Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, 26 January 2026 2 Timothy 1:1-8 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Mark 3:22-30
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.
Let me not be ashamed of witnessing, of testifying for you, Lord Jesus Christ; let me not be ashamed of you, Jesus in this time when things of God and of virtues and holiness are looked down upon as old fashioned, so conservative, fill me with your "grace, mercy, and peace", Lord like what St. Paul prayed for his disciple Timothy.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord…(2 Timothy 1:6-8).
As I prayed St. Paul's letter to Timothy, I felt as if those very words were spoken too to me by you, Jesus - thank you so much, Lord! I feel shy but so encouraged too because indeed everything we have is a pure grace from you, Jesus; even our calling is a gift you have freely given us, Jesus; that is why, grant me the courage not to be ashamed to proclaim your truth always; grant me the courage not to be ashamed to witness your love and mercy and justice with others especially those with less in life. Amen.
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 25 January 2026 Isaiah 8:23-9:3 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.17 ><}}}}*> Matthew 4:12-23
Photo by author, sunrise at the Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2019.
More than a month ago at the Midnight Mass of Christmas we have heard this Sunday’s first reading, that beautiful prophecy by Isaiah fulfilled in Jesus Christ’s coming.
First the Lord degraded the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the end he has glorified the seaward road, the land west of Jordan, the district of the Gentiles. Anguish has taken wing, dispelled is darkness: for there is no gloom where but now there was distress. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone (Isaiah 8:23-9:1).
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled… (Matthew 4:12-14).
As we move forward into Ordinary Time, we hear anew one of the most beautiful promises in the Old Testament of how the coming of the Christ is the “breaking of dawn of salvation” as Zechariah sang in his Benedictus after naming his son “John” when light bursts forth to dispel the darkness that had enveloped us for a long time.
Photo by author, sunrise at the Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Notice that it is those who live and walk in darkness literally and figuratively speaking are always the first to come forward into the light like the people in Galilee at that time, especially the towns of Zebulun and Naphtali who were actually names of Jacob’s two other sons. Their tribes settled in that area of Galilee that was at the border with other pagan countries always subjected to wars and conflicts with foreigners. Their lands were literally in the dark, never at peace as if forsaken.
Here lies the good news of this Sunday: after hearing the news of John’s arrest, Jesus launched his public ministry. Notice how plain and simple was Matthew’s narration, “When Jesus heard that John had been arrested” – it was another period of darkness for the people with rampant violence and injustice. However, it was not totally dark at all: see how Jesus withdrew to Galilee; Christ’s “withdrawing” to Galilee was not something negative but actually more of a positive development. Jesus chose to begin his ministry in that forsaken province of Galilee to show his love and concern for the people long forgotten. Remember how at that time that Jerusalem was the center of everything, something like an “imperial Manila” we call these days.
Here we find again that imagery of Jesus like in his birth that happened during the darkest night of the year that 30 years later, he chose to go to the darkest region of Israel to bring light of salvation to everyone. Jesus comes to us most in moment of darkness in our lives! When we are troubled by sins and problems, never lose that spark within for Christ had come, is coming and continues to come to us! Matthew mentioned this prophecy of Isaiah of the great light shining in the land of gloom not really for his readers then and now to remember what God had done in the past but to make us all aware always that God continues to send us his Son Jesus in these dark moments of our lives. In telling us how Jesus began his ministry by withdrawing to Galilee in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, Matthew wants us to be aware of what God has done for us, of giving us Jesus, the true Light of the world right into the many darkness we are going through in life today.
More than the news overseas that we have heard like wars and the breaking apart of world peace and order with America suddenly flexing its muscles to remind everyone they are still great and powerful or the very frustrating corrupt lawmakers of the country, we are all in some form of being in the midst of darkness in our personal lives too like a sick loved one or a problematic brother or sister.
