Monday, Wk. XV, Yr. I, 15 July 2019, Feast of St. Bonaventure
Exodus 1:8-14, 22 >< )))*> <*((( >< Matthew 10:34-11:1
The Sphinx and Pyramids of Egypt. Photo by author, 09 May 2019.
It is that time of the year again, Lord, when life gets harder with the rains, with all the expenses piling up along with a hosts of so many other problems besetting us.
Others call these months of July until August as the “ghost months” when so many difficulties come along our way. But of course, we believe more in you.
Like in our Responsorial Psalm today, we sing “Our help is in the name of the Lord.”
Most of all, like the people of Israel living in Egypt long after Joseph had gone who were subjected to cruel slavery by the Pharaoh and his men, “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread” (Ex.1:12).
Our almighty Father, keep us close to you through your Son Jesus Christ.
Let us rely more to you in him through the Holy Spirit when life gets harder for us.
May we learn more from him so we may follow him closer than ever especially during times of trials and difficulties.
Keep us faithful in Christ for “whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt.10:39).
Jesus is the Good Samaritan par excellence. Photo from America Magazine via Google.
It’s a beautiful, warm and sunny Sunday on this side of the earth, perfect for reflecting anew on the meaning of the parable of the Good Samaritan proclaimed in all churches today.
And of course, we do it with popular music.
For our Lord My Chef Sunday music today, we have a song from the OST of the 2005 Cameron Crow movie “Elizabethtown” starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.
Though it did not do good in the box office like the critically-acclaimed “Vanilla Sky” and “Almost Famous”, “Elizabethtown” speaks so well of Crowe’s reflections about that inner stirrings or movements within us all, of a longing for something more meaningful than just driving in the fast lane of life like “Jerry Maguirre”.
Written by Crowe with a help from his former wife who used to be a member of Heart, Nancy Wilson, our Lord My Chef Sunday Music “Same In Any Language” speaks a lot about being a neighbor to everyone, regardless of color and creed.
The song teaches us like the parable of the Good Samaritan that the question we should be asking is “am I a neighbor” to others especially to those in need than searching for “who is my neighbor”.
My neighbor is the one with whom I identify myself with, seeing with compassion and mercy when down in sufferings.
My neighbor is the one with whom I get down on the road to help and raise because I also feel his or her pains.
My neighbor is the one with whom I see Jesus Christ, the God who became human reaching out to me, asking me to care for him, to love him, teaching me the things to do so I may inherit eternal life.
Try listening to the laid back music of “Same In Any Language” that is refreshing with lyrics so simple yet very reflective. Better, try also watching “Elizabethtown”.
Have a blessed Sunday and a new week ahead of you!
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, Wk. XV-C, 14 July 2019
Deuteronomy 30:10-14 >< )))*> Colossians 1:15-20 >< )))*> Luke 10:25-37
From America Magazine via Google.
After teaching us about discipleship these past two Sundays, Jesus shifts his lessons to things “we must do” following a series of questions he encountered from people when he “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Lk.9:51).
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.”
Luke 10:25-30
And thus Jesus answered the scholar of the law with the beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan that can only be found in St. Luke’s gospel. It has so endeared the world that hospitals and charities including laws and awards everywhere use the “Good Samaritan” title in recognition of the parable’s conviction that we are all neighbors.
Problem is, we have become so familiar with this parable that sometimes we think it teaches us nothing new. Like the Laws or the Ten Commandments, it has degenerated into becoming letters like a code imposed from the outside we simply follow. Moses tells us in the first reading how the Laws are “something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you only have to carry it out” (Dt.30:14). Loving God and loving others is an interior and life principle innate within each of us.
This Sunday, Jesus is inviting us to set aside our thoughts about his parable of the Good Samaritan in order to see it in a deeper and personal perspective.
For most Christians especially Catholics, we always reach that stage in our lives when deep within us there is a longing for something deeper, for something more than what we have been used to. It is a very positive sign of spiritual growth. Like the scholar, we are no longer contented with the usual things we do like praying, Sunday Masses, and keeping the laws. At first we may not be able to verbalize or even identify what are the stirrings within us until we realize it is something more than this life we are having.
