Precious and few

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 22 September 2023
1 Timothy 6:2-12   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Luke 8:1-3

Excuse me, 
loving Father
for being musical since
yesterday in my prayers;
your words have been
literally hitting some
musical chords within me
as I pray and experience
your presence.

How beautiful are the words
of St. Paul today as he urged 
St. Timothy and us 
to focus on the really precious
things in life that are often
having less of things
and more of you,
more of others 
so we can share
more love, 
more kindness,
more being with.

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:11-12

Forgive us,
Father, for filling our
lives not only with 
endless desires for
money and things,
fame and honor
but also with so many
ideas and words that
pretend to promote equality
and freedom but actually
result in "arguments and
verbal disputes" that lead to
"envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people
with corrupted minds, deprived 
of the truth" (1 Tm. 6:4-5).

Grant us, 
dear God,
the courage 
to strip ourselves naked
of earthly desires
in order to focus more 
in journeying in Jesus Christ
like those women who 
accompanied him and Twelve
by "providing for them out 
of their resources" (Lk.8:3).

Let us trust in you alone,
Father, that you provide
everything we need
in this life 
as we seek first
your kingdom.
Amen.