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
God has delivered us from slaveries of sin and selfishness in Christ’s coming and presence among us. Surely there would always be darkness and shadows in our lives this 2026 but Jesus is telling us today in his withdrawing to Galilee after hearing John’s arrest that we need to get out of our own darkness! There is no more darkness in Christ’s coming; it is us who have darkened our lives with our selfish interests like the quarrels and animosities against one another that St. Paul warned against in the second reading.
Every time we destroy our unity, our oneness, we plunge ourselves into darkness. Whenever we refuse to bow down, when we refuse to give way, when we refuse to forgive even forgo or let go of others inanities, we go back to darkness. Inasmuch as Jesus Christ is the great light who shone on the many darkness of our lives, he is calling us like the first four disciples to bring his light to others.
Was it really that easy for the brothers Simon and Andrew, especially brothers James and John to immediately leave behind their livelihood and father so easily for Jesus? Not really. Matthew need not go into details about their call and conversion because most likely, they went through the same stages we have gone through or going through right now as we pray and reflect about our life direction. Like us today, Simon and Andrew, James and John experienced burn out, searching for meaning in life that after listening to the words of Jesus, they felt and saw him as the light enlightening everything for them. They saw in Jesus their lives and very person getting clearer that they decided to follow him and become fishers of men.
How far are we willing to repent and be converted in the light of Christ to start anew living in the land of loving God, self, and others?
Photo by author, Bolinao, Pangasinan, 19 April 2022.
I have always loved sunrise. Though sunsets are more colorful and dramatic like a spectacular show called palabas in Filipino, sunrise is different: it is more of paloob, an inside movement that is subtle yet intense when light steals into shadows as the sun is gradually breaking open the darkness to reveal what is unseen.
That is why our Filipino term for sunrise is more evocative of its deeper meaning as pagbubukang liwayway which literally means breaking of dawn. Every morning person (madrugeño in Spanish) knows so well those feelings of being up before sunrise, of exactly catching the breaking of dawn that is always joyful and liberating with a certain kind of lightness and relief from deep within because another day is given us.
Maybe it is a carry over with my having worked for three years in the graveyard shift covering the police beat while still working at GMA News in the late 1980’s. But more recently, I feel that imagery of coming forward into the light resonates most after a good confession when we deeply realize God’s immense love, that God is not that really angry at all with us because of our sins, that there is a bright light to always look forward in this life amid all the darkness and shadows enveloping us.
Today is the National Bible Sunday. It is when we prayerfully read the Sacred Scriptures everyday that we see the light of Christ in our selves, in our lives. The more we pray the Scriptures, the more we are enlightened, the more we are filled with the light of Christ that enables us to see too his light on the face of those we meet daily. Let us step out of our darkness in life this Sunday and everyday to henceforth experience and share Christ. Amen. Have a blessed, enlightening week ahead!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 23 January 2026 1 Samuel 24:3-21 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 3:13-19
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, 2019.
In this time of too much violence not only in media but in real life especially those we witness and experience in ordinary streets near and far from our places of comfort to those larger than life violence taking place in the high seas and other countries, may your words today remind us, our dear loving Father to imitate David your servant of old.
David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed and a father to me.’ Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life” (1 Samuel 24:9-12).
Teach us, dear Father, to show respect to your anointed leaders among us, from our family and home into our leaders in school, office and work, government and the church; despite their flaws and even abuses, help us to transcend these and try to find your favor in giving them to us; may we pray for them to be more reasonable, just and fair in the exercise of their office and position.
Teach us, dear Father, to look anew to them repeatedly and try to find your image in them; may Jesus be the main factor we must consider in obeying them, respecting them, and in recognizing their power and authority; may we not resort to violence often preceded by betrayals perpetrated by those supposed to be closest to those in authority. Amen.
Photo by author, Dominican Hill, Baguio City, January 2019.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 22 January 2026 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Mark 3:7-12
Your words today, O Lord, are very disturbing, even baffling but very revealing: in the first reading we heard the beginning of Saul's jealousy of David while in the gospel of how "unclean spirits" recognized Jesus as the Son of God.
