Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 28 July 2025 Monday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 <*(((>< + ><)))*> Matthew 13:31-35
Photo by Mr. Red Santiago of his son praying in our former parish, January 2020.
Lord Jesus Christ, let me be like the mustard seed, "the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full grown it is the largest of plants" (Matthew 13:32); let me be like yeast "that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened" (Matthew 13:33); let me be small, dear Jesus in this world where the rule is to be big, to be loud, to be noticed.
Let me be small silent, and hidden, like the mustard seed and the yeast because life's fullness lies in you, Jesus who comes in emptiness not fullness, in darkness not klieg lights, in silence not noise, in poverty not wealth and in simplicity not popularity and fame; true peace happens only in your Kingdom, Jesus not in the competing kingdoms of the world.
When I look back in time, I have realized how those things I considered as small and insignificant both in my life and the world were the things that have grown into something that sustain and shelter others, of course with much faith, hope and love in you!
Now I am older too, I have realized the value and benefits of bread but bread cannot rise to become nourishing without the lowly yeast; before I can become a bread for others like you Jesus, I need the grace to be child-like, to be little, to decrease like the yeast so that you increase, Jesus.
Let me be small, hidden and silent, Jesus, always patient in waiting for you unlike the Israelites in Sinai who made a golden calf when they became impatient with Moses' meeting with God atop the mountain; let me stop comparisons so I remain little and humble in you, Jesus who has become human and small like us to stir us to true greatness as beloved children of the Father to begin building your kingdom. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 27 July 2025 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Genesis 18:20-32 ><}}}*> Colossians 2:12-14 ><}}}*> Luke 11:1-13
Photo by author, the “Our Father” Church outside Jerusalem where he is believed to have taught his disciples how to pray.
From the home of Martha and Mary, Jesus and his disciples proceeded on their journey to Jerusalem when the disciples saw him at prayer.
Of the four evangelists, Luke is the one who presents Jesus most at prayer, always making time to pray. The disciples noticed this importance of prayer for Jesus that they asked him to teach them how to pray.
More than teaching them the “Our Father”, Jesus again took the occasion to give the Twelve another lesson of things “to do” as a disciple we have seen in the past four weeks like greeting peace every home they visit as they proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand (July 6, 14th Sunday); being a neighbor to everyone especially those in need in order to gain eternal life (July 13, 15th Sunday); and last week of choosing always the “only one thing needed” by every disciple which is to listen to him and his words.
This Sunday, Jesus deepens that by teaching us his disciples to always pray.
Photo by author, Jerusalem Temple, May 2017.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:9-13)
More than the mere recitation of a prayer like the “Our Father”, Jesus shows us this Sunday that prayer is the essence of discipleship that is also a relationship with God. That is why he began his lesson in prayer by telling the Twelve, “when you pray, say: Father” that clearly indicates a relationship.
During his time, God was regarded as Someone totally powerful, far from humans whose name could not even be mentioned for its holiness or “otherness”. When Jesus taught to call God “Abba” which is the equivalent to our “dad” or “daddy”, people were scandalized for God is above all to be accorded with the highest respect, never taken on a personal level with such terms of endearment like in human relationships.
Jesus clarified in many instances not only here that though our God is all-powerful and all-knowing, he is a person like us who relates with others, who is so loving and merciful to us he considers his beloved children because he is our Father. Here we find Jesus already bringing God closest to us not only as “God-with-us” but also “God-in-us” so close with each of us as our breath in the Holy Spirit! Jesus proved all these teachings on Good Friday when he died on the Cross.
Photo by author, a bass relief of Jesus Christ’s “agony in the garden” at Gethsemane, May 2019.
Prayer as a relationship is more than telling God what we need which he already knows even before we pray; prayer is more of listening to God for what he wants from us which is to become one in him in Jesus Christ.
I have realized even before my ordination to the priesthood that Jesus calls us not really for tasks he wants us to do but primarily that we may be one in him in an intimate relationship. That is why since my theological studies, I have stopped praying anything for me because God knows what I need most; I pray more for my family and friends while praying only one thing for me – that in every here and now, I am in him until my death.
