Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 07 July 2025 Monday in Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 28:10-22 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 9:18-26
Photo by author, Mount Sinai, May 2019.
If. A conjunction so short we often use to express a condition or a supposition, expressing something not certain like when we say, "If it rains, then we stay." But today, dear God, you taught me another dimension of this conjuction "if" just like that verb "to doubt" last week at the Feast of St. Thomas Didymus.
Like the verb "to doubt", to use the conjunction "if" is not necessarily negative in meaning; it could even be a grace too in itself as it already implies certainty like when the woman suffering hemorrhages for 12 years came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel on his cloak:
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured (Matthew 9:21-22).
Teach me, Lord Jesus like that woman to have that deep faith and trust in you, to claim always what is mine, what I truly deserve because you know what is best for us; many times, Jesus, we prefer to stay on the side of the road, afraid to dare get close and touch you because of the more negative connotations of that conjunction "if" like what if I fail, what if I don't get it, and many other "ifs" of hesitancy; like that woman, let my "if" be my final push to get close to you.
Or, like Jacob in the first reading, let my "if" lead me into action, into doing something like an altar for the Lord after meeting him in a dream to remind him of your promise, of your presence, of your power. Like Jacob, we flee for many reasons yet always end up being found by you, Lord, in the most ordinary instances. If we could just learn from your ways, Lord, then our ifs would be more of certainty than suppositions. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, 06 July 2025 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Isaiah 66:10-14 ><}}}*> Galatians 6:14-18 ><}}}*> Luke 10:1-12
Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.
Finally, we hit the fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time with Luke as our guide after a month of Solemnities.
We are at the turning point in the gospel of Luke – chapter 9 and first half of chapter 10 – where Jesus was identified by Peter as the Messiah (9:20) while Jesus for the first time made known his coming pasch (9:22). From this point on, Luke tells us of how Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (9:51) to fulfill his mission as they took a detour from a Samaritan town that had refused them passage (9:53). After this scene comes our gospel this Sunday.
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’… Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you and enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'” (Luke 10:1-5, 7-9)
First thing we notice about discipleship according to Jesus is that it is never easy, “behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Disciples need to be “resolutely determined” in the mission like Jesus, focused only on Jesus.
Early in his teachings during the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus enunciated in his Beatitudes the contradictions of his life and teachings to the ways of the world his followers have to imitate. Hence, his list of “do’s” and “don’ts” of discipleship in today’s gospel.
Do’s: greet peace every household they entered; stay in same house; eat and drink whatever is offered; cure the sick; and proclaim “the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Don’ts: no money, no sack, no sandals, no greetings along the way, and do not move about from one house to another.
Notice there are five do’s and five don’ts. And there are only two “do’s” that require speaking: to greet every household with peace and then the other is to proclaim to everyone the kingdom of God is at hand (10:5, 9) which is the sum of discipleship in Christ.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
“Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household'”…
The only valuable we as disciples of Christ must have is peace that we have to offer generously to everyone.
Peace is the work of the Holy Spirit, a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God as the angels proclaimed on Christmas, “on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk. 2:14). Most of all, peace is the fruit of Easter that the Risen Lord offered his disciples upon seeing them on that evening, “Peace be with you” (Jn.20:19).
Vatican II defined peace “is not merely the absence of war… but the fruit of love which goes beyond what justice can provide” (Gaudium et Spes 78). Peace is something we all have to work and strive for, entailing wounds and sacrifices for us to achieve it by cooperating with the grace of Jesus Christ in overcoming sin and evil. It is a process that never stops, calling for perseverance and daily conversion on our part.
Peace comes when we disciples are open for Christ, for others, and for change and transformation. That is why Jesus insisted us his disciples not to bring anything material that may influence our dealings with others, especially with those who are poor.
The great irony of our time is that the more we have grown affluent with wealth and material things, the more we have become empty in meaning and directions in life. So many are disturbed, longing for peace but could not have it because we the disciples are also lost in the things and the ways of the world.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
“…cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”
In the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary introduced by St. John Paul in 2002 is its third mystery, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
It is truly a mystery of light because Jesus is the Kingdom of God! To proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God is to proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ in our midst. When John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus if he was the One they were waiting for or had to wait for another, Jesus said in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them” (Lk.7:22).
Where there is healing, there is new life, there is proclamation of the good news, there is Jesus Christ! Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is representing Jesus in our lives, in our mission.
From vaticannews.va
In the previous chapter and scenes before our gospel this Sunday, Jesus asked his disciples what people said about him, the very same gospel we have last Sunday during the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
Recall how Jesus was mistaken for John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
That’s the problem we still have today: many followers of Jesus do not represent him well that people are lost at who he really is! And it first happens right in the Sunday Eucharist as noted by a Facebook group called Catholic Fortress in its series this past week.
