Welcoming 2026 with Mary

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, 01 January 2026
Numbers 6:22-27 ><}}}}*> Galatians 4:4-7 ><}}}}*> Luke 2:16-21

*“The Adoration of the Shepherds”, a painting of the Nativity scene by Italian artist Giorgione before his death at a very young age of 30 in 1510.*

Still a blessed Merry Christmas to everyone! Please continue greeting one another with a Merry Christmas until January 11, 2026, the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism that closes the Christmas Season.

Keep greeting Merry Christmas even on this new year’s day because what we celebrate today is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – not the New Year! Remember we had our new year last first Sunday of Advent, evening of November 29 and the 30th.

Stop announcing our New Year’s Mass. Our Mass today is Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God which is the Eighth Day within the Octave of Christmas.

It is the oldest feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary that celebrates the mystery of her being the Mother of Jesus Christ who is true God and true Man following the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. Since Jesus remained fully God and fully human in his conception by the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is right and proper too as the Council affirmed to call Mary the “Mother of God” (Theotokos). Since the birth of Christ is also our point reference in reckoning time that we have the terms “BC” (Before Christ) and “AD” (Anno Domini or Year of the Lord), this celebration teaches a lot on how to welcome this 2026 like Mary.

*Photo by author, mosaic of Mary with Jesus, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.*

First lesson the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us this new year in Christ is what we have mentioned last Christmas – if there is anything that merits haste, it is those of things of God. How sad that these days we are so preoccupied with what is trending and viral or we race for what is “in” in fashion and everything. In an age of instants, we rush everything that we miss out life itself, God and one another, especially our very selves.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child (Luke 2:16-17).

Mary went in haste too for the Lord. Recall her response to the Angel at the Annunciation, “Be it done unto me according to your word.” Her response was immediate. She did not dare the Angel like Zechariah. After the Annunciation, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth pregnant with John the Baptist.

It is true that “haste makes waste” because doing things too quickly leads to mistakes that result in greater losses in time, effort, and materials. The great St. Francis Sales cautioned us that haste is the biggest enemy of growth in spirituality.

However, during the Christmas season, we find that haste is not that totally bad at all.

As shown to us both by Mary and the shepherds, there is something so good with making haste to find Christ, to share Christ, to be with Christ.

We have a prayer formula now rarely used in public prayers wherein the leader says “O God come to my assistance” with the people responding, “O Lord make haste to help me” while making the sign of the Cross like in the praying of the Rosary. It is a beautiful prayer that tells us how God would always hasten to come to us even before we have called Him!

How sad that we rush to everything and everyone except to Jesus our Lord and God! More sad is the fact so many people have been in making haste to these days for the more mundane things without even spending some quality time in the church to pray.

This 2026, let us go in haste in the Lord for He has so many things in store for us as the shepherds and Elizabeth realized.

*From forwarded cartoon at Facebook, December 2020.*

Second important lesson the Blessed Mother is teaching us in welcoming Jesus Christ this new year is the value of silence which is a prerequisite in cultivating a prayer life, in making haste to God.

Though I grew up from the very barrio that manufactures most of the pyrotechnics sold in my hometown of Bocaue in Bulacan dubbed as the fireworks capital of the Philippines, I never liked these popular products every new year. Aside from being so dirty, these are so dangerous as I have seen many of our neighbors who have lost their arms, hands or fingers in manufacturing and playing with fireworks. Worst of all are the many lives of people lost following explosions of some factories in our barrio.

When I became a priest, I kept telling people including my barrio folks that welcoming the new year with fireworks is pagan practice, not Christian. And the most Christian way of welcoming new year like Mother Mary is always in silence, silent prayer like before the Blessed Sacrament.

*Photo by Ar. Philip Santiago, Chapel at the Angels’ Field in Bethlehem, October 2025.*

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart (Luke 2:18-19).

It is very interesting that Luke had told us how people were amazed at what the shepherds spoke about that night on the birth of Jesus Christ they have found on a manger with his Mother Mary and her husband Joseph. Keep in mind that the shepherds were among the least trusted people of that time but their story went “viral” and “trending” so to speak. Amid all these talks was Mary, the Mother of Jesus, silently meditating everything in her heart!

