Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 02 July 2025
Wednesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Genesis 21:5, 8-20 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Matthew 8:28-34
Praise and glory
to you, loving Father
for always remaining faithful
with us,
for always staying with us
especially in those times
of expulsions,
when we are driven out,
when we are shoved off
by situations and occasions,
especially by people.
Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had bore to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: “Drive out that slave and her son! No son of the slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on account of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham: “Do not be distressed about the boy or your slave woman… God heard the boy’s cry, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his” (Genesis 21:9-12, 17).
How lovely of you,
God our Father
to be still there,
remaining,
staying
with Abraham so distressed
with Sarah's order to drive out
his son Ishmael and his mother Hagar;
many times,
we too are caught in such a bind
and dilemma when people close
and dear to us demand us to expel
some people dear to us;
stay on our side so we can make
the right decision;
most of all,
remain with us,
hear us and follow us,
Father when we are expelled,
driven out from our comforts
into life's wilderness like
Hagar and Ishmael.
Most of all,
be with us Jesus
when people drive us out
of their lives,
of our friendships
and relationships
when like you,
after driving out the demons
from those possessed
was the one expelled from the town.
There are times,
Jesus, when after doing what
is right,
what is just,
what is proper,
it happens that we are
the ones driven out.
Remain with us,
stay with us.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
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