Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 08 July 2025
Tuesday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Genesis 32:23-33 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 9:32-38
Once again,
you challenge us O Lord
to get closer to you like
the readings yesterday;
but, this time much, much
closer like in wrestling.
Jacob was left there alone. Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:25-27, 29).
How I love this scene, God most powerful yet so loving, so engaging, always inviting us to a wrestling but nobody would dare not because we are afraid of you but more because of pride - we do not want to lose, we always want to be on top, always in control even with you, O God; remind us always, Lord, that every fight we have in this life is already assured of victory in you.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Like that Angel
wrestling with Jacob,
you finally wrestle with us
in your Son Jesus Christ
who became truly human like us;
and like your Angel at Peniel,
humans prevailed over you,
Lord;
your heart
is always moved
with pity,
stirred
to bow down
to us from your immense
love and mercy;
we are all Jacob,
Israel who prevailed over you
not because we are stronger
but because we believe
and rely only on you, Lord.
Let us pick up your fight,
Jesus;
let us not be proud
and be humble
to wrestle with you
because whether we win
or lose our battles in life,
we still prevail
for after every fight
and struggle,
we are transformed
into a better person
in you,
O most loving
Jesus.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
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