Anniversary prayer

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Second Week of Easter, 18 April 2023
My 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood

As I have shared this photo with you last Sunday,
I composed this prayer during our Ignatian 30-Day retreat
in the summer of 1995.  It has always been my prayer
ever since.  But now more than ever,
it has become more true!

In the past 25 years,
"It is the Lord" (Jn. 21:7)
whom I have seen coming to me in the people
I have met in my ministry;
in fact, even long before I became a priest
I have realized it was also the Lord
whom I have met among the people 
in my entire life who led me closer to him
that I finally got ordained 25 years ago.

Likewise, "It is the Lord" 
present too in my many moments
in life when it is dark like the night 
with fruitless catch of fish (Jn. 21:3);
And so today, 
all I want is to praise and thank the Lord
for always finding me when I 
get lost, when I turn away from him,
when I insist on my plans.
"It is the Lord" 
who is most loving and merciful,
most patient and kind of all
that is why I am still a priest today.

Thank you for making me see the Lord in you
here in the net too!
Your writings and photos,
prayers and reflections
have enabled me to see him clearly,
love him dearly,
and follow him closely.
Amen.

God bless you all!