Lord, give us the courage to confront every jealousy that seeps into us, from the most simple ones to more greater ones that really get us destabilized like that of Saul when he heard people praised David for killing ten thousand compared to his thousands; jealousy can be a terrible thing because it is difficult to see others better than us; most of all, most difficult of all is to see people turning away their attention from us for others.
Saul was very angry and resentful of the song… And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David (1 Samuel 18:8, 9).
Teach us Jesus to accept fully our strengths and weaknesses, to not measure our success as persons by what we can do or what others say; teach us to imitate St. John the Baptist who declared "Christ must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Teach us, Lord Jesus to be honest and sincere like you, so contented in yourself: you silenced the unclean spirits from making you known; how intriguing that so often, it is our dark, sinful side where we truly find the hard truths of life; if we could just be like you, we would never be taken over by jealousy because the moment we experience jealousy, then we realize the truth of somebody better than us in some aspects; jealousy is an unclean spirit within us that speak of the truth not to set us free but to enslave us by driving us into the opposite direction of self- aggrandizement.
Teach us, Jesus, that all that matters is for us to give glory to God and that the work of your Kingdom is always done, by us and by others. Amen.
Photo by author, Don Bosco Chapel on the Hill, Nasugbu, Batangas, January 2023.
Lord My Chef Wedding Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Homily, Wedding of Ellah and John Victor Santuario de San Jose Parish, Greenhills, Mandaluyong 27 December 2025
A former student in our girls’ high school invited me to officiate her wedding last December 27, 2025; we were supposed to meet December 20 before my Simbang Gabi in our university chapel for my formal invitation when her father died suddenly that same afternoon while on a trip down south with his fellow big-bikers.
Ellah was so devastated with the news, wanting to reset her wedding. She has been working overseas for the past three years and had saved enough for her wedding day. Her only request from her parents who have separated when she was in elementary was for them to be together when she gets married. And they willingly obliged for their unica hija. And then tragedy struck exactly a week before her wedding day that happened to be the feast day of St. John Evangelist, the beloved disciple of the Lord. Sharing with you my homily on that bittersweet day of wedding of a beloved student and funeral of her father.
Congratulations, Ellah and JV on this most joyous day of your lives.
I know, it must be so difficult for you, Ellah but I am so glad that you still pushed through with your wedding today as planned. Your dad would not be happy if you had this postponed.
Showbiz ka rin talaga, Ellah!Parang cine – a wedding and a funeral.
But, let it be clear with you both, Ellah and JV that God willed it for you get married today on the feast of Jesus Christ’s beloved disciple St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. God wanted you to be married this day – not next year nor next month, nor last year. This is the day that the Lord has made for you to seal your love at His altar in this beautiful church because God has great plans for you, Ellah and JV.
Our gospel is so beautiful – the story of Easter when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the the other disciple went out and came to the tomb (John 20:1,2-3).
“The Three Marys” (1910), painting by American Henry Osawa Tanner from biblicalarchaeology.org.
Here we find a most beautiful image of human relationships, of how a woman needs a man, and a man’s readiness to be at her side, to comfort and accompany the woman.
Just like you today, Ellah and JV.
Of course, Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter were both disciples of Jesus. They have no romantic relationships. But, the mere fact that Mary thought of reporting the missing body of Jesus to Peter being the leader of the Apostles speaks a lot to us these days when gender equality is overextended.
A woman needs a man for leadership that is why he is the man of the house. This we find in the rite of putting on veil on the newly-weds: only the head of the woman is covered because in every family, in every couple there is only one head, one leader – the man. Wherever there are two heads, it means there is a monster. There can be no order in any relationship when everyone is the leader or the head. This is most especially true in every couple.
