Finding Jesus hidden within us

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 30 January 2025
Hebrews 10:19-23 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Mark 4:21-25

*Photo by author, sunset in Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.*

Many times, O Lord Jesus,
I feel you "hide" from me
not because you are avoiding me
but simply because you want me to
find you.
And be surprised 
because that is how it is
really with you and the Father
and the Holy Spirit: 
you want us
to experience that sense 
of awe and wonder 
of Jacob in Bethel 
when he dreamt of your stairway
to heaven that upon waking up,
he cried out in joy, "Truly, 
the Lord is in this spot, 
although I did not know it!"
(Genesis 28:16)

*Photo by author, Mt. Olis Park, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.*

Many times in the gospel
you have asked those you have
healed not to say anything
about you to anyone but
the more they talk about you,
dear Jesus;
and this is what you are
telling us today,
that we cannot hide a shining light
or lamp;
any good will always shine
will always be known
and be seen.
And that is YOU,
Jesus.

When I examine my life,
I have experienced many instances
when you, Jesus, had broken
through the surface after being "hidden"
for a long time deep within me;
and what a joy until now 
especially when I am confused,
when I feel alone,
when I see nothing
but darkness,
that is actually when you are "hidden",
 waiting to reveal yourself
 in the simplest occasions,
giving me with "more"
even though I already have
received so much from you
just in finding you!

Grant me the grace, Jesus,
"to approach and seek you
with a sincere heart and in
absolute trust... let me hold
unwaveringly to our confession
that gives us hope for you are
trustworthy as I rouse one another
to love and good works"
(Hebrews 10:22, 23, 24).
Amen.

*Photo by author, sunrise at St. Paul Spirituality Center, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 January 2025.*

Jesus wants YOU.

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 24 January 2025
Hebrews 8:6-13 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 3:13-19

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.*

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him (Mark 3:13).

How lovely to my ears,
to my heart,
 to repeat over and over
again as I bask into your warmth
O Lord Jesus Christ 
with these powerful account
by Saint Mark today: 
"summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him."

Thank you, Jesus,
for the grace and courage
to answer your call,
to come to you,
to follow you
like the original Twelve;
forgive me,
Jesus when your call
gets into my head than
into my heart and arms
and legs;
forgive me,
Jesus when your want for me
inflates my ego to one extreme
and makes me doubt myself
at the other end;
bless me, Jesus,
to always cherish your call to me
using my name as I also renew my yes
to you; keep me faithful
in being close to you
so that I may share you
whenever you send me.

I pray also,
dear Jesus,
for all the others 
you want,
you call
but refuse to respond
and worst,
doubt if you really wanted
them; through the intercession
of your tireless saint Francis de Sales
we pray that you grant them 
the grace
to move on with life,
to let go of their past hurts
and sins for you are now
our perfect mediator of the 
perfect covenant (first reading);
may your kindness
and truth meet in them
finally.
Amen.

Is this meant for us or for everyone?

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. John of Capistrano, Priest, 23 October 2024
Ephesians 3:2-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:39-48

*Photo by author, Pampanga, September 2024.*

Lord Jesus,
many times I find myself
like Peter asking You
so often with his same
question especially 
when things get 
so difficult,
so trying:

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so” (Luke 12:41-42).

Forgive me, Jesus,
when there are times I exclude
myself from the rest,
when I exempt myself
from your teachings,
when I unconsciously demand
from You some perks
and privileges for following You;
let me be your faithful servant
who takes care of others
even if my other fellow servants 
are remiss of their responsibilities
or worst when those You have
entrusted with authority
forget to be humble,
throwing their weight
around us,
insisting on their powers.

Give me the grace, Jesus,
to imitate St. Paul 
of ably dispensing God's grace
and mystery of salvation
to everyone despite the
many hurts and pains 
that often come with it.
Amen.

Twice worthy

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Twenty-first Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 26 August 2024
2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 23:13-22

*Photo by author, St. Scholastica Spirituality Center, Tagaytay City, 21 August 2024.*

Thanks be to God,
our loving Father,
the month of August 
is about to end,
always a difficult time
of the year for various reasons
that some have called it
a "ghost month";
of course, it is not true at all!
August is the month of so many
great saints and celebrations
that remind us of your presence
among us amid the many
hardships and difficulties.

We ought to thank you God always for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater… This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering. We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:3, 5, 11-12).

Dear God our Father,
make us twice worthy like
the Thessalonians
in the midst of many trials this August:
to be worthy of the kingdom of God
who is Jesus Christ our Lord,
and to be worthy of your calling
in His most Holy Name;
many times, we have become
the modern scribes and Pharisees,
modern hypocrites who "lock the 
Kingdom of heaven before men"
with so many of us, especially
in the clergy without any desires
at all of getting closer to Jesus
nor entering heaven!

Make us worthy of Jesus Christ,
the Kingdom of God
by embracing and carrying our cross,
of suffering with the people,
most especially praying 
and sacrificing with the people.

Make us worthy of your calling,
dear Father to be your presence
among men and women in this
turbulent times when ironically,
as we advance in science and technology,
that more we grow apart from
each other and from our very selves.

Help us find our way back to You,
Father in Jesus Christ
through the Holy Spirit
with Mary and your Saints.
Amen.