Jesus our certainty & security

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 09 August 2026
1Kings 19:9, 11-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 9:1-5 ><}}}}*> Matthew 14:22-33

*Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.*

Way back in 2017 on my second pilgrimage in the Holy Land with friends from GMA News, our early morning boat ride was postponed to midmorning due to strong winds in the Lake of Galilee that locals said could be so dangerous.

And that’s how life could really be a lot often in the most poetic sense.

In this journey in life, we not only walk the earth and climb hills and mountains but also have to cross rivers and lakes and seas many times. This is exactly what we do every Sunday when we journey in faith in Jesus, with Jesus just like the disciples at that time.

This year Matthew leads us in this journey. He tells us a totally different scene and setting in giving us a glimpse of the very person of Jesus Christ this Sunday.

*Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2019.*

After the miraculous feeding of more than five-thousand people from five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish last week, Jesus ordered his disciples to go ahead of him on a boat to the other side of the lake as he dismissed the crowds; by evening, Jesus was left alone atop the mountain praying while his disciples encountered rough seas a few miles offshore. During the fourth watch of the night, that is, about 3AM, Jesus came to his disciples walking on water.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out of fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Turly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:26-33).

*Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.*

How was our journey of faith this past year? Have our trust in God grown or changed?

It is really difficult to measure our faith, of how deep it has become because most often, we still feel fragile and uncertain, afraid and so unsure.

Growing in faith is often not straightforward; many times we feel shaken, almost at a total loss when suddenly Jesus comes at the nick of time. This is most true when we experience death of a loved one or simply someone close to us.

Actually I have been going to many funerals lately: the death of a best friend last week that was followed by the demise of his mother-in-law a few hours after we have laid him to his final resting place. Last week, several friends and relatives have also died in my hometown but I had to beg off in offering Masses to most of them.

Our faith and trust in God are most tested in deaths. Many things run through our minds when we hear someone close had died: most common reaction is how quick was the shift when we have just saw each other or texted each other then suddenly, we hear death had come while we silently whisper within kailan lang magkausap/magkasama pa tayo…

Like the disciples at that time when their boat was being tossed by waves due to strong winds in the middle of the lake at night: they could not believe how a little while they left Jesus at the shore to cross the lake then suddenly, Jesus was coming toward them on water. It must be terrifying indeed!

*“Christ Walking On Water” painting by Julius Servus von Klever (1880) from commons.wikipedia.org*

Many times too we find ourselves in great difficulty believing – much more accepting – bad news like when we or somebody close to us is diagnosed with a serious illness, had separated from husband or wife, going through a depression or any mental issues, had an accident or lost everything in a fire.

The list is endless of similar situations when we feel like in a boat tossed by giant waves in the middle of the sea at midnight. Like the disciples in the boat, uncertainties and darkness blind us and drive us into fears that sometimes we fail to recognize Jesus already with us.

Just hold on to God amid all the dangers you face with all your worries and doubts, fears and uncertainties. Most of all, “take courage” as Jesus told the disciples in the boat as he approached them on water because he always comes quietly, often unexpectedly.

By the fact we are able to pray, we are able to celebrate Mass on a Sunday, we are able to cry to God, that is enough proof of his very presence in us giving us courage and strength to endure and move forward with whatever we have just like last week when Jesus asked us to give him whatever little we have. What is most important is we call to God, we believe in him no matter how imperfect it may be like Peter who said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you.”

Ano ba talaga? “Lord, if it is you” – we recognize Jesus our Lord but we can’t remove the “IF” because we are imperfect, divided between doubt and belief.

That’s normal.

There is always that gap in us, like the shore and the sea, doubt and belief that nonetheless keep us in the journey with Christ who asks us to step out in faith even in the high seas.

God does not rush or pressure us to complete faith in him but patiently invites us to grow in trust at our own pace. Even the great Prophet Elijah in the first reading had to wait patiently for God’s coming after fleeing to Mount Horeb to escape the murderous plots of Queen Jezebel against him.

Elijah surely was not aware of everything about God’s plan for him but he had the courage to follow him, to obey him to go to Horeb which is also Mount Sinai where God appeared to Moses. Of course, Elijah knew the scriptures very well, of how God spoke and appeared to Moses and the Israelites in “strong heavy winds and crushing rocks, in earthquake and fire” but found God nowhere. Elijah remained at the mouth of the cave in Horeb until “there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave” (1Kgs.19:12-13).

How lovely is this scene that shows us convincingly that God comes and speaks always in silence. Incidentally, it takes a lot of courage to be silent too.

