Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul, 23 July 2025 Wednesday, Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 13:1-9
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, San Miguel, Bulacan, 2022.
Lord Jesus, you are the Sower and your seed is always good: wherever it falls, it grows; most of all, you are most good as you never tire of going out to sow your good seed!
“A sower went out to sow… Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Matthew 13:3,9).
“The Sower” painting by Van Gogh from en.wikipedia.org
Open my heart and my soul, dear Jesus to listen intently to your word and be a "rich soil" like St. Bridget of Sweden whose devotion to family, to her people especially the poor and to Church reforms that led to the return of the papacy to Rome proved her to be a seed well sown; there are times when I am just like the path where your seeds fell that fed only the birds; quite often, I am like the rocky ground so full of enthusiasm but wanes quickly when challenges come; worst of all, Lord Jesus, free me from the many thorns that steal me from you that I stop maturing and growing; let me be the rich soil who receives you and your seed: let your light of truth and warmth of faith help me grow; may your hope nourish me especially when days are dark and nights are long; most of all, water me with your love and charity to bear all and be fruitful. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 20 July 2025 Sunday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle C Genesis 18:1-10 ><}}}*> Colossians 1:24-28 ><}}}*> Luke 10:38-42
Photo by author, Tagaytay City, February 2023.
After telling us what we must do to inherit eternal life through his parable of the Good Samaritan last Sunday, Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem with his disciples with a stop over today in the home of the sisters Martha and Mary.
The visit became an occasion for Jesus – the Good Samaritan – to expound on the more important things we his disciples must “do” as exemplified in the contrasting attitudes of the two sisters.
“Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary”, painting by Johannes Vermeer (1654) from en.wikipedia.org.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary had chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:38-42).
This is the third consecutive Sunday Jesus gives us the top things we his disciples must always “do”: two Sundays ago he instructed us to represent him well by greeting everyone with peace while proclaiming that the kingdom of God is at hand (14th Sunday); last week, Jesus asked us to consider everyone especially those in need as a “neighbor” with whom we must show mercy at all times.
Today’s teaching of Jesus is of capital importance in this series on discipleship before the Lord caps it next Sunday with the very foundation of discipleship which is prayer.
An icon of Jesus visiting his friends, the siblings Sts. Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Photo from crossroadsinitiative.com.
"Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said..."
Only Luke has this unique story in the home of Martha and Mary.
Far from the simplistic views of a distinction between “contemplative” and “active” approaches in discipleship, Luke invites us not only to enter the home of Martha and Mary but most of all our Lord and Master Jesus Christ to experience and realize the deeper realities of being his disciple.
There is more at issue here than a conflict of duties of listening to the Word like Mary and doing the work like Martha. Jesus is not telling us to be like Mary listening more to the word – and forget all about the work to be done and accomplished? Not at all.
Jesus reproached Martha for being anxious and upset about many things in life that she had forgotten the more essential which is to listen to Christ himself.
Luke’s gospel teems with instances where we find Jesus warning his disciples against being overwhelmed with cares of the world like in the parable of the sower where he mentioned those seeds that fell among thorns were choked by the anxieties and pleasures of the world that they failed to be fruitful (Lk.8:14). In chapter 12 we find Jesus twice repeating in asking his disciples “not to worry” on how to answer their persecutors for the Holy Spirit will teach them (Lk.12:11-12) and immediately after that, “not to worry” again about what to eat or wear for life is more than food and body is more than clothing (Lk.12:22-23). There are many other instances in all gospel accounts we find Jesus denouncing too much focus on things of the world that are passing and worst, detract us his disciples in confessing faith in him as the Christ who had come and will come again at the end of time.
“Jesus in the House of Martha and Mary”, painting by Erasmus Quellinus II and Jan Fyt (1650) from en.wikipedia.org. See the folly of Martha’s worries and distractions with the enormous amount of food being prepared.
Jesus clarifies in the example of Mary that the first priority of every disciple is to listen to the Word who is himself. More than the division of time allotted for “contemplation” and “action” by every disciple, Jesus reminds us that the more we listen to him, the more we do his work; and the more we do his work, the more we desire to return to him and listen again and again to him.
Contemplation and action always go together. We cannot overdo the other and neglect the other. The moment we make a distinction between the two, problems arise like what we find in the church.
