“Kabanalan sa Pagbibilang”

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, ika-27 ng Nobyembre 2018

Isang bagay na palagi kong natatandaan

Pangaral ng aking mga magulang

“Huwag kayong magbibilangan,

Iwasan ang pananaghilian, walang lamangan.”

Kaya’t ako ay nasanay bilang panganay

Na gawin na lamang ang lahat ng bagay

Nang hindi naghihintay kung may daramay

Kayanin ang lahat kung di ko naman ikamamatay.

Minsan sa aking pagninilay

Sumaging bigla sa aking malay

Bakit nga ba ang hilig nating magbilangan ng maraming bagay

Pati Pasko ay laging inaabangan ng hindi nalalaman ang kahulugan?

Napakadaling bilangin mga bagay tulad ng

Oras ng maghapon o buwan ng isang taon

Isama mo na rin mga palatandaan ng panahon

Na tila baga lahat ay pwedeng maikahaon.

Ngunit mayroon ba tayong pagkakataon

Matuon sa mga taong nakapaligid sa atin

Upang sila’y bilangin at kilalanin

Mga kabutihan nila sa atin?

Sila ang lagi nating kapiling at nagmamahal sa atin

Nagmamalasakit ngunit di natin pinapansin

Dahil mas natutuwa tayong bilangin mga ipon at pera natin

Pati na sasakyan, damit at pagkaing nakapaligid sa atin.

Palagi tayong nagbibilang ano mayroon o kulang at wala sa atin

Nang di napapansin ano na ba naibahagi natin lalo na sa mga nangangailangan din.

Itong pagbibilang ay gawaing mayroong kabanalan

Kung ang titingnan ay mga kapwa na dapat mahalin, di mga bagay na ibig maangkin.

Kung ating tutuusin, maski ang Diyos na lumikha sa atin

Tiniyak kahalagahan natin nang tayo’y likhain

Bakas Niya’y iniwan sa mukha natin

At pati nga mga buhok natin sabi Niya’y bilang na rin!

Larawan ay kuha ni G. Raffy Tima ng GMA-7News sa Subic, ika-17 ng Nobyembre 2018. Ginamit ng may kapahintulutan niya.

Prayer to Look Inside than Outside

adult backpack blur business — Photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia on Pexels.com

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Tuesday, 27 November 2018, Week XXXIV, Year II

Revelation 14:14-19///Luke 21:5-11

Here I go again, O Lord, looking outside, looking at things like buildings and structures, events and other happenings for clues for your coming. Like the people of your time, I ask for signs outside when in fact you always come inside, deep within me.

“See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name… Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” (Lk. 21:8, 9, 10-11)

Give me the grace of your beloved disciple John to see you coming in my heart. Like the psalmist let me sing “The Lord is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy.” (Ps.96:10, 13)

Let me be faithful to you, be just and most of all be loving and kind to others for you are coming not to destroy us but to renew us in you, Jesus. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

LMC

Count People, Not Money and Things

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Monday, 26 November 2018, Week XXXIV, Year II

Revelation 14:1-3, 4-5///Luke 21:1-4

I still feel tired, Lord Jesus Christ after celebrating the Solemnity of your Kingship this Sunday. But I must confess and I am sure you knew it all along why we are so happy with Christ the King celebration: it signals the end of November, ushering the merry month of Christmas!

How foolish I am, O Lord! Sorry that until now I still don’t get it; it has been like a system within to count days, to count things and objects like money and everything I think to be leading to you. How foolish I am that I count days and weeks and months leading to you but never do I count on you. What a fool I am that I count everything except people and persons!

You have shown John all the peoples of all time represented by the 144,000 faithful standing before you in heaven in his vision. That early, you have counted us all to be included in your glory but sadly, here we are still counting things and objects like those people of your time when you observed how they dropped donations to the temple treasury.

You said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest” (Lk.21:3) because she had counted more on the people to be helped with her donation that was so little compared with others. But her donation mattered most to you because she gave her very best thinking more of the people, not of the money.

