pray for those undergoing medical procedures this weekend, healing for those seriously ill and easing of pains for those in severe diseases and sickness. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 25 June 2026 12 Kings 24:8-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 7:21-29
Photo by author, Cantacuzino Castle, Busteni, Romania, 05 November 2025.
Lord Jesus Christ,
I have learned your words
early on that "Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom
of heaven" (Matthew 7:21);
in the same manner,
I have memorized too
your parable on house:
"Everyone who listens to these words
of mine and acts on them will be like
a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house.
But it did not collapse; it had been
built solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these
words of mine but does not act
on them will be like a fool who built
his house on sand. The rain fell,
the floods came, and the winds blew
and buffeted the house. And it collapsed
and was completely ruined"
(Matthew 7:24-27).
Photo by author, Cantacuzino Castle, Busteni, Romania, 05 November 2025.
Unfortunately, Lord Jesus, I have not taken your words into my heart; so many times I have relied more from the words of others, from my own knowledge colored by my fears and doubts that many times I have fallen into sin; many times I call out to you, "Lord. Lord" but my life is so far from you and your ways; I have been so foolish like King Jehoiachin of Judah who abandoned you to follow other strange gods that soon enough, his kingdom fell into the hands of the Babylonians, suffering a worse fate than Israel before.
Help me to cleanse my house, my very self to renew and strengthen my ties and relationships in the Father through you, Jesus in the Holy Spirit; help me to remain in you, always seeking your will in my decisions and plans in life especially amid the fast changing pace of life these days. May I always seek your face in every new situation I come into. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, 24 June 2026 Isaiah 49:1-6 ><}}}}*> Acts 13:22-26 ><}}}}*> Luke 1:57-66, 80
View of a decorated Christmas tree and tower of the Franciscan Monastery of St Saviour locally also known as San Salvador monastery in the Christian Quarter Old city East Jerusalem
Six months from now we celebrate Christmas because today is the birthday of the Lord’s cousin and precursor, St. John the Baptist; but, before we rejoice at the fast approaching Christmas, let us reflect first on the joy of John’s parents, relatives and local folks following his birth.
When the time arrive for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her (Luke 1:57-58)
It was indeed a great celebration for everyone in the hill country of Judah when John was born: his parents were both old and his mother Elizabeth was already barren when she conceived John.
Both parents were from the priestly family, very prominent with a great lineage. Most likely, they were the envy of their relatives and neighbors in practically having every good thing in life except a child to inherit and propagate their good name and wealth; when John was born, God gave them more than a child – here was the precursor of the Messiah, the promised Elijah who returned to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Photo by author, May 2019, Church of St. John the Baptist, Ein Karem, Israel.
It was a joy that did not come easily, with much pains and sufferings and self-doubts along the way that took a long time of waiting too.
This birth of John teaches us that behind every joy is always a great deal of sufferings, doubts, and darkness in life.
Imagine the inner turmoil within Zechariah when the angel appeared to him announcing the birth of John while incensing the Holy of Holies on the most important Jewish feast: he doubted the angel’s good news not because he had lost faith in God but simply got “tired” with God.
Zechariah was having a sort of tampo as we call it in Filipino because God did not seem to listen to his prayers for a son.
It happens with us when we have turned indifferent in our faith even with God when he seems not to care at all to our prayers and requests that we keep on failing the board exam or gets denied repeatedly in our job or visa applications. We still pray with our lips not with our heart just for the sake of praying without really believing in its efficacy, if God listens to us at all.
Or like Elizabeth who went into a self-imposed silence, withdrawing from public view during her pregnancy with John because she felt herself so unworthy of God’s blessing.
Today, the birth of John the Baptist teaches us that every disciple as a precursor of Christ is an image of God’s Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah:
Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the lord, my recompense is with my God (Isaiah 49:4).
Photo by author of the site believed to be the birthplace of St. John the Baptist at the side of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Ein Karem, Israel, May 2019.
There are actually three songs of the Suffering Servant in the Book of Isaiah that prefigure Jesus Christ who suffered and died and rose again on the third day. However, it is widely believed and interpreted that in the second song of the Suffering Servant we heard today, the Servant referred to is John the Baptist.
Although John recognized Jesus as the promised Christ during his baptism at Jordan, he was the first to suffer and die a martyr when thrown into prison for speaking the truth against Herod’s taking of his brother’s wife Herodias. There we find that image of God’s Suffering Servant in John’s mission and ministry, reminding us of the great difficulties and dangers in preparing the way of the Lord.