Tonight or today, try to spend some silent moments of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament to thank God for all the blessings of 2025 as well as to listen to Christ’s instructions and plans for us this 2026. Jesus has always something to tell us but we always go in haste somewhere else or to somebody else. Jesus is right there in our hearts, the faintest voice you always dismiss and take for granted.

Let us cultivate a prayer life like Mary who always kept in her heart the words and experiences she had with Jesus. Let us not be like the shepherds who were there only at Christmas, never came back to Jesus specially when he was preaching in Galilee and when crucified on Good Friday wherein his constant companion in silence was Mary his Mother.

*Photo by Ar. Philip Santiago, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, October 2025.*

Third important lesson the Blessed Mother Mary is teaching us this first day of 2026 is to have faith in God in Jesus Christ His Son our Savior. Therefore, please stop all those superstitious beliefs of pampasuwerte like feng shui and fortune telling that are pagan practices.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21).

Mary was very much like us when Mary gave birth to Jesus on that first Christmas: she too was totally unaware of what was in store for her, of what would happen to her Son. She was totally unaware of what would happen in the future. The only thing she was certain was the name to be given to her child, “Jesus” which means “God is my Savior”.

All blessings come only from God, not from any other spirits. We drive all the malas and bad spirits and negative vibes of the past year not with noises and blasts of trumpets or fireworks but with silence that is rooted in deep faith in Christ Jesus.

Such was the attitude of Mary on that first Christmas until her glorious Assumption into heaven: she never knew Jesus would be betrayed by one of his trusted friends and apostles; she was never told by the angel how after Jesus would feed and heal so many people He would later be arrested and crucified like a criminal except that she believed in Him until the end, remaining with Christ at the foot of the Cross.

All Mary had was a deep faith in Jesus as told her by the angel as the name to be given to her child is also the child of the Most High. Like Mary, let us keep our faith in Christ alone, not to round fruits nor stones nor other stuffs peddled to us to bring luck this new year.

Let us imitate Mary, the Mother of God, so human like us except in sin who was always in haste with things of God, silently meditating his words and workings, and most of all, trusting wholly in her Son Jesus. Amen. May your new year be filled with Christ’s peace and grace!

Advent is God working in me

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the First Week of Advent, 04 December 2025
Isaiah 26:1-6     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Matthew 7:21, 24-27

*Photo by author, Malolos Cathedral, December 2019.*

On that day
they will sing this song
in the land of Judah:
"A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts
to protect us. Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith"
(Isaiah 26:1-2).

Like most cities,
O Lord our God,
I lay in ruins:
physically, emotionally,
mentally, and spiritually;
feeling lost, almost collapsing,
trembling in so many fears
and concerns;
but my faith in you
assures me of being
"a strong city" with "walls
and ramparts" that protect me;
I may not see them now
but "open the gates" of my heart
to trust in you,
in your continuing work in me
so mysterious that leads to
victory eventually.

Give me patience
and perseverance;
enliven my hope in you,
Jesus Christ who comes to me
daily, dwelling in me to be
my "everlasting rock".

Jesus said to his disciples: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rains fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

Keep me faithful
in you, Lord Jesus
as I rejoice in your works,
in your comfort,
in your presence
and coming.
Amen.

Jesus, our Temple

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, First Week of Advent, 01 December 2025
Isaiah 4:2-6     ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>     Matthew 8:5-11

*Photo by author, Malolos Cathedral, December 2018.*

Blessed are you,
O God our Father
for this first day of December,
the first working day in this
blessed Season of Advent
as we prepare for your Son
Jesus Christ's Second Coming;
cleanse our hearts, O Lord
so that you may dwell in us,
come to us as as we 
dwell in you, 
come to you,
"our shelter and protection; 
shade from parching heat of day,
refuge and cover from storm
and rain" (Isaiah 4:6).

