Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 28 August 2026 Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be wise like St. Augustine whose feast we celebrate today: like him through your grace O Lord, help me overcome my worldly desires by lovingly embracing your Cross; keep my heart aflame and restless with your love, Jesus, lit with your truth and wisdom ready to welcome you when you return any moment.
Jesus said to his disciples: Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come (Matthew 24:42).
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Make me wise enough, Jesus to be foolish in following you, in embracing your Cross; keep me sensible like the wise virgins lit with your love and presence in my heart sustained with that deep, personal relationship rooted in prayer like an oil keeping the fire burning in every lamp; at the same time, make me a fool like St. Paul, a fool for you, O Christ, believing and relying in the power of your Cross. Amen.
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 27 August 2026
St. Augustine with his mother Monica from mycatholic.life
Next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Monica is perhaps the best example of motherhood beyond compare. She is the patron saint not only of wives and mothers, but also of those seeking patience and victims of abuse.
Stories of her suffering in silence with an abusive, philandering, pagan husband named Patricius seem to have given us Filipinos with the wrong impression of a “martyr” as being a wife who willingly bears without complaints the abuses by her husband.
St. Monica was very far from that kind of a “martyr”; she was in fact a “martyr” in the truest sense of its meaning from the Greek word martyria that means to witness Jesus Christ.
Witnessing Christ by bearing sufferings does not mean allowing one’s self to be abused freely by anyone; witnessing Christ is living a life centered on Jesus in prayers that flow into good works and holiness. Martyrdom is overcoming evil with goodness that ends in death, either literally or figuratively speaking. However, it is not a death that is a defeat but a triumph that leads to conversion of sinners and unbelievers, exactly how Christianity spread before and until now.
Photo of St. Monica from the cover of the book “St. Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray For Your Fallen-away Loved Ones” by Maggie Green, Sophia Institute Press, 2019.
According to St. Augustine’s own account in his book Confessions, although domestic abuse was prevalent during their time, their ill-tempered father never beat their mother. Her daily prayers especially her frequent going to the Mass with so many acts of charities to the poor irritated their father Patricius and yet led him to respect St. Monica. Eventually, her prayer life that found expressions in her almsgiving and kindness to everyone won the heart of Patricius, calmed his violent tendencies until he finally converted to Christianity before his death.
Before calming and converting her husband, St. Monica first won over her equally difficult to deal with mother-in-law! So, for those having problems with in-laws, St. Monica is the saint to go to!
But it was not that easy at all.
St. Monica must have cried an ocean of tears in her sufferings sustained by her cultivation of a deep prayer life in God whom she had allowed to work in her that she grew deep in faith, hope and love as well as the other virtues especially patience. All these aspects of her faith flowed in her remaining so sweet and gentle despite her problematic husband and three children (whom Patricius refused to be baptized as Christians) that she exercised great influence over abused wives and suffering mothers who were so moved by her examples.
Now here is the funny thing that most likely mothers and wives today would surely laugh at – St. Monica’s advise to them: “If you can master your tongue, not only do you run less risk of being beaten, but perhaps you may even, one day, make your husband better.”
Huwag daw po kuda nang kuda, mga Nanay at mga Misis…
I always tell young people that our mothers’ nagging is actually their “love language”: they may be saying a lot even without thinking at all but that’s because they love us, they care for us. That is why see also how Filipino mothers are very prophetic too: listen to whatever they are saying even if painful to the ears because so often, they tell the truth. They rarely go wrong in their suspicions so that when problems arise, they say the same thing,“sinasabi ko na nga ba…!”
Image of St. Monica from grunge.com
One thing I miss these days after my mom’s death two years ago are her words of love and wisdom, especially whenever she would hold my hand and arm after I had kissed her every time I came home.
There is that certain sense of gravity, of weight in a mother’s words, even if repetitive and uncontrolled in pitch. So reassuring of her love for us.
Now my mom is gone, no one reminds and “nags” me anymore in the good sense. And the worst part of that is, you have no one to make sumbong anymore, somebody willing listen to all of our own kuda. This is one reason mothers suffer a lot in silence: they keep so many of their children’s pains and hurts, including anger and complaints in their hearts. Many times mothers explain but we refuse to listen, accusing her of bias and favoritism. There are times she would say “hayaan mo na lang anak”… she would be talking and talking again of many things.
Every Nanay is a Sta. Monica, suffering in silence because she has always been loving us in silence too. Truly, when a mother dies, our links are never cut off from her as if the umbilical cord remains intact, like a satellite link up to heaven.