However, let it be clear too that these mutual need of woman for man and man for woman is always governed by love which is more than a feeling but a decision, a meeting of one’s mind and heart. If your read the letters of St. John like what we have in our first reading today, you will realize three important lessons by the beloved disciple about LOVE:
Ellah and JV, remain rooted in God for “God is love.” If there is one thing you have found so clear in your lives since college, Ellah and JV, God has always been there with you. His abiding love never forsake you both, especially in your most trying times. Keep serving Him in your parish, in your lives, in your married life. Handle life with prayer.
Second, St. John tells us that love is not merely said in words but proven in deeds and works.
Walk your talk of “I love you.” One of the things I ask couples preparing for marriage is, who should be the first to greet, to speak when you have an LQ? Sino dapat maunang kumibo kapag nag-away ang mag-asawa o magkasintahan?
Many say it should be the man but I ask them whatever happened to the principle of ladies first? On the other hand, some say whoever caused the quarrel must be the one to apologize but the problem is, would anyone admit fault? The answer is simple but difficult to practice: whoever has more love to give must be the first to blink, must be the first to make the move. Love in any relationship is not a competition. Just keep on loving and loving. Show and make your love felt in actions. Not just words.
Third, very clear with St. John that love is always self-giving.
The true measure that you have loved is when you are able to love somebody else more than yourself. Love is always the giving of self.
In another part of his letter, St. John beautifully wrote that “No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us” (1Jn.4:12).
Remember, Ellah and JV, Jesus is always between the two of you, not in front nor at your back. Whatever you do to each other, you do it first to Jesus. When you work hard JV and become patient with the tantrums of Ellah, you first become loving to Jesus and then to Ellah. The same with you Ellah: when you take care of JV, when you cook his favorite meal, you are first loving Jesus then JV. But, the moment you become mean to each other, when you become unfaithful to each other, Ellah and JV, you become unloving first to Jesus and then to each other.
Wedding is not everything, Ellah and JV. There will be dark days and difficult times ahead of you, just like now as you grieve at the death of your dad, Ellah.
But, remember Ellah and JV your gospel today: Easter happened when it was dark; the tomb was empty because Jesus had risen from the dead. Like in life, whenever it is dark and empty, hold on to each other Ellah and JV, have faith in God for there in your midst is Jesus Christ.
Never lose hope in life; as I used to teach you Ellah in high school, hopelessness is the opposite of love, not hatred. The moment you find no hope in everyone and in everything, then you stop loving and that is when you start destroying everything and everyone. Never lose that hope and you will always find love, Ellah and JV. God bless you more and blessed Merry Christmas!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin & Martyr, 21 January 2026 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 3:1-6
Today, I thank you dear God our Father for the gift of our hands, our hands that touch and hold others dear to us, hands that keep joyful things closest to us, hands that openly receive so much from you and from others, hands that cover our face and protect our selves from harm, hands that move freely to do so many things and enable us enjoy freedom; forgive us Father when these same hands you have blessed to feed us and keep us warm are the same hands we hurt others, the same hands we close to refuse friendship and goodwill of others; the same hands that make us unfree in taking what is not ours and committing so many sins.
Bless our hands, Jesus, like what you did to that man with withered hand; let us stretch our hand, Jesus to touch and help others in need; open our hands, Jesus to receive and to share you; like David slaying Goliath, use our hands, Lord, small and feeble they may be to do your will and proclaim your power and greatness; may our hands be your hands, Jesus, regardless of our youth like St. Agnes whom we remember today, the little hands that hold on to you in deep faith, the little hands that spread your gospel of love and justice. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 20 January 2026 1 Samuel 16:1-13 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Mark 2:23-28
Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord of Sabbath, our very rest, teach us to go back to you and rest in you; for the second straight day, Pharisees attacked you though your disciples: yesterday they challenged you about fasting, today about the sabbath.
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on a sabbath?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is the Lord even of sabbath” (Mark 2:23-24, 27-28).
