God’s loving care

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 02 October 2025
Thursday, Memorial of the Guardian Angels
Exodus 23:20-23     <*[[[[><  +  ><]]]]*>     Matthew 18:1-5, 10

*Photo by author, Baguio Cathedral, January 2019.*

Thank you,
most loving God our Father
for all your love
and care for us
in giving us 
guardian angels.

“See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice… If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes” (Exodus 23:20-21, 22).

“And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:5, 10).

Your words today, O Lord
speak of care,
of caring for us which is 
to protect someone
and to provide things
they need, especially
someone who is young
or sick or vulnerable
like children - and that is
exactly who we are!

Forgive us, Jesus
for those times 
when we act 
great and powerful,
not needing you
disregarding
your angels
when we insist on
doing things 
in our own ways.

We pray also,
Jesus that we be your
guardian angels
to others
especially the weak
and suffering
that we may protect them
as we also keep them
warm and safe always.
Amen.

Angel of God
my guardian dear
to whom God's love
commits me here,
ever this day (or night),
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

Our inner demons

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 29 September 2025
Monday, Memorial of Saints Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels
Revelation 12:7-12 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 1:47-51

*Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan 25 September 2025.*

Thank you dearest
God our loving Father
for your gift of Archangels
helping us fight our many 
spiritual battles in life;
the wholesale corruption
and looting in government
in connivance with some
contractors has unmasked
the realities of the demons
led by Satan working hard
here in on earth
right in our country;
more than the billions of pesos
they have looted from government,
they have put so many lives in
danger and misery.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the Authority of his Anointed… They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a sort time” (Revelation 12:10, 11-12).

But the greatest spiritual battle
against evil and sin, Lord
happens not in government offices
nor halls of Congress nor of the
streets; they happen right here
in our hearts.

All the evil happening now started
in our selfish hearts,
in our malicious minds,
in our uncontrolled appetites for
comfort and luxuries.

Help us fight the demons
within us, Lord Jesus;
pray for us, St. Michael
that we may have the strength
and courage to stand firm
in what is true and just;
pray for us St. Gabriel
that we may speak the
gospel and life of God in this
world so misled by the words
and images of evil masquerading
as good and beautiful; 
pray for us St. Raphael
that we may heal from our
many afflictions in body,
mind, heart and soul.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University 
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

We are an angel too of everyone

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of Guardian Angels, 02 October 2024
Exodus 23:20-23 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:1-5, 10

*Photo by author, Baguio City Cathedral, January 2019.*

How good and gracious
are You, God our Father
in assigning a guardian angel
to each one of us in order 
to lead us closer to You
and eventually,
face-to-face with You
in all eternity!

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10).

Forgive us, O God,
for disobeying our guardian
angels so often when we
choose to sin than remain
in your grace;
forgive us most especially
when we forget we too
are an angel to everyone
tasked to care and look after
of every one especially the
children and elderly who are weak,
the sick and the poor,
those disadvantaged
in our society that does not believe
in You anymore
and in angels.

*Photo by author, Fatima Avenue, Valenzuela City, December 2023.*

“See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him (Exodus 23:20-21).

Bless us, dear God
to be humble always
like your angels
leading others from
darkness into light,
from ignorance into wisdom
and knowledge,
from bondage to sin
into the grace of freedom
to be more loving and 
faithful in serving You
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Jesus and the Archangels

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, 29 September 2023
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 >><}}}}*> + <*{{{{><< John 1:47-51

*Photo by author, St. Scholastica Convent, Baguio City, 23 August 2023.*

Lord Jesus Christ,
thank you for coming
to us, opening the heaven
anew for us after the Father
had it closed when Adam 
and Eve sinned;
thank you, too,
dear Jesus,
for in your coming,
the heaven was opened
for us to see "angels of God
ascending and descending
on the Son of Man" (Jn. 1:51).

Lord Jesus,
you are 
the ultimate message
and ultimate messenger
of the Father;
let us adhere to you,
believe in you
and follow you
to experience 
your archangels:

keep us firm in our faith
in you so we may be strong
like St. Michael whose
name means "who is like God?";

enliven our hope
so we may be open to your coming
even in the many darkness of life 
to welcome St. Gabriel who brought
the good news of your birth
to the Blessed Virgin Mary;

and lastly, grant us
unceasing charity and
love to be your healing 
presence like St. Raphael.