This intimacy with God in prayer calls for openness that after teaching them the Our Father, Jesus encouraged the disciples to persevere in prayer with a parable of a friend asking for bread, “I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence” (Lk.11:8).
Perseverance in prayer is not a kind of “holy nagging” of God in order to change his mind so that he gives our requests. Perseverance in prayer opens us to God’s gifts and plans we acquiesce to with joy. Many complain of God not granting their prayers when in fact, the problem is many hardly pray at all, wearing God with their words without listening to him who has better plans for us by giving us something better than what we are asking for!
Photo by author, a bass relief of Jesus Christ’s “agony in the garden” at Gethsemane, May 2019.
And the best we can have is always him – God himself.
See how Jesus used the transitive verbs “to ask” and “to seek” that both require a direct object when he simply declared “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find.” What shall we ask for or seek at all? He did not indicate its direct objects because the answer is only God, as in ask only for God, seek only God.
When we are open to God and into a relationship in him, we are fulfilled, needing nothing at all except him who is everything.
Prayer changes us, not things and situations. There will always be sickness and death, calamities and trials in our lives which prayer cannot prevent from happening. What prayer does is make us stronger in dealing with the storms in our lives, making us better persons and disciples.
No saint had become holy without prayer which is the gateway and foundation of discipleship. This is the whole point of Abraham “bargaining” with God in the first reading: Sodom and Gomorrah were eventually destroyed because no one was left praying and therefore, no one was doing good in the forsaken cities. In their lack of any prayer at all, they have become insensitive of others and of nature that led to their destruction. These are the same dangers our present generation is falling into – a complete disregard of God and others including nature. We have become insensitive of our selves, of others and of the world that we find it so bad, so filled with evil, and so sick. How sad that fewer and fewer people are left praying with so many others not having any qualms at all in missing the Sunday Mass these days.
I have always loved this photo by our friend Ms. JJ Jimeno of GMA-7 News of a man who seemed to have lost his head in deep prayer inside the Prayer Room of the Holy Sacrifice Parish in UP Diliman last June 2019.
Prayer makes us sensitive of God, of our self and of others where we discern what is good and evil, learning what God has in store for us. The more we pray, the more we become sensitive of ourselves and of others and of the world. Yes, we lose ourselves in prayer so that it is Christ who lives in us as St. Paul asserted (Gal.2:20). Contrary to claims by some, prayer is not a flight from reality but actually a dive into the true realities of life as St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading: when we are “raised to life in Christ” (Col. 2:13) in prayers, we are abled to follow Jesus with our own crosses sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit in making our society more humane and just.
When we pray, we lose ourselves and we are filled with God so that his kingdom comes when his will is done here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead, everyone!
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 25 July 2025 Friday, Feast of St. James the Greater, Apostle 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 <*{{{>< + ><}}}*> Matthew 20:20-28
Something struck me while praying the gospel for today’s feast of St. James the Greater – of how his mother approached Jesus with a request for him and his brother James “that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom” (Mt. 20:21).
It must be a very interesting company that Jesus had organized during his ministry composed not only of the Twelve and other disciples but most likely with so many others too that included their families like the mother of James and John believed to be the beloved disciple of Jesus. Traditionally known as Salome, their mom could easily be the patroness of “stage mothers” that abound most especially in the Philippines!
But kidding aside, it must be wonderful to tag along with them in following Jesus where everyone is welcomed. It is a journey not meant to cover distances and places but actually an inner journey inside one’s self that we shall see in the life of James the Greater. It is a journey that begins right here in our heart when we too, like James leave everything to follow Jesus.
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him (Luke 5:9-11).
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 26 July 2023.
It must have been difficult for James to leave everything including their father Zebedee and follow Jesus. See that in the description by Luke of their call by Jesus, James and John as well as the brothers Simon and Andrew were all “rich kids” with their own fishing boats with hired men as workers at that time!
Clearly, money was not a problem with James and his buddies; however, one thing was missing in them – meaning and direction in life which they found in Jesus while listening to his preaching and finally in that miraculous catch of fish. I have always felt that perhaps, Zebedee allowed his two sons to leave him and their business for the same reasons so that they mature in life and be more responsible. We find this trace of attitudes or sense of entitlement in the brothers James and John when they asked Jesus to rain fire upon a Samaritan village that have refused them passage on their way to Jerusalem (Lk.9:54-56). Hence, Jesus named them as Boanerges for “sons of thunder” (Mk.3:17) due to their temperament.