How lovely is the imagery of Sabbath: the day when God rested from creating everything; it is the only day standing alone on its own because it is God's alone; hence, a sabbath is always a return to you, O God, a return to paradise where you alone are the Lord; but, alas, we have also infected this blessed day with our sin and evil, taking it also as our own.
Make us realize, dear Jesus, that like fasting, we need to enter into Sabbath by first recognizing you as our Lord and God, not the day nor the tradition nor the laws; teach us to see more inwards like God in choosing David as next king of' Israel. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 19 January 2026 1 Samuel 15:16-23 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 2:18-22
It is still too early, Lord Jesus Christ but every moment is always a "happy hour" in you as you speak of new wine into fresh wineskins:
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are wuined. Rather, new wine in poured into fresh wineskins” (Mark 2:22).
Teach me, Jesus to have a "new mind in Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16), to truly fast my mind and my heart by emptying myself of so many things like beliefs and suppositions that prevent me from welcoming you into myself; turn me into a fresh wineskin, Lord by discarding my old self that has become my comfort zone of complacency and mediocrity; teach me obedience, Jesus that I may truly appreciate and realize the true meaning of our many traditions like fasting and prayer that lead to glorifying you and union in you; forgive me on many occasions of acting and believing like King Saul of justifying disobedience, insisting on my own understanding and seeing of things.
Many times, indeed, we "burst" because we never have you in us, Jesus, for we are so filled with our old selves. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Feast of the Sto. Niño, Cycle A, 18 January 2026 Isaiah 9:1-6 ><]]]]'> Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 ><]]]]'> Matthew 18:1-5, 10
On this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we extend for a day our Christmas celebration with the Feast of Sto. Niño (Child Jesus), a special feast granted to us by Rome in honor of the crucial role in our evangelization by that image gifted by Magellan to Queen Juana of Cebu over 500 years ago.
As Nick Joaquin claimed in many of his writings, it was the Sto. Niño who actually conquered our country to become the only Christian nation in this part of the world which shows indeed as Christ had declared in today’s gospel that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me” (Matthew 18:1-5).
“Jesus and the Little Child” painting by James Tissot between 1886-1894 now at Broolyn Museum; from wikimedia.org.
One of the things I cherish in my hospital ministry since 2021 is visiting new born babies: now I know why there are called a “bundle of joy” and always a sight to behold for me whenever I see them yawning and stretching then curling their little hands and arms when I sprinkle them with Holy Water.
Babies and children have something so uniquely in them that elicit joy in everyone even the most hardened criminals. They are so lovely because they speak to us of the beauty of life, of the joy of living, of the bright future still coming for us all. That is why experts are worried anywhere there is a falling or zero birth rate because that paints a bleak future of all kinds of problems and disaster to any nation or society so evident these days among developed countries that lack younger generation to care for their elderly and workforce to run their economy.
The sight of every child and baby is always a celebration of life, most specially in the arrival of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word in time and space over 2000 years ago. This Sunday, Jesus is inviting us to remember that scene at the first Christmas when he was born, to see him in every child like that one he had called in the midst of his apostles with flesh, bones, and blood pitched among us.
Photo by Mr. Darwin Arcilla, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, RISE Tower, OLFU-Valenzuela, Christmas 2025.
Here is the Son of God so intimate with our own lives including all its mess especially sickness and death itself.
Here is the Child Jesus we fondly call Sto. Niño who came to be born among us because he loves us so much.
Here are the children of the world, the greatest among us because they assure us of continuity in the future.
Looking at the Child Jesus and the child he had called in the midst of the apostles, we are challenged today to feel and realize what is to be with a baby or a child as another person with breath, body and a purpose yet to unfold throughout his/her life. Being like a child is the greatest of all because that is when we are fully human, entrusting everything to God. Que sera, sera!