Many reacted positively for the series that was really good and timely for us priests and ministers at the altar who have unconsciously abused the Mass, unknowingly deviating from Christ himself who could no longer be found and experienced by the people. Truly the Mass is about Jesus; but, when it becomes like a showbiz with so many ek-ek and palabas by the priest, the servers and ministers and the choir, then it leads us away from Jesus who is paloob or inside our hearts.
In 400 AD, St. Augustine wrote the first manual for catechism called De Catechizandis De Rudibus (On Instructing Beginners) detailing, step by step the many things to consider and lessons to teach people being prepared for Baptism. From a simple request by his deacon named Deogratias, St. Augustine came up with an entire book on how to catechize with a final lesson that is the heart of his book when he wrote, “Remember, the catechist is the lesson himself.”
The same thing is very true with us priests and altar ministers and every disciple of Jesus Christ! Do we have Jesus Christ or not especially in the celebration of the Holy Mass where we proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand and share peace with everyone?
How can there be peace of Christ among us when priests fail to love first of all Jesus in prayers as reflected in his love for the people by preparing for the Mass so that the sick and the burdened may experience Jesus – not an actor or actress of a telenovela no matter how popular it may be?
Where is the Kingdom of God when people have to bear the tantrums and antics and hangups of their priest as they already have so much burdens in life? Or, when people have a hard time tightening their belts and the priest keeps on asking for collections without any reports?
Where is the Kingdom of God when priests play favorites among the parishioners and servers, when some support Pride Movement and corrupt officials?
How can there be peace when all we have in the Mass is clapping of hands that we never have time to listen to God speaking to us in silence?
Photo by author, St. Joseph’s Chapel of the Order of Friars, Tagaytay City, 17 January 2025.
This Sunday, Jesus invites us to examine our faith journey in him if we are still following him or somebody else.
Let us pray for that grace to represent Jesus well always in our lives as priests and laity alike that we truly become the Body of Christ, his presence on earth.
It is the relationships that we have with God that matters in discipleship which Isaiah likened to that of a mother and child in the first reading. This finds it fulfillment when like St. Paul in the second reading, it is Christ’s Cross that we carry in ourselves – not bags nor money nor self and fame. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 03 July 2025 Thursday, Feast of St. Thomas the Apostles Ephesians 2:19-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:24-29
Caravaggio’s painting “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” (1602) from en.wikipedia.org.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be like you - so understanding, so caring, so loving to those who are doubting you like Thomas your Apostle; poor Thomas - he has been called "Doubting" when the evangelists simply referred to him as "Didymus" or twin; however, it is so lovely too to know that doubt and certainty are like twins because when we doubt, the more we seek and find the truth which Thomas did.
When I think of my own faith journey in you, Lord, many times I was worst than St. Thomas for I was not only doubting you but also hesitant in following you because of fears and mistrust, lack of confidence in my self, and simply self-centered. Could it be, Lord, that in each one of us is Thomas our twin - doubting, hesitating, indecisive, in following you?
Now a week later his 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 20:26-28).
How nice of you, Lord Jesus to be so warm with Thomas on that night when you appeared again; instead of engaging Thomas into a debate or discussion, you called him, invited him to touch your wounds, to feel your scars; what an incredible courage, Lord Jesus to let us see and feel closely your wounds, to stare and look at your sufferings, to remember and imagine your lowest point in life if only to show us that it is the only way to glory; many times, we are afraid to admit even to ourselves and to others our wounds and hurts, preferring to keep them even hide them to keep our illusions of greatness.
May we find the graces of joy and warmth, love and kindness that fill our many wounds in life as a result of our following you, Lord Jesus for it is in our woundedness and hurts that we become "members of the household of God who are built together to be the dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19, 22). Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 02 July 2025 Wednesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 21:5, 8-20 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Matthew 8:28-34
Photo by author, Pater Noster Church, the Holy Land, May 2019.
Praise and glory to you, loving Father for always remaining faithful with us, for always staying with us especially in those times of expulsions, when we are driven out, when we are shoved off by situations and occasions, especially by people.
Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had bore to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: “Drive out that slave and her son! No son of the slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on account of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham: “Do not be distressed about the boy or your slave woman… God heard the boy’s cry, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his” (Genesis 21:9-12, 17).
How lovely of you, God our Father to be still there, remaining, staying with Abraham so distressed with Sarah's order to drive out his son Ishmael and his mother Hagar; many times, we too are caught in such a bind and dilemma when people close and dear to us demand us to expel some people dear to us; stay on our side so we can make the right decision; most of all, remain with us, hear us and follow us, Father when we are expelled, driven out from our comforts into life's wilderness like Hagar and Ishmael.
