Jesus “looking with love”

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 13 October 2024
Wisdom 7:7-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 4:12-13 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:17-30

Lately in my prayers I have felt so drawn on the “face” of Jesus, trying to imagine and feel how He looked at the various people He met in the gospel accounts. Most of all, of how Jesus looks at us too (https://lordmychef.com/2024/10/09/to-his-face/).

Consider our gospel this Sunday that shows us how Jesus has that “look of love” to everyone. No matter how bad and sinful we may be, He is full of love and mercy, compassion and joy in seeing us. The problem is often the way we look at Him like that man who approached Him as well as the disciples conversing with Him who were all so much like us.

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments…” He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things possible for God” (Mark 10:17-27).

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.*

Jesus, looking at him, loved him...
his face fell, went away sad,
for he had many possessions.

We readily identify with this man because all of us have the same question deep in our hearts to Jesus, wondering there must be more to keeping the commandments, of being good, of a better way to get into eternal life that is not necessarily a shortcut.

In fact, we have to rejoice, dear friends if we ask the same question because it is a grace that can only come from God, so unlike the Pharisees who asked Jesus last Sunday on the legality of divorce because they wanted to “test” Him. See how Jesus like last week brought us all back to the Sacred Scriptures, the very word of God expressing His will in human terms. The question was a sincere longing for God like the Psalmist, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counsellors”; “I observe your precepts and testimonies; all my ways are before you” (Ps. 119:24, 168).

Jesus looked at the man with love because He saw a great opening for more grace in him that is why He told him to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and follow Him. At that moment, like most of us, his face fell and went away sad because he had many possessions.

Are we not this man too who can’t look at Jesus with the same love because we probably love somebody or something else than Him found among those in the margins of our lives?

Jesus looked around...
the disciples were amazed.

If Jesus did not care at all and has no love for those around Him, He would have not looked around after that man had left. Here is the lovely thing with Jesus: His look is always filled with love for us His disciples, a look so penetrating, so luminous because He is divine.

What is amazing is not only that it is difficult for us to enter the kingdom of God due to our many attachments, sinfulness and weaknesses, but, despite all these, Jesus still speaks to us, conversing with us because He simply loves us so much! Jesus never looks on qualifications but instead qualifies His call so we can follow Him. Most of all, look at Him too!

Consider the amazing grace for us to remain in Jesus, albeit hiding that question in our hearts so afraid to ask because we know His answer would be so unexpected like in this scene and yet, here is Jesus looking around, looking at us with love sincerely telling us it is not easy at all. Remember the bread of life discourse of how Jesus talked straight because He was sincere and truthful to us that it is difficult to follow Him to the Cross which is what discipleship is all about. Just keep following Jesus, keep looking at Him no matter what!

*Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, Quiapo Traslacion 2020.*

Jesus again said to them...
they were exceedingly astonished.

Wow…! See the style of Mark who was not contented in writing how astonished the disciples were by describing them as “exceedingly astonished”. See his attention to details, so wonderful and beautiful because what is exceedingly astonishing is Jesus Christ’s love for us, not just His words!

Here, Jesus was already telling the disciples what would happen on Good Friday, of how Jesus would do everything for us all – that is, in doing the impossible that is only possible with God because He loves us so much.

Like what St. Paul had extensively reiterated to the Galatians in the weekday readings last week, Jesus did everything for us to be saved. Salvation is a gift, a pure grace from God. It is never our work; stop playing God, or a Messiah! There is nothing we can really do to be saved except to be like a child as Jesus had reiterated these past two Sundays.

To be like a child is to completely trust Jesus every step of the way especially on His way to Jerusalem. Now we see the importance of having that child-like attitude to belong in the kingdom of God as Jesus identified what await His disciples in following Him: “houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come” (Mark 10:30).

Don’t be sad now. Mark had a purpose in writing the persecutions that await every disciple of Jesus because these shall purify us, give more depth and meaning to our lives and existence.

Mark knew so well how everyone is like the author of the Book of Wisdom who lived in a time similar with ours with all the affluence around us that deep inside us we still feel and know for sure that life is more than comfort and pleasures. He knew too the story of King Solomon like us so blessed with that consciousness that more than the material wealth and fame the world offers us, what matters most in life is wisdom to discern what is right and good.

These are difficult indeed for us, like getting married threatened by divorce then and now; but, again Jesus proposes an ideal, inviting us to remain in Him in prayers. After all, Jesus is the word of God who became flesh is “living and effective” among us found in the Sacred Scriptures (second reading) to guide us closer to Him.