Faith, like love, comes after an encounter with Jesus. The more we follow Jesus, the more we grow in faith in him as we meet him and most of all, listen to him despite our many imperfections. Just remain in him for he alone is our certainty and security. Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
draw me deeply into
a trusting relationship with you
by following you more closely
as I struggle with my many 
hesitations and doubts 
of your presence.
Amen.

*Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.*

Getting involved

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 9:32-38

*Daily scene of commuters in Metro Manila; photo by Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg via Getty Images, 2024.*

Your words today,
O Lord are very inspiring
and challenging,
inviting me to get involved with
those in the margins,
with those suffering,
for those "troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd"
(Matthew 9:36).

Give me the wisdom
and charity to be involved
with the voiceless in your
holy name, Jesus,
for the sake of your Kingdom
and not for any self-interests
like those in Israel in 
the first reading who "appointed
kings without God's approval,
making idols out of their gold
and silver, making altars
that became occasions for their sins"
(Hosea 8:4, 11).

Grant me courage,
Jesus to get involved with your
poor little ones who sometimes
would even reject our efforts
but most especially when others
brand us as rebels,
as diabolic.

But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons” (Matthew 9:34).

Teach me, Jesus,
the proper way to respond to
your invitation to get involved
with the poor and suffering,
that I may grow in love
and compassion
for those in need.
Amen.

Praying with Sts. Peter & Paul

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2026
Acts 12:1-11 ><)))*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><)))*> Matthew 16:13-19

*Statues of Sts. Peter & Paul, st. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; photos from opusdei.org*

Lord Jesus Christ,
you have given us a great
lesson and greater examples
in calling your Apostles:
they are all of different
personalities and background,
with so many of them exactly
at opposite with each other
yet, you gave them the grace
to overcome these to focus only
on you and follow you;
today we celebrate the two pillars
of your Church, St. Peter
and St. Paul - two contrasting 
personalities but both worked 
tirelessly to spread your gospel
and largely because of them we have
your Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Teach us to be like Sts. Peter and Paul
to trust you always, 
to seek you always,
and to completely abandon ourselves
to you so that we can dare to witness
your loving presence and mercy
to everyone; most of all,
grant us the grace, dear Jesus,
of courage to go through the many
darkness and uncertainties in life
like Sts. Peter and Paul.

Keep us rooted in prayer like them
so that we may know you more clearly,
to see you among our brothers and
sisters especially in those living 
in the margins like the poor and needy;
keep us rooted in you in prayers so that
we may love you unreservedly by being
fair and just with everyone, caring
and being kind with all regardless of 
color and status; and lastly, may we grow
deeper in our love for you in prayer so that
we may follow you closely wherever you lead
us even if it most uncomfortable,
inconvenient, and dangerous.
Amen.

St. Peter and St. Paul,
Pillars of the Church,
pray for us!

**The lithography of Sts. Peter and Paul in Missale Romanum by unknown artist with initials F.M.S (19. cent.) printed by Typis Friderici Pustet. (Renáta Sedmáková | us.fotolia.com)**

Brave. And gracious. Like Alex Eala.

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 21 June 2026
Jeremiah 20:10-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 5:12-15 ><}}}}*> Matthew 10:26-30

BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts to defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the second round on Day Four of the 2026 Berlin Tennis Open at LTTC Rot-Weiß e.V. on June 18, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

God has a most amazing way of consoling us Filipinos when everything is so dismal in the country, sending us athletes who uplift our spirits and make us proud as a nation. In the not so distant past we have had Manny Pacquiao and Olympic gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo cheering us up.

And now, we have the lovely but tenacious and gritty Alex Eala who just made history anew this week with her two upset wins in the ongoing Berlin Tennis Open when she prevailed over WTA number 2 Elena Rybakin Thursday then Friday crushed number eight Elina Svitolina. (Update: Eala lost to Linda Noskova last night.)

Watch her interviews in both victories where Eala mentioned her being “brave” in her games as she described too both matches filled with “grace” – so very much like this Sunday’s gospel where Jesus mentioned thrice the need to be brave!

Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known… And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… So do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, in Ericeira, Portugal, 16 June 2026.*

After choosing and sending his Twelve Apostles last Sunday, Jesus reminds them including us today of the need to have courage in working in the Lord’s “abundant harvests” because the good news goes directly against the ways of the world.

This we have learned at the start of this year in the Lord’s sermon on the mount where he taught us the Beatitudes last February 1, fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Though the Beatitudes like being poor, being hungry and thirsty are not to be taken literally, they still run contrary to the ways of world of power and wealth, fame and convenience.

