Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 09 September 2025 Tuesday, Memorial of St. Peter Claver, Priest Colossians 2:6-15 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 6:12-19
Photo by Ms. Marissa L. Flores in Switzerland, September 2024.
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me today; like your Apostles, I felt you called me by name too! So lovely, so reassuring, but also challenging to me: what if I can't keep with your pace because I get tired, or simply feel so afraid of being hurt, of being laughed at, of being misunderstood, of being rejected?
Brothers and sisters: As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7).
To walk in you, Jesus is to forget myself, to be always on the main road not at the sides where it is safe and comfortable; to walk in you, Jesus is to forget myself and think of those others on the streets who could not walk in you for so many reasons with some of them already down and dying on the road; to walk in you, Jesus is to carry my Cross and that is to love until it hurts like you.
Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, Quiapo, 09 January 2020.
It is in walking in you, Jesus that I can be rooted in you; help me to remain near and close to you not only for me to imitate you and be rooted in you but most especially for you to remind me when I am not in sync with you; keep me rooted in you so that I can be built upon you by sharing your power (Lk.6:19) of loving service to the poor and forgotten, your light for those confused and lost, restoring those dead to sin in your mercy and forgiveness. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 05 September 2025 Friday in the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Colossians 1:15-20 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 5:33-39
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte, 01 September 2019 in Atok, Benguet.
God our loving Father, our nation is in turmoil, in disarray especially at the top: the shameless dishonesty and corruption of officials in all branches of government who have totally disregarded the overburdened people; reconcile us in Jesus Christ, make us whole in him, your "visible image" among us for it is "in him that you were so pleased to reconcile all things" (Colossians 1:15, 19-20).
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte, 01 September 2019 in Atok, Benguet.
Yes, we have every reason to be so mad, so angry with the decadence we have reached as a nation but, let us also see how we have allowed this to deteriorate; if there is any reconciliation needed at the moment, it must begin in us, Father: many of us have forgotten you, have turned away from you, have cheated in so many ways with one another, many have disregarded without any qualms at all the Sunday rest and worst of all, many of us Christians have not been humble to live simply within our means with everybody desiring so much material things that in the process we have lost our senses of decency and of sin.
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte, 01 September 2019 in Atok, Benguet.
Lord Jesus Christ, I bring to your presence my own disintegration, my many disorders brought about by my sins that have kept me away from God and from one another; be my center and sustainer, Jesus so that peace may eventually begin in me. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo from “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis” by Dr. Tony Leachon on Facebook, 08 August 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 03 September 2025 Wednesday, Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of Church Colossians 1:1-8 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:38-44
A surge in number of patients with leptospirosis after the series of flooding in Metro Manila, August 2025.
Lord Jesus, I am angry like most people in my country; so angry with the rampant corruption long been going on; so angry why we have allowed it to continue and worsened that people are getting sick, classes and work disrupted by the floods because no flood control project was ever delivered despite being paid for by the government; as I prayed, I feel nothing had changed since your time until now still with so many people seeking healing and comfort from you.
At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them (Luke 4:40, 42).
Yes, dear Jesus, the corruption and injustices happening today are so sickening but do not let these deviate my focus in you whom I must follow always; use my hands as extension of your healing hands, of your comforting touch to the sick and needy, that I may restore them to you, in you; you never remained in one place, Jesus as you kept moving to bring hope and healing to so many others forgotten by their family and the society; enlighten my mind and my heart, Jesus with your Holy Spirit to imitate you in going to a deserted place to remain one in the Father and most especially to find you among the suffering that the corrupt disregard. Amen.
Photo from “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis” by Dr. Tony Leachon on Facebook, 08 August 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 August 2025 Monday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I Judges 2:11-19 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 19:16-22
Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo, Virginia, USA, August 2021.
Your words today, O God our Father are so disheartening not only because after a week of joyful stories of Moses and Joshua and the Israelites finally nearing the Promised Land, we begin work and classes this Monday with the distaff side of Israel's history, of their low point of being repeatedly attacked and defeated by their enemies.