In following Jesus, James had to learn the hard way the process of formation and transformation in Jesus that began in his heart. All along their journey from the shores of Galilee to Jerusalem, James remained by the side of Jesus Christ, probably unaware of that inner journey taking place right inside his heart to truly become a part of God’s Kingdom by sharing in the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. He had seen and experienced along with the other Apostles the great powers of Jesus not only in preaching but most especially in calming the storms, walking on sea, exorcising evil spirits, healing all kinds of sickness, and even raising to life some who have died.
Most of all, James was privileged to have witnessed along with his brother John and Peter the two important stops in Jesus Christ’s journey to the Calvary: first, on Mount Tabor for the Transfiguration and second, at Gethsemane for the agony in the garden. In both events in the life of our Lord, James was a privileged witness of his coming glory and then of his passion and death. Our gospel today on his Feast is sandwiched between these two major events of the Transfiguration and Agony in the Garden as this is set shortly before Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem that led to his sacred pasch.
Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but if for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant of the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be also among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give is life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:22-28).
Painting by El Greco, “Pentecostes” (1597) from commons.wikimedia.org.
It would only be after Easter and the Pentecost when all these major stops in James’ personal journey with Christ would become clear to him and the other Apostles. Eventually, he became the first Apostle to be martyred as Bishop of Jerusalem during the persecution by King Herod of Agrippa in 40 AD (Acts 12:1-2), fulfilling Christ’s words to him that he would indeed “drink from his chalice” to be with him in his Kingdom.
A thousand years later, devotion to James the Greater would spread far and wide in Spain after relics of his body were discovered in Santiago de Compostela. It is one of the world’s oldest and most popular pilgrimage site known as the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (the way of St. James).
Every year, pilgrims from all over the world do the camino from various points of Europe to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela where the Apostle’s body is buried as a spiritual hike or retreat and journey for spiritual growth.
Like James the Greater, the camino is more than the kilometers or miles covered but the journey within one’s self that leads to deeper faith in Christ by living out his gospel as portrayed in its marker and symbols of a staff and scroll of the gospel proclaimed by the Apostle .
A marker along the camino de Santiago de Compostela.
It is my fervent prayer that some day I will be able to do a camino de Santiago de Compostela but for the mean time, we strive to continue in following the steps of James the Greater in making that inner journey within one’s self, beginning in our heart by leaving our “boats” of security to remain always at the side of Christ even if he has to smoothen our rough edges as a person and cleanse us of our sins that prevent us in drinking his chalice to be one in his Kingdom. The key is to serve, not to be served as Jesus insisted.
Sometimes in life, we just have to make “sakay” as we used to say as in “sakay lang ng sakay” or “ride on, man, ride on” without really knowing where our trip would lead us.
James the Greater simply made “sakay” in Jesus without knowing Christ was already fulfilling his wish of “drinking from his chalice” which proved that, indeed, the longest journey in life is the distance between the mind and the heart (Dag Hammarskjold). Amen. Have a blessed weekend! Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).
*All photos from Camino de Santiago de Compostela courtesy of Fr. Jigs Sta. Rita.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-24 ng Hulyo 2025
Larawan kuha ni Maria Tan ng ABS-CBN News, 24 Hulyo 2024 sa P. Florentino Street, Quezon City.
Pangunahing problema tuwing bumabaha ang napakaraming dala nitong “layak” o basura dala ng baha at ng dagat.
Ngunit mayroong higit na marumi at masamang uri ng layak na dulot ng pagbaha. Hindi ito mga bagay na tinatapon sa kapaligiran na bumabara sa maraming kanal at daanan ng tubig kaya bumabaha. Katulad ng mga basurang nagkalat tuwing bumabaha, ang mga layak na ito ay kagagawan din nating mga tao – ito ang sobrang gamit ng cellphone at babad sa social media.