Like the scholar, we ask Jesus, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk.10:25). But, instead of probing deeper into our hearts, we tend to look outside for answers like the scholar asking, “who is my neighbor?”.
From Google.
Twenty years ago, the sci-fi series “The X-Files” was a hit worldwide with its tagline “the truth is out there” to refer to all kinds of conspiracy theories and paranormal activities by the US government. Of the same genre today is the Netflix series “Stranger Things” that also points us to something “out there” for answers to many mysteries happening to us.
The answer is never out there – it has always been inside us! Always.
From Google.
How strange that we keep on asking “who is my neighbor?”, searching for a theoretical definition of a neighbor we always think as somebody outside us. What we must be asking is, “am I a neighbor to others?”
Observe how Jesus narrated the parable where both the priest and the Levite “saw the victim and passed by the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him” (Lk.10:32-34).
That’s the strangest thing of all! Two Temple officials simply “saw” the victim and passed by while a Samaritan “saw” also but was moved with compassion. To be moved with compassion in Latin is misericordia, a “stirring or disturbing of the heart” which translates into mercy.
Here we find the Samaritan looking deep inside him that he saw in him the plight of the victim that he was moved with mercy to help him. And that is to be a neighbor, to treat somebody with mercy that transcends any color or creed or nationality. See the question of Jesus at the end of his parable, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” The scholar answered, “The one who treated him with mercy” (Lk.10:36-37).
City of Jericho, the setting of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Photo by author, 06 May 2019.
My neighbor is the one with whom I identify with, with whom I am drawn near because of the mercy that moved me within to help in his or her sufferings. A neighbor is one who feels his or her own humanity that he or she is always moved with compassion with those who are in suffering and pain.
And the more we reflect on this parable, the more we see Jesus Christ is in fact the Good Samaritan himself. He is “the image of the invisible God, in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:15,17). It was Jesus who went down the road, becoming human like us in everything except sin, picking us up from our sinfulness and miseries, healing us of our wounds, and restoring us to life “through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:20).
Let us heed his command this Sunday to “Go and do likewise” (Lk.10:37) as the Good Samaritan. Be a blessed neighbor to everyone! Amen.
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 >< )))*> <*((( >< Matthew 10:16-23
The pyramids of Egypt. Photo by author, 09 May 2019.
It’s a Friday again, loving Father! Thank you very much for guiding us through, assisting us, helping us through many difficulties and challenges this past week. Indeed, you are our only salvation, O Lord!
In this age when everything is so easy and convenient, with almost everything instantly on our fingertips, please remind us Lord that a little difficulties and sacrifices in life can be good for us too.
Crosses like trials and sacrifices are not punishment but actually blessings for they all make us stronger and better as persons.
Give us the courage to choose what is difficult, to be bold and daring in trying new things, leaving our comfort zones and discarding our old ways so that you may continue to surprise us, Lord.
May your words today to Jacob assure and strengthen those having difficulties in making important decisions about changes and movements in their work and residences, career and directions in life.
“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation. Not only will I go down to Egypt with you; I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes.”
Genesis 46:3-4
Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Jesus, that we may be “shrewd as serpents and simple as doves”, not worrying on how to answer our detractors and persecutors (Mt. 10:16, 19).
Let us endure all sufferings and difficulties in your holy name, O Jesus that we may all be saved. Amen.
Thursday, Wk. XIV, Yr. I, 11 July 2019, Feast of St. Benedict
Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 >< )))*> Matthew 10:7-15
CICM Retreat House in Taytay, Rizal. Photo by author September 2009.
Praise and glory to you, O God, our kind and merciful Father! You never fail to amaze us with your immense love and goodness to us, most especially whenever you write in straight crooked lines in our lives.
Nothing bad ever comes from you. But, if ever something that is not good happens to us, you always ensure it could lead to something beautiful and wonderful. Like with what happened to Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was sold by his brothers but later became an Egyptian official of the Pharaoh.