How lovely are your words today,
O Lord, as you fulfill in Jesus Christ
our gathering in you as your people,
this time not just in a building
like the old temple of Jerusalem
nor our modern churches;
teach us to be more humble
like that centurion in recognizing
your supreme authority for
you are Authority yourself;
despite his not being a Jew,
the centurion had the faith
and humility in Jesus Christ's
healing of his servant without
touching nor seeing him.

O dear Jesus,
you are the New Temple,
you are our Temple,
our dwelling no longer made
by hands: grant us the grace
of genuine faith and humility
in you especially during the Mass
right before we receive you in
the Holy Eucharist saying the
very same words of that centurion
you praised, "Lord, I am not worthy
that You should come under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul
shall be healed" (Matthew 8:8).
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).

Pride of Place

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 26 October 2025
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 ><}}}}*> Luke 18:9-14

*Photo by author, Alberione Center, Araneta Ave., QC, 11 September 2025.*

We got our inspiration anew for this Sunday’s reflection from the blog of Sr. Renee Yann, RSM whom we follow at WordPress (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/10/18/pride-of-place-2/). Her blogs are so wonderfully written with reflections so deep, inspiring and uplifting.

In her recent blog, Sr. Renee tells of their parishioner they fondly called “Mamie” who sat on the same seat in their church they called “Pride of Place” for forty years until her death. And for a good reason. Despite her many trials and sufferings in life, Mamie never failed in helping those in need in their community.

*Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 25 September 2025.*

As told by Sr. Renee’s dad, Mamie had always sat in the same pew through the Depression as she struggled to keep her grocery opened; after the death of her husband in an accident, Mamie never missed their Sunday Masses seated at the same spot – in fact, she was at the same pew on a Sunday Mass when her son was killed at Pearl Harbor. It was actually their community who “proudly awarded” the seat as a “pride of place” to Mamie following her life of Christian witnessing.

“Pride of Place” isn’t always something physical like a pew in church. More often it’s a moral or spiritual position that’s granted to us by others after we pay moral dues. These dues include trustworthiness, sacrifice, contribution, and wisdom…“Pride of Place” doesn’t come automatically with power or position. It comes with respect. Unfortunately, not every parent, boss, teacher, pastor, elder, president, or champion deserves it. It must be earned and kept as a trust. (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/10/18/pride-of-place-2/).

The story reminded me of our own “pride of place” in the church, of people always occupying the same pew or spot during the Mass that they are amazed how we priests get to know them simply with their “seating arrangement” like their coming late or being absent!

But, what struck me most with Sr. Renee’s piece is the spiritual meaning of “pride of place” which refers actually not to where we sit but where we stand. That standing is more than physical but spiritual and moral in nature. Where we stand is about our stance or conviction not only on issues but about our faith and relationship with God expressed in our dealings with others exactly what our gospel tells us this Sunday.

“Two people went to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous —- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whomever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

*Painting by French artist James Tissot, “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector” (1886-1894) from commons.wikimedia.org.*

For the second straight Sunday, we hear another teaching of Jesus about faith expressed in prayers in another parable only Luke has.

Last Sunday we reflected that to persist in prayer is not about wearing God down but of allowing our hearts to clarify our desires until we silently surrender to what God knows is best for us which is salvation or “justification”. See how we find that word again – justified – as the key to this parable at its end when Jesus declared that it was the prayer of the publican that was heard for “he went home justified”.

The object of every prayer is God because prayer is a relationship, not just a ritual. To be filled with God is what holiness is, not being sinless. In fact, holiness is finding our sinfulness before God. And that is the essence of our parable this Sunday.

That is why Jesus directs our attention in the “where” when we pray – not just the location when we pray but our “place” in that relationship with God who is our very foundation. When all we see is our self in prayer like in any relationship, it means it is a monologue, a one-way street. Worst, it is an indication of the absence of God, even of others because the pray-er is so preoccupied with his or her very self!

*Photo by the author at the Wall of Jerusalem, May 2017.*

The Pharisee was clearly not in God even if he were in front of the temple. His very self was very far from God and all he had was his bloated ego. He may be a very pious person but not really good at all for he has no space for God and for others. He is a very closed man without any room for others. Remember, Luke said that “Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else” (Lk.18:9).

