Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II
Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle, 03 July 2026
Ephesians 2:19-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:24-29
Thank you,
dear Jesus
for this first Friday in July 2026,
the feast of your Apostle Thomas
called Didymus:
some say due to his having
the twin of faith and doubt
but most likely also our
very own twin because
like him,
deep within us
are many "dark places"
that need to be enlightened
by your light.
Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. so the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later, disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28)
Every day
you also come to us,
Lord Jesus
amid the many darkness
around us,
often in our locked doors
of doubts and disbelief,
cynicism and pessimism,
grief and hopelessness;
many times we think
we infer
we rationalize
that your Resurrection
and presence are just too good
to be true!
So many things within us
resist a faith too easy to claim
or put into effect just to believe
you; enlighten the many "dark places"
within us that we have become
so skeptical these days:
our government and church
are just like so similarly plagued
with corruption and evil
that are sadly allowed
or tolerated,
justice utterly lacking with
evil doers seem to be more
favored than law-abiding ones
with all these persisting because
many are oblivious to the
darkness and disorder going on.
Where are you,
Jesus in all of our mess
in life as individuals,
as a nation,
as a church,
as a family
that we most often
doubt than believe?
Guide my hand, lead my finger into your wounds, dear Jesus that I may experience you Risen; let me experience your coming and loving presence amid our darkness and woundedness; let me not seek you Jesus in spectacular things in feel-good situations but like Thomas in touching your wounds in that dark room be enlivened with your inner light of peace and assurance that more than your miracle of rising from the dead is the reality of living, of life coming out from real death.
Grant me that spark of faith like in Thomas while touching your wounds, Lord Jesus so that a glimmer of hope within me may finally glow and grow as I follow you, my Lord and my God. Amen.
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