Madalas hindi natin alintana masamang dulot sa ating katauhan ng cellphone at iba pang gadgets na siyang kasangkapan natin upang malulong sa bisyo ng social media. Maraming nang pag-aaral na isinagawa sa pinsalang dulot ng sobrang gamit ng mga gadgets lalo na sa mga bata kaya ilang mauunlad na bansa sa Europa ang mayroong nang mga batas na ipinagbabawal ang mga cellphone sa paaralan.
Ayon sa mga dalubhasa, nakaka-manhid ng pagkatao ang sobrang gamit ng mga gadgets at pagkabantad sa social media. Mayroong kasabihan sa Inggles na “the medium is the message” na buhat sa yumaong Canadian communication expert na si Marshall McLuhan.
Walang tahasang salin sa ating wika ang kanyang pahayag na nagsasaad na ang tao ay nahuhubog ng kasangkapang palagi niyang ginagamit. Katulad ng cellphone kapag sobra ang paggamit nito kaya marami ngayon ang makasarili. Hindi iyang maikakaila lalo sa tahanan na kapag tinawag mga bata upang utusan, ang sagot parati ay “wait” o maghintay kasi mayroong ka-text o mayroong nilalarong game. Higit sa lahat, kitang-kita ang masamang epekto ng cellphone sa katagang selfie na hindi malayo ang tunog at kahulugan sa Inggles na selfish.
Una ko ito napansin noong 2012 habang ako ay nasa parokya at pumupunta sa mga may-sakit at naghihingalo upang magpahid ng Banal na Langis. Matay ko mang isipin – ano nasa puso at kalooban ng isang anak na sa halip na malungkot at magdasal kung naghihingalo ang kanyang ina o ama, ang unang ginagawa ay buksan ang cellphone upang irecord aming pagdarasal? Nang malipat ako bilang kapelyan ng isang pagamutan, ganoon din ang palagi kong nasasaksihan kaya naman ginawa ko nang personal na adbokasya na sabihan mga bantay ng pasyente na bawal ang cellphone tuwing sick call. Mariin kong sinasabihan, minsan ng mga kasamang nurse ang mga bantay ng pasyente malubha man o hindi ang karamdaman na samahan ako sa pagdarasal para gumaling ang may sakit kesa sila ay magkuha ng larawan o video.
Ang masakit nito, pagkatapos kong pahiran ng langis ang pasyente, sasabihan ko mga bantay na mag-rosaryo at saka sila matutulala kasi wala silang rosaryo at ni hindi marunong mag-rosaryo, kabataan man o matanda! Sa pagkakataon na iyon tinuturo ko kabutihann ng cellphone: buksan ninyo ika ko ang YouTube tapos hanapin “how to pray the rosary” at sundan nila iyon upang madasalan kanilang may-sakit o naghihingalong mahal sa buhay.
Gayon din sinasabi ko tuwing magbabasbas ako ng sasakyan o tahanan: itago ninyo inyong mga cellphone at samahan ako na magdasal sa pagbabasbas. Sa halip na magpicture o magvideo wika ko sa mga may-ari ng bahay at sasakyan, magdasal tayo para higit kayong pagpalain.
Sa sobrang cellphone, marami hindi na hababatid ang realidad, ang katotohanan ng kapwa at kapaligiran. Kaya naman hindi na rin masyadong nakapag-iisip at minsan nakakasakit ng damdamin sa mga sinasabi at ginagawa.
Katulad nitong isang vlogger kamakailan nang kasagsagan ng ulan at pagbaha nang sabihin sa kanyang post na sa mga ganitong panahon makikita ang kainaman ng paninirahan sa condominium. Wala aniyang baha at tulo sa mga kisame kaya mahimbing kang makakatulog at pagkatapos ay kakain at manonood ng Netflix. Binatikos ng mga netizens kanyang pagiging insensitive sa kanyang post na di alintana ang maraming mga stranded at lumusong sa baha habang higit pa rin maraming kababayan natin ang ni walang masilungang sariling tahanan na madalas ay puro tulo tuwing tag-ulan.
Mabuti at humingi na ng tawad ang naturang vlogger habang kanyang niliwanag na kaisa siya sa paghihirap ng marami ngayong panahon ng pagbaha dahil aniya, lumaki siya sa mga bahaing lugar ng Valenzuela at Malabon.