In the sight 
of the angels,
let me sing your praises,
Lord.
Amen.

God-is-with-us but, are we-with- God?

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, Archangels, 29 September 2022
Revelation 12:7-12 ><000'> + ><000'> + ><000'> John 1:47-51

Jesus answered and said to him (Nathanael), “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:50-51

O dearest Jesus,
my Lord and my God,
I have believed like Nathanael
but until now, 
I have not lived totally
in you and with you!

It was in your coming, Jesus,
the angels have become 
most truest when you opened 
the heavens for us, 
when you the Son of God
came to dwell among us
so that through you God comes
to us and we through you go to him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. They conquered him the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.”
Revelation 12:10, 11-12a

Archangels Michael,
Gabriel and Raphael,
enable us,
lead us to be like you:
always listening to God's 
voice, making his words
our very lives as we come 
to him in faith and complete
surrender so that life and healing,
good news and power
from him 
may flow
to mankind 
through us.
Amen.

Becoming a messenger of God

The Lord Is My Chef Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, 29 September 2021
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 1:47-51

*Photo by Dr. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2020.*

Praise and glory to you, O God
our loving Father!  Thank you for sending
us your Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and
Raphael for your special messages of
protection, love and healing for us all
though we are not always available.
But most of all, we praise and thank you
for sending us your Son Jesus Christ whom 
we may consider as the "Archangel"
of archangels - your ultimate Messenger
of your truth and love for us.
Through him, You O God had come to us;
through him, with him and in him, we are 
able to come to you, dear Lord.

A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven. When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, he received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and people of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:10, 13-14

Help us in our unbelief,
in our little faith in you, dear God;
through Jesus, open your heaven
for us and let us be like your Archangels
in these troubled times of the pandemic:
amid the many occasions of sins
and the seeming reign of evil,
let us be like Archangel Michael
fighting satan in your name
 to ward off his devious attacks
that fragment our relationships;
let us be like Archangel Gabriel
delivering your messages of
faith, hope and love to so many
people awaiting salvation;
and last but not least, Father,
let us be like Archangel Raphael
bringing healing to the many ailments
and diseases that afflict not only our bodies
but most especially our hearts and souls
that prevent us from becoming truly free
and faithful to love and serve you.
Amen.

We are God’s favorite!

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
First Friday, Memorial of Guardian Angels, 02 October 2020
Exodus 23:20-23 | + | >><)))*> | + | Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Photo by author, dome of the Malolos Cathedral, December 2019.

Praise and thanksgiving to you, O God our loving Father! In your great love for us, you did not only give us your Son Jesus Christ to redeem us but also sent us guardian angels who guide and protect us in this journey in life.

What an honor in making each one of us truly your favorite child!

May we always heed the guidance and leading of our guardian angels so we may always follow and do your Holy Will, O God.

May we be respectful, devoted and grateful to our guardian angels who function as our protectors, keeping us safe from all harm and dangers.

Lastly, give us the courage and banish our fears, Lord, for we have our guardian angels always beside us, sometimes ahead of us to prepare our paths.

Let us “follow them, stay close to them so we may dwell under the protection of God’s heaven” (St. Bernard). Amen.

In the presence of God

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Feast of Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, 29 September 2020
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 >><)))*> + >><)))*> + >><)))*> John 1:47-51

Photo by author, dome of the chapel at Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem, the Holy Land, May 2019.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for opening the heaven for us to be in the presence of God the Father anew and most especially, to become like him again in his image and likeness.

As we celebrate today the Feast of your Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, we remember God’s original plan for us to be with him like his angels and Archangels, of being like him not to compete but to reflect his image and likeness.

And so today, we pray that we may have the grace to be like St. Michael whose name means “who is like unto God?” that we may be like God not to compete with him but to be holy and merciful like him, fighting evil and sins with justice and truth.

Make us strong, Lord Jesus, like St. Gabriel whose name means “God is my strength” so we may deliver always your good news of salvation to the world now numb to bad news of wars and murders, injustice and inhumanity, poverty and starvation as well as the excesses of the first world with more than half the world starving and barely surviving with bare essentials.

Lastly, we beg you Lord in this time of the pandemic to grant us the gift of healing for those sick not only with COVID-19 but with other sickness. May St. Raphael who name means “God has healed” come and guide us in this journey like he did to Tobias, providing him the medications to heal not only bodily sickness but also emotional and spiritual maladies.