When priests and bishops concentrate only in contemplation, oblivious to the social conditions of the people, their proclamation of the Gospel is diluted as they fail to represent well Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. When they are so immersed into social action and advocacies, business endeavors including entertainment in the Mass without contemplation, Christ is detached from the whole picture that people could no longer see nor feel the spiritual nature of the Church with everything becoming a show, empty of any sense of the divine and sacred. In both instances of abuses, either of contemplation or action in the Church, it is her credibility that is eroded as the Body of Christ with a growing number of the faithful disillusioned with priests and bishops more identified with the rich and powerful.
"There is need of only one thing."
Abraham in today’s first reading showed us the most beautiful example of discipleship. Like Martha, Abraham was also gracious in receiving his visitors at Mamre believed to be the Blessed Trinity in the form of angels; but, unlike Martha who was so concerned with her chores that she had forgotten Jesus, Abraham was intently focused on his visitors as “he waited on them under the tree while they ate” (Gen.18:8).
Like Mary listening at the feet of Jesus, Abraham was fully present in God while in Mamre. That is discipleship – to have that full presence in the Lord which is the “only one thing needed” of us which is to receive God’s gift of himself to us, of his Word who became flesh Jesus Christ who enables us to do his works by first recognizing him in ourselves and in one another as our neighbor.
This is the reason why even inside prison, St. Paul felt Jesus Christ’s coming and presence that he rejoiced in his sufferings as part of his ministry in proclaiming Christ as the hope for glory (Col.1:24, 27).
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Last week I read in one of the blogs I follow by an American nun, of how she attended many years ago to a delivery man who died of a heart attack in the ER of a Philadelphia hospital. Part of her ministry was to gather the things found in the chest pocket of the man’s shirt so she could inform the relatives of his death: there was a well-used prayer book, a thin wallet with a few dollars inside, a lottery ticket and a picture of his grandchildren. It was so touching how she narrated these simple things found in the man’s chest pocket as those closest to his heart (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/07/12/the-amoroso-man/).
That hit me so hard because even in this age of smartphones, I still carry a little notebook and pen in my chest pocket where I write my schedules as well as occasional notes on everything I notice and read. Deep inside me after reading that blog, I wondered where is Jesus Christ in all those notes and activities in my pocket notebook closest to my heart.
Dearest Lord Jesus, make me fully present before you always, even in my activities and distractions for it is only in you I am fulfilled. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 14 July 2025 Monday, Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis, Priest Exodus 1:8-14, 22 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 10:34-11:1
What a lovely Monday dear God when your words are "come" and "welcome" - two words that indicate challenges in our relationships, challenges we refuse to face and resolve, challenges that are so difficult to accept nor understand.
A new king, who knew nothing of Jospeh, came to power in Egypt. He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than ourselves! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country” (Exodus 1:8-10).
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Matthew 10:34-35).
Many times we come to foreign countries like Israel in Egypt upon your own sending, Father, but instead of opportunities and green pastures, we come to many sufferings and trials like our OFWs and immigrants; and there are times that because of our being a follower of Christ, a wedge is driven between us and our family or friends or colleagues.
What are you teaching us, Lord in every coming?
That life is a series of coming, never of going, and, whenever we come, we take up our crosses and follow you, Jesus.
The difficulties and trials that come our way teach us to "welcome" these in itself as the opportunities and blessings in disguise we have actually "come" for!
“Whoever receives you receives me, whoever receives you receives the one who sent me” (Matthew 10:40).
How lovely in other translations that to receive is to welcome; what matters most in life and discipleship, dear Jesus is we always come to you, come to where we are sent and most of all, to welcome every coming as your very presence like St. Camillus who lovingly served the sick in whom he found you in each one of them. Amen.
St. Camillus de Lellis, Pray for us!
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2023.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, 06 July 2025 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Isaiah 66:10-14 ><}}}*> Galatians 6:14-18 ><}}}*> Luke 10:1-12
Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.
Finally, we hit the fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time with Luke as our guide after a month of Solemnities.
We are at the turning point in the gospel of Luke – chapter 9 and first half of chapter 10 – where Jesus was identified by Peter as the Messiah (9:20) while Jesus for the first time made known his coming pasch (9:22). From this point on, Luke tells us of how Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (9:51) to fulfill his mission as they took a detour from a Samaritan town that had refused them passage (9:53). After this scene comes our gospel this Sunday.