But more sad and disheartening is the fact that low point in their history was also their low point in their faith in you - it was all due to their repeated falling into sin of idolatry, of worshipping false gods instead of you alone.
Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the Lord took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct (Judges 2:18-19).
And that is the painful truth of the story, of the fact still true among us today: the problem, the trouble are all with us.
Yes, Lord, many times we are like your people during that time of the judges: you keep on saving us from troubles of our own making but once we are able to rebound in life, we go back to our old ways of sins and self-centeredness, forgetting you and your love; we do not have the false gods of old like Baal but we keep on turning away from you, Lord, worshipping fame and wealth, power and control, comfort and safety; though through all these you keep on coming to save us, giving us all the chances to be better in Jesus Christ your Son, we are like the young man in the gospel who can't let go of our many possessions, choosing to leave sad than follow Jesus empty but filled with love and and meaning in life. Help us fix this trouble in us, Lord. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, 17 August 2025 Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 ><}}}*> Hebrews 12:1-4 ><}}}*> Luke 12:49-53
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024.
We Christians believe in and trust in Jesus but seldom think of him as a man of faith because very often our concept of faith is always in terms of creeds and beliefs.
As we have reflected last Sunday in the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, faith is more than of the mind; faith is more of the heart, of the relationship one has with God or with whomever one believes in. Hence, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Heb.11:1).
This Sunday we start anew our reflections from the second reading, the letter to the Hebrews that supports today’s gospel where Jesus is asking us to have more faith in him because following him can lead to distressing situations and painful, or even tragic choices. In identifying Jesus as “the leader and perfecter of faith”, Hebrews insisted on the human side of Jesus we rarely consider – that he was sustained by faith, who trusted God in vindicating him as he died on the Cross.
Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith… Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 12:1-2, 3-4).
Photo by author, Malagos Garden Resort, Davao City, August 2018.
Every time I face difficulties and trials in life, I always think of my mom and dad, my “cloud of witnesses” of faith like those mentioned in Hebrews who have attained faith’s goal in the Old Testament.
Usually, I would ask my departed parents for prayers, asking them for guidance on how to deal with difficult situations I am facing. It is therapeutic for me because after that, my memory would waft into those days and nights I used to listen to mom and dad tell their many struggles and hardships they both endured early in life like dropping out from school in order to find work early and eventually why they married late.
“Mahirap ang buhay noon, anak” they would always tell me, followed by a litany of not having enough money for food, clothes and shoes and various forms of leisure and comforts we take for granted these days. After that short trip in memory lane with my parents, I feel better, inspired and energized knowing that I have poor souls praying for me.
Think of those people like family, friends, and mentors who have been part of this “cloud of witnesses” in your life. Include your favorite saints too. And of course, Jesus Christ our Lord and God who, as perfecter of faith shocks us with his teachings this Sunday:
Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division (Luke 12:49-51).
Photo by author, St. Paul Spirituality Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, January 2025.
Unlike in the fourth gospel, it is very rare in Matthew, Mark and Luke to hear Jesus speaking of himself in the first person like today when he said “I have come… I wish… I must.” These are “involved expressions” where Jesus not only reveals to us the nature of his mission but especially his determination to fulfill it as Luke had earlier noted this at the start of this long journey to Jerusalem, “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Lk.9:51).
Feel in these expressions the ardent desire of Jesus, the burning fire within him to transform us and the world in his coming Passion, Death and Resurrection which is the baptism he must undergo.
The fire he mentioned here is the fire of the Holy Spirit he sent on Pentecost that filled his disciples with zeal to spread the gospel and the nascent Church as well. Luke knew so well in how those tongues of fire that hovered over the disciples’ heads on Pentecost was also the same fire Jesus referred here that dissolves our old selves to convert us into his disciples filled with zeal and enthusiasm in witnessing the gospel in the world that has gone cold and dark with sin and evil.