Teach me, Christ the King, to see more of people, to seek the persons in my heart whom I have long taken for granted. Teach me, Christ the King, to forget all those ideas and thoughts in my mind about people and focus more on their face as subjects to be cherished and loved. Teach me, Christ the King, to cleanse my heart, to always seek your face. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo/quote from Google.

LMC

“King of Pain” by the Police (1983)

birds flying over body of water during golden hour — Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

LordMyChefSundayMusic//Solemnity of Christ the King-B//25 November 2018

What’s on your mind, Who’s in your heart?

The trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate occupies a very important role in the gospel of John which is also full of symbolisms like our Sunday music by Sting of the Police. Unlike the other three evangelists, John mentioned only in passing – just a sentence – that Jesus was brought to the high priest Caiaphas (Jn.18:24) and spent great details in narrating to us His trial before Pilate. This is the first time, and the only time in all gospel accounts that Jesus is face to face with a representative of the world’s political power to show us that His kingdom is “in this world but not of this world.”

Jesus Christ is king when in our hearts He reigns supreme, when we see Him among others as our brothers and sisters in Him. More than our thoughts and ideas, more than our feelings and assumptions are persons to be loved and respected. To recognize Jesus our King is to follow Him by taking up our cross because His kingdom is based not on force or power but on love expressed in humility, kindness, patience, and mercy that are often seen as weakness in the world. Yes, one may say His kingship is out of this world but that is exactly what the world needs these days! Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe because He is also the “king of pain” who bore all sufferings for us because of His immense love for us.

“King of Pain” was written by Sting from their album “Synchronicity” released in 1983. Sting admits that “King of Pain” is about the pains of his separation from his first wife. To heal his soul, he went on a vacation to Jamaica and while looking at the sun with a friend who is now his second wife Trudie, Sting remarked “There’s a little black spot on the sun today.” He then paused a few minutes and said, “That’s my soul up there.” He went into his room to write its lyrics that evoke love and submission to pain, something not far from Christ’s call to us all that whoever wants to be great in His kingdom must be the slave of all like Him who came “not to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many” (Mk.10:44-45).

There’s a little black spot on the sun today

It’s the same old thing as yesterday

There’s a black hat caught in the high tree top

There’s a flag pole rag and the wind won’t stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running ’round my brain

I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a little black spot on the sun today, that’s my soul up there

It’s the same old thing as yesterday, that’s my soul up there

There’s a black hat caught in a high tree top, that’s my soul up there

There’s a flag pole rag and the wind won’t stop, that’s my soul up there

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain

With the world turning circles running ’round my brain

I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a fossil that’s trapped in a high cliff wall, that’s my soul up there
There’s a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall, that’s my soul up there
There’s a blue whale beached by a springtide’s ebb, that’s my soul up there
There’s a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web, that’s my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign

But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain.

There’s a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There’s a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There’s a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There’s a skeleton choking on a crust of bread

There’s a red fox torn by a huntmen’s pack, that’s my soul up there
There’s a black winged gull with a broken back, that’s my soul up there
There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping that you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain
King of pain
King of pain, king of pain, I always be king of pain

What’s on your mind, Who’s in your heart?

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe, 25 November 2018

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Daniel 7:13-14///Revelation 1:5-8///John 18:33-37

The trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate occupies a very important role in the fourth gospel. Unlike the other three evangelists, John mentioned only in passing that Jesus was brought to the high priest Caiaphas (Jn.18:24) after being examined by his father-in-law Annas while Simon Peter was outside denying the Lord thrice (Jn.18:12-23). In narrating to us this trial of Jesus before Pilate, we see the spirituality and artistry of the beloved disciple who began his gospel account by solemnly declaring the eternal divinity of the Lord, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn.1:1). Building up the climax of his gospel, John placed Jesus for the first time – in fact the only time – face to face with the world’s representative of political power. And this shows us the meaning and essence of what we are celebrating today with Jesus Christ our Lord as King of the Universe, that His kingdom is “in this world but not of this world.”

Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” (Jn.18:33-35)

Every morning when we open our Facebook, this scene seems to be happening again in a similar manner when Mark Zuckerberg’s creation asks us“What’s on your mind?” Facebook and social media are gifts from God, a tremendous blessing for mankind where people meet to forge new friendships and renew old ones. However, its overuse and abuse have led to many occasions of sins and evil. In asking Pilate “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me”, Jesus was not merely asking him what was on his mind but more of who was in his heart. And we all perfectly know what happened next: despite pleadings even by his own wife when he himself knew deep inside him the truth, Pilate washed his hands and went on with what was on his mind to sentence Jesus to death even if he knew deep in his heart He was totally innocent and in fact a very good man.

The question “what’s on your mind” is so enticing for us to just open up without really thinking hard with what we say that may hurt others or have long lasting negative effects not only on other persons but especially to us. It is a question with so many other implications that do not really seek to address anything substantial but only to affirm our own selves that in this world, at this very moment, “I am the king or the queen” and I can do everything! We say whatever is on our minds to lord it over other people, sometimes literally throwing our weight around on others that in the process, we destroy our relationships. Worst of all, when we keep on letting out what is on our minds without checking its veracity, we actually reveal our stupidity than sanity. If we have to ask any question, we have to be ready to know its answer. That is why, when we ask Jesus a question, we must inquire things of the above than things of this world for we might not like His answer that eventually would forcibly bring out from our hearts the right answer like what happened with Pilate later. When Pilate asked Jesus “are you the king of the Jews”, he was not really ready to know yet the answer because deep in his heart he felt and knew the people behind the plot to kill Jesus. Pilate was not ready to confront them because he also knew the Jewish leaders were very much aware of his corrupt practices. How sad that so often we ask not to know the answers but simply to affirm our convictions especially if we know they are not sound at all. When we ask more of this world, of things verifiable by facts and things that can be seen and tested, then we are not yet ready for the truth.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king.” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn. 18:36-37)

Jesus Christ is king but His kingdom does not belong to this world. It is in the world but not of the world. His kingdom transcends beyond this world but right here in us. Jesus Christ is king when in our hearts He reigns supreme, when we see Him among others as our brothers and sisters in Him. More than our thoughts and ideas, more than our feelings and assumptions are persons to be loved and respected. This is the reason why the question is not“what’s on your mind” but “who’s in your heart” which asks the more crucial question, “is Jesus our king?”

To recognize Jesus our King is to follow Him by taking up our cross because His kingdom is based not on force or power but on love expressed in humility, kindness, patience, and mercy that are often seen as weakness in the world. Yes, one may say His kingship is out of this world but that is exactly what the world needs these days! Remember His lessons to us His disciples these past weeks when He sent us with “no food, no sack, no money in our belts” (Mk.6:8), that we must be like little children for “whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk.10:15), insisting that whoever wants to be great in His kingdom must be the slave of all like Him who came “not to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many” (Mk.10:44-45).

The Solemnity of Christ the King reminds us at the closing of our liturgical calendar as we prepare for Advent next week of that main truth that we as a Church must continue to be an image of this kingdom. And what is the truth? In the bible, truth is a road or a path one can follow with complete trust to have life found in God’s law. Truth is something that must be done as in the expression “to walk in truth” (Ps. 119:105) by conforming our lives to the word of God. See again the spirituality and artistry of the beloved disciple, of how he alone recorded the Lord’s declaration “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn.14:6). Here we find the totality of Christ the King who is the Truth because He is the way and the life. Let us recognize today with thanksgiving to God Christ’s coming to us as our Alpha and Omega, our beginning and end. May His kingdom come as we heed His call every day, especially in the Holy Mass as “the time of fulfillment… Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk.1:14-15). Jesus my King, stay in my heart, reign in my life always! AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022. Email: lordmychef@gmail.com

*Photo by my former student Arch. Philip Santiago, Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome, October 2018.

LMC

Stir Me Within, O Lord

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Friday, 23 November 2018, Week XXXIII, Year II

Revelation 10:8-11///Luke 19:45-48

Lately Lord I have felt some intense feelings within me. You seem to be too far, even elusive, yet I feel so drawn to you. Is it love? Am I growing? Am I maturing?