At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’… Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you and enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'” (Luke 10:1-5, 7-9)
First thing we notice about discipleship according to Jesus is that it is never easy, “behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Disciples need to be “resolutely determined” in the mission like Jesus, focused only on Jesus.
Early in his teachings during the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus enunciated in his Beatitudes the contradictions of his life and teachings to the ways of the world his followers have to imitate. Hence, his list of “do’s” and “don’ts” of discipleship in today’s gospel.
Do’s: greet peace every household they entered; stay in same house; eat and drink whatever is offered; cure the sick; and proclaim “the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Don’ts: no money, no sack, no sandals, no greetings along the way, and do not move about from one house to another.
Notice there are five do’s and five don’ts. And there are only two “do’s” that require speaking: to greet every household with peace and then the other is to proclaim to everyone the kingdom of God is at hand (10:5, 9) which is the sum of discipleship in Christ.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
“Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household'”…
The only valuable we as disciples of Christ must have is peace that we have to offer generously to everyone.
Peace is the work of the Holy Spirit, a sign of the coming of the Kingdom of God as the angels proclaimed on Christmas, “on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk. 2:14). Most of all, peace is the fruit of Easter that the Risen Lord offered his disciples upon seeing them on that evening, “Peace be with you” (Jn.20:19).
Vatican II defined peace “is not merely the absence of war… but the fruit of love which goes beyond what justice can provide” (Gaudium et Spes 78). Peace is something we all have to work and strive for, entailing wounds and sacrifices for us to achieve it by cooperating with the grace of Jesus Christ in overcoming sin and evil. It is a process that never stops, calling for perseverance and daily conversion on our part.
Peace comes when we disciples are open for Christ, for others, and for change and transformation. That is why Jesus insisted us his disciples not to bring anything material that may influence our dealings with others, especially with those who are poor.
The great irony of our time is that the more we have grown affluent with wealth and material things, the more we have become empty in meaning and directions in life. So many are disturbed, longing for peace but could not have it because we the disciples are also lost in the things and the ways of the world.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
“…cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'”
In the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary introduced by St. John Paul in 2002 is its third mystery, the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
It is truly a mystery of light because Jesus is the Kingdom of God! To proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God is to proclaim the coming of Jesus Christ in our midst. When John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus if he was the One they were waiting for or had to wait for another, Jesus said in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them” (Lk.7:22).
Where there is healing, there is new life, there is proclamation of the good news, there is Jesus Christ! Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is representing Jesus in our lives, in our mission.
From vaticannews.va
In the previous chapter and scenes before our gospel this Sunday, Jesus asked his disciples what people said about him, the very same gospel we have last Sunday during the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul.
Recall how Jesus was mistaken for John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
That’s the problem we still have today: many followers of Jesus do not represent him well that people are lost at who he really is! And it first happens right in the Sunday Eucharist as noted by a Facebook group called Catholic Fortress in its series this past week.
Many reacted positively for the series that was really good and timely for us priests and ministers at the altar who have unconsciously abused the Mass, unknowingly deviating from Christ himself who could no longer be found and experienced by the people. Truly the Mass is about Jesus; but, when it becomes like a showbiz with so many ek-ek and palabas by the priest, the servers and ministers and the choir, then it leads us away from Jesus who is paloob or inside our hearts.
In 400 AD, St. Augustine wrote the first manual for catechism called De Catechizandis De Rudibus (On Instructing Beginners) detailing, step by step the many things to consider and lessons to teach people being prepared for Baptism. From a simple request by his deacon named Deogratias, St. Augustine came up with an entire book on how to catechize with a final lesson that is the heart of his book when he wrote, “Remember, the catechist is the lesson himself.”
The same thing is very true with us priests and altar ministers and every disciple of Jesus Christ! Do we have Jesus Christ or not especially in the celebration of the Holy Mass where we proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand and share peace with everyone?
How can there be peace of Christ among us when priests fail to love first of all Jesus in prayers as reflected in his love for the people by preparing for the Mass so that the sick and the burdened may experience Jesus – not an actor or actress of a telenovela no matter how popular it may be?
Where is the Kingdom of God when people have to bear the tantrums and antics and hangups of their priest as they already have so much burdens in life? Or, when people have a hard time tightening their belts and the priest keeps on asking for collections without any reports?