As fire purifies metals like gold, fire leads to divisions so to speak. It is a positive division that builds and perfects, not destroys. It is the kind of fire Jesus meant here as he continued his teachings on the way to Jerusalem to prepare us for the End with a capital “E”. It is a fire that sets apart truth from falsehoods and lies and most of all, of good from evil and sin so necessary in making it to eternal life. To fully appreciate this shocking lesson of Jesus today, we need to go back to the second reading where the author of Hebrews called us to “rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (Heb.12:1-2).
What are those burdens and sin that cling to us or we carry that make it difficult to imitate Jesus, to have faith in Jesus?
Photo from Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, 27 November 2024.
Very often, we are the ones who make our problems and sufferings worse with the excess baggage we keep on carrying like bitterness and resentments, self-doubts and self-rejection, and many other negative feelings that we allow to fester within us. Sometimes, we are like that man who asked Jesus to tell his brother to give his share of inheritance when we refuse to look more into our own sins, preferring to look more into other’s faults and failures. Or, maybe like Martha we are so busy and preoccupied with many other things that we not only forget God but even our very selves in the process.
Focus on Jesus alone, let him perfect our faith by purifying us with his fire of love.
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024.
Be on guard, however, that the more we follow Jesus on his path of the Cross, the more we experience “complexities” in life like Jeremiah in the first reading. He found enemies among his own people who tried to put him into death because he spoke the truth. Discipleship in Christ is being a prophet – a sign of contradiction especially in today’s world where sin and profanity are extolled while rights are exaggerated and truth and morals are relativized. There are strong temptations for us to withdraw to one’s corner, refusing to choose a side or take a stand especially when loved ones or those dear to us get involved.
This Sunday, Jesus invites us to focus on him alone, to have faith in him, to be like him. He perfects our faith in him, enabling us to choose and stand for what is true and good, fair and just. Let us pray to Jesus for more fire and warmth in our faith in him, remembering those words of the author of Hebrews that “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Amen. Have a blessed week ahead everyone!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 09 July 2025 Wednesday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 41:55-57, 42:5-7, 17-24 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 10:1-7
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Praise and glory to you, most loving God our Father in making us so strong beyond our knowing like Joseph in the first reading when he met after so many years his brothers who have sold him into Egypt; I could feel the strong tensions within him, of bursting into tears of joy and sadness, pain and healing when he finally met again his brothers who disowned him and sold him --- Of that lingering feeling within him of being lost, a lost one so sadly lost not due to his but own brothers' making.
When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own identity from them as soon as he saw them and spoke sternly to them. The brothers did not know, of course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away from them, he wept (Genesis 42:6-7, 23-24).
I pray dear Jesus today for those many children so lost these days after they were given away by their own mother or after their parents have breakup in marriage; fill their emptiness within with your loving presence, Lord, while making them realize human love is always imperfect like our relationships; make them choose to become better not bitter despite their broken homes.
Most especially, I pray for those lost in life - those who have lost their dreams, their faith, their belief in others; help us find them, Jesus and lead them back to you. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 02 July 2025 Wednesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 21:5, 8-20 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Matthew 8:28-34
Photo by author, Pater Noster Church, the Holy Land, May 2019.
Praise and glory to you, loving Father for always remaining faithful with us, for always staying with us especially in those times of expulsions, when we are driven out, when we are shoved off by situations and occasions, especially by people.
Sarah noticed the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had bore to Abraham playing with her son Isaac; so she demanded of Abraham: “Drive out that slave and her son! No son of the slave is going to share the inheritance with my son Isaac!” Abraham was greatly distressed, especially on account of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham: “Do not be distressed about the boy or your slave woman… God heard the boy’s cry, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Don’t be afraid; God has heard the boy’s cry in this plight of his” (Genesis 21:9-12, 17).
How lovely of you, God our Father to be still there, remaining, staying with Abraham so distressed with Sarah's order to drive out his son Ishmael and his mother Hagar; many times, we too are caught in such a bind and dilemma when people close and dear to us demand us to expel some people dear to us; stay on our side so we can make the right decision; most of all, remain with us, hear us and follow us, Father when we are expelled, driven out from our comforts into life's wilderness like Hagar and Ishmael.