As the world advances in science and technology, the more it veers away from God and do away with morals that in the process, the Church has always faced many contradictions, some with violent reactions even persecutions for her stance against abortion and population control, divorce and same-sex marriage and other anti-life measures now so widespread through the social media.

It is not only difficult and painful for the Church as an institution but most especially for each of us disciples of Christ that we can easily identify with the Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading.

Of the four major prophets, Jeremiah was the youngest and the only one sent by God to his own people to prophesy. That is why it was so painful for Jeremiah to experience in the hands of his own folks and kin being maligned and rejected, and betrayed just like most of us today!

Jeremiah said: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. ‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.’ But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion… Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (Jeremiah 20:10-11, 13)

Like Jeremiah, we have complained and even cried to God many times for our sufferings in doing his will to be just and fair, kind and merciful, even charitable; and like him, we could not resist God’s call and mission despite the pains and hurts because we too felt “duped” and “seduced” by the Lord (Jer.20:7) as we felt deep inside us his love and protection. Like all the saints who suffered much in witnessing the gospel, we felt deep inside God as our very strength as we pray more to forge on in the difficult mission of doing his works.

*Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.*

When Jesus asks us to “fear no one”, he is inviting us to primarily fear God most of all for he knows everything and will judge us in the end. It is a kind of reverential fear, not the kind of fear of a slave to a master of being reprimanded and punished.

To “fear no one” and “be not afraid” do not mean that we disregard our fears of being hurt or killed physically and emotionally; it is call to have courage which is facing our fears. Having no fears in life is not normal. As we say in the province, yung walang takot sira tuktok!

To fear the Lord means to recognize the sanctity of life, the blessedness of every person. See Eala’s attitude of being magnanimous in victory and in defeat as she would always praise and recognize the talents and greatness of her opponents. In her we find the truth that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” – that every person is a subject to be loved and cherished, not an object or thing to be used or possessed, without feelings and dignity.

This is the tragedy exposed by the recent deaths of the two Ateneo athletes, and it involves almost all UAAP members these past decades who have given more priorities in winning trophies above all, forgetting the value of every person. True enough, it is a secret slowly becoming known.

Likewise, to be not afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul is to recognize the soul in each one of us, of Christ’s indwelling within us, enabling us to overcome every obstacle in life.

It is like being a pencil: remember the inside is more essential than the outside. That is our identity as God’s beloved child.

Our physical strength actually draws much of its power and stamina from our inner core than merely from our bones and muscles. Hence, the need for prayers and meditation, for conditioning to realize our giftedness and value.

When this happens, the third call of Jesus becomes automatic which is to be not afraid because we are worth more than many sparrows or anything else in this world.

Why? Because God is gracious!

To recognize our fears and vulnerabilities as well as weaknesses is in itself courage, fearing no one except God who alone heals us. Most of all, who alone is our strength in our weaknesses. Let us not be afraid in this life to do what is good, to stand for what is right and just, to proclaim the gospel of Christ’s salvation because God is gracious especially to those who abide in him through Christ. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead! And say a prayer for Alex Eala.

*Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.*

Owning our sins & mistakes

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 04 February 2026
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:1-6

*Photo by author, Sakura trees in Taiwan, February 2019.*

God our loving 
and merciful Father:
teach us today to have
the courage and most of all
the maturity not only to say sorry
when we have sinned and erred
but most especially to admit and own
our sins and mistakes
like King David 
in today's first reading.

When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the Lord: “It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred” (2 Samuel 24:17).

Teach us to grow in Jesus, 
dear Father because for as long
as we are blinded by our greatness
we measure in our stature 
and income, 
accomplishments
and accolades,
we shall always be like
King David in the first reading
believing only in our selves,
hiding in so many ways like
census the subtle arrogance
that rules our lives,
forgetting or disregarding
your grace and mercy in our
achievements in life that when
things go wrong, 
we blame others
and point fingers at everyone
except our selves.

Let us be true and sincere
dear Jesus today to
find where we put 
our security 
in our day to day living
so that we may also 
find where you, 
O God, sad to say,
"fit" into our lives
due to our lack of faith
in you.
Amen.

*Photo by author, Taiwan, February 2019.*

Let me not be ashamed of you, Lord

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.