Where is the Kingdom of God when priests play favorites among the parishioners and servers, when some support Pride Movement and corrupt officials?
How can there be peace when all we have in the Mass is clapping of hands that we never have time to listen to God speaking to us in silence?
Photo by author, St. Joseph’s Chapel of the Order of Friars, Tagaytay City, 17 January 2025.
This Sunday, Jesus invites us to examine our faith journey in him if we are still following him or somebody else.
Let us pray for that grace to represent Jesus well always in our lives as priests and laity alike that we truly become the Body of Christ, his presence on earth.
It is the relationships that we have with God that matters in discipleship which Isaiah likened to that of a mother and child in the first reading. This finds it fulfillment when like St. Paul in the second reading, it is Christ’s Cross that we carry in ourselves – not bags nor money nor self and fame. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 03 July 2025 Thursday, Feast of St. Thomas the Apostles Ephesians 2:19-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:24-29
Caravaggio’s painting “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” (1602) from en.wikipedia.org.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be like you - so understanding, so caring, so loving to those who are doubting you like Thomas your Apostle; poor Thomas - he has been called "Doubting" when the evangelists simply referred to him as "Didymus" or twin; however, it is so lovely too to know that doubt and certainty are like twins because when we doubt, the more we seek and find the truth which Thomas did.
When I think of my own faith journey in you, Lord, many times I was worst than St. Thomas for I was not only doubting you but also hesitant in following you because of fears and mistrust, lack of confidence in my self, and simply self-centered. Could it be, Lord, that in each one of us is Thomas our twin - doubting, hesitating, indecisive, in following you?
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28).
How nice of you, Lord Jesus to be so warm with Thomas on that night when you appeared again; instead of engaging Thomas into a debate or discussion, you called him, invited him to touch your wounds, to feel your scars; what an incredible courage, Lord Jesus to let us see and feel closely your wounds, to stare and look at your sufferings, to remember and imagine your lowest point in life if only to show us that it is the only way to glory; many times, we are afraid to admit even to ourselves and to others our wounds and hurts, preferring to keep them even hide them to keep our illusions of greatness.
May we find the graces of joy and warmth, love and kindness that fill our many wounds in life as a result of our following you, Lord Jesus for it is in our woundedness and hurts that we become "members of the household of God who are built together to be the dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19, 22). Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul Monday, Memorial of the First Martyrs of Rome, 30 June 2025 Genesis 18:16-33 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 8:18-22
Photo by author, Cabo Da Roca, Pundaqit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
*Apostle, from "apostolein", to be sent forth; Disciple, from "discipulous", to follow.
A day after celebrating the Solemnity of your Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, you gave us today Jesus the memorial of the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church who were killed during the reign of Nero in 64 A.D.; many of them were literally used as torches and lamps when their mutilated bodies were burned to light the city of Rome.
How inspiring, dear Jesus to hear their story of witnessing their faith in you at that time; grant us the same courage today to always follow you, Jesus, to follow your footsteps by doing your work and most specially, in carrying your Cross; let us seek sanctity regardless of our social status, age or skills.
Let us imitate Abraham in the first reading who walked with God, his visitors at Mamre; like Abraham walking with you, following you, Lord, let us work more for the conversion of others not their judgment; in following you, Jesus, let us think more of how to save followers lost in their directions in life; instead of leaving them behind on their own in their evil ways, may we appeal to God for their conversion.
May we not be like the two hesitant disciples in today's gospel: though willing to follow you, Jesus, one was impulsive and the other was cautious; give us courage to do a sincere reality check today of our discipleship in you: help us bring back the joy and zeal of following you, Jesus when we started to heed your call of discipleship; let us dare again to leave the sides to walk at the middle of the road following you Jesus even to the Cross; help us bring back that desire to go near you, Jesus, to always seek you and follow you by forgetting our selves; and like Abraham, let us be gracious always to one another as your followers. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church photo from ucatholic.com.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 06 June 2025 Acts 25:13-21 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 21:15-19
Photo by author, Cabo Da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
I love you, Lord And I lift my voice To worship you Oh, my soul rejoice Take joy my King In what you hear May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear...
I just felt singing that lovely song, Jesus as I prayed on your words today; felt so good, so comforting, especially if sang at times like when everything is flowing smoothly in life, when obstacles are overcome, when there is more joy than sadness, more triumphs and success, more healthy than sickly; how easy it is to say "I love you, Lord" unless you Jesus asks us "do you love me" thrice.