Most of all, be with us Jesus when people drive us out of their lives, of our friendships and relationships when like you, after driving out the demons from those possessed was the one expelled from the town. There are times, Jesus, when after doing what is right, what is just, what is proper, it happens that we are the ones driven out. Remain with us, stay with us. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon, 2020.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 01 July 2025 Tuesday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time Genesis 19:15-29 ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Matthew 8:23-27
Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father for this brand new month of July, for the blessed first half of 2025! You have been most kind to us this year with so much grace poured on us despite our being undeserving while at the same time, so merciful to have spared us from many troubles we truly deserved for our sins.
That is why, Father, I hate seeing those prayers and wishes of many saying at the start of each month to please be more kind to us; you have always been kind and generous more than enough to us especially in giving us your Son Jesus who have enabled us to cross many seas and lands in this journey of life; many times, there are storms in life that we get so afraid like in the gospel today....
Many times we feel so caught in the middle of a "violent storm on the sea" of life where we are "swamped by waves", so terrified, so lost, feeling alone when deep in our hearts Jesus is with us, probably "sleeping".
Then in the nick of time, he comes, rebuking the winds and the sea when great calm follows just like what the angels did to Lot and his wife when you destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in the frist reading.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Lord Jesus, give me that gift of a sense of "dead calm" in you; to be at peace and still in you while in the midst of a great storm when I feel like being flattened by waves; let me seek your peace and kindness amidst the the cries and shouts when I feel like sinking, of perishing.
This brand new month of July, I know you will fill me again with your blessings; let it be enough for me to forge on in this remaining six months of the year, to continue crossing life's many seas to bring you, to share you, and simply be with you. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2025 Acts 12:1-11 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-19
St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome.
We enter today the 13th week in Ordinary Time with a fourth celebration on a Sunday of another Solemnity, that of Saints Peter and Paul, the two pillars of the Church Jesus Christ established over 2000 years ago.
Sts. Peter and Paul were men of diverse backgrounds with Peter the fisherman, impulsive and so human while Paul the Pharisee was an intellectual converted by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Both were flawed as persons yet so loved and called by the Lord – Peter as first leader of his church and Paul as its first missionary to the Gentiles. Their Solemnity reminds us of Christ’s call for us to build his Body, his Church here on earth.
While this celebration is about the two great apostles of Jesus, our readings direct us to God’s goodness and grace in his actions on behalf of the church founded by Christ. Its focus is on God, not ourselves.
Statues of Sts. Peter & Paul, st. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; photos from opusdei.org
Being an apostle of Jesus is not about doing great things or being so good but more of encountering and keeping faith in Christ our Lord. By recognizing ourselves as the church – the Body of Christ as we have reflected last Sunday, all of our actions are indeed God’s actions on behalf of the church because it is through us that the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is continued and completed in this age.
What is essential is we constantly enter into a conversation with Jesus in prayer not only to tell him things but most especially for us to realize how he sees us!
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).
Photo by author at Caesarea, Israel, May 2017.
What really happened at Caesarea Philippi was a close encounter of the apostles with Jesus, especially Simon whom would he called as Peter on that day on.
Very often in most reflections and commentaries, we are told to answer the question of Jesus like Peter in our most personal way not based from what we have read or heard: “who do you say I am?”
Of course, what else can we say but imitate Peter’s answer that seems to be the most correct answer.
But, is it really the best answer? Not really.
Paul later in his many writings will declare similar answers but far more better like when he said “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21).
Jesus is telling us something else in this scene, as if asking us too, would you want to know “who do I say you are?” What the Lord is actually telling us in this scene is the fact that he knows us so well inasmuch as he knows himself perfectly because he is God. In fact, he had said there was no need for him to have human testimony as the Christ (Jn. 2:25; 5:34).