The tax collector, on the other hand, may be physically far outside the temple but was the one actually nearest to God with his self-acceptance and admission of sins, of his need for God. He was closest to God because he was more open with God and with others by admitting his true self.

Prayer is more than entering a church or a prayer room, or finding our most suitable spot or space to pray. Prayer is being one with God, one in God. Prayer is losing our very self in God. The question now is, “where are we when we pray?

I have always loved this photo by friend from GMANews, Ms. JJ Jimeno who took this while she was praying inside the UP-Diliman Adoration Chapel in May 2019; she aptly captioned it as “losing one’s head in prayer.” True!

First, we become one with God in prayer when we admit our sinfulness, when we confess our sins to him, and own them without any “ifs” and “buts”. God always comes to those who truly open themselves to him by emptying themselves of their sins and inadequacies.

The tax collector was justified in his prayer more than the Pharisee because in confessing his sins, he admitted his need for God. He knew very well his place, so unlike the Pharisee who felt God owes him so much!

Second, we are in God in prayer when we are humble and have the conviction to leave everything behind and go down with God into the lowest point because one is so confident of the efficacy of prayer like what Ben Sirach tells us in the first reading.

The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heaven. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal (Sirach 35:16-17).

Most often in life, friendships and relationships are kept when we are willing to take the lower stance, not necessarily admitting fault or guilt in any misunderstanding because being lowly indicates the person’s need for the other person and of one’s love to work on that relationship despite its fragility. I tell couples that when they quarrel, the first who must first make the move to greet the other person is not the guilty one but the one with most love and self to give.

Third, we are in God in prayer when there is an offering daily of one’s self to God. It is not enough to be lowly and sorry for our sins in prayer. It has to be sustained because prayer is a discipline like any sport as St. Paul tells us in the second reading, calling us to persevere and endure until the end for Jesus Christ “who shall award us with the crown of righteousness in heaven.”

We are all sinners forgiven and beloved by God. When we find our right place in God in prayer, then we also find him. And meet him. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead into November! Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)

Stunned

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 20 October 2025
Monday in the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Romans 4:20-25     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” (Luke 12:13-14)

Lord Jesus,
I felt I am 
that "someone in the crowd"
asking you to tell my brother
to share the inheritance with me
and honestly,
I felt so stunned
with your answer.

I was shocked
and surprised,
could not speak a word
to explain to you my side
of the story
but wholly,
I felt so liberated.
I felt so free,
finally.
Because your reply
was so reassuring,
with you even calling me
a "friend".

How foolish for us
to be so engaged with
material pursuits in life
that never truly give us
fulfillment
except success
which is so relative;
so true are your words,
Jesus:
"one's life does not
consist of possessions."

Lord Jesus,
teach me to let go
of my many possessions
that actually possess me
and make me unfree;
instead of possessions,
let me have relationships -
with you in others;
like Abraham,
give me the grace
to know you
so that in knowing you,
I may value the truest
treasure
that remains
forever
and ever.
Amen.

Prayer is what “the Lord said”

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 19 October 2025
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Exodus 17:8-13 ><))))*> 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 ><))))*> Luke 18:1-8

*Photo by author, sunrise at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, November 2018.*

There are just five more weeks remaining in our current liturgical calendar and soon after the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 23, we shall usher in the new year with the season of Advent on November 30 – the four Sundays before Christmas.

That is why today and next Sunday, as Jesus nears Jerusalem Luke tells us more teachings of the Lord about prayer not found in other gospel accounts, namely, the parables of the unjust judge and persistent widow, and the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Remember that prayer is so central in the message of Luke in his gospel account as well as in the Acts of the Apostles wherein we see Jesus and the early Church always at prayer. For Luke, prayer is more of a relationship with God than a ritual, an expression of our faith in God. Hence, the need to persist in prayer like that widow in today’s parable by Jesus.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought…’because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'” (Luke 18:1-5).

*Photo by author, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Baguio City, 2019.*

While we are all very familiar with this parable, one thing needs to be clarified: many times we are indeed “persistent” in our prayers like that widow in the Lord’s parable but after a long time of praying, we wonder, even doubt God as nothing seems to happen to our prayers that remain unanswered.