Photo by author, “Madonna&Child”, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
How funny that we when they were alive, we complain of our our mother’s nagging and endless talking but when she dies and there is that deafening silence at home, we miss her because we miss most her love and concern that cannot be expressed by a sister or a brother. Or anybody else for that matter.
One of the things I used to insist in my students since becoming a priest until now is for them to never, ever forget to write their mother’s middle initial. I tell them “how dare you to forget” your mom’s first letter of her maiden’s name after she had carried you in her womb for nine months and then took care of you all these years…
On this Memorial of St. Monica, hug and kiss your mom while still beside you. Thank God for all mothers for their great gift of life. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 27 August 2026 Memorial of St. Monica, Married Woman 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo of St. Monica from the cover of the book “St. Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray For Your Fallen-away Loved Ones” by Maggie Green, Sophia Institute Press, 2019.
Today we pray Lord Jesus for all mothers - especially those alone and widowed, the elderly and sick mothers, those with disabilities, young mothers, single mothers, those mothers silently crying in pain due to unfaithful, irresponsible husband or wayward children: for all mothers praying hard for their husband and children like St. Monica...
How lovely are the words of St. Paul today to the Corinthians, so appropriate on this Memorial of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine:
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-7).
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Thank you, too, Lord Jesus, for the gift of our mothers, in bestowing upon them every spiritual blessing as well as physical strength, strong will, and fighting spirit who have guided us with their enlightenment, hard work and perseverance; for their immense love and sacrifices beginning in our life journey in their womb up to our adulthood; they have always been there with us, believing in us, hoping we get better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually like St. Monica in her love for St. Augustine and his father.
Bless all mothers today, Jesus: like St. Monica console them in experiencing the transformation of their children; we pray also for all departed mothers; reward them with your gift of eternal peace. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 26 August 2026 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 23:27-32
Cleanse me inside, Lord Jesus, cleanse me thoroughly for I am indeed like "whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth"; you know so well how I fake good deeds and virtues, my humility with a hook that is self- serving, most of all, my being silent in many occasions because I am so timid, so afraid to make a stand for what is right, what is good, and what is just.
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing (Matthew 23:27-28).
Create a clean heart in me, Lord Jesus: I am so disordered within, anger and resentments, bitterness and pains from past experiences and persons still affecting me negatively; create a clean heart in me, Lord Jesus: still with doubts about my worth and abilities, so many skeletons, so many dead like tombstones, buried for so long, repeatedly whitewashed outside to hide all hypocrisies and evil.
Cleanse me, Jesus, wash me thoroughly, take away my stony heart, create a clean heart in me, radiant with your love and mercy and presence. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 25 August 2026 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 23:23-26
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Glory and praise to you Lord Jesus Christ this blessed Tuesday; indeed, our life is most often a comedy like that play by Shakespeare, "Much Ado About Nothing" - we spend too much time on so many trivial things that we forget the more essential, debating and quarreling on words and expressions, choosing things over persons, doing and doing without knowing and being, ending more lost and confused amid the affluence never experienced before.
Jesus said: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!” (Matthew 23:23-24)
We not only forget the weightier, essential things in life but we also refuse to live in the present moment, preferring to dwell on the future like the Thessalonians wasting too much on worries and non-existent forgetting what is before us, the present that is unfolding, happening in your very presence; teach us to simply trust in you, Jesus like the psalmist, to rejoice and be glad for you, O Lord is king, just and merciful, most of all, so loving and far more greater than all of our worries.
Let us stop all these much ado about nothing, Lord, for only you suffices in life. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Twenty-first Week In Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord Revelation 21:9-14 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 1:45-51
St. Bartholomew depicted by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel holding in one hand a large knife said to have been used in skinning him alive with his own skin held by his other hand. Photo from Pinterest.
Thank you, God our loving Father for this Monday; though still gloomy with forecast of more rains like the past weeks, we rejoice in celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the amazing Apostles of Your Son Jesus Christ; he died a martyr after being skinned alive and crucified upside down like St. Peter; it must have been his most glorious achievement because after skinning him alive, his torturers must have seen and realized his faith was not that skin-deep: layers upon layers of skin they must have found only Jesus deeply ingrained in his very person!