Maraming pagkakataon na walang masamang intention ang mga vloggers sa kanilang mga posts; manapa’y, mabuti naman talaga ang kanilang layunin sa kanilang mga inilalabas na content. Subalit hindi po sapat na dahilan ang mabuting layunin sa ano mang gawain dahil wika nga ni San Agustin, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Mula sa Facebook, 22 Hulyo 2025.
Parang ganito ang nangyari kahapon sa Calumpit, Bulacan – ang tila kawalan ng sensitivity ng kanilang lokal na pamahalaan sa pa-raffle na “E-Ayuda” na kung saan hinikayat ang mga nasalanta ng pagbaha ay magpadala ng kanilang selfie habang nasa loob ng binaha nilang tahanan.
Ano nga kayang pag-iisip nila sa pagtulong na ito? At sa kabila ng maraming pagbabatikos, itinuloy pa rin ang raffle na inere ng live sa Facebook kung saan ang background ay ang malaking imahen ng Mahal na Birheng Maria na marahil noon ay lumuluha sa kapighatian. At kahihiyan.
Hindi natin kinukuwestiyon kabutihan ng kanilang mayora. Maaring siya nga ay matulungin subalit ang kanyang pamamaraan ay sadyang nakakalungkot. Kung anong lalim ng baha sa Calumpit, tila siyang babaw yata ng kanilang pamamaraan ng pagtulong.
Ang higit na malungkot sa kanilang e-Ayuda raffle ay ang matinding pagsuporta at pagtatanggol ng mga taga-Calumpit sa mayora nila. Mababasa sa threads ng diskusyon na wala silang nakitang mali sa ginawa ng kanilang mabuting mayora. Higit sa lahat, anila, huwag makialam ang mga hindi naman taga-roon. Wala daw tayong pakialam dahil hindi natin dama kanilang kalagayan.
Mula sa Facebook, 21 Hulyo 2025.
Iyan ang sinasabi kong masamang epekto nitong sobrang cellphone at social media na nagiging manhid o insensitive tayo sa iba. Iyan ang pinakamababang uri ng isang selfie. Wala daw tayong pakialam sa kanila. Ewan ko kung mayroon pang bababa doon? Sana ay wala na at magising tayo sa katotohanan ng ating pagkatao na mayroong dangal na siyang dapat itanghal sa lahat ng pagkakataon.
Nakakalungkot na isipin na naging manhid na tayo at tila di na dama pagkatao ng kapwa sa panahong ito. Ang pinakamasaklap nito, ang buhay ng tao parang naging showbiz na lamang o isang palabas na dapat panoorin.
Hindi palabas ang buhay kungdi paloob kung saan naroroon ang kabutihang-loob kaya mayroong utang na loob na palaging tinitingnan at tinatandaan. Kapag puro tayo palabas, mawawala na saysay ng buhay at katauhan ng bawat isa. Kaya marahil ganyan nangyayari sa atin ngayon, kanya-kanyang pasikat at pasiklab para sa katanyagan at aminin natin, pera pera na nga lang ang buhay ngayon sa karamihan.
Pagmasdan itong layak at basurang lumalaganap lalo kung panahon ng kalamidad at sakuna na kung saan inuuna ng karamihan ang buksan kanilang cellphone upang kunan o i-video mga nasalanta o naaksidente sa halip na tulungan muna. Maraming nakakalimot na ang mga pinakamahahalagang bagay sa buhay natin ay hindi maaring makita at ni hindi rin kayang ipakita sapagkat ang mga ito ay nakaukit doon sa ating puso at kalooban.
Ang mga higit na mahalalaga sa atin bilang tao ay dinarama sa kalooban. Wala ito sa panlabas nating anyo kaya naman dapat higit nating pangalagaan at ingatan ang bawat tao na nalikhang kawangis at kalarawan ng Diyos na hindi nakikita. Ito ang sabi ng minamahal na alagad ni Jesus, “Walang taong nakakita sa Diyos kailanman, ngunit kung tayo’y nag-iibigan, nasa atin siya at nagiging ganap sa atin ang kanyang pag-ibig” (1 Juan 4:12). Nawa maging tunay ating pagmamahalan at malasakit sa isa’t isa maski hindi nakikita. Basta nadarama. God bless po sa inyo!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul, 23 July 2025 Wednesday, Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 13:1-9
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, San Miguel, Bulacan, 2022.