Our first reading today when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in Egypt is one of the most moving drama scenes in the whole bible for me. It shows also the tremendous faith and love Joseph has for you and his brothers.
“Come closer to me,” he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”
Genesis 45:4-5
Increase our faith in you, God, especially when things do not turn out according to our plans and wishes. Let us trust in you that despite our many failures and sins, you will never abandon us to be devoured by the beasts of the forests.
On this feast of St. Benedict, we borrow his prayer for seekers of faith that we may be worthy of our call as Apostles of Jesus sent to “proclaim the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt.10:7).
Gracious and Holy Father,
give us the wisdom to discover You,
the intelligence to understand You,
the diligence to seek after You,
the patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
a heart to meditate upon You,
and a life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-10 ng Hulyo 2019
Lumang kalsada, may 300 taon bago sinilang si Kristo, patungong Petra sa Jordan. Larawan kuha ng may akda noong 01 Mayo 2019.
Matagal ko nang napatunayan Na totoo nga ang kasabihang Isang paglalakbay itong buhay; Ngunit nitong kamakailan lamang Aking napagnilayan ang higit na katotohanan.
Higit na mahalagang malaman Hindi ang landas na daraanan Na wala namang nakakaalam Kungdi sino ang yaring kasamang Makakasabay na aagapay at aalalay.
Tunay nga na isang paglalakbay ang buhay Ngunit hindi ito isang destinasyon na patutunguhan Kungdi isang direksiyon na dapat sundan Kaya ang tinuran ni Hesus noong Huling Hapunan "Ako ang daan at ang katotohanan at ang buhay".
Maaring maraming lugar tayong narating At marahil marami pa ang mararating Ngunit kung hindi nababago pagkatao natin Para din tayong hindi umalis at walang narating Bagkus nanatili dahil mag-isa pa rin.
Paglalakbay palabas ng sarili ang buhay Sapagkat ang hinahanap nating katuturan at kahulugan, Kailanma'y hindi matatagpuan sa ating sarili lamang O saanmang lunan kungdi sa mukha ng bawat kapwa Na katulad at kapatid natin sa yaring buhay paglalakbay.
Larawan ay kuha ni John Bonding ng Architecture & Design Magazine, 25 Mayo 2019. Mula sa Facebook.
Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24 >< )))*> Matthew 10:1-7
Pyramids of Egypt. Photo by author, 09 May 2019.
Thank you very much, our loving Father, for making us all come together as family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances on many occasions you have planned in all eternity in your infinite wisdom.
Like the sons of Israel who have come to Egypt to buy food during a famine and the 12 Apostles summoned by your Son Jesus, our coming together for various reasons in different seasons were all caused by your divine will.
The sons of Israel did not know how their coming into Egypt would reunite them with their lost brother Joseph they have maltreated and sold a long time ago. The 12 Apostles never had an inkling at that time how they would be betrayed by one of their very own that they welcomed each other as disciples of Jesus.
In your time, God, you perfectly know when and where and how we would meet the many people we now have in our lives.
Give us the grace to always seek your holy will, your grand design and plan with the people who come to our lives. Let us take care of them as precious gifts of family and friends you give us, let us shower them with your love and attention while still around us. May we never take them for granted, value them always as they value us too as gifts coming from you.
Let us not take them into someone not meant to be in our lives.
We pray also for people without friends and family around them, for those in far and distant lands working away from their loved ones, for those languishing in jails especially the innocent one that they may soon be reunited with their family.
Most of all, our loving Father, may we always see your face on every person we shall meet this day. Amen.
With our fellow pilgrims at the Sphinx in Egypt, 09 May, 2019.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-09 ng Hulyo 2019
Imahen ng Inmaculada Concepcion sa tuktok ng kampanaryo ng Katedral ng Malolos. Larawan kuha ni Lorenzo Atienza, 12 Hunyo 2019.
Nakakagulat, nakakagimbal Marami ang nagulantang Sa balitang napakinggan Lalawigan ng Bulakan Number one ngayon sa patayan.