So, what is to persist in prayer like that widow in the Lord’s parable?

The answer lies not entirely in the parable but in the conclusion by Jesus as presented by Luke:

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)

We reflected last Sunday in the healing of the ten lepers that faith is a relationship expressed when we are grateful to God who blesses us as shown by the Samaritan leper healed. This Sunday, Luke deepens that truth that prayer is an expression of faith when he called Jesus as “Lord” at the conclusion of the parable.

*Photo from https://freebibleimages.org/photos/persistent-widow/*

The Lord said...

First, we notice him telling us how “The Lord said”. Luke did not simply use his usual style of narration of “Jesus said” because in using the title “Lord”, he gives a solemn tone to the declaration by Jesus at the end of the parable where its lesson actually lies.

Moreover, it is the title “Lord” is what the disciples attributed to the Resurrected Christ; to call Jesus as “Lord” is to have complete faith in him.

*Painting of “Parable of the Unjust Judge” by Pieter de Greber (1628) from Web Gallery of Art,* http://www.wga.hu.

Second, when Luke wrote “The Lord said” in the conclusion of the parable, he was introducing a revelation to which we must all “pay attention” as the Lord demanded his listeners then. God is more than that unjust judge in the parable because as the Lord said, “he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”

Actually, the parable is not about praying unceasingly or persistently to obtain one’s favor because “the Lord said” God does not wait for his “chosen ones who call out to him day and night”; recall how Jesus had said in many instances that even before we ask God in prayers, he already knew what we needed. God is always speaking to us and we merely respond to him when we pray. That is why every time we pray, our prayer is already answered because we have responded to God. But, have we really listened to God in our prayers? This leads us to the important teaching of the Gospel this Sunday.

Third, the most important teaching in that conclusion of the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge, Jesus our Lord teaches us that God does not only give justice but actually “does justice speedily” or swiftly.

“To do justice” in the Bible means more than rendering a fair judgment like in our courts; in fact, it means differently because “to do justice” biblically means “to justify”, “to renew”, and “to save” as Paul used extensively in his letters.

Therefore, to pray persistently is primarily to pray to be saved or justified. The main lesson of today’s parable is still faith – faith in God who saves us; faith in Jesus Christ our Lord who will come again to lead us to eternal life; and faith that must be reawakened in us always because without it, we cannot find salvation in God nor meaning in this life.

We pray not just to have things which God always knows so well even before we ask him. But, why still pray if God knows what we need? Because we do not know what God needs from us which is to pray always for him, to have him because he is our life, our salvation.

That is why we must persist in prayer and never lose heart because the moment we stop praying, the more we get discouraged in life, then we start doubting God and his love for us, his powers and beautiful plans for us. When this happens, everything falls and we alone suffer and lost.

Hence, the Lord’s challenge to each one of us today with his question at the end of the lesson of his parable, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

To persist in prayer is not about wearing God down but of allowing our hearts to clarify our desires until we silently surrender to what God knows is best for us which is salvation, to be with him in eternity.

Since Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem, that has always been the most frequently asked question to him. And where can we find its answers? Right in the Sacred Scriptures as Paul reminded Timothy in the second reading: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2Tim.3:16-17).

*Photo by Mr. Nicko Timbol, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, OLFU-RISE, Valenzuela City, 03 October 2025.*

When we fill ourselves with the Word of God, we are filled with God which is basically what holiness is. That is when we live in deep faith in God when our faith becomes so powerful and transformative because it is aligned with God and his Will as we reflected the other Sunday.

Therefore, to persist in prayers is also to align ourselves with God and his plans and agenda when we can declare like St. Paul that “It is no longer I who lives but Christ in me” (Ga. 2:20). As we have always said, prayer does not change things and situations; prayer changes the person primarily to be like Christ, to be faithful to God always.