Womanly heart, manly courage

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 19 November 2025
Wednesday in the Thirty-Third Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 19:11-28

*Lady of Sorrows from a triptych by the Master of the Stauffenberg Altarpiece, Alsace c. 1455; photo from fraangelicoinstitute.com.*

What a lovely phrase,
dear Jesus for today
for us all 
especially mothers
and all women:
"womanly heart,
manly courage."

At this time when
a wayward daughter
and sister viciously attacks
her own brother in total
disregard of our family values
and tradition, not to mention
the need for decency and respect
as well as a little sanity too,
here comes out in the open
the nobility of many women and
mothers as well as men still intact;
in this time like during the
Maccabean Revolt when many
sold their souls to evil for the price
of comfort and ease, there are
still more like that mother who dare
to go against the tide of insanity
and folly, indecency and disrespect,
most of all, of idolatrous worship
through religious leaders of the many 
sects and cults who use God's name
in vain and shameful profit too.

Keep us strong inside,
Jesus, to be not afraid in
venturing into finding ways of
serving you most than being idle
in keeping your gifts and talents;
teach us anew the virtue of
obedience, of docility
to authority
whether at home and family or
in the society in general
and in other civil institutions.

Lastly,
we pray dear Jesus
for all mothers crying in silence
these days for the many pains
they bear inside their hearts
especially those who have lost a child,
those betrayed by their own husband
or children,
those separated from their families
due to work and employment,
those nursing a sick loved one,
those forgotten even by families
and societies; grant them 
a "womanly heart" filled with faith
in God and a "manly courage"
trusting in you alone.
Amen.

Now more than ever, we are proven right: the past administration is the most decadent in our history with its utter lack of respect for life and for women; that its war on drugs was totally a lie. May they “who have contrived every kind of affliction not escape the hands of God” (2 Maccabees 7:31).

Sitting with Jesus

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 16 October 2025
Thursday, Memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
Romans 3:21-30     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Luke 11:47-54

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, May 2018.*

If there is one thing
I could wish from you,
Lord Jesus,
at this very moment after
hearing your words to sit beside you,
just be with you to feel you -
are you angry with us? 
Or mad, at least disappointed?

I feel afraid and worried, 
Lord.

The Lord said: “Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say (Luke 11:52-53).

You are not only
filled with courage and wisdom
but very bold to express them;
how I wish, Lord,
I could have that grace
to truly speak my heart out,
to express what the Father 
had sent me to proclaim,
to disturb the complacent
and corrupt, the indifferent
and self-righteous among us;
or, at least, grant me Lord the
diplomacy and formality
of St. Paul who was very much
like you in proclaiming the truth
boldly and courageously.

Let me sit more often
in your silence
and feelings,
Jesus;
let your salvation 
be manifested in me
without any tinge of boasting
except only in your most holy name.
Amen.

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

*Photo by author, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024.*

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 step forward in Christ

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 14 August 2025
Thursday, Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr
Joshua 3:7-10, 11, 13-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:21-19:1

Praise and glory to you,
God our Father!

Your words today are so lovely
so touching
so personal;
I could feel Joshua leading
your people at the banks
of Jordan River
ready to cross.

The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them. No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan…than the waters flowing from upstream halted, backing up in a solid mass for every great distance indeed… while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely. Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho (Joshua 3:14-15, 16).

Many times, Lord
I am afraid to make 
that first step forward
onto the banks of the river of life,
afraid to step on water itself;
many times,
that one little step forward
is all I need but so often
I balked
even chickened out
wasting many opportunites
to grow in faith and trust
in you;
many times, Lord
I am afraid to give
to share
to forgive
because I cannot trust
there would be still enough
for me.

O dear Jesus,
have mercy on me!
Embolden your gift of courage
in me to imitate
the modern saint
Maximilian Kolbe
who was like Joshua
who dared to make that
bold step forward onto the banks
of Jordan River;
like the priestly bearers
of the ark,
St. Maximilian Kolbe
literally stepped forward too
into death by giving himself
for another prisoner at Auschwitz;
what a beautiful imagery
in modern time's darkest moments
that St. Maximilian Kolbe
brought and carried
Jesus Christ
the new ark of the covenant
to bring life not only to
the prisoners of Auschwitz at that time
but even to many among us these
days so lost and trapped
in the gas chambers of
modern forms of
human abuses and exploitation;
Lord Jesus Christ,
grant me the grace
to walk faithfully,
trusting God
who always makes a way
through what seems to be
impassable.
Let me be
the bearer of Christ
to enable others
pass through
from death to life,
from grief to joy,
from hopelessness to love.
Amen.

St. Maximilian Kolbe,
Pray for us.

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