Lord Jesus, you are the Sower and your seed is always good: wherever it falls, it grows; most of all, you are most good as you never tire of going out to sow your good seed!
“A sower went out to sow… Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Matthew 13:3,9).
“The Sower” painting by Van Gogh from en.wikipedia.org
Open my heart and my soul, dear Jesus to listen intently to your word and be a "rich soil" like St. Bridget of Sweden whose devotion to family, to her people especially the poor and to Church reforms that led to the return of the papacy to Rome proved her to be a seed well sown; there are times when I am just like the path where your seeds fell that fed only the birds; quite often, I am like the rocky ground so full of enthusiasm but wanes quickly when challenges come; worst of all, Lord Jesus, free me from the many thorns that steal me from you that I stop maturing and growing; let me be the rich soil who receives you and your seed: let your light of truth and warmth of faith help me grow; may your hope nourish me especially when days are dark and nights are long; most of all, water me with your love and charity to bear all and be fruitful. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 22 July 2025 Tuesday, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Song of Songs 3:1-4 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18
“Martha and Mary Magdalene” painting by Caravaggio (1598). The painting shows Martha of Bethany and Mary Magdalene long considered to have been sisters. Martha is in the act of converting Mary from her life of pleasure to the life of virtue in Christ. Martha, her face shadowed, leans forward, passionately arguing with Mary, who twirls an orange blossom between her fingers as she holds a mirror, symbolising the vanity she is about to give up. The power of the image lies in Mary’s face, caught at the moment when conversion begins (from en.wikipedia.org).
Thank you dear Jesus in giving us a chance to revisit your Resurrection with this Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles; she whom you love so much by forgiving her sins and later called her by name on that Easter morning reminds us of your lavish mercy and love for each of us; how lovely that in that crucial moment of darkness as she grieved your death with your body missing, she suddenly burst into deep joy filled with life upon seeing you!
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her (John 20:18).
“The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene” painting by Alexander Ivanov (1834-1836) at the Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia from commons.wikimedia.org.
"I have seen the Lord."
I have seen you, Jesus when I stop clinging to my sinful past, when I stop doubting your mercy and forgiveness, wondering how I could move the huge and heavy stone of my weaknesses and failures, addictions and vices that make me mistake you into somebody else like the gardener because I am so preoccupied with many things in life.
Teach me, Jesus to stop clinging to you, "touching" you and having you according to my own view and perception not as who you really are so that I may meet you to personally experience you right here inside my heart like St. Mary Magdalene that Easter.
The Bride says: The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city. Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I have hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves (Song of Songs 3:1, 3-4).
"I have seen the Lord."
I have seen you, Jesus when I love truly like the Bride in the first reading when I seek you in persons not in wealth and power, in silence not in the noise and cacophony of vanity and fame; let me see you Jesus by being still, patiently waiting and listening for your coming and calling of my name to proclaim You are risen to others who believe in You, also searching You, waiting for You. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Painting by Giotto of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ appearing to St. Mary Magdalene from commons.wikimedia.org.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 21 July 2025 Monday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 14:5-18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 12:38-42
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
It is a rainy, gloomy Monday, God our Father; like your people who have left Egypt led by Moses, suddenly we are again facing life's realities of work and struggles, of health and sickness, of challenges and problems bigger than us.
Pharaoh was already near when the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the Lord. And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians? Far better for us to be the slaves of Egyptians than to die in the desert.'” But Moses answered, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today… The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still” (Exodus 14:10-14).
Keep me still, Lord; let me stand my ground in you before my adversaries - primarily my self when I doubt you, when I lose hope, when I am disillusioned, when I am afraid, when I complain a lot when the realities of life start to kick in making me realize of your invitation and calls for me to welcome you into my life, to believe you, to trust you.