Let us not worry because Jesus had done everything for us to be saved. Stay in the Lord, and let our face shine with His love! Keep looking at Jesus who looks at us full of love today and always. Have a blessed week ahead!

Filled with Spirit

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. John XXIII, Pope, 11 October 2024
Galatians 3:7-14 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 11:15-26

Lord Jesus Christ,
fill me with your Holy Spirit,
enliven my faith,
hope and love in You;
in this age of so many divisions
when we are being pulled by
the strong forces of the past
to go back to what was before
due to the excesses of modern time,
let us look for your Cross,
O Lord, to let the "finger of God"
work in us to cleanse us of
all evil and filth that make us
"scatter" than "gather".

“But if is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you… Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first” (Luke 11:20, 23-26).

Let us realize,
like what St. Paul tells us
in today's first reading that 
we who "have faith in You are
the children of Abraham,
that the blessing of Abraham 
might be extended to the Gentiles
through Christ Jesus, so that
we might receive the promise of 
the Spirit through faith" 
(Galatians 3:7, 14).

Let us embrace that truth,
Jesus, that You have done everything
for our salvation,
for our freedom,
for our being children of the Father;
You have cleansed us,
come fill us with your Spirit
for us to see our similarities
not differences to build a more
humane society here on earth;
fill us with your Spirit, Jesus,
let not the bonds and shackles of sin
hold us, isolated from others,
always competing that prevent
peace in finally happening.

Help us imitate your faithful servant
St. John XXIII who convened the
Second Vatican Council to open
the windows of the Church
and welcome this modern age
so we may find You Jesus ever more
present in this changing time;
most of all, to share You, Jesus
who is still most needed
in this troubled age.

You have done everything
for us, Jesus.
Let us rest on that by
remaining in You, 
doing your work
and make us stop
playing god, savior
of the world.
Amen.

Photo by Ka Ruben, new stained glass of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City to be blessed on Sunday, the 107th anniversary of the last Apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal.

To his face…

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Twenty-seventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 09 October 2024
Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[>< Luke 11:1-4

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2017.*

And when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong… (Galatians 2:11).

For so long,
I have always wondered
how You look like,
Lord Jesus,
of what or how 
your face looks
like really;
your face deeply in pain
on the Cross has always been
the face I have known when
thinking of You;
how I wished I could see your face
moved with pity 
with that widow of Nain
or how your face looked 
full of love to the rich young man
whose face fell after You asked him
to sell his belongings, 
share them to the poor
and follow you.

Oh, how I long to see your face,
Lord!

Christ and the Widow of Nain, c.1550-55 (oil on canvas) by Caliari, Paolo (Veronese) (1528-88); 97.7×163.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Christ and the Widow of Nain. Paolo Caliari (Veronese)(1528-1588). Oil on canvas. 97.7 x 163.8cm.); Photo © Christie’s Images.

*“Christ and Rich Young Ruler” by Heinrich Hofmann from en.wikipedia.org.*

St. Paul's account of 
"opposing Cephas to his face"
invites me today 
to see face
in a more deeper sense than
something physical; 
as I immersed into the scene,
I could sense and picture
the courage and sincerity 
on St. Paul's face in telling
St. Peter into his face 
his double standards
in dealing with early Christians, 
that is, of having two faces:
one with Jewish converts
and another with Gentile converts!

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

How sad,
dear Jesus, 
that until now,
we your disciples 
are like St. Peter before:
many of us are not only double-faced
but even multiple-faced with
one another, never our true selves
at all!
Worst, many of us can't even
show our true face as we put on masks
that literally in Greek are called
hypokritein --- hypocrites!

Teach us, Lord Jesus,
how to pray,
that is, 
to be single-faced in our prayers:
to face up before our Father
as His children
forgiving each other's debts,
living as brothers and sisters;
teach us, Lord Jesus,
to face up our prayers,
of living out what we pray
not with many faces
nor with masks on our face;
teach us, Lord Jesus,
to face You more often
in prayers to transform our face
into your face that is truly 
an image and likeness
of God, 
radiating with your loving presence.
Amen.

*Photo by author, CAS Chapel, Our Lady of Fatima University, August 2023.*

Jesus, the “love language” of God

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 06 October 2024
Genesis 2:18-24 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 2:9-11 ><}}}}*> Mark 10:2-16

*With our student sacristans in our San Fernando Campus in Pampanga during the Mass of the Holy Spirit last year.*

One of the joys of my ministry as chaplain in a university and a hospital is the daily interaction I have with young people who keep me young like them, always updated with the many trends happening among them especially in the languages they speak. In them I continue to find the many faces of Jesus Christ who continues to pass by even in this modern world so swiftly changing due to social media.

