Overcoming “Solomon” in us to become “Syro-Phoenician woman”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 12 February 2026
1 Kings 11:4-13     ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>     Mark 7:24-30

Lord Jesus Christ,
help me find 
my way back home
to you again;
I am like King Solomon
at this stage:
lost and empty,
confused despite being wise
in world's standards;
like Solomon,
I have been ruled by my
emotions and many other 
considerations as I rationalise
everything that have all led
me to sin and bad behavior;
grant me O Lord Jesus
that wisdom found in your
way of the Cross where truth
and goodness reign.

Lord Jesus Christ,
grant me humility
that leads to intimacy 
in you wherein I find my
true place in life
and in society like 
that Syrophoenician woman
who begged you to heal her
daughter; what a beautiful
image of your love for us,
finding us,
going where we are;
how blessed are we like
that pagan woman
who recognized you,
Jesus, passing through
a foreign land!

Help us regain
the wisdom of Solomon
of knowing and doing
what is true and good
while remaining humble
and sincere like the
Syrophoenician woman.
Amen.