These we present to God our Father through you our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nang mabuksan ang langit

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-29 ng Setyembre 2020
Martes, Kapistahan ng mga Arkanghel San Miguel, San Gabriel, at San Rafael
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 >><)))*> + <*(((><< Juan 1:47-51

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, pagbubukang-liwayway sa Lawa ng Tiberias, Israel, Mayo 2019.

At sinabi ni Jesus sa lahat, “Tandaan ninyo: makikita ninyong bukas and langit, at ang mga anghel ng Diyos ay manhik-manaog sa kinaroroonan ng Anak ng Tao.”
Juan 1:51

Batid namin Panginoon
 noon pa mang kami'y 
Iyong tinubos sa kasalanan
 nabuksan na ang langit 
upang kami ay makalapit sa Ama 
na bukal ng buti at bait;
Ngunit ang masakit sa langit 
hindi kami makatingin 
dala nitong mabibigat na pasanin
mga kasalanan aming inaamin;
Kaya sana Iyong dinggin
aming dalangin at hiling
ngayong kapistahan ng tatlong Arkanghel
na palaging nasa Iyong banal na piling.

Kay San Miguel Arkanghel
kahulugan ng pangalan 
ay "Sino ang katulad ng Diyos?" 
kami sana'y bigyan, O Jesus, ng tapang
labanan kasamaan at kasalanan 
upang makapanatili sa Iyong banal na harapan;
Bigyan Mo rin kami, Jesus ng Iyong lakas 
katulad ni San Gabriel Arkanghel
na ang kahulugan ng pangalan 
"Diyos ang aking lakas" 
upang Iyong mabuting balita aming maipahayag
lalo na ngayong panahon na ang daigdig
ay manhid sa kasalanan at kasamaan;
Gayon din naman, Panginoon
batid ninyo minsan dala ng aming karamdaman
hindi lamang pangangatawan nanghihina 
kungdi pati puso at kalooban 
Ikaw ay aming tinatalikuran
kaya naman sana Inyong mapagbigyan
sa pamamagitan ni San Rafael Arkanghel
na kahuluga'y "nagpapagaling ang Diyos"
sana'y gumaling o maibsan hirap at tiisin
ng mga may sakit, hipuin kanilang
puso at kalooban upang paghilumin.

Itulot po Ninyo, Panginoong Jesu-Kristo
na katulad ni Nataniel 
kami ma'y walang pagkukunwaring 
tumalima at sumunod 
sa Iyong tawag bilang alagad 
upang maakay ang marami pang iba
palapit sa langit na Iyong binuksan
upang kami ay maligtas ngayon at magpasawalang-hanggan.
AMEN.

Aral ng COVID-19, I: Pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga sa kapwa

Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-19 ng Abril 2020

Maraming aral sa atin
itong COVID-19
ngunit ito muna ibig kong sabihin
dahil kung mayroong mga ningning
sa gitna nitong dilim 
na bumabalot sa atin
ay ang tila pagkagising sa kahalagahan
ng pag-ibig at pagtingin 
sa bawat kapwa natin.
Bago pa man dumating
itong social distancing
matagal na tayong malamig
at manhid sa nasa paligid natin;
nagsasarili, kapwa di pansinin
nahuhumaling sa texting, 
gaming, at social media networking.
Kaya ngayon nakita natin
bagsik at bangis ng COVID-19
hindi malaman gagawin
lahat ibig dalawin
maski makipag-lamayan gagawin
mapadama lang kalinga natin.
Nakakatawang isipin
na mga microorganism
nakapagpagising sa katauhan natin
mahalin at pahalagahan kapwa natin
buhay di natin matitiyak
kung ito'y magniningning 
o magdidilim, papanaw sa lilim.
Panatilihin sa puso at kalooban natin
isang buhay hindi kayang himayin
biliangin man o tuuusin
dahil maski isang buhay lang
ito ay mahalaga at napakarami pa rin.

*lahat ng larawan ay kuha ni g. raffy tima ng gma-7 news maliban yaong una sa ibaba, kaliwa na kuha ni bb. lane blackwater nagpost sa kanyang facebook ng kabutihang loob ng mga nagpapanic buying sa isang supermarket nang mapansin ng isang babae ang kakaunting pinamili ni manong na mukhang hirap sa buhay; lahat ng namimili ay nag-ambag sa kanya ng iba’t ibang de lata at pangangailangan kaugnay ng banta ng covid-19.