It is said that in ancient Egypt, people cried aloud whenever a baby was born because of the sufferings every newborn is due to undergo in life. So true! In fact, my earliest lesson about life came through an illustration in a Reader’s Digest magazine of a newly delivered baby crying while being held by a doctor in the OR. I asked my mother why the baby was crying and she told me that when a child is born and cries, then it is alive; if a baby does not cry at birth, it could be dead that is why the doctor has to spank to make him/her cry. That lesson had remained until now with me as a priest – that life is difficult and growing up is always painful.
And how ironic as in the gospel today that Jesus directs us to becoming like children to fully grasp these realities. It is not only Jesus but also the little children who enlighten our unclear minds with such great light that “shone in darkness” (first reading) because of their simplicity. We adults tend to complicate things by overthinking while children remind us of all the beautiful possibilities in life despite the mess and chaos we are into.
Photo by author, 2022.
It is this simplicity of children that also disarm us of our false securities and pretensions when they playfully smile and laugh at us as they simply live in the present moment enjoying our company. In their fragility and vulnerability is their strength making us so concerned with them that we can’t stand leaving a baby or a child alone especially when he/she is crying, when in need.
There lies the good news of the Sto. Niño and of being like a child: he calls us to stay because Jesus too like children remain with us. There is no turning back for Jesus and for every child here today.
Jesus is here along with every child that is why we too are here gathered today to receive them and to ensure every life is safely protected and lovingly cared. It is in our staying, in our remaining we become child-like as we realize the tremendous blessings God has bestowed on us as his children (second reading) called to grow and mature in Christ by making him felt and known in this world that has slowly become so unwelcoming of babies and of God.
Notice how with the growth of what St. John Paul II called as “culture of death” promoting artificial contraceptives and abortion to control population growth, there is the corresponding turning away of people from God and eventually from one another. In this age of “Do-It-Yourself” Christianity, deciding on the number of kids to raise depend more on the couple’s financial capabilities than faith in God’s grace and power so that couples and people in general have unconsciously considered babies more as things to have than persons to love.
We end our reflection on this Feast of Sto. Niño with this Christmas song we have always taken for granted, “Joy to the World”. Written in 1719 by the English minister Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World” expresses the very joy not only of Christ’s coming but also of the birth of every child who reminds us of God among us in Jesus and of the need for us adults to be one with God always.
Photo by author, Sto. Niño Exhibit at the Malolos Cathedral, January 2022.
Joy to the world,
the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let very heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world,
the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
He rules the world
with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
For heaven and nature to sing anew of this joy, we have to be like the children welcoming Jesus in our hearts without any ifs and buts.
For us to repeat the sounding joy in life, we have to be like children in trustingly following Jesus in his Cross; notice how the gospels are silent about children calling for the crucifixion of Jesus. Only the adults demanded his death!
Finally, for us to experience the wonders of God’s love, we have to become like children who let truth and grace be the rules in life, not lies and powers. That is the greatness of being like a child – of trusting more in God than in man and his sciences and technologies, ideologies and philosophies that all fall short in bringing true joy and fulfillment in life. Amen. A blessed week ahead of everyone!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, First Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 16 January 2026 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 2:1-12
“The Paralytic of Capernaum Lowered from the Roof”, a 5th/6th century Mosaic at Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy; from christian.art.
Today we thank you, dear God our Father for those people you have sent to to carry us through our darkest and trying moments in life to find you, to be near you, to rise again like those men in the gospel today.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:3-5).
Thank you, Father in sending people who never gave up on us, who still believed in us, who hoped and had faith for us when we have totally given up in life that is why Jesus Christ's first words to the paralytic were "your sins are forgiven."
May we who have been brought closer to you, Jesus by those kind of people be persistent too in bringing others who are lost closest to you.
Likewise, forgive us Father for those many occasions we have become so insistent with our desires and plans that we have become unreasonable in our devotion and "panata", hurting others in the process without realizing it is actually a turning away from you like the people who insisted in being given with a king to rule over them. Amen.
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