Most of all, be with us Jesus when people drive us out of their lives, of our friendships and relationships when like you, after driving out the demons from those possessed was the one expelled from the town. There are times, Jesus, when after doing what is right, what is just, what is proper, it happens that we are the ones driven out. Remain with us, stay with us. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon, 2020.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 01 July 2025 Tuesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time Genesis 19:15-29 ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Matthew 8:23-27
Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father for this brand new month of July, for the blessed first half of 2025! You have been most kind to us this year with so much grace poured on us despite our being undeserving while at the same time, so merciful to have spared us from many troubles we truly deserved for our sins.
That is why, Father, I hate seeing those prayers and wishes of many saying at the start of each month to please be more kind to us; you have always been kind and generous more than enough to us especially in giving us your Son Jesus who have enabled us to cross many seas and lands in this journey of life; many times, there are storms in life that we get so afraid like in the gospel today....
Many times we feel so caught in the middle of a "violent storm on the sea" of life where we are "swamped by waves", so terrified, so lost, feeling alone when deep in our hearts Jesus is with us, probably "sleeping".
Then in the nick of time, he comes, rebuking the winds and the sea when great calm follows just like what the angels did to Lot and his wife when you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in the frist reading.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Lord Jesus, give me that gift of a sense of "dead calm" in you; to be at peace and still in you while in the midst of a great storm when I feel like being flattened by waves; let me seek your peace and kindness amidst the the cries and shouts when I feel like sinking, of perishing.
This brand new month of July, I know you will fill me again with your blessings; let it be enough for me to forge on in this remaining six months of the year, to continue crossing life's many seas to bring you, to share you, and simply be with you. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul Monday, Memorial of the First Martyrs of Rome, 30 June 2025 Genesis 18:16-33 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 8:18-22
Photo by author, Cabo Da Roca, Pundaqit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
*Apostle, from "apostolein", to be sent forth; Disciple, from "discipulous", to follow.
A day after celebrating the Solemnity of your Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, you gave us today Jesus the memorial of the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church who were killed during the reign of Nero in 64 A.D.; many of them were literally used as torches and lamps when their mutilated bodies were burned to light the city of Rome.
How inspiring, dear Jesus to hear their story of witnessing their faith in you at that time; grant us the same courage today to always follow you, Jesus, to follow your footsteps by doing your work and most specially, in carrying your Cross; let us seek sanctity regardless of our social status, age or skills.
Let us imitate Abraham in the first reading who walked with God, his visitors at Mamre; like Abraham walking with you, following you, Lord, let us work more for the conversion of others not their judgment; in following you, Jesus, let us think more of how to save followers lost in their directions in life; instead of leaving them behind on their own in their evil ways, may we appeal to God for their conversion.
May we not be like the two hesitant disciples in today's gospel: though willing to follow you, Jesus, one was impulsive and the other was cautious; give us courage to do a sincere reality check today of our discipleship in you: help us bring back the joy and zeal of following you, Jesus when we started to heed your call of discipleship; let us dare again to leave the sides to walk at the middle of the road following you Jesus even to the Cross; help us bring back that desire to go near you, Jesus, to always seek you and follow you by forgetting our selves; and like Abraham, let us be gracious always to one another as your followers. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church photo from ucatholic.com.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2025 Acts 12:1-11 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-19
St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome.
We enter today the 13th week in Ordinary Time with a fourth celebration on a Sunday of another Solemnity, that of Saints Peter and Paul, the two pillars of the Church Jesus Christ established over 2000 years ago.
Sts. Peter and Paul were men of diverse backgrounds with Peter the fisherman, impulsive and so human while Paul the Pharisee was an intellectual converted by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Both were flawed as persons yet so loved and called by the Lord – Peter as first leader of his church and Paul as its first missionary to the Gentiles. Their Solemnity reminds us of Christ’s call for us to build his Body, his Church here on earth.
While this celebration is about the two great apostles of Jesus, our readings direct us to God’s goodness and grace in his actions on behalf of the church founded by Christ. Its focus is on God, not ourselves.
Statues of Sts. Peter & Paul, st. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; photos from opusdei.org
Being an apostle of Jesus is not about doing great things or being so good but more of encountering and keeping faith in Christ our Lord. By recognizing ourselves as the church – the Body of Christ as we have reflected last Sunday, all of our actions are indeed God’s actions on behalf of the church because it is through us that the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is continued and completed in this age.
What is essential is we constantly enter into a conversation with Jesus in prayer not only to tell him things but most especially for us to realize how he sees us!
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).
Photo by author at Caesarea, Israel, May 2017.
What really happened at Caesarea Philippi was a close encounter of the apostles with Jesus, especially Simon whom would he called as Peter on that day on.
