Praying for tenderness of heart

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus-B, 07 June 2024
Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 ><}}}*> Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 ><}}}*> John 19:31-37
Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com
Being tender and
caring are essentially your works,
O God, made known to us
by your Son Jesus Christ
in His Most Sacred Heart
where there is enough room
for each one of us
wounded and hurting to find healing;
bitter and disgusted to have rest
and solace; lost to find way back home.

Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet. though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

Hosea 11:1, 3-4
I must admit, O God,
that I have not yet really known You
that until now, I lack your tenderness
and care for others;
to have tenderness like You, Lord,
is first of all for me to be intimate
with You, my Father,
my Life,
my Mission;
You have nurtured me as your son
but I never recognized You fully
that is why many times I followed
my doubts and negative thoughts
than You.
So many times I pray
yet still so far from You,
O God!
Lord Jesus Christ,
"dwell in my heart through faith
so that I may be rooted
and grounded in love"
(Ephesians 3:17)
because when my love with God
is superficial,
all my relationships are also skin-deep
that make me forget my love experiences,
giving more emphasis on others'
shortcomings, expectations,
and returns;
tenderness is being like You, O God,
of having a big heart able to accommodate
those suffering because You know and realize
the gravity of what others are going through;
more than a feeling,
tenderness is love and mercy in action
because it is to feel what others
are going through.
Jesus,
meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like Thine,
close to the Father,
close to His children.
Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.

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