We are all a John the Baptist and a Zechariah and Elizabeth rolled into one like the Suffering Servant for we are all a forerunner of Jesus Christ.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Many times we too have felt like them in doubting our efforts in witnessing Christ and his gospel, when these seemed to have gone in vain especially today when the world is trying hard to delete God from every aspect of life.
Witnessing the gospel of Christ, speaking and fighting for what is true and good, for what is just and fair, even in simply being human and decent can already be strenuous, exhausting and often discouraging.
There are times we feel ineffective, even at the losing end only to realize later how our little efforts have actually contributed in making God’s kingdom to truly come with our life of mission and witnessing Christ because like the Suffering Servant, we have felt deep within us the certainty of God working in us, most especially of him being the Almighty One.
We have proven many times God prevails, how good always triumphs for it is when we are weak that we are strongest in Christ as St. Paul declared in one of his writings.
The next time you feel so down in life, in your mission whether in your personal life or family, in your work or in your apostolate and ministry, have a heart: like Zechariah and Elizabeth keep focused on the Lord for Christ surely comes. Rejoice in all your efforts, though little even insignificant for you and for others, they are God working in us.
Keep in mind too the meaning of the names of our main personalities today: Elizabeth in Hebrew is “God promised” while Zechariah is “God remembered” while John means “God is gracious”. Indeed, God is gracious all the time because he always remembers his promise to us. Amen.May God bless you abundantly today like Zechariah and Elizabeth!
Painting of Zechariah giving name to his son John by Italian painter Riccardo Cessi (1892) from commons.wikimedia.org.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 23 June 2026 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-35, 36 <*(((>< + ><)))*> Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo somewhere in Colorado, 03 June 2026.
Lead me Lord Jesus to your "narrow gate and constricted road that leads to life" (Matthew 7:14) by teaching me to be more trusting, obedient to your will by let me go of my many concerns and worries, of my fears and reluctance.
Like Hezekiah the King of Judah, let me be led by you, O God most powerful who loves me so much; let me value most this relationship with you, Lord that I may never turn to anybody else except you. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More, Martyrs, 22 June 2026 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 7:1-5
Photo by author, Malolos Cathedral, June 2019.
Teach us, O Lord, to pray and persevere like Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More to always have the same wisdom and courage to serve our country well by remaining your faithful servants first; in this world so advanced in science and technology, many have veered away from you, God our Father; we have come to worship so many idols: our bloated egos with all kinds of selfish thoughts and ideas we hide as rights and freedom; our body that we adore, more like vanity than health; other personalities we blindly follow and imitate; relationships and habits that take precedence over you, O Lord.
May the fall of Israel to Assyria in the first reading remind us today to always examine the "plank" in our eyes Jesus spoke of in the gospel, of how modern things may be blinding us, leading us away from you, God who is our life and meaning. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 21 June 2026
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
A blessed happy Father’s Day to all the dads this third Sunday of June, the 12th in Ordinary Time of the Church calendar when we heard Jesus telling us in the gospel today to “fear no one” for he is our strength in this journey in life (https://lordmychef.com/2026/06/20/brave-and-gracious-like-alex-eala/).
At the end of our Masses this Sunday before blessing the fathers present, we reminded them of this call by Jesus to fear no one especially their wife – huwag matakot – to tell them they are not doing the laundry today because it is a Father’s Day. Assure them you will do it tomorrow…
But kidding aside, it is only now that I am 61 years old, a senior citizen, that I have truly realized and felt how difficult it must be in being a dad or an “unwed” Father like me, a priest.
My father died on my mom’s 61st birthday, 17 June 2000; it was the eve of Father’s Day making it so painful especially for mommy died in 2024.
Every morning whenever I face the mirror preparing for a Mass or a class and I see my wrinkles and white hair so similar with my dad’s, I do not just remember him: very often I reflect and imagine those many sacrifices he had for us, for me in all those years until he died suddenly of a heart attack on mom’s birthday in year 2000. I try hard imagining the many moments he had spent praying, thinking about his next moves to keep us safe and secured and comfortable.
It is only now that he is gone that I have felt his great love for us all, silently carrying all that tremendous weight of fatherhood on his shoulders, without ever complaining to us about life’s difficulties nor spoke of his problems and difficulties he was going through all those years.
Every dad is like Jesus Christ not just telling but assuring his family to have no fear, to be not afraid because he had everything covered.
Like Ely Buendia of Eraserheads when he wrote “Huwag Kang Matakot” in 1999 at the birth of his son Eon.
