Category: better or bitter?

Courage to be disliked

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 30 September 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church
Zechariah 8:20-23     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Luke 9:51-56
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 19 March 2025. 
You were the first,
Lord Jesus Christ,
to teach us to have 
the courage to be disliked;
you were the first
to show us true freedom
from what others say
to freely follow what God says;
you were the first
to suffer and die for love,
Lord Jesus Christ
because your being is always clear,
your mission is always clear,
and your love is most clear.

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destinations of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village (Luke 9:51-56).

You knew very well,
dear Jesus, what awaited you
in Jerusalem yet you "resolutely
determined to journey" there and 
when trouble was brewing in a 
Samaritan village, you simply
took another route to not waste
energy and time among 
the Samaritans.
Grant me the same courage
and freedom, Jesus,
to be disliked,
to be rejected;
teach me to let go 
of my past especially 
my mistakes and failures,
choosing to be better 
than bitter;
keep me anchored in you,
Jesus, of how much you love
me and believe in me so that
I do not have to seek other's 
approval except that I am doing
your holy will; most of all,
teach me to be gentle and kind
with myself, that I am not God
who is perfect; like St. Jerome,
let me immerse in your words
to continue following you
despite my imperfections
as Zechariah prophesied.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024.

Praying to be better, not bitter

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 10 July 2025
Thursday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5   <*{{{>< + ><}}}*>   Matthew 10:7-15
Photo by author, August 2024.

“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)

Dear God our Father:
give me that magnanimity
of Joseph to his brothers,
give me that same kind of 
attitude of being better
than bitter with life's many
trials and difficulties caused
by others especially those closest
to us; what a tremendous grace
for Joseph after all those years of
pains of being sold and lost in a far-away
country, he remained faithful to you
and you gifted him the wisdom
to save not just a nation
but the whole region.
Photo by author, Alfonso, Cavite, 2024.
Teach us to be empty always
to never carry so many
baggages and luggages,
so many wealth and
extras in life journeys
whether they be positive
or negative because in life,
it is always that attitude of
emptiness for you and your plans
that matters for us to fulfill your
mission, everything else is
incomparable to you as our
most cherished gift
and treasure;
for those going through
many trials these days
especially when the days
are dark and rainy,
teach us to have fun
and celebrate life
with much love in you.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
Photo by Ravi Kant on Pexels.com