Very often in most reflections and commentaries, we are told to answer the question of Jesus like Peter in our most personal way not based from what we have read or heard: “who do you say I am?”
Of course, what else can we say but imitate Peter’s answer that seems to be the most correct answer.
But, is it really the best answer? Not really.
Paul later in his many writings will declare similar answers but far more better like when he said “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21).
Jesus is telling us something else in this scene, as if asking us too, would you want to know “who do I say you are?” What the Lord is actually telling us in this scene is the fact that he knows us so well inasmuch as he knows himself perfectly because he is God. In fact, he had said there was no need for him to have human testimony as the Christ (Jn. 2:25; 5:34).
Photo by author, Sea of Galilee, Israel, May 2019.
What I see more at Caesarea Philippi is Jesus Christ’s omniscience as God who knows everything – even that early he already knew Peter would deny him thrice, that Judas Iscariot would betray him, so on and so forth.
Jesus knows everything about us but he chose to love and believe in us that despite and in spite of everything he knew that could go wrong with us later in life, of how we would fall into sin over and over, STILL – he calls us, he sends us on a mission because he believes in us, he loves us.
Many times in life, we forget the truth about the saints who are just like us, ordinary people with many weaknesses and flaws, imperfections and even idiosyncrasies. What made them stand out and did all those great feats for the Lord was because they were able to see themselves the way Jesus sees them.
That’s the very core of the story at Caesarea Philippi – Jesus made the apostles felt especially Peter how valuable they were, how they were all loved, of how Jesus saw them as his ambassadors later when he returns to the Father.
Bass relief of St. Peter at the Malolos Cathedral, 2019.
Jesus had no need of knowing what people were saying about him because he knew himself so well aside from the fact he surely knew what they were saying about him. Actually, the answers the apostles gave him were for them to know and think about why people wrongly perceived Jesus.
Most of all, Jesus had no need to know what everyone of us is saying about who he is because, again, he knows himself perfectly. Whatever answer others would have given about him would have been surely appreciated and praised by Jesus. What matters most for everyone to realize is the fact that despite Christ’s foreknowledge of Peter’s fall and weaknesses, he still dared to call him to head his church. The same holds true with everyone of us. Jesus wants us to continue building his Body, his church here on earth, to make Jesus more present in us in this world so dark and lost searching for meaning except in Christ.
The same thing is true with Paul when Jesus called him on the road to Damascus to persecute the first Christians. Jesus knew everything Paul was doing; most of all, Jesus knew that even when converted, Paul would still be stubborn and insistent, would eventually quarrel with other disciples like Peter, Barnabas and John Mark but still, Jesus called him and even set him aside for a special mission to the Gentiles.
Bass relief of St. Paul at Malolos Cathedral 2019.
Again in his experiences, Paul saw how Jesus loved and trusted him that even he were the worst of all the apostles of the Lord, he was given such great task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth at that time. That is why in our second reading we find Paul giving up his whole life in the service of Jesus after experiencing Christ’s tremendous love for him.
Like Peter and Paul, we are all gifted with the same faith in Christ Jesus who challenges us to accept the same mission to continue in this modern time of proclaiming his gospel of love and mercy, of building up his Body the church so that there would be a more humane and just society here on earth as Vatican II envisioned (Lumen Gentium).
Many times when God works in us and through us, we could not believe it as happening like Peter when set free from prison by an angel at night. There are times we are resigned with our situations, of being deserving of the many hardships and sufferings without realizing that there are more bad things we deserve to suffer in this life but Jesus spared us because he believes in us that he sends us to some more missions for him.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for still calling me, sending me to a mission despite my many flaws and imperfections; thank you for trusting me, believing me; let me see myself the way you see me as someone worth loving and trusting. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Sacred Heart, 27 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Nag-senior citizen ako noong Marso at masasabi ko na sa tanang buhay ko, itong 2025 ang pinaka-mainit at maalinsangang taon sa lahat. Mula pa man noong dati, gabi lang ako gumagamit ng aircon ngunit mula nitong Abril, maghapon na ako kung mag-aircon sa silid. Kung minsan nga ay pati electric fan binubuksan ko kapag gabi sa labis na init ng panahon nitong nagdaang tag-araw.
Hindi lamang minsan ko narinig ang maraming nagsabing parang “impierno” ang summer 2025 dahil para sa atin, sukdulan ang apoy sa impierno kaya napaka-init.
Subalit ayon kay Dante Alighierri, isang batikang makata ng Italya noong unang panahon na sumulat ng Divine Comedy, ang kailaliman daw ng impierno ay hindi naman pagka-init-init dahil sa apoy kungdi pagkalamig-lamig parang yelo!
