The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the First Week of Lent, 19 February 2024
Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 ><))))*> + + + <*((((>< Matthew 25:31-46
Today I pray dear God
to your directive since the
Old Testament until the coming
of your Son Jesus Christ:
"Be holy , for I, the Lord your God,
am holy" (Leviticus 19:2).
But, what is really to be holy,
what is to be like you,
God?
Perfect.
Loving.
Kind.
Good.
Merciful.
Forgiving.
Caring.
Understanding.
Warm.
Open.
There are so many other
traits and characteristics I can think
of you as being holy,
O God,
that we have to imitate
to be like
you
that makes holiness
so difficult,
elusive,
and impossible!
Who can really be like you
when we are so different from you?
But, thank you in sending us
Jesus who not only made it
possible for us to be holy
like you, God,
but also made it
simpler:
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me… Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least one, you did not do for me.”
Matthew 25:40, 45
On this blessed season
of Lent,
teach us to fast
and be empty of ourselves,
of our pride,
and of our sins
so we may be filled with YOU;
holiness is first of all
being filled
with you, O God,
that we feel,
we see,
we think
of others like you,
that is, of seeing you
in each one of us.
When we begin to
realize and experience
that you fill us, O God,
then we learn to be
generous in sharing
more of ourselves,
of our time,
of our talent,
of our treasure,
and most of all,
of you dear God
dwelling in us
with others;
we can only be holy
not when we try being
like you but more of finding
you first in us
in order to find you
in others too!
Then,
maybe we stop
fighting,
committing every sin
against each other
if only we can see you
dwelling,
filling
each one of us.
Amen.
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