Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 04 June 2025
Acts 20:28-38 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 17:11-19
What a moving first reading
today as we come to close the
Easter Season when Paul bid goodbye
to the presbyters of the Church of
Ephesus.
They were all in tears because
most likely they would never see
Paul again; but most of all, of the
sincerity of Paul in his words spoken
to them.
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood…I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know very well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:28, 33-35).
Indeed,
it is more blessed to give
than to receive because in giving
that is when we have to use more of our hands
in toiling and working;
in the work of our hands,
we not only share Christ in the good
deeds we do but most of all,
open the eyes and hearts of others
to welcome Jesus into them to work
also through their very own hands.
It is the same imagery
we have of Jesus praying for us
his disciples,
laying over his hands over us
as he "consecrate" us in truth.
Oh dear Jesus,
make our hands strong
to keep working, doing
the difficult things many avoid
so we can bless more people;
keep our hands open too
to share our work and blessings
with others;
most of all,
keep our hands clasp together in prayer
to you to surrender ourselves
to your will always so that
our hands may be cleansed
of dirt and stains of sin
worthy in giving praise
to you and touching
those in need.
Amen.
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