Photo by author, Sea of Galilee, Israel, May 2019.
What I see more at Caesarea Philippi is Jesus Christ’s omniscience as God who knows everything – even that early he already knew Peter would deny him thrice, that Judas Iscariot would betray him, so on and so forth.
Jesus knows everything about us but he chose to love and believe in us that despite and in spite of everything he knew that could go wrong with us later in life, of how we would fall into sin over and over, STILL – he calls us, he sends us on a mission because he believes in us, he loves us.
Many times in life, we forget the truth about the saints who are just like us, ordinary people with many weaknesses and flaws, imperfections and even idiosyncrasies. What made them stand out and did all those great feats for the Lord was because they were able to see themselves the way Jesus sees them.
That’s the very core of the story at Caesarea Philippi – Jesus made the apostles felt especially Peter how valuable they were, how they were all loved, of how Jesus saw them as his ambassadors later when he returns to the Father.
Bass relief of St. Peter at the Malolos Cathedral, 2019.
Jesus had no need of knowing what people were saying about him because he knew himself so well aside from the fact he surely knew what they were saying about him. Actually, the answers the apostles gave him were for them to know and think about why people wrongly perceived Jesus.
Most of all, Jesus had no need to know what everyone of us is saying about who he is because, again, he knows himself perfectly. Whatever answer others would have given about him would have been surely appreciated and praised by Jesus. What matters most for everyone to realize is the fact that despite Christ’s foreknowledge of Peter’s fall and weaknesses, he still dared to call him to head his church. The same holds true with everyone of us. Jesus wants us to continue building his Body, his church here on earth, to make Jesus more present in us in this world so dark and lost searching for meaning except in Christ.
The same thing is true with Paul when Jesus called him on the road to Damascus to persecute the first Christians. Jesus knew everything Paul was doing; most of all, Jesus knew that even when converted, Paul would still be stubborn and insistent, would eventually quarrel with other disciples like Peter, Barnabas and John Mark but still, Jesus called him and even set him aside for a special mission to the Gentiles.
Bass relief of St. Paul at Malolos Cathedral 2019.
Again in his experiences, Paul saw how Jesus loved and trusted him that even he were the worst of all the apostles of the Lord, he was given such great task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth at that time. That is why in our second reading we find Paul giving up his whole life in the service of Jesus after experiencing Christ’s tremendous love for him.
Like Peter and Paul, we are all gifted with the same faith in Christ Jesus who challenges us to accept the same mission to continue in this modern time of proclaiming his gospel of love and mercy, of building up his Body the church so that there would be a more humane and just society here on earth as Vatican II envisioned (Lumen Gentium).
Many times when God works in us and through us, we could not believe it as happening like Peter when set free from prison by an angel at night. There are times we are resigned with our situations, of being deserving of the many hardships and sufferings without realizing that there are more bad things we deserve to suffer in this life but Jesus spared us because he believes in us that he sends us to some more missions for him.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for still calling me, sending me to a mission despite my many flaws and imperfections; thank you for trusting me, believing me; let me see myself the way you see me as someone worth loving and trusting. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 6, 23 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Sigurado, sasabihin ninyo ako ay kumakanta na naman sa pagninilay dahil sa ating pamagat na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” mula sa awitin ng yumaong si Haji Alejandro noong aming kabataan ng 1977.
Bata pa lamang po ako ay mahilig na ako sa radyo at tugtugin kaya hindi ko maiwasang maugnay palagi maski sa pagdarasal ang maraming awiting aking nagisnan.
At heto na nga po ang titik ng awit ni Haji na noon ay tinaguriang “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala” di lamang sa kanyang porma kungdi sa ganda ng boses at mga tema ng pag-ibig sa kanyang musika katulad ng “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan”:
Tag-araw, sa may dagat namasyal At pagdilim, sa may baybay humimlay At nagyakap, sabay sa pagsabog ng alon Sabay sa paghuni ng ibon, saksi ay liwanag ng buwan 'Di ba sabi mo pa, na wala pang iba Na ako ang una sa pagmamahal mo, sinta?