Huwag kang matakot 'Di mo ba alam, nandito lang ako Sa iyong tabi? 'Di kita pababayaan kailanman
At kung ikaw ay mahulog sa bangin Ay sasaluhin kita
Huwag kang matakot na matulog mag-isa Kasama mo naman ako Huwag kang matakot na umibig at lumuha Kasama mo naman ako
Huwag kang matakot (huwag kang matakot), ah-ah-ah-ah Huwag kang matakot Dahil ang buhay mo'y walang katapusan Makapangyarihan ang pag-ibig Na hawak mo sa 'yong kamay
Buendia narrates the typical joyful tasks of every father to his child in always being present especially in difficult situations starting with sleeping alone as a child, falling and later getting hurt in the game of love. And life.
Very amusing too are the lines of how a father would always be present, loving and supporting his child even if it is foolish:
Huwag kang matakot na magmukhang tanga Kasama mo naman ako Huwag kang matakot sa hindi mo pa makita Kasama mo naman ako Huwag kang matakot (huwag kang matakot), ah-ah-ah-ah
Fatherhood is about facing all fears because of love. And that is why Jesus taught us to call God “Father” because like every dad, God gives us life, protects this gift of life and if ever we lost it to sin and mistakes, he restores this life so we live anew. Blessed happy Father’s Day again!
From YouTube.com. This is the best link we can find with clear sound.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 21 June 2026 Jeremiah 20:10-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 5:12-15 ><}}}}*> Matthew 10:26-30
BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts to defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the second round on Day Four of the 2026 Berlin Tennis Open at LTTC Rot-Weiß e.V. on June 18, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)
God has a most amazing way of consoling us Filipinos when everything is so dismal in the country, sending us athletes who uplift our spirits and make us proud as a nation. In the not so distant past we have had Manny Pacquiao and Olympic gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo cheering us up.
And now, we have the lovely but tenacious and gritty Alex Eala who just made history anew this week with her two upset wins in the ongoing Berlin Tennis Open when she prevailed over WTA number 2 Elena Rybakin Thursday then Friday crushed number eight Elina Svitolina. (Update: Eala lost to Linda Noskova last night.)
Watch her interviews in both victories where Eala mentioned her being “brave” in her games as she described too both matches filled with “grace” – so very much like this Sunday’s gospel where Jesus mentioned thrice the need to be brave!
Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known… And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… So do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, in Ericeira, Portugal, 16 June 2026.
After choosing and sending his Twelve Apostles last Sunday, Jesus reminds them including us today of the need to have courage in working in the Lord’s “abundant harvests” because the good news goes directly against the ways of the world.
This we have learned at the start of this year in the Lord’s sermon on the mount where he taught us the Beatitudes last February 1, fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Though the Beatitudes like being poor, being hungry and thirsty are not to be taken literally, they still run contrary to the ways of world of power and wealth, fame and convenience.
As the world advances in science and technology, the more it veers away from God and do away with morals that in the process, the Church has always faced many contradictions, some with violent reactions even persecutions for her stance against abortion and population control, divorce and same-sex marriage and other anti-life measures now so widespread through the social media.
It is not only difficult and painful for the Church as an institution but most especially for each of us disciples of Christ that we can easily identify with the Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading.
Of the four major prophets, Jeremiah was the youngest and the only one sent by God to his own people to prophesy. That is why it was so painful for Jeremiah to experience in the hands of his own folks and kin being maligned and rejected, and betrayed just like most of us today!
Jeremiah said: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. ‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.’ But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion… Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (Jeremiah 20:10-11, 13)
Like Jeremiah, we have complained and even cried to God many times for our sufferings in doing his will to be just and fair, kind and merciful, even charitable; and like him, we could not resist God’s call and mission despite the pains and hurts because we too felt “duped” and “seduced” by the Lord (Jer.20:7) as we felt deep inside us his love and protection. Like all the saints who suffered much in witnessing the gospel, we felt deep inside God as our very strength as we pray more to forge on in the difficult mission of doing his works.
Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.
When Jesus asks us to “fear no one”, he is inviting us to primarily fear God most of all for he knows everything and will judge us in the end. It is a kind of reverential fear, not the kind of fear of a slave to a master of being reprimanded and punished.
To “fear no one” and “be not afraid” do not mean that we disregard our fears of being hurt or killed physically and emotionally; it is call to have courage which is facing our fears. Having no fears in life is not normal. As we say in the province, yung walang takot sira tuktok!