O dear Jesus, many times in the wilderness of this life I waste precious time and efforts like the Pharisees asking you for signs when each day, each waking from sleep is like me being a Jonah coming out alive from the belly of the whale; help me live your paschal mystery, Jesus, one day at a time. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 20 July 2025 Sunday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle C Genesis 18:1-10 ><}}}*> Colossians 1:24-28 ><}}}*> Luke 10:38-42
Photo by author, Tagaytay City, February 2023.
After telling us what we must do to inherit eternal life through his parable of the Good Samaritan last Sunday, Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem with his disciples with a stop over today in the home of the sisters Martha and Mary.
The visit became an occasion for Jesus – the Good Samaritan – to expound on the more important things we his disciples must “do” as exemplified in the contrasting attitudes of the two sisters.
“Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary”, painting by Johannes Vermeer (1654) from en.wikipedia.org.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary had chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:38-42).
This is the third consecutive Sunday Jesus gives us the top things we his disciples must always “do”: two Sundays ago he instructed us to represent him well by greeting everyone with peace while proclaiming that the kingdom of God is at hand (14th Sunday); last week, Jesus asked us to consider everyone especially those in need as a “neighbor” with whom we must show mercy at all times.
Today’s teaching of Jesus is of capital importance in this series on discipleship before the Lord caps it next Sunday with the very foundation of discipleship which is prayer.
An icon of Jesus visiting his friends, the siblings Sts. Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Photo from crossroadsinitiative.com.
"Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said..."
Only Luke has this unique story in the home of Martha and Mary.
Far from the simplistic views of a distinction between “contemplative” and “active” approaches in discipleship, Luke invites us not only to enter the home of Martha and Mary but most of all our Lord and Master Jesus Christ to experience and realize the deeper realities of being his disciple.
There is more at issue here than a conflict of duties of listening to the Word like Mary and doing the work like Martha. Jesus is not telling us to be like Mary listening more to the word – and forget all about the work to be done and accomplished? Not at all.
Jesus reproached Martha for being anxious and upset about many things in life that she had forgotten the more essential which is to listen to Christ himself.
Luke’s gospel teems with instances where we find Jesus warning his disciples against being overwhelmed with cares of the world like in the parable of the sower where he mentioned those seeds that fell among thorns were choked by the anxieties and pleasures of the world that they failed to be fruitful (Lk.8:14). In chapter 12 we find Jesus twice repeating in asking his disciples “not to worry” on how to answer their persecutors for the Holy Spirit will teach them (Lk.12:11-12) and immediately after that, “not to worry” again about what to eat or wear for life is more than food and body is more than clothing (Lk.12:22-23). There are many other instances in all gospel accounts we find Jesus denouncing too much focus on things of the world that are passing and worst, detract us his disciples in confessing faith in him as the Christ who had come and will come again at the end of time.
“Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary”, painting by Erasmus Quellinus II and Jan Fyt (1650) from en.wikipedia.org. See the folly of Martha’s worries and distractions with the enormous amount of food being prepared.
Jesus clarifies in the example of Mary that the first priority of every disciple is to listen to the Word who is himself. More than the division of time allotted for “contemplation” and “action” by every disciple, Jesus reminds us that the more we listen to him, the more we do his work; and the more we do his work, the more we desire to return to him and listen again and again to him.
Contemplation and action always go together. We cannot overdo the other and neglect the other. The moment we make a distinction between the two, problems arise like what we find in the church.
When priests and bishops concentrate only in contemplation, oblivious to the social conditions of the people, their proclamation of the Gospel is diluted as they fail to represent well Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. When they are so immersed into social action and advocacies, business endeavors including entertainment in the Mass without contemplation, Christ is detached from the whole picture that people could no longer see nor feel the spiritual nature of the Church with everything becoming a show, empty of any sense of the divine and sacred. In both instances of abuses, either of contemplation or action in the Church, it is her credibility that is eroded as the Body of Christ with a growing number of the faithful disillusioned with priests and bishops more identified with the rich and powerful.
"There is need of only one thing."
Abraham in today’s first reading showed us the most beautiful example of discipleship. Like Martha, Abraham was also gracious in receiving his visitors at Mamre believed to be the Blessed Trinity in the form of angels; but, unlike Martha who was so concerned with her chores that she had forgotten Jesus, Abraham was intently focused on his visitors as “he waited on them under the tree while they ate” (Gen.18:8).
