The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, 14 May 2024
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 ><)))'> + <'(((>< John 15:9-17
Dearest Jesus,
please pardon me
in telling You
how it saddens me
when I hear of so many
stories of Judas Iscariots
among us especially
in our ministry;
why You chose
and called them is a total mystery,
and I am so sorry
how they came out to be;
I have no claims to
holiness nor being perfect
but I thank You, Jesus,
for this feast of St. Matthias
whom You have called
to replace Judas Iscariot
to show us how much You
love us, most of all,
believe in us and
trust us even if You know
so well we could be unfaithful
to You and Your call like
Judas Iscariot.
I pray, therefore, O Lord,
for the gift to be faithful always
to Your call,
to fully participate in Your choices,
in Your choosing me
to Your mission
despite my sins
and weaknesses;
let me keep in mind
and heart it was You
who chose me
and not me who chose You:
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.”
John 15:16
How lovely,
O sweet Jesus,
to find in St. Matthias
Your choice to replace
Judas Iscariot, a reminder from
You of that fact that while
there is no lack of unworthy
and traitorous Christians
everywhere like unfaithful spouses,
corrupt officials,
callous and self-centered priests
and bishops,
You still call each of us to
counterbalance the
evils they have done
with our faithful witnessing
to You,
our Eternal Priest,
Lord and Savior.
Like St. Matthias, let us value Your call, Jesus to continue Your mission so maligned and destroyed by the many Judas Iscariots among us; like St. Matthias, let us nourish Your choice by remaining in You, Lord, by keeping our choices according to Your holy will; in making choices in this life, help me, Jesus to be discerning, to be most prayerful like the Apostles.
So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Acts 1:23-24
Lastly,
I pray today on this
feast of St. Matthias
for people having difficulties
praying to finally realize
Your choices for them;
for those afraid to accept
Your choices;
for those who keep looking
for other options
despite Your clear choice for them;
please enlighten their minds
and fill them with courage
and trust in
You, sweet Jesus.
Amen.
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