At ang buhay nating dal'wa ay nagbunga Ng makulay na pag-ibig na dakila Ngunit, bakit ngayong umuugong ang hangi't ulan 'Sing lamig ng gabi ang mga halik mo? Ni wala nang apoy, titig mo sa akin Naglaho ba ang pagmamahal mo, sinta?
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, La Trinidad, Benguet, 12 Hulyo 2023.
Hanapin na lamang po ninyo sa YouTube.com ang awit ni Haji na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” dahil ngayong ika-anim na araw ng ating Nobena sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ay bisperas din ng Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pagsilang ni San Juan Bautista, ang tagapaghanda ng Kristo.
Bukod tanging siya lamang at si Jesus ang ipinagdiriwang natin ang kaarawan ng pagsilang bilang Dakilang Kapistahan o Solemnity, ang pinaka-mataas na antas ng selebrasyon sa Simbahan. Palaging pinag-ugnay ng mga ebanghelista lalo ni San Lukas ang buhay at misyon nina San Juan Bautista at Panginoong Jesus na magpinsang makalawa.
Bagama’t ating ipinagdiriwang din ang pagsilang ng Mahal na Birheng Maria tuwing ika-walo ng Setyembre, ito ay Kapistahan lamang o Feast. Kaya kung inyong napapansin, ang kapistahan kadalasan ng mga Santo at Santa ay petsa ng kanilang kamatayan dahild doon sila pumasok sa buhay na walang hanggan.
Marahil sa bahaging ito nagtataka na kayo nasaan ang kaugnayan ng ating introduction na awitin ni Haji na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” at nina Jua Bautista at Jesu-Kristo at ng Kanyang Kamahal-Mahalang Puso? Heto po mga kaugnayang iyon:
Isinilang si Juan Bautista panahon ng summer solstice, ang pinakamahaba at pinaka-maliwanag na araw sa buong taon tuwing Hunyo habang si Jesus naman ay isinilang ng winter solstice, pinaka-mahaba at pinaka-madilim na araw tuwing Disyembre upang ipakita kanilang ugnayan: dala ni Juan Bautista ang liwanag ni Kristo na siyang liwanag sa gitna ng malaking kadiliman ng mundo.
Ang salitang “SOLSTICE” ay mula sa wikang Latin ng pinagsamang mga kataga na “SOL” (araw o sun) at “SISTERE” (tigil o hinto, stop o stand still gaya ng “to desist/resist” sa Ingles) na kung saan pansamantalang tumitigil o humihinto ang mundo at tumututok sa araw kaya pinaka-maliwanag din ang araw na iyon. Ayon sa PAGASA, naganap ang summer solstice ng 2025 sa bansa noong Sabado, ika-21 ng Hunyo bandang alas-10:42 ng umaga;magaganap ang winter solstice naman sa ika-21 ng Disyembre, 2025 ganap na alas-11:03 ng gabi na siyang pinakamahaba at madilim na araw naman.
Yung awit ni Haji ay “summer solstice” sa Pilipinas na kung saan ating nararanasan ang tag-ulan sa tag-araw, hindi ba? Sa awit ni Haji, nagtataka siya bakit huminto ang kanilang pagmamahalan na tila lumalabo na kanilang samahan katulad ng malakas na ulan sa gitna ng sikat ng araw.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa St. Paul Spirituality Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 Enero 2025.
Ang ganda ng larawan, hindi ba?
Subalit, hindi ba ganyan din kadalasan ugnayan natin sa Diyos, parang malabo na di maintindihan? Alalaong-baga, itinakda ng Diyos na natural na tumigil (sistere) pansamanatala ang mundo sa harap ng araw (sol) upang magkaroon ng SOLSTICE upang pahabain at paliwanagin ang araw minsan kada Hunyo at dagdagan ang dilim ng gabi minsan kapag Disyembre upang mabalanse ang init at lamig sa daigdig. Kapag walang solstice, maaring masunog at matusta siguro ang mundo! Kaya mahalaga ang solstice na siya ring panawagan ng Diyos sa ating lahat ngayon.