How lovely of St. Bartholomew known earlier as Nathanael his baring of his true self, that first layer of our person we often hide when he asked Philip if anyone good could come from Nazareth; truly as Jesus had said, there was no guile in him, so unlike us with so many masks and pretensions layered on our person.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” (John 1:45-47)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Everywhere in this life there are layers of everything: layers of clothing, layers of skin, layers of meaning, and layers of faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ who asked us yesterday "who do you say that I am?"
Teach me, Jesus to remove that first layer of covering myself with masks pretending to be somebody else as good; let me bare my true self before you, free and faithful in telling you what I feel, what I think like St. Bartholomew because you see everything beneath our many layers of covering.
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” (John 1:48-49)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Most of lovely of all, dear Jesus is how you "see" us even from afar, especially whenever we are "under the fig tree"; you know very well our desire to see you too, to find you and to dwell in you; unless we are able to remove our layers of duplicity and guile, we shall never see your promise "you will see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51); thank you, dear Jesus for your loving gaze upon us despite our many sins and brokenness; help me to look at you too, to see you like St. Bartholomew as "truly the Son of God, the King of Israel." Amen.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 23 August 2026
Photo from Facebook post by Dr. Tony Leachon, “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis”, 08 Agosto 2025.
We go back to the year 1986 for our Sunday music we find so related with our gospel as well as situation in the country where we are literally inundated in government corruption and evil that have caused this massive flooding in various parts of the country.
Every year at this time when the rainy season comes, floods come in many parts of the country especially the city. It used to be normal but for the past decade, it has been getting worse every year. And suspicious until last year when it was uncovered at how officials from the Public Highways connived with lawmakers stealing billions of pesos – not to mention the life and future of countless citizens – through their mostly non-existent but paid flood control projects. (Sadly, it is until under investigation and no big fish had truly been jailed for their crimes.).
Back to our Sunday music – The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and the Range from their debut album of the same title released in July 1986….
It’s melody mainly in piano is one of those unforgettable soft rock tune wafting on breeze with lyrics so bitterly cold of the sad realities in life. It is actually a gospel in the truest sense because its lyrics are both challenging and disturbing set in a relaxing mood and melody like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its title could actually mislead anyone into thinking it as a feel-good music with its sophisticated piano introduction and accompaniment without paying attention to its lyrics and message.
It is not. Hornsby actually dares us even today to leave the comforts of our rooms to get truly examine how things are going on around us as if that’s just the way it is… It isn’t at all. Like poverty and unemployment as mentioned in the first stanza.
Standing in line, marking time Waiting for the welfare dime 'Cause they can't buy a job A man in a silk suit hurries by As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes Just for fun he says, "Get a job"
That's just the way it is Some things'll never change That's just the way it is Ah, but don't you believe them
Most of all, an end to all forms of discrimination due to color and beliefs found in the fifth stanza.
Well, they passed a law in '64 To give those who ain't got a little more But it only goes so far 'Cause the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar, no, no
The Way It Is is so very much like today’s gospel set in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus surveyed his disciples on what people were saying about him before directly asking them, “But who do you say that I am?”(Mt.16:15). Our personal answer to that question of Jesus leads us to our identity as beloved children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ who must be respecting each one other.
And the more we get to know Jesus, the more we also get to know who we are… This may sound simplistic: all these problems we have about school violence, degradation of our moral values as a nation that perpetuate in office corrupt and inept officials while destroying our environment with our disregard for proper disposal of waste and garbage, may be due to our disregard for who is Jesus to us.
The question who connects us with God and everyone. And with our very self. How sad that in this age of too much digitization, we have been so focused on techniques of doing like what and how, forgetting being, the focus of who. (https://lordmychef.com/2026/08/22/the-definitive-question-of-all/)
See the gospel’s relation with Hornsby’s incisive genius and values in the third and fourth stanzas where he challenges the situation we have been so accustomed to, “the way it is” as if challenging us to find Christ on the face of everyone we meet.
Said, "Hey little boy, you can't go where the others go 'Cause you don't look like they do" I said, "Hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way? Did you really think about it before you made the rules?"
He said, "Son Well, that's just the way it is Some things'll never change That's just the way it is" Ah, but don't you believe them Mm, yeah
Many times in life, the simplest things are the most profound in meaning like the parables and this time the question of Jesus. And don’t forget, like modern music too that truly reflects the way it is in the world we are called to change into something more humane.
Here is Bruce Hornsby and the Range with their 1986 classic. Enjoy. And ponder too.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 23 August 2026 Isaiah 22:19-23 ><}}}}*> Romans 11:33-36 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-20
Last Saturday at the Solemnity of the Assumption, we reflected on the need to ask the right – and difficult – questions in our life like Mary. It does not really matter if we don’t get answers right away because along the way, God reveals and shows us himself and his plans for us if we keep asking him with our questions.