Since Sunday all your words from the first reading to the gospel have all been directed to the end of time, to the fulfillment of everything as you have promised. I know deep in my heart it is easier said than done but that is how I feel – I am looking forward to it. No, I am not ready to die yet, Lord; you know how fearful I am of so many things.

But the more I pray and listen to your words, the more I discover you within me. Like John, I could taste the sweetness of your words in my mouth but once they get down deep within me, they turn sour, they upset my stomach. There are some inner stirrings within that invite me to listen attentively, intently, intensely to you within me.

What they are, at the moment, I do not know, Lord. They are disturbing but at the same time comforting. It is like Luke’s version of your cleansing of the temple that is more sober than the other evangelists’ narration of the same event. It is not so much of your anger but of the stirrings of your words that“all the people were hanging in your words” (Lk.19:48).

Continue to stir me within, O Lord Jesus, let me hang in your words too so I may be cleansed within, washed from my sins, healed of my pains and hurts that you may reign supreme in me. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News, Iceland, October 2018.

When Our Cries Become a Prayer

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Thursday, 22 November 2018, Week XXXIII, Year II

Revelation 5:1-10///Luke 19:41-44

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us in your sermon on the mount that “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Mt.5:4).

Thank you for blessing our crying, our weeping and most of all, thank you very much for crying with us, for crying for us: “As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk.19:41). In our first reading today, your beloved disciple John “shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open or examine the scroll” (Rev.5:4).

Thank you for the gift of tears, Jesus. I pray for those crying, especially those who cry in silence, those who cry alone. Crying is praying. Tears are some of the sweetest prayers we can all offer to you because when we cry, we are blessed to be truly poor and helpless before you, relying only to your saving and healing powers. When we cry, we are so blessed because we can sympathize and suffer with those who are suffering. When we cry, our tears cleanse not only our eyes but also our hearts, slowly washing away the pains and hurts sins have left in us.

The world refuses to cry, trying to hide or cover pains and hurts including sins with pleasures and other forms of diversion. I pray also for them, Lord Jesus, that they may stop hiding their tears because when we refuse to cry, we deny your Holy Cross.

Give me the grace, Lord Jesus Christ, to see things as they truly are. Let me sympathize with those in pain and suffering, to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15) that together, you may all comfort and console us with your abiding love and mercy, might and presence.

Let us join the choirs in heaven saw by John to sing the new hymn, “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth” (Rev.5:9-10). AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by the author of the church Dominus Flevit (Latin for “the Lord wept”) with roof shaped like tears outside Jerusalem taken in April 2017. It is believed to be the site where our gospel scene today took place.

LMC

Prayer of Presentation of Self to the Lord

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Wednesday, 21 November 2018, Memorial of the Presentation of the BVM

Revelation 4:1-11///Luke 19:11-28

Lord Jesus Christ, the skies are hazy today. There’s a typhoon down south of our country. The readings for today are so beautiful and yet we also celebrate the memorial of the presentation of your Mother to the temple. So many things are in my heart, in my mind.

Thank you Lord for accepting me into your family of disciples (Mt. 12:46-50). Thank you Jesus in calling me like John the Beloved to see of the things to come, to see the four winged creatures symbolizing the evangelists (Rev. 4:1ff).

It is always good to serve before you, to help others in need, to touch others with your love and kindness, mercy and forgiveness. These past two days, I have prayed for more love, life and conviction from you to follow you more closely.

As we celebrate today the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I pray for the grace to wholly offer myself anew to you. I am a sinner. Like the people gathered before you during your time, I sometimes refuse to believe in you, to accept you. Like that servant in your parable today, I have kept the gospel in myself, I have not used it wisely and have not prospered so well to bear fruits in me and in others.

Cleanse me, Jesus, my Lord and my God. You are the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Like your Mary your mother and our mother too, cleanse me and give me the grace of docility, of humility, and fidelity to be like her, the “daughter of Zion” prophesized by Zechariah so that you may dwell in me and your kingdom come in me. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo from Google.