Like Mary listening at the feet of Jesus, Abraham was fully present in God while in Mamre. That is discipleship – to have that full presence in the Lord which is the “only one thing needed” of us which is to receive God’s gift of himself to us, of his Word who became flesh Jesus Christ who enables us to do his works by first recognizing him in ourselves and in one another as our neighbor.
This is the reason why even inside prison, St. Paul felt Jesus Christ’s coming and presence that he rejoiced in his sufferings as part of his ministry in proclaiming Christ as the hope for glory (Col.1:24, 27).
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Last week I read in one of the blogs I follow by an American nun, of how she attended many years ago to a delivery man who died of a heart attack in the ER of a Philadelphia hospital. Part of her ministry was to gather the things found in the chest pocket of the man’s shirt so she could inform the relatives of his death: there was a well-used prayer book, a thin wallet with a few dollars inside, a lottery ticket and a picture of his grandchildren. It was so touching how she narrated these simple things found in the man’s chest pocket as those closest to his heart (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/07/12/the-amoroso-man/).
That hit me so hard because even in this age of smartphones, I still carry a little notebook and pen in my chest pocket where I write my schedules as well as occasional notes on everything I notice and read. Deep inside me after reading that blog, I wondered where is Jesus Christ in all those notes and activities in my pocket notebook closest to my heart.
Dearest Lord Jesus, make me fully present before you always, even in my activities and distractions for it is only in you I am fulfilled. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 July 2025 Friday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 11:10-12:14 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 12:1-8
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
How lovely are your words today, O God, on this dark, rainy Friday with many light and shadows that show life's many contrasts with you still remaining with us, in us, and among us.
Although Moses and Aaron performed these various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land (Exodus 11:10).
You know everything, dear God that is why you set the stage for the first passover at "evening twilight" just in time for the people to see the light of freedom in you; you sometimes allow storms to happen but you already have provisions for us beforehand:
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began ton pick the heads of grain and eat them (Matthew 12:1).
What a beautiful contrast is today's gospel!
How did it happen the Twelve were hungry while with Jesus who had fed more than 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish?
Right there under the glaring light and heat of the sun on a Sabbath when you "fed" on the Twelve with grains in the field; moreover, when criticized by your enemies, you defended the Twelve!
You are a God of
mystery, Jesus!
Truly "greater than
the temple" for you are
the Christ,
the Son of God
who became human like us
to show us you are with us,
in us,
and among us
when everything seems
so dark or so bright
that may blind our sights;
incline our hearts to you, Jesus
who "desires mercy,
not sacrifices"
so that when we grapple
in light and shadows,
it is solely you whom we hold on.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches 20 March 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 17 July 2025 Thursday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 3:13-20 <*(((>< + ><)))*> Matthew 11:28-30
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Today, I tried going back to your presence, Lord; I tried feeling your sacred ground again; there was no burning bush to see but I felt my heart burning inside as I dwelled on your name:
God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: I Am sent me to you.” God spoke further to Moses, “This is my name forever; this is my title for all generations” (Exodus 3:14-15).
Unlike our name, your name "I AM", Lord is most unique - right away when I say your name, I feel you! Your name is more than a name for it is YOU yourself - so deep, so true, so powerful that you envelop me in your person; when I think of your name "I AM", I am already dissolved and overwhelmed! Moreover, your "I AM" is exactly what I feel, and realize, and experience in Christ calling us:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2023.
Today I come to you, Jesus with all my burdens and worries, pains and hurts, sickness and sufferings; you are I AM, Lord - heed our cries like in Egypt: the crime and corruption so rampant, the selfishness and pride of everyone, the sin and evil that stink, a kind of darkness lurking everywhere; yes, there are modern Pharaohs lording over us today but most of all too, it is us who lord over our lives most of the time; bring us back to the burning bush so we may take off our sandals because the whole earth is yours which we have usurped and destroyed; let us feel you again, "I AM" all around, all encompassing; let us enter you, Lord, to experience your abundance of love and mercy, warmth and light, life and new hope; let us rest in you, Lord like in Eden when you alone is God. Not us. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Photo by author, Hidden Spring Resort, Calauan, Laguna, February 2025.
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