That is why this Sunday as Jesus continued to travel into pagan territory, he asks us like his disciples along the way his most definitive question of all, “who do you say that I am?”
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
After healing the possessed daughter of a Canaanite woman last week in the district of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus and his disciples reached Caesarea Philippi that used to be the summer capital of the Roman officials in northern Israel. It had an abundant supply of water that is why the Romans built many buildings including a temple to one of their major goddesses.
Imagine such an affluent backdrop for Christ’s intensive “lecture series” about discipleship to the Twelve: first, he surveyed them what the people were saying “who the Son of Man is” before asking them directly, “but who do you say that I am?”.
In 2009, the British-American author and inspirational speaker on business leadership Simon Sinek published his book Start with Why because the question why helps us clear motivation in every undertaking we make. Starting with why is to get to the very core, the raison d’etre of our business or plan or project.
However, we are not only dealing with projects in life; life itself is our very project too which is addressed by the question who. Actually, Sinek’s model of starting with why is anchored on persons and relationships that are directly concerned with the who because every why is sustained by a who. No project nor plan nor business nor whatever endeavor by humans would continue without persons addressed by the question who!
A painting of “The Canaanite Woman asks for healing for her daughter” by Spanish painter Juan de Flandes ca. 1500 as part of the 47 small panels of paintings commissioned by Queen Isabella I of Castile; from commons.wikimedia.org.
More than a person, who is a relationship, a meaning for us to continue with our why like in fulfilling our mission in Jesus, in answering his call to follow him.
As a continuation of our reflection last Sunday about faith and intimacy in the Lord, clarifying who is Jesus Christ for us deepens that faith and intimacy we have in him.
It is only when we are clear and convinced with who isJesus shall we become clearly convinced with our call and mission in him by finding him among everyone and whatever circumstances we may get into in life. Even in our human relationships.
Relationships and friendships, marriages and ties are shattered and broken these days not merely because of infidelity and betrayals which start to happen the moment we take our beloved for granted. We betray one another not when we speak against them or turn against them; it all starts the moment we no longer recognize them as a beloved, our loved one or friend.
Would you exchange a family member or a friend for any amount of money or thing or property? Or your wife or husband for another better looking woman or man?
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
Normally, we deal with every question first with our minds like when the apostles gave Jesus varied answers of leading religious figures like John the Baptist and the prophets as what the people thought of him. But, it took on a different dimension when Jesus asked “But who do you say that I am?” that is pointed into our hearts.
And here we find a remarkable quality – sometimes deficiency – of Peter. He was always baring his heart and soul; he easily opens us what’s in him and clearly here as Jesus later explained, Peter allowed the Spirit to speak from his heart, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Notice in Peter’s response we find traces of Sinek’s starting with why. Peter with his his brother Andrew and fishing partners James and John were the first disciples called by Jesus, following him longest than the rest of the Twelve. For Peter, more than finding in Jesus the answers to his starting question of why about life, he had remained with Christ primarily of the who he is to him. Despite that he would waver on this many times, he remained faithful to Jesus with his own martyrdom.
See that in Matthew’s account, Peter said the words “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” while Mark and Luke merely reported Peter as saying “You are the Messiah/Christ” (Mk.8:29 and Lk.9:20). Peter saying Jesus as “Son of the living God” reveals something deeper in who is Jesus for him as he speaks of a relationship. Not just details and facts.
Most likely, Peter must have experienced something so deep as in “living”, so alive like when he saw that miraculous catch of fish before being called to become fisher of men. It was an experience that Paul describes to us in the second reading, of having experienced personally the “depth of the riches and wisdom of God” (Rom.11:33).
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
That is how we are with those most dearest to us – there are things so deep for words, so profound realities we have experienced that we have come to be so convinced, so in love with someone we follow or regard. Someone like “a peg in a sure spot” as God described Eliakim to Shebna according to Isaiah (22:23).
More than the why of doing, the who leads us to our being. And the more we get to know Jesus, the more we also get to know who we are. Our identity as a person does not depend on what social media portray or what others say. The more we get to know Jesus, the more we get to know ourselves, the more we become at home with our weaknesses and failures, sins and shortcomings.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
This may sound simplistic: all these problems we have about school violence, degradation of our moral values as a nation that perpetuate in office corrupt and inept officials while destroying our environment with our disregard for proper disposal of waste and garbage, may be due to our disregard for who is Jesus to us.
