Today we remember and celebrate, O God, San Lorenzo Ruiz and his Dominican companions martyred in Nagasaki. Most of all, we recall the strange circumstances behind his wonderful story, of how in your mercy and grace San Lorenzo Ruiz ended up victorious and glorious as the first Filipino saint when he shed blood for his great faith in you, O God. Truly, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” (Eccl.3:1)
Bless us, O God, like San Lorenzo Ruiz to recognize every time, every moment of our lives as an occasion to answer the question of Jesus, “who do you say that I am?” (Lk.9:20). Give us the courage to cooperate with your grace always present in us like with St. Peter and with all the other saints to profess who Jesus Christ is.
You, O God, “has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.”(Eccl.3:11) Let us seize always every appropriate time you have made for us to be faithful to you in Jesus Christ like San Lorenzo Ruiz who professed to his executioners that “if I had a thousand lives, I would gladly offer them all to God.” AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.
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