Life is difficult, often like a battle with many enemies always attacking us. God is always with us, knows our needs so well but it is still us who shall fight the many battles in this life like the Israelites in the first reading. Without faith and prayer, we cannot fight our many battles in life like the Israelites who prevailed over the stronger forces of Amalek. We can only have the advantage in our many struggles and trials in life when we completely place ourselves under the banner of God in Jesus Christ. Amen. have a prayerful and faithful week ahead, everyone. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)

Our Sabbath faith

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 12 October 2025
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
2 Kings 5:14-17 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 2:8-13 ><}}}}*> Luke 17:11-19

*Photo by author, view of Israel from Mt. Nebo, Jordan, May 2019.*

Our gospel setting this Sunday strikes a deep lasting impression on anyone who had been on a Holy Land pilgrimage: of those vast expanse of desert in Israel where dusty roads have been replaced by modern concrete or asphalted roads.

Perhaps the feelings remain the same today and during the time of Jesus when he and the Twelve were near the border between Samaria and Galilee, several figures who turned out to be ten lepers appeared at a distance, waving their hands to the Lord. It must have been a surprising sight, then and now, of being found in the desert. Imagine the desperation in their voices of those ten lepers, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” (Lk.17:13).

Jesus right away told them to go show themselves to the priests, and as they went, they were healed. But only one—a Samaritan—returned to thank Jesus who wondered aloud: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you” (Lk.17:17-19).

*“The Healing of Ten Lepers” painting by James Tissot en.wikipedia.org*

Last Sunday we reflected that faith is primarily a relationship with God; hence, its powers or efficacy will work only when aligned with God and his Holy Will. We will never know how strong we have grown in faith until we get into tests and trials. That is why, the need for us to imitate the Twelve in praying to Jesus, “Increase our faith” (Lk.17:5).

We grow best in faith when we worship God with our fellow believers in the celebration of the Holy Mass especially on Sundays which is our Sabbath. More than a day of rest, Sabbath is a day of restoration to God, with others and most of all, with one’s self. It is a return to Eden, a dress rehearsal of our entry into heaven to dwell in God’s presence eternally.

This is where lies the beauty and significance of this healing of ten lepers – they were not only restored to health but restored in God, to their families, and to their community and fellow believers.

Those ten lepers have never known any rest at all since getting afflicted with the disease for they were cut off from homes, worship, and community. That is why they could not get near Jesus as they have to keep their distance from everyone according to their laws in order to prevent infecting others and spreading the disease. Likewise, it was the very reason that anyone healed of leprosy or any serious sickness must first present themselves to the priests who have the sole authority to declare one has been healed and therefore may be allowed to reintegrate with their family and community or society in general. Being declared as healed of sickness like leprosy at that time meant the restoration of one’s rights to worship in the temple or synagogue especially on Sabbath.

When Jesus healed them, he restored more than just their bodies and physical health. In sending them to the priests, Jesus invited them into the wholeness of what the Sabbath really is like peace, inclusion, and dignity.

Or, salvation in short.

Sad to say, only one realized this when he returned to thank Jesus. The healed Samaritan leper knew and felt a deeper healing had taken place within him that he responded with heartfelt gratitude to God in Jesus. There was a deepening of his faith in Jesus when he decided to return to thank the Lord that also expressed his desire to enter into a relationship with Jesus.

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.*

Whenever we thank people for their kindness no matter how little that may be, it is more than acknowledging the other person but most of all, of expressing our links with them as well as our desire to be one with them, especially with God who showers us with good things daily. That is why the Mass is also called Eucharist – from the Greek eucharistia meaning “thanksgiving”. After his skin was cleansed of leprosy in the first reading, Naaman the Syrian Army General declared before the Prophet Elisha that he would worship the Lord alone as he returned to his home with two mule-loads of Israeli soil.

Sorry to say but whenever we refuse to celebrate the Mass on Sundays, it means that we are one of those nine ungrateful lepers healed by Jesus! Don’t you feel being called like the Samaritan to return and give thanks to Jesus for the many blessings you have received this Sunday?

See how in this age of faith in a mass-mediated culture that we have become so impersonal, trusting more our gadgets and all those apps like Siri and Waze as if we have already lost faith in the human person. And God.

We spend practically our entire days in front of all kinds of screens than with the face of a human person. Again, this sadly extends to the way we worship with many still stuck in the pandemic mode of online Masses not realizing the important and irreplaceable aspect of personal encounter of Jesus in the actual Mass with other believers.