It is different when you are the one asking the question, Jesus because you know everything, you know very well how imperfect our love while at the same time you know so well how we try hard in loving you by forgetting ourselves, following you and carrying our Cross.
Give us the courage and strength to say "I love you, Lord" dear Jesus for it is only in first loving you that we are able to follow you. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Fourth Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 11 May 2025 Acts 13:14, 43-52 ><}}}}*> Revelation 7:9, 14-17 ><}}}}*> John 10:27-30
The new Pope, Leo XIV, appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, 09 May 2025; photo from vaticannews.va
What a lovely fourth Sunday in Easter also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” when we are blessed with a new Pope – Leo XIV – who will shepherd us into this modern time. Truly, Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd knows us so well that he did not make us wait long in having a new Pope in this troubled time.
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).
“I know them.” How lovely are these words of Jesus to us, his “sheep” especially for those going through a lot of trials and difficulties, for those feeling lost and empty, for those about to give up on life.
Let us dwell on his words “I know them”.
For the Jews and in the Bible, knowing is more of the heart than of the mind. Knowing a person is not just knowing one’s name but most of all of being in a personal relationship, an affinity with the person.
In declaring “I know them”, Jesus affirms how he personally regards each one as somebody dear to him, somebody close to him. We are all a somebody, a someone to Jesus whom he personally loves and cares for.
This we have seen among the people we have met in Lent like the apostles Peter, James and John during the transfiguration, the prodigal son, the woman caught in adultery. Or during the Holy Week like Judas who betrayed the Lord, Peter who denied Jesus thrice, Dimas the thief, the centurion who believed in him after his death on the Cross, John and the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross. They were all in their most difficult situations in life yet Jesus knew them so well that he assured them of his loving presence, lifting them up to move on with life.
Recall also the people we met this Easter Season like Mary Magdalene and companions early in the morning later followed by Peter and the beloved disciple who all found the tomb empty, the disciples at the upper room with locked doors that evening of Easter, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Thomas Didymus, the disciples led by Peter at breakfast with Jesus at the shore of Lake Tiberias. In their most joyous moments in life amid the darkness and emptiness, the doubts and unbelief or blindness following Easter, they were accompanied and joined by the Risen Lord to ensure and assure them that indeed he is alive and will always be with them.
In the same manner, think also of those moments in your own life of darkness and emptiness, whether negatively or positively, for better or for worse… who remained standing by your side?
Jesus. Only Jesus. And always Jesus. Because he knows us so well.
Jesus is truly the Good Shepherd who knows us so well even in these modern times where there are more vehicles and traffic, more disruptions to life yet he continues to shepherd us like the many shepherds still in many countries in Europe and the Middle East.
And that makes this passage most touching and refreshing because though times may have changed, Jesus has remained personally committed with each one of us. He keeps on looking for us, searching us, following us. Loving us most of all. But, are we present in Jesus?
Notice the four verbs in this short gospel we have today: ascribed to Jesus are the verbs “know” and “give” while to us the sheep, “hear” and “follow” where problems always happen. Do we “follow” what we “hear”? “To hear” is to recognize the authority and importance of the speaker’s words; it is to enter into a communion with him, to put oneself in his guidance, to “follow” him as his disciple.
Jesus speaks to us daily but nobody cares because right after waking up, most of us today look for our cellphone than pray! We are more interested with the “likes” and “followers” we have garnered from our previous posts. We are more enthralled with the seductive voices and images of social media that feed on our ego and senses, giving us false feelings of security and acceptance. We would rather be consumers than disciples who are called to sacrifice like the shepherd.
Photo of a sheep’s fleece by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2022.
Though life has become more affluent these days, it has ironically become more empty and lost without direction because we just keep on having and possessing, consuming and ingesting everything the world offers that leave us guilty and empty because we cannot experience any sense of fulfillment and meaning.
How ironic that amid this pandemic of “obesity”, we fill ourselves mostly with trash and poison, literally and figuratively speaking that we feel so lost more than ever with so much time wasted and sadly, life and relationships thrown away. Everything has become more of the mind than of the heart with persons being commodified as things, everything seen in monetary terms, so utilitarian in nature.
Only Jesus “knows” us so well that is why only he “gives eternal life” as Peter exclaimed in this Saturday gospel in the third week of Easter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and we are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn.6:68-69).
