Our amazing God

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday before the Epiphany of the Lord, 05 January 2023
1 John 3:11-21  <*((((>< + ><))))*>  John 1:43-51

How wonderful on this fifth day
of 2024, O God our Father,
that you amaze us
first on what is truly 
amazing...

"Do not be amazed, then,
brothers and sisters,
 if the world hates
you"
(1 John 3:13).

Many times we are amazed
at the evil men and women do;
we are amazed and surprised
in the negative sense
like shocked,
appalled,
even embarrassed
when others speak
and act shamelessly
against what is true,
good, and beautiful;
to be amazed in the negative sense
makes us withdraw
to examine our very selves
if we too have become callous
and shamelessly evil.

What is truly amazing,
worth of our surprise
is when we are amazed
in the positive sense
like Nathanael:
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him,
"Come and see"
(John 1:46).

Only what is truly good,
very true, and really beautiful
is amazing; nothing can make
our hearts leap even in 
momentary disbelief 
and amazement like Nathanael 
to hear or see or experience 
something so good and all good;
and that is YOU, O God, 
the most amazing of all
now brought nearer to us
in Christ Jesus;
in him, we have realized
and experienced that
"God is greater than our hearts"
(1 John 3:20) because you,
O God, your love and your truth,
your mercy and your kindness
are all beyond our grasp;
nothing can be so amazing,
loving Father, for us to experience
your love far beyond anything
we could expect for ourselves;
make us believe,
let us be amazed
in you.
Amen.