God remains God even if we do not go to Mass every Sunday. It is us who are losing greatly whenever we skip Sunday Masses, our Sabbath. God specifically made his third commandment to “Remember to keep holy the sabbath day” because Sabbath reminds us that life itself is holy in the first place, a sharing in the life of God. What a tremendous blessing still that even if we forget God or disregard God every Sunday, Paul reminds us today of the beautiful truth and reality that “If we have died with Jesus we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2Tim.2:11-13).

Can you imagine that? If we are unfaithful to Jesus, he remains faithful?

Every Sunday, Jesus tells us to “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you” despite, in spite of our many sins and absences from the Sunday Masses in the past because he wants us to experience the deeper wholeness that comes with faith and gratitude as experienced by that Samaritan leper he had healed. As we continue to journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem facing many trials and sufferings along the way, he calls us to come to him in the Sunday Mass to deepen our faith by resting in his presence.

Is there a space in your life at this stage that you feel like one of those lepers, longing for healing and restoration? In the silence of this Sabbath day in our Sunday Mass, speak to Jesus especially after receiving him Body and Blood in the Holy Communion. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead! Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).

*Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, June 2025.*

Keeping the faith, our rich treasure

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 05 October 2025
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 ><}}}}*> Luke 17:5-10

*Photo by author, San Fernando, Pampanga, 03 October 2025.*

With all the news happening in our country made worse by recent calamities, most of us Filipinos can identify these days with the Prophet Habakkuk, crying out the same things to God:

How long, O Lord? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord (Habakkuk 1:2-3).

The book of Habakkuk does not really tell us the reasons for the prophet’s cries directed to God. But, does it really matter at all why he was crying in pain? Like Habakkuk, we know very well these days what it feels to be like him. There has always been and there will always be many situations in our personal lives and family, nation and even in the Church that provoke us to cry out to God in distress, complaining all the evil happening when he seems to be so far or not interested.

*Photo by Mr. Nicko Timbol, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 03 October 2025.*

Of course, it is not really the case here for Prophet Habakkuk nor with us. We do not complain and cry to someone who could not do anything to our plight; we cry, we reach out to those we trust and know can help us like family and friends. And God!

We find many of such complete trust and faith in God expressed in cries and laments in the Book of Psalms. Despairing calls, questions and petitions to God in the Psalms do not actually endanger the faith and trust of the believer but actually affirm them. That is why it is always good to pray the Psalms. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself prayed Ps. 22:1 while on the cross, crying out “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” to express his deep faith in the Father in his darkest moments.

Habakkuk’s cry is very much similar with those found in the Psalms.

Most of all, Habakkuk teaches us today of God’s response to our cries, calling on us to trust him more than ever, in his Word because it shall be fulfilled for “it will not disappoint; it it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash man has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live” (Habakkuk 2:3-4).

Keep in mind God’s final words to Habakkuk for it remains true to these days especially when we are going through difficulties and trials in life – “we shall live because of faith in God”! What a beautiful catch phrase especially at this time.

Recall how we never realize how deep and strong our faith is until we have crossed over through life’s many challenges, often without others even knowing what we have gone through. As we go through life, we continue to realize too how imperfect is our faith until our next problems and tests come.

That is why we need to pray daily to Jesus like the Apostles in this Sunday’s gospel, “Increase our faith” (Lk.17:5). See how Jesus explained faith to his Apostles and to us today.

First, Jesus clarified that faith cannot be quantified because its power does not lie in its “amount” that can be increased like torque in motor engine or similar devices for it to be powerful. That is why Jesus explained to the Twelve that “If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (Lk.17:6). Just a little amount of faith for as long as it is aligned with God and his plans, we can achieve great things in life.

This, however, does not mean that the purpose of faith is to perform wonders which brings us to Christ’s second point about faith – it is a relationship.

Faith is for service, for love and charity that is why it can result into great wonders in our lives. That is why we mentioned earlier of faith being aligned with God, being one in God. It is a gift freely given to each one of us by God for our own good. Hence, even though faith cannot be quantified, its power can be impeded and rendered useless when we are separated from God. That is why Jesus narrated the parable of the “unprofitable servants”:

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat…You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to the servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do'” (Luke 17:7-8, 9-10).

