Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 30 September 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church
Zechariah 8:20-23 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 9:51-56
You were the first,
Lord Jesus Christ,
to teach us to have
the courage to be disliked;
you were the first
to show us true freedom
from what others say
to freely follow what God says;
you were the first
to suffer and die for love,
Lord Jesus Christ
because your being is always clear,
your mission is always clear,
and your love is most clear.
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destinations of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village (Luke 9:51-56).
You knew very well,
dear Jesus, what awaited you
in Jerusalem yet you "resolutely
determined to journey" there and
when trouble was brewing in a
Samaritan village, you simply
took another route to not waste
energy and time among
the Samaritans.
Grant me the same courage
and freedom, Jesus,
to be disliked,
to be rejected;
teach me to let go
of my past especially
my mistakes and failures,
choosing to be better
than bitter;
keep me anchored in you,
Jesus, of how much you love
me and believe in me so that
I do not have to seek other's
approval except that I am doing
your holy will; most of all,
teach me to be gentle and kind
with myself, that I am not God
who is perfect; like St. Jerome,
let me immerse in your words
to continue following you
despite my imperfections
as Zechariah prophesied.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
lordmychef.com 