Dumating si Juan Bautista upang magkaroon ng sosltice kung baga upang tumigil at magisis ng mga kasalanan at magsuri ng sarili upang magbalik sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa.
Ito rin ang kailangan natin sa buhay ngayon, ang pagtigil at pananahimik. Tingnang paanong pinatahimik ng anghel si Zacarias na ama ni Juan Bautista. Katulad niya tayong mga tao ngayon. Puro tayo mema – memasabi lang. Puro kuda ika ng mga bata. Lahat iniisip natin maski problema ng Diyos, problema ng mga kung sinu-sino.
Napansin ko sa aking pagiging chaplain dito sa unibersidad, maraming mga bata ngayon ang “over-thinker” pero hindi na man “critical-thinker”.
Senyales ng kawalan ng pagtitiwala maging ng pananampalatay ang pagiging overthinker – lahat kasi inaalala at kinatatakutan. Madalas mga overthinker ay manipulator at control freak din. Wala kasing tiwala katulad ni Zacarias na ang lakas ng loob hamunin ang angel sa tanong niya kung paano niya matitiyak na totoo ang mabuting balita sa kanya ng pagkakaroon ng anak gayong baog at matanda na si Elizabeth na kanyang may-bahay?
Sa kabilang dako naman, pagmasdan ang kusang pananahimik o pagtigil (sistere) ni Elizabeth sa loob ng kanilang tahanan ng anim na buwan nang siya ay magdalantao kay Juan Bautista. Puno siya ng tiwala at pananampalatay sa Diyos katulad ng kanyang pinsang si Maria na pagkaraan ng anim na buwan ay babalitaan din ng anghel ng pagsilang niya sa Kristo.
Katulad din niya si Jeremias na tinawag at hinirang ng Diyos sa unang pagbasa upang maging kanyang propeta. Bagaman ipinakikita ng tagpo ng unang pagbasa ang pagkakahalintulad ng misyon nina Jeremias at Juan Bautista bilang tagapagsalita ng Diyos, ipinakikita rin sa atin ang attitude niya na tumigil at tumalima sa atas ng Diyos.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Cabo de Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 Mayo 2025.
Sa kuwento ng pagsilang ni Juan Bautista, ipinakikita sa atin kung paanong ang Diyos ay pumapasok sa ating panahon at buhay upang isagawa ang kanyang pagliligtas. Subalit malinaw din sa kuwentong ito ang pakikipag-isa ng tao tulad nina Zacarias at Elizabeth maging ni Jeremias upang maganap plano ng Diyos kay Jesu-Kristo.
Ito ang misyon na ipinagpapatuloy ng Simbahan gaya ng pagninilay at paliwanag ni San Pedro sa ikalawang pagbasa. Kung titingnan natin, madalas parang malabo ang Diyos, parang tag-ulan sa tag-araw na tinatawag tayo sa misyon kay Kristo gayong kay rumi natin sa kasalanan, kay daming kapintasan. Madalas pa nga ay tumatanggi tayo o naghahamon gaya ni Zacarias.
Subalit isang bagay ang malinaw: hindi titigil ang Diyos hanggat hindi tayo napapatigil din upang makinig at sumunod sa kanya. Sa araw na ito, hiling sa ating ng Sacred Heart ay magkaroon ng solstice – huminto at tumigil pansamantala at itutok ating tuon at sarili sa alab ng apoy ng pag-ibig ni Jesus sa atin.
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
*And ideya ng SOLSTICE ay aking hinalaw mula sa pagninilay naman sa mga panahon ni Sr. Renee Yann, RSM sa kanyang blog na aking sinusundan; napakaganda ng kanyang mga lathalain at bakas ang kanyang kabanalan at karunungan. Tingnan sa link na ito: http://lavishmercy.wordpress.com
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