Kadluan ng katagalugan Na siyang wika ng mga makata Dito sa Bulakan iba na yata sinasalita: Tokhang na mula sa Bisaya Nawala na ang puso sa pananalita pati sa gawa.
Nasaan mga namumuno ng pamahalaan at Simbahan Paano nagkaganyan itong duyan ng kasaysayan Naging bukirin ng patayan Nang hindi namamalayan o Dahil wala tayong pakialam?
Noon pa mang makalawang taon Pinakamaraming natokhang noong linggo ng Bulakan Natabunan lamang ng balitang pagpatay Ng mga pulis sa walang kamalay-malay na kabataan Kian kanyang pangalan doon sa Kalookan.
Pansamantalang tumigil mga patayan Kinasuhan mga berdugo ni Kian Ngunit kanilang hepe sa Kalookan Binigyan ng pabuya upang pamunuan Pulisya sa buong lalawigan ng Bulakan.
Ano na nga ba nangyari sa atin, mga kababayan? Di lamang nanunungkulan kungdi pati mga mamamayan Wala na ba tayong pakialam Mga dating luntiang sakahan ay tinambakan Upang gawing paradahan ng mga container van?
Bago pa dumating ang tokhang Pinatay na rin mga ilog at sapa natin Kaya maraming lupain naging dagat-dagatan na rin Habang hinahayaan nating gahasain Bulubundukin ng Sierra Madre upang samsamin kayamanan natin.
Nawala na yata pasintabi Pati mga simbahan ginigiba, iniiba Kabanalan hinalinhan ng kaartehan Diyos hindi ni makita o maramdaman Puro palabas, nawala na napapaloob na kahulugan.
Halina at magsuri, magmuni-muni Ating pagbulayan kahulugan nitong buhay Matatagpuan kung ano ating niyuyungyungan Madalas siya rin nating pinahahalagahan At tiyak naroon din ating kayamanan.
Mabuting Pastol, kaawaan at kalingain aming lalawigan na tila pinabayaan ng iyong mga pinagkatiwalaan! Larawan ng luklukan ng Katedral ng Malolos. Kuha ni Lorenzo Atienza, 12 Hunyo 2019.
Genesis 32:23-33 >< )))*> >< )))*> Matthew 9:32-38
Photo by John Bonding, Architecture & Design, May 25, 2019 via Facebook.
Dearest God our Father:
Teach us to live every moment of our lives with you and with one another.
Teach us to be like your servant Jacob who wrestled with you and prevailed that you named him Israel “because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed” (Gen. 32:29).
So many times in this “digital age” when everything is “mass mediated” like our relationships and even faith in you, we have forgotten to live every moment with you and with others.
We are so out of touch with the reality, tinkering with our gadgets that are meant to bring us closer together but have in fact brought us more apart.
We are so concerned with our gadgets than persons and nature and you, Lord.
Until now, we are a “people who are troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt.9:36), lacking in real, personal relationships and intimacy with others and you.
We pray through your Son Jesus Christ that you may send us more workers for your harvest, not more gadgets or money or things but persons who love and care. Amen.
Genesis 28:10-22 >< )))*> >< )))*> Matthew 9:18-26
Tourists taking a peek into the awesome ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Photo by author 30 April 2019.
Surprise us always, O Lord!
Surprise us with your simple presence in the most ordinary events and things of daily life.
Envelop us in your surprising presence like Jacob in today’s first reading.
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!” In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!”
Genesis 28:16-17
The whole earth, O Lord God, is your abode but we do not know it. Or, we refuse to recognize it most of the time.
Grant us that “solemn wonder” of Jacob beyond ordinary things your presence O God.
Grant us that deep faith on Jesus by the official who begged he could bring back to life his dead daughter.
Grant us that fervent hope of the hemorrhagic woman who reached to touch the tassel of the cloak of Jesus so she can be healed of her sickness.
Like these three people, let us not be limited or constricted by simple and complex things and situations alike because we have an awesome God in you, O Lord!
Thank you in surprising us again with this morning, Lord. Amen.
Sunrise at Lake Tiberias, the Holy Land. Photo by author, 02 May 2019.