Many will probably find it uncomfortable that faith as a relationship is between servant and master; but, aside from the gospel milieu, it is the reality of our faith in God for we are indeed his servants working for him who is our Lord and Master.

We cannot claim anything for ourselves in this life. Everything is God’s, even our very lives, our body that many today insist as “theirs” to which they can do whatever they want including abort babies. No. We own nothing in this life and we leave everything when we die. What remains are our good works and love that still came from God!

Unlike the masters of the world who think of their own good, God is a faithful Master who thinks only of the good of his servants, of us. He does not impose on us, giving us freedom so as not to force us in doing things but act out of love like him.

Separated from God, we become worthless or useless or unprofitable servants because we find meaning only in him. When we are aligned with God, faithfully obeying his will, we are able to do the seemingly impossible because it is God working in us like forgive those who have broken our trust, love someone so difficult to deal with, relieve hunger with simple acts of kindness, work on justice where the powerful exploit the weak, remain faithful to prayer even when God seems absent. These are all acts of faith that go beyond normal expectations that reveal to us the power of God, of how deep our faith can be. That faith cannot be quantified.

Truly, as God had told Habakkuk, we live because of faith. When crises and problems seem to overwhelm us, it is to God’s faithfulness we turn to with our cries with despairing overtones that are actually expressions of deep faith and trust in him.

From Paul’s letter to Timothy in the second reading this Sunday, we get our thrid point about faith: this gift of faith is our greatest treasure that we must keep and cultivate to grow deeper, to mature in us. It is this gift of faith that gives us the “spirit of power and love and self-control, not cowardice” (2Tm.1:7).

It is faith as our treasure that gives us the reason “to live on, to live for, and to die for” borrowing the thoughts of the late dissident Swiss theologian Hans Kung. It is faith that sets things right inn our lives because as it moves us closer to God, it likewise enables us to recognize others as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Recent turn of events in our country are so frustrating and yes, very tempting to resort to violent means and measures, including speaking and writing all those expletives and curses against the corrupt. It is normal to be angry but, do we have to be cruel and harsh?

Call me conservative or simply because I am a priest – but, that is what I am that is why I am very much against violence and harsh languages in the midst of all these corruption. I never tire telling people we have proven in 1986 that non-violence works. We have to try it again. However, what we missed after EDSA 86 is we separated from God. We thought we could do it our own ways. This Sunday, we are reminded of our greatest treasure as Filipinos, our gift of faith in God. Let us live in this faith in God. After all, these corruption we see and detest started in our homes, in our schools, in our hearts when we separated from God and one another. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)

*Our Lady of Fatima University Marketing Dept., June 2025.*

Like a father, like a mother

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 27 August 2025
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Monica, Married Woman
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13     <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*>     Matthew 23:27-32

Praise and glory to you,
Lord Jesus Christ
for another set of 
beautiful words from
your great Apostle Paul
of being like a "father",
a parent to the Thessalonians
like St. Monica whose feast we
celebrate today in her diligence
and patience to her son
St. Augustine whose feast comes
tomorrow.

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory (1Thessalonians 2:11-12).

In this time of great
trial and crisis in our country
when we are literally deep
in floods of evil and sin, 
a deluge of apocalyptic proportion
that have submerged all three
branches of government -
the executive, 
legislative 
and judiciary 
that have severely dampened
and loosened the morals
of our society,
teach us Jesus
to be like the mother of 
St. Augustine,
the ever patient and
prayerful St. Monica 
to exhort and encourage
everyone to still walk in a manner
worthy of God who calls us
to be fair and just,
tenacious with our faith
and hope in you and your gospel
 minus the trappings of the
Pharisees and scribes of your time
who were like "whitewashed tombs
who appear beautiful on the outside,
but inside are full of dead men's bones
and every kind of filth"
(Matthew 23:27);
may the prayers of St. Monica
with her tears cleanse us
of everything wrong in our selves.
Amen.

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