Ayon sa kanyang tula na nobela, ang pinaka-masaklap aniya sa lahat ng kasalanan at kasamaan magagawa ng tao ay ang manlamig ang puso. Magkaroon ng “cold heart” sa Ingles hanggang sa mawalan na ng puso ang mga tao gaya ng sinasaad sa isa pang English expression na “heartless world.”
Larawan mula sa forbes.com 2018, fashion week sa New York.
Ang mga katagang ito na cold heart at heartless world ay mas mainam na huwag nang isalin sa ating sariling wika sapagkat mas mananamnam at mailalarawan natin ang kahulugan sa wikang Ingles kesa sabihing malamig na puso o daigdig na walang puso. Kapag sinabing cold heart o malamig na puso, ito ay patay na puso, walang buhay parang bangkay. O bato. Kapag ang mga tao ay naging ganito, mismo ang daidig ay wala na ring puso, walang pagmamahal, walang awa, walang malasakit, walang pakialam.
Gayon ang kahulugan ng puso para sa sangkatauhan – hindi lamang ito sumasagisag sa pag-ibig at pagmamahal kungdi sa buhay. Sa malasakit, sa kabutihan, maging sa kaalaman gaya ng sinasaad ng English expression na “to know by heart” na ibig sabihin ay makabisado, matandaan.
At paano natin tinatandaan ang mga bagay-bagay? Ito ay ating inire-record na mula sa dalawang kataga ng wikang Latin, re (uliting muli) at cord na mula sa cor o puso. Alalaong-baga, ang tandaan, ang memoryahin at kabisaduhin ay isapusong muli sapagkat dito sa ating puso natatago ang lahat-lahat ng ating alaala at kaalaman maging pakiramdam gaya ng kutob na nagsasaad ng pakiramdam at kaalaman na di maipaliwanag ngunit totoo.
Higit sa lahat, dito sa ating puso nananahan ang Diyos sa atin gaya ng sinasaad ng dokumento ng Vatican II sa makabagong mundo (Gaudium Spes). Kaya ngayong Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, pinapaala sa atin ng pagdiriwang ito ang hiwaga ng katotohanan ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa lahat ng tao sa lahat ng panahon.
Hindi tayo nabibigo sa ating pag-asa, sapagkat ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay ibinuhos sa ating mga puso sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo na ipinagkaloob sa atin. Sapagkat noong tayo’y mahihina pa, namatay si Cristo sa takdang panahon para sa mga makasalanan. Mahirap mangyaring ialay ninuman ang kanyang buhayn alang-alang sa isang mabuting tao. Ngunit ipinadama sa atin ng Diyos ang kanyang pag-ibig sa atin nang mamatay si Cristo para sa atin noong tayo ay makasalanan pa (Roma 5:5-8).
Gayon na lamang ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin – hindi masukat gaya ng pahayag ni Jesus kay Nicodemo dahil ito ibinubuhos hindi inuunti-unti, hindi tinitingi. Binubuhos. Palaging marami ang pag-ibig na kanyang binibigay sa atin sapagkat napakalaki ng kanyang puso ni Jesus.
Lahat tayo kasya sa kanyang napakalaking Puso kaya tayo man ay inaanyayahan ni Jesus na lumusong at maglublob sa kanyang puso kung saan ang kanyang pag-ibig ay naghahanap sa nawawala at naliligaw; pag-ibig na umuunawa at umiintindi sa naguguluhan at nalilito; pag-ibig na palaging bukas at tumatanggap sa sino mang ibig manahan, tumahan kung umiiyak sa lungkot at hapis.
Ito ang Puso ni Jesus na sinasaad ng larawan ng isang Mabuting Pastol gaya ng propesiya ni Ezekiel sa Unang Pagbasa at mismong kinukuwento ni Jesus sa kanyang talinghaga sa ebanghelyo ngayon.
Makakapasok lamang tayo sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus kapag atin munang pinasok ating sariling puso kung saan mismo siya nananahan sa atin. Palagi nating sinasabi ang puso ang sentro ng ating katauhan at iyan ay totoo kasi nga doon din nananahan si Jesus.
Subalit dahil sa ating mga kasalanan, sa marami nating hilig at kagustuhan at sinusundang ibang diyus-diyosan, nawawala tayo sa puso ni Jesus dahil ang totoo, nawawala na rin ating puso. Ang pinaka-simpleng paliwanag ng kasalanan na aking ginagamit palagi ay ito: sin is a refusal to love.