To fear the Lord means to recognize the sanctity of life, the blessedness of every person. See Eala’s attitude of being magnanimous in victory and in defeat as she would always praise and recognize the talents and greatness of her opponents. In her we find the truth that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” – that every person is a subject to be loved and cherished, not an object or thing to be used or possessed, without feelings and dignity.
Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.
This is the tragedy exposed by the recent deaths of the two Ateneo athletes, and it involves almost all UAAP members these past decades who have given more priorities in winning trophies above all, forgetting the value of every person. True enough, it is a secret slowly becoming known.
Likewise, to be not afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul is to recognize the soul in each one of us, of Christ’s indwelling within us, enabling us to overcome every obstacle in life.
It is like being a pencil: remember the inside is more essential than the outside. That is our identity as God’s beloved child.
Our physical strength actually draws much of its power and stamina from our inner core than merely from our bones and muscles. Hence, the need for prayers and meditation, for conditioning to realize our giftedness and value.
When this happens, the third call of Jesus becomes automatic which is to be not afraid because we are worth more than many sparrows or anything else in this world.
Why? Because God is gracious!
To recognize our fears and vulnerabilities as well as weaknesses is in itself courage, fearing no one except God who alone heals us. Most of all, who alone is our strength in our weaknesses. Let us not be afraid in this life to do what is good, to stand for what is right and just, to proclaim the gospel of Christ’s salvation because God is gracious especially to those who abide in him through Christ. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead! And say a prayer for Alex Eala.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 19 June 2026 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 6:19-23
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Thank you dear Lord for the last week, thank you for this beautiful Friday as you give us this sacred moment to examine two vital organs of our body: our heart, our eyes the both lead us to treasures we eye, treasures we keep.
"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matthew 6:21).
Guide me, Jesus as I look inward into my heart to see what occupies it most of the time, what I value and desire much daily in life, the things and even persons perhaps I hold onto, protect and depend on for meaning and security, the things and people I value most, I treasure more than you.
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be" (Matthew 6:22-23).
How lovely are your words, Jesus, because what we look at, what we focus on with our eyes do not merely inform us of what we see but mostly shape our inner self, filling our hearts and thus forming our sense of who we are; what we look at, what we choose to see either lead us to light or darkness like Athaliah in the first reading who was consumed with wealth and power.
Teach me, Jesus, to focus my eyes on those things and persons who can make me see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more closely. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 18 June 2026 Sirach 48:1-14 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 6:7-15
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
As we move deeper into Ordinary Time, your words today Lord Jesus Christ are so appropriate and timely, answering our perennial question, "why pray?"
Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).
Actually, our question becomes more pressing: why pray at all if the Father knows what we need before we ask him?
Thank you dear Jesus in giving us the grace to pray despite our questions on the need to pray; indeed, the Father knows very well our needs even before we pray but we need to pray because we do not know what the Father needs from us.
Teach us to be like the Father's two great prophets, Elijah and Elisha who prayed deeply in their lives to know and follow the plans and will of God; most of all, like Elijah and Elisha, may we realize that prayer is primarily a relationship, a friendship in you, O Lord; you do not need our prayers, Jesus but we need you so much; without you, we are nothing; without prayer therefore, we die for it is prayer that sustains us in you. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 17 June 2026 2 Kings 2:1, 16-14 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Your words today, O Lord, are lovely paradoxes expressed in the two readings: from the second book of Kings, you invite us to walk with Elijah and Elisha to experience both being a mentor and a student, a companion in life's journey, comfortable in conversation and silence, most especially in doing your will.
Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied (2Kings 2:6).
And that is how life is, people come like family and friends but eventually we part ways and in every separation, there remains God who keeps our bonds together, even getting stronger after death, the ultimate separation. Here you call us, Lord, to witness to others your loving presence as part of our mission, not for our own glory. May we have the same courage of Elisha to show to everyone your power not for personal gain but for mission to continue the works of Elijah.
But before we can go out witnessing your loving presence and power, dear Jesus, teach us first to remain hidden in doing what is right, what is just, and what is good as expressed in your gospel today; let us realize that despite life is now lived in social media, the more essential things in life are still and will remain best kept hidden; it is in that hiddenness where we must remain and stay like Elisha to truly witness your great power not for our own sake and vanity but for your mission and glory so that at the end of our daily journey, we may find you always, Lord Jesus, in every "Jordan" we cross like Elijah and Elisha. Amen.
Photo by author, sunset at the RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.
lordmychef.com 