The question who connects us with God and everyone. And with our very self. How sad that in this age of too much digitization, we have been so focused on techniques of doing like what and how, forgetting being, the focus of who.
From Caesarea Philippi which is up north, Jesus and his disciples would take a U-turn down towards Jerusalem that is their true destination. After this scene comes the Transfiguration of Jesus and the triple predictions of Jesus of his coming passion, death and resurrection. Let us know who Jesus is so that we can follow him more closely as his disciples. Amen. A blessed, hopefully warmer and drier week ahead to everyone!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Saturday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Queenship of Mary, 22 August 2026 Isaia 9:1-6 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Luke 1:26-30
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
YES.
Perhaps the most sweetest word we all wish to hear but also the most difficult word for us to say. We want others saying “yes” to our requests and questions but we are so afraid, so hesitant telling it to others. Very often, we hide our “yes” in cloudy expressions like maybe, will try, or simply not say it all.
Especially with God.
Every love story of husband and wife, lovers as well as vocation story of any priest and religious all started with that simple word and answer “yes”.
Ang matamis na “oo” na inaasam ng binata sa kanyang dilag.
And of course, our “yes, Lord”….. “opo, Panginoon, susunod ako”!
“Coronation of the Virgin” by Spanish artist Diego Velasquez (1635-1636); from en.eikipedia.org.
We celebrate today the Memorial of Queenship of Mary, a week after the Solemnity of her Assumption into heaven. She too said that most precious sweet word of “yes” to God when she was asked by the angel to become the Mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38).
How amazing that such a very simple word of three letters – YES – could be so powerful enough to change one’s life. Even the world and its history.
And how could such a very short word be so difficult to say, too?!
With every yes in life we hear, it becomes so sweet because we are affirmed. We feel valuable and precious when people say “yes” to us.
However, we are very cautious in saying “yes” to others, especially to God and in the name or presence of God because when we say that “yes”, it becomes our very life.
Every “yes” becomes a commitment, a vow, a promise to keep.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
Not only for us priests and religious but everybody, especially husband and wife saying yes on their wedding day; doctors, lawyers and other professionals saying yes to uphold life, justice and freedom; and, children saying yes to obey their parents and teachers.
Everyone has to say a yes in different ways every day everywhere in many occasions and situations. Many times it looks so simple, sometimes it could mean life and death.
Every yes is precious and sweet because it is the beginning of love. And more love, no matter what.
That is why we need to affirm and stand with that yes day in, day out in our lives.
Like Mary, her “yes” to God did not happen just once but everyday in her life, reaching its highest point at the Cross when her Son Jesus Christ died. She must have had the most painful yet bittersweet yes too when she held Christ’s lifeless Body immortalized in Michaelangelo’s La Pieta.
But it was Mary’s yes that brought us Christmas and Easter, leading to Pentecost in the birth of our Church, and led her to heaven. That is why, we celebrate her Queenship today, a week after her Assumption. Let us pray to keep our “yes” to God true and faithful always.
O most Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and Queen, help us say "yes" like you to God every day in our lives; pray for us to remain faithful and true to our "yes" to him through our loved ones, through his flock, his people entrusted to us; pray for us, Mary our Queen to keep our "yes" to God simple like yours, trusting him always when our "yes" leads us to Jesus on the Cross and eventually into his very presence in heaven with you. Amen.
Mary sits enthroned in heaven on the right hand of Jesus Christ, who crowns her as “Queen of Heaven” in this 13th century apse mosaic in the Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome; photo from littleflowermemphis.org
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 20 August 2026
How amazing, O Lord Jesus that when it is already evening, when darkness is all around us, that is when you are actually inside us, if we could just open our hearts and eyes of faith then we shall see you truly our Light glowing within, bringing warmth and joy.
Many times in our darkness we lose sight not only of you, Lord Jesus but also of our self that away from you we lose our identity and let our job and tasks define us or worst, our possessions and achievements as well as pains and hurts; we cave into our darkness within not seeing your wounded handed touching me holding me unmindful of your holding me, loving me.
When things get dark and we can’t see anything teach me Jesus to listen to your silence to feel your presence sense your movements follow your steps waiting trusting self-emptying.
Most of all, Jesus, help me emulate your Mother our Mother too, Mary most holy, to remain focused on you cusping you in my palms when all is dark holding on to your words believing they shall be fulfilled when I remain and stay with you there on the Cross. Amen.
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