Ang kasalanan ay pagtanggi na magmahal. Mula sa salitang ugat na sala na ibig sabihin ay sumala o magmintis o hindi magampanan dapat gampanan, ang kasalanan ay sumala sa iisang atas ni Jesus na magmahal. Sa tuwing hindi tayo nagmamahal, tayo ay nagkakasala. Kapag tayo ay nababad sa kasalanan, nagiging manhid tayo kaya di na tayo makaramdam ng iba at kapwa. ?Dito na manlalamig ang ating puso dahil tayo ay mahihiwalay na sa iba at kapwa, wala na tayong pakialam. Tayo ay napuputol at nag-iisa, hiwalay sa Diyos at kapwa, maging sa ating sariling katauhan kaya madalas ang mga makasalanan ay hindi makapagmahal kasi nga nawawala sa sarili.
At ganyan ang takbo ng daigdig ngayon, kanya-kanya, wala sa sarili tila baga bawat isa kaya lahat na lang dinaraan sa pera-pera. Ang lahat na lamang ay sinusukat, kinukuwenta, tinatantiya katulad ng algorithm sa social media kung saan nakukuha ang marami nating pattern sa buhay gaya ng mga hilig at gusto. Nagiging “commodity” na lamang ang tao ngayon, parang produkto at kasangkapan na ginagamit, binebenta at binibili.
Huwag nating hayaang magpatuloy na lamang ito na ang mundo ay manatiling materyal lamang – malamig at manhid, walang pakiramdam. Ibalik natin ang buhay, ang ating pagkatao na pakikibahagi sa buhay ng Diyos na nanahan dito sa ating puso. Gaya ng talinghaga ni Jesus, ang Diyos ay hindi isang observer na tagamasid o spectator na manonood lamang ng takbo ng ating buhay ng mga tao. Kaya sinugo ng Ama si Jesus sa atin sapagkat mula pa man noon ibig niyang makilahok sa buhay natin dangan lamang ay lagi natin siyang pinupuwera. Lalo ngayon sa makabagong panahon na pilit inaalis na ang Diyos sa buhay ng tao!
Larawan mula sa Pinterest.com.
Sa Sacred Heart ni Jesus, muling nabubuo ang tao sa kanyang sarili at ang sangkatauhan sapagkat ang pag-ibig niya ay pag-ibig na hinahanap ang mga sira at pira-piraso nating sarili upang makumpuni at mabuong muli. Ipinapaalala sa atin ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay hindi isang ideya lamang o dalumat na nakalutang sa alapaap kungdi nakatapak sa lupa – isang pag-ibig na aktibo, marubdob at matalik na nakikipag-ugnayan gaya ng ating mga naranasan noong tayo ay gulung-gulo, litong-lito, nawawala at halos wala nang saysay ang buhay. Buhaying muli ating mga puso upang maranasan tunay na kagandahan ng buhay ng tao, hindi ng robot o makina. Ating dasalin palagi:
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 9, 26 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Huling araw ng ating pagsisiyam sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus. Pinangakuan kahapon ng Diyos si Abram na magiging ama ng lahat ng bansa, na magiging kasing dami ng mga bituin sa langit kung gabi ang kanyang mga anak subalit matanda na siya ay wala pa rin silang anak ni Sarai.
Nag-magandang loob si Sarai at sinabi kay Abram na tabihan ang alipin niyang si Agar upang magkaanak sa kanya. Hindi nga nagtagal ay nagdalantao si Agar mula kay Abram at dito nagbago ihip ng hangin. Nagmalaki at hinamak ni Agar ang kanyang amo na si Sarai kaya’t nagalit siya at nagsumbong kay Abram.
Tulad ng sino mang mister, walang nagawa si Abram sa pagkagalit ni Sarai kaya sinoli niya sa kanya ang alipin niyang si Sarai. Gumanti at pinahirapan ni Sarai ang kanyang aliping si Agar na noon ay nagdadalang-tao ng anak ni Abram hanggang sa maglayas.
Pinagmalupitan ni Sarai si Agar, kaya ito ay tumakas. Sinalubong siya ng anghel ni Yahweh sa tabi ng isang bukal na nasa ilang. Tinanong siya, “Agar, alipin ni Sarai, saan ka nanggaling at saan ka pupunta?” “Tumakas po ako sa aking panginoon,” sagot niya. “Magbalik ka at pailalim sa kanyang kapangyarihan,” wika ng anghel. At idinugtong pa: “Ang mga anak mo ay pararamihin, At sa karamiha’y di kayang bilangin” (Genesis 16:6b-10).
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 Mayo 2025.
Maraming pagkakataon sa buhay katulad tayo ni Sarai: sa pagmamagandang loob natin, madalas napapasama pa tayo. Inaabuso ng ilan kabutihang loob natin. Kasi rin naman, madalas tayo pabigla-bigla sa pagdedesiyon lalo na kung pinanginigbabawan tayo ng kapangyarihan na sa una tingin natin ginagamit natin sa kabutihan ngunit di alintana masamang epekto sa ilan.
Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, naroon pa rin kabutihan ng Diyos. Mabuti na lang na hindi natin siya katulad dahil ang gawi natin kapag sumablay plano natin ay magsisihan.