LMC

Ano Nga Ba ang Inaabangan sa Pasko?

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-20 ng Nobyembre 2018

Minsa’y nagmisa ako sa aming mababang paaralan

At sa aking panimula aking nausisa mga bata

Kung ilang araw na nga lang ba ang Pasko?

Nag-uunahan, nakangiti na tila baga bumabati

At kasali sa laban o bawi, buong galak nilang sinabi

“41 days before Christmas!”

Ako’y nagulat, kanila pala’ng inaabangan

Araw ng Pasko kaya’t bilang nila kung ilang araw na lang

Habang ako nama’y nagulantang sa gayong katotohanan.

Bakit nga ba tayo sabik sa araw ng Pasko?

Ano nga ba ating inaabangan

Palagi tayong mayroong countdown?

Kung ang Pasko ay isang petsa nga lang,

Bakit hindi na lang tayo magbilangan

Bagong Taon pa lamang?

Madalas sa ating karanasan

Tayo ma’y natitigilan kinagabihan ng Pasko

Lalo na’t nagkaubusan ng pagkai’t mga pamaskong pinaghandaan.

Ito nga lang ba ang dahilan at kahulugan ng Kapaskuhan?

Lahat ng kaabalahanan at kapaguran sa paghihintay

Di malaman kung napasaan?

Kung ating pagninilayan diwa ng Pasko

Araw-araw itong maipagdiriwang kung sa puso natin sumisilang

Itong si Hesus at hindi sa sabsaban.

Higit sa petsa ng Kanyang kapanganakan

Ang Pasko ay isang kaganapan nang makialam

Sa ating kaguluhan ang Diyos na walang hanggan;

Kanyang pinunan, ating kakulangan

Binigyang saysay buhay nating walang kabuluhan

Upang tayong sinilang sa kasalanan, magkaroon ng kabanalan.

Mamuhay tayo’ng lagi sa Kanyang kapanatilihan

Upang ngayon pa lamang ay maranasan hatid Niyang kagalakan

Kesa ito’y abangan at malibang sa pagbibilang ng petsa at buwan.

Larawan ay kuha ng may-akda, Belen ng Manor House sa Camp John Hay, Baguio, Nobyembre 2017.

Prayer to be filled with Life Anew

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Tuesday, 20 November 2018, Week XXXIII, Year II

Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22///Luke 19:1-10

Lord Jesus Christ, today I feel like your beloved disciple John, receiving your revelations not about the end of time but about my real self.

Like the people of Sardis, so often I have that “reputation of being alive but actually dead (Rev.3:1).” Yes, there are times I merely accomplish things for you but deeply lacking with life and vitality, zest and enthusiasm. On the surface, like what St. Paul had noted in one of his letters, I act like busy body but really doing nothing. If yesterday I lacked love in the things I do, most likely I also lack life. When there is love, there is always life.

Like the people of Sardis, I would always hide on the sides refusing to walk on the main street because I do not have the drive to be with you on the way. Like Zachaeus, I climb trees to hide from others though too eager to see you, to look at you, to listen to you.

Give me the grace to be filled with life anew, with warmth and energy, to make a stand for the gospel, to stand for what is true and just. Forgive me in my lifelessness that made me lukewarm in the process like the people of Laodicea who were neither hot nor cold (Rev. 3:16). Do not spit me out of your mouth, Lord. Like Zachaeus, give me the grace to turn away from sins and evil, to make a stand for justice and truth.

Let your salvation come today Lord in many families divided! Like what you did in entering upon the home of Zachaeus, smash the walls dividing many family members from one another like indifference and coldness. Fill them with more love and life, kindness and warmth, goodwill and concern for one another. I pray for all family members who have stopped talking with each other, those with festering bitterness and suspicions deep inside, those who continue to hurt each other in words or in deeds, in silence and indifference. Rekindle the warmth of their kinship, of their being one flesh, one blood, one root, one family. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo by the author, Manor House, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, November 2017.

LMC