crossings

Thank you dear Lord,
my God for another week
of work and tasks about to close;
another "crossing"
I am to complete;
you have done so much
to me,
you have given me with so much,
and I have given back so little,
even nothing at all.
The words of Moses echo
to me personally today
as in those days when your
people were about to cross Jordan
into the Promised Land.

When I look to my past
and see how I have passed
every trial and struggle,
how I have grown and matured
from the many lessons of life,
how I have felt so loved
and fulfilled deep inside,
there is only you, God
my loving Father
personally coming to me,
personally blessing me,
personally guiding me
in Jesus Christ your Son;
you don't need anything back
for yourself, Father;
you don't need anything from us
except our very self not for you
but still for our very self -
to have more of you,
to be fulfilled in you,
to be one in you
in Jesus Christ who invites
us daily to deny our self,
take up our cross,
and follow him.
Amen.

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 05 August 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome
Numbers 12:1-13 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

*Image of painting from pemptousia.com.*

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said and they cried out in 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 him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:26-31)

Lord Jesus Christ,
bless me
and keep me focused
on you alone
when strong winds 
blow on my path
especially when I have 
to make important "crossings"
in my life
for me to grow and
mature as a person
and your disciple.

Many times I doubt
and lack the faith in you
even I have experienced
your miracles and salvation
so many times;
I feel afraid
and forget you are there
with me in the darkness of
every crossing in this life,
failing to recognize you,
thinking you are a ghost.

One of the ghosts
I am so afraid of is
the ghost within me,
the strong winds within me
that sway me away from you
and the path of your Cross
life self-doubts;
another ghost I am so afraid
is what others say about me
like that instance in the first
reading when Aaron and Miriam
spoke ill of your servant Moses.

O dear Jesus,
let me be firm in you,
hold on tight to you,
and just look at you
when winds are too strong
and it is so difficult to
get across,
to cross the street
or the sea.
Amen.

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

Category: crossings

Counting our blessings

Jesus amid strong winds