Patas ang Diyos sa lahat. Kasi mapagmahal siya. Sa halip na sisihin tayo na dahil tayo naman palagi may kagagawan ng problema natin, humahanap siya palagi ng solusyon. Nakita ng Diyos na nakawawa si Agar bagama’t inabuso niya kagandahang loob ni Sarai. Wala siyang kapangyarihan, napakahina bilang alipin. At pagkatapos ay nagdadalantao. Kaya sa kanyang lungkot at hirap ay naglayas at nakita kanyang sariling nag-iisa, nawawala at takot na takot doon sa ilang. Parang tayo.
Ngunit hinanap pa rin siya – at tayo – ng Diyos upang pagpalain.
Tingnan kabutihan ng Diyos: hinahanap tayo at pinagpapala maski hindi tayo mabuti sa harap niya. Bagkus, higit pa nga niyang hinahanap at tila pinahahalagahan ang mga nawawala o naliligaw.
Ang ganda ng tanong ng anghel kay Agar na siya ring tanong sa atin ngayon, “Saan ka nanggaling at saan ka pupunta?”
Pagkaraan ng siyam na araw nating nobenaryo sa Sacred Heart, tingnan natin sarili nating paglalakbay sa pananampalataya, ating pinanggalingan at pinagdaanan sa buhay. Naroon ba Diyos sa oras ng ating paghihirap at pagsubok?
Tayo ba ay papalapit o papalayo sa Diyos sa ating buhay ngayon?
Pagmasdan pagkilala ng Diyos sa paghihirap ni Agar. Batid ng Diyos kanyang mga sugat. Sa sariling buhay natin marami ding pagkakataon nagpahayag ng habag at awa ang Diyos sa ating mga hirap na pinagdaraanan.
Ang pinaka-magandang bahagi nito ay ang pagbabalik ni Agar kay Sarai. Ang kanyang pagtitiwala sa Diyos na nangakong mula sa kanyang magiging anak kay Abram ay magmumula ang isa ring malaking lahi. Pati pangalan ng kanyang magiging anak ay Diyos ang nagbigay, Ishmael na ibig sabihin ay “nakikinig ang Diyos.”
Larawan mula sa Pinterest.com.
Ngayong bisperas ng Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, walang duda nakikinig ang Diyos sa ating mga poanawagan at dalangin, tangis at panaghoy sa maraming sakit at hirap. Subalit, tayo ba ay nakikinig naman sa kanya?
Mismong si Jesus nagsabi hindi lahat ng tumatawag sa kanya ng “Panginoon, Panginoon” ay maliligtas dahil kung taliwas naman ang ating buhay sa ating pananampalataya. Kaya ngayong araw, balikan natin ating pinanggalingan upang maging maliwanag kung tayo nga ay malinaw pa rin sa patutunguhan, ang Diyos.
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 8, 25 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Habang tayo ay papalapit na sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, ibig ko kayong anyayahang mag-imagine sa dalawang pagbasa ngayong ika-walong araw ng ating nobenaryo.
Napakaganda kasi ng mga tagpo sa Unang Pagbasa na magkausap ang Diyos at si Abram habang sa Ebanghelyo naman ay naroon ang babala ni Jesus sa mga alagad na tigib ng kanyang pagaalala o concern para sa kanila, kasama na rin tayo.
Pagkaraan ng lahat ng ito, si Abram ay nagkaroon ng isang pangitain. Narinig niyang sinabi sa kanya ni Yahweh: “Abram, huwag kang matatakot ni mangangamba man, kalasag mo ako, kita’y iingatan At ikaw ay aking gagantimpalaan” (Genesis 15:1).
Kalasag. Isang panangga ng mga kawal. Shield sa Ingles. Ito ang palaging tangan ng bawat sundalo kasabay ng kanyang sandata upang ipagsanggalang siya sa mga tama ng pana at sibat at kung mayroong malapitang bakbakan, ito ang panangga sa hataw ng mga itak at palakol. nang maglaon, laban na rin sa tama ng bala.
Alalaong-baga, kalasag ang proteksiyon ng kawal.
Ganoon ang Diyos kay Abram. Bilang kalasag niya, ang Diyos ang naging tagapaglaban at tagapagtanggol ni Abram tulad sa eksenang ito nang matagumpay na makipagdigma si Abram sa mga bumihag sa pamangkin niyang si Lot. Pagkatapos ng labanan, dumating ang pari ng Diyos na hari ng Salem, si Melquisidec upang pagpalain si Abram na nagbigay sa kanya ng mga nasamsam niyang kayamanan ng mga kalaban bilang pasasalamat sa tulong ng Diyos.