Unlike anybody, Jesus is the Son of God sent to gather us, to save us and to bring us closer to the Father so that no one among us shall perish. That is the plan of God fulfilled by Christ which we must continue like the apostles as we have heard in the first reading when Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel of Jesus to the gentiles.
This Sunday, Jesus our Good Shepherd assures us, wherever we may be – in darkness and emptiness, or under the dark clouds of a thunderstorm, under a thatched roof of misery – that he knows us so well. He loves us.
Feel the warmth of Christ’s loving heart this Sunday by being present with your loved ones, the people you know so well like Jesus. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you are our Good Shepherd and we are your sheep; only you know us so well, only you can give us eternal life, only you can keep us safe not to be snatched by anyone like the corrupt and shallow candidates running for office again this election; give us the wisdom, courage and faith to follow you and stand by you like those elders in white garments seen by John in his vision of heaven in the second reading; let us vote wisely, let us not waste that power you shared with us. Amen.
Lord My Chef Breakfast Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 07 May 2025 Acts 8:1-8 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 6:35-40
Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Eats Breakfast with Disciples” from http://www.jofullheart.com.
Dearest Jesus, teach us today to be truly a "devout" person: a "devout" disciple, a "devout" Christian a "devout" believer in you like those "Devout men (who) buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him" (Acts 8:2).
How interesting, O Lord that only St. Luke used the word "devout" in the whole Bible to describe some persons in four instances: in describing Simeon as a "devout" Jew who praised God upon seeing the child Jesus at his presentation at the temple; the "devout" Jews from all over the world who came to worship in Jerusalem on Pentecost day; the "devout" men who buried Stephen in the first reading today; and lastly, Ananias as a "devout" man who sought Saul after his conversion to bring him to the early Church.
You know so well, dear Jesus how we as a nation is said to be "devout" Christians but lagging behind in every aspect of development: where is our being devout in electing into office corrupt candidates? where is our being devout in fulfilling our duties and responsibilities when bridges fall and bollards fail that kill people especially children? where is our being devout in being reckless on the streets and dirt roads, demeaning total strangers and local inhabitants?
Oh Jesus, we are doomed by our own hypocrisies when our being devout is self-serving when we merely open our eyes for things seen outside like the many devotions and practices we have filled with pomp and pageantry because we look more into ourselves than into seeing Christ in other persons must love and respect and care; what a tragedy that the persecutions still going on against Christians are perpetrated by supposed to be your devout disciples, devout Christians who do not care at all in their daily dealings that could result in deaths and injuries of so many people including children like in the recent series of road accidents, not to mention vulgarities and obscenities spewed in the countless road rages.
Teach us Lord that a true devout believer in you is one who always seeks you among the least among our brethren, one who seeks your Body in somebody to be loved and upheld as a brother and a sister so that our being devout to your Body and Blood in the Eucharist becomes a reality in our dealing with one another. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, First Week in Lent, 10 March 2025 Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 + + + Matthew 25:31-46
Photo by author, view of Metro Manila from balcony of Timberland Highlands Resort, San Mateo, Rizal, 08 March 2025.
Then the righteous will answer him and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?" (Matthew 25:37-39)
How I long and pray I would someday be asking this same question to you, Lord, totally surprised, wondering what happened when all I did was do something naturally as second nature, without much thinking and ado in being kind and charitable, in responding to anyone who is hungry or thirsty, stranger or naked, ill or in prison.
You are so great, dear Jesus in teaching us not to think of kindness and being Christian as a list to be kept and checked always but simply a way of life in doing what is right, what is good for we are all your kin in one God and Father who is Lord of all (first reading).
Photo by author, same view taken later that night,Timberland Highlands Resort, San Mateo, Rizal, 08 March 2025.
Then they (the accursed) will answer and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?" He will answer them, "Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me" (Matthew 25:44-45).
Forgive us, Jesus when our being Christian is more on duties and tasks like a code of ethics; teach us to be utterly different from others as your followers reflecting the Father and his love in a whole new way especially in this time when everyone seems to be so cold and numb even callous with others around them; animate us with your warm presence of joy and love to everyone for them to realize there is one true Lord God above all. Amen.
Photo by author, same view taken with different exposure,Timberland Highlands Resort, San Mateo, Rizal, 08 March 2025.
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