Kaya ang Diyos bilang kalasag ni Abram ang pangunahing impluwensiya rin sa buhay ni Abram.
Sa tagpong ito, makikipagtipan ang Diyos kay Abram sa unang pagkakataon. Nag-usap sila ng Diyos na parang magkaibigan sa isang pangitain kung saan nagpahayag ng saloobin si Abram ukol sa kayang edad na wala pa siyang anak.
Dito lalong gumanda ang eksena na nakakakilabot din: naghandog si Abram ng mga susunuging alay sa Diyos na tinupok ng apoy na ibig sabihin, tinanggap ng Diyos. Higit sa lahat, pinangako ng Diyos kay Abram na magiging kasing dami ng mga bituin ang kanyang lahi habang ang buong lupaing natatanaw niya ay magiging kanya. Iyon ang pinanghawakang parang kalasag ni Abram sa kanyang buhay. Kaya iyon ang malaking impluwensiya sa kanya.
larawan kuha ng may-akda, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambalaes, 14 Mayo 2025.
Imagine natin muli ang eksena ni Abram at Diyos sa gitna ng kadiliman ng gabi nang ganapin kanilang pagtitipan. At pagkatapos, ipasok natin eksena sa Ebanghelyo na katulad kung saan si ay matalik at buong giliw nakikipag-usap sa kanyang mga alagad. Kasama na tayo doon
Tila bagabag si Jesus na nagbababala sa atin sa mga huwad na propeta, sa mga manlilinlang tulad ng mga lobo o asong-gubat na nagkukunwaring tupa. Higit sa lahat, ang kahalagahan sa pagkilala at pagkilatis sa mga bunga ng mga punong kahoy.
Makikilala ninyo sila sa kanilang mga gawa. Napipitas ba ang ubas sa puno ng dawag, o ang igos sa puno ng aroma? Nagbubunga ng mabuti ang bawat mabuting punong-kahaoy, subalit nagbubunga ng masama ang masamang punongkahoy (Mateo 7:16-17).
Kalasag. Tapos bunga at punong kahoy. Anu-ano at sinu-sino nakaka-impluwensiya sa atin lalo na sa makabagong panahong ito?
Nakakalungkot isipin na ipinagmamalaki pa ng ilang kapatid natin ang kanilang pagiging makabago sa pagyakap sa mga kaisipang wokism at “liberated” sa larangan ng sexuality at pag-aasawa gayong salungat ang mga ito sa turo ni Jesus.
Ang bagong kalasag ng maraming tao ngayon ay agham at teknolohiya, pati tao minamanipula sa mga genetic engineering at test tube baby, bukod sa abortion at contraceptives. Marami tayong kinakain at iniinom sa ngayon na genetically modified, mga bunga ng eksperimento sa agham. At ang pinakamalungkot sa lahat, pera-pera na buhay ngayon. Lahat pinepresyuhan maging katotohanan at katauhan.
larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Tagaytay, Abril 2025.
Anu-ano at sinu-sino nakaka-impluwensiya sa atin sa buhay ngayon. Maituturing pa ba nating ating kalasag ang Diyos sa panahong ito na mas pinahahalagahan ang teknolohiya at materyal na bagay kesa espirituwal?
Ito ang babala ni Jesus: tingnan mga bunga nito. Naghahatid ba ng kapanatagan at kapayapaan sa ating sarili at sa mundo?
Maraming nag-aakala na ang sagot sa kadiliman ng buhay ngayon ay ang mga teknolohiya at makabagong kamalayan ngunit ang totoo, lalong naging hungkag ang buhay ng tao, lalo tayong lito at nawawala sa gitna ng maraming nakakaakit na impluwensiya sa buhay. Maraming kalasag tayong ginagamit ngayon na mahuna at hindi maaasahan sa pakikidigma sa buhay.
Walang katulad ang Diyos bilang kalasag. Kay Jesus, doon lamang tayo makapapamunga nang sagana tulad ng puno ng ubas. Maaring salat tayo sa kayamanan ngunit ganap ang ating katauhan kapag ang Diyos ang ating kalasag katulad ni Abram.
Kay sarap pagmasdan tuwing misa ng araw ng Biyernes ang mga deboto ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus na mayroong suot na iskapularyo. Hindi ba’t hugis ng kalasag ang mga iskapularyo? Huwag nating ikahiyang isuot at panindigan si Jesus bilang ating kalasag, bilang impluwensiya sa buhay natin. Sa araw na ito, tinatanong tayo ni Jesus sa Kanyang Kamahal-Mahalang Puso kung ano at sino ang nakaka-mpluwensiya atin na siyang kalasag din nating laging dala-dala at pinakikinggan? Pagmasdan din natin ang ating mga bunga sa buhay at debosyon sa Sacred Heart.
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
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