Two terms I have recently learned from them are “love language” and “situationship”. Let’s just talk about “love language” this Sunday that is more appropriate with our gospel and reserve that other word “situationship” when the setting is more apt. Lately I have noticed the term “love language” mentioned quite often in social media posts and reels. I never bothered to know it until somebody asked me what is my “love language” that threw me off balance with many wild things rushing into my mind, thinking what is it!

It turned out that “love language” is a term coined in 1992 by Baptist pastor Gary Chapman in his book of the same title where he identified five love languages we give and (prefer) to receive: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. It was an amazing moment of learning from me when I realized that everyone – including us priests – has a favorite love language in expressing our love to everyone. And in our gospel today, we find that even God who is love Himself has a love language in the very person of His Son Jesus Christ!

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mark 10:2-9).

*Photo by author, 2024; I have loved mosses that thrive even with little sunlight, reminding us of God’s grace especially when we are in darkness and tribulations.*

Jesus and the Twelve continued their journey to Jerusalem with His teachings not only getting more exciting but actually more difficult and hard as He addressed the thorny issue of divorce which continues to divide us in this modern age.

Interestingly enough, this scene happened while Jesus and the Twelve were in Judea, the province governed by King Herod who had John the Baptist arrested and later beheaded upon the instigation of his wife Herodias. John spoke against Herod’s taking of Herodias as wife because she used to be the wife of his own brother Philip then governing another province. One can just imagine the grave danger the Pharisees have exposed Jesus in discussing divorce right in the turf of an evil ruler living with an adulteress!

As usual, Jesus did not fall into the test by the Pharisees because He had no intentions of joining our endless debates about divorce as He knew very well that it is something so complicated that has continued to ruin human relationships as a result of the “hardness of our hearts”. Recall too similar instances when Jesus was asked for an opinion in politics like the paying of taxes to Caesar and the settlement of disputes among brothers regarding their inheritance. See how Jesus would always make it clear that His mission is not to settle our disputes in economics and politics nor personal relationships but to always reveal to us the will of God.

Instead of giving a simple answer of “yes” or “no” on the lawfulness of a divorce or the paying of taxes to the Romans, Jesus would always bring us to God our Father, the very core of our being and relationships. It is only in being rooted again in God when we realize personally, existentially why we have to strive in choosing what is true, good and beautiful no matter how difficult it may be.

This Sunday, Jesus is not offering compromises to us weak human beings about divorce but rather proposes the ideal of marriage by going back to its very source and beginning, God Himself who is love.

That is why our first reading was taken from Genesis to remind us and make us realize that everything, most especially man and woman – is created by God. Everything in this world was from God, especially our desire for union and communion which we also find expressed even by trees and plants as well as animals.

However, what makes us distinct from the rest of creation as we see in other parts of Genesis is God breathing on us His breath of life that gives us the consciousness of our oneness, of that transcendent otherness called humanity that makes us realize our deeper reality in the “I-Thou” relationship. Plants and animals do not have that consciousness.

*Photo by author, St. Scholastica Retreat Center, Tagaytay City, August 2024.*

The creation of a woman as suitable partner of man is not a result of an after-thought of God as if He never knew man would never be fulfilled without a woman. The creation of woman being taken from one of the ribs of man cast into a deep sleep by God reminds us of each person being a gift to everyone. No pet nor plant can bring that kind of ecstasy and joy of finding somebody like us, of bringing unity in every one who is incomplete in one’s self.

See how Jesus repeated the Genesis account “that is why” or “for this reason” a man leaves his father and mother and be joined with his wife to become one.

This tendency of ours towards one another, a consciousness of then other person, is a gift and a grace indicating our origin who is God who always relates with us. Every time we destroy this unity, whenever we upset this complementarity among us in God, that is when disorder happens, generating competitions among us that lead to our endless conflicts that only leave us with more pains and sorrows. Hence, back in the house again towards the end of our gospel scene this Sunday, Jesus reiterated the example of the child after His disciples drove them away.

*Photo by author, statue of the Child Jesus hugging St. Joseph, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2024.*

How lovely and ironic that despite the weaknesses and incompleteness of children, we find in them all five love languages too. What a joy to play and converse with children, especially carry babies despite their lack of language skills we find each one a love language in himself/herself – exactly like Jesus Christ, the love language of God who gave us everything to experience oneness in love.

God knows everything that He created us in His own image and likeness. Nothing, not even sin could ever destroy His grand design for us since creation so that right after the Fall, God right away promised salvation fulfilled in Jesus Christ whom He had sent to remind us anew of His wonderful plan for us.

I have a similar image like this in my room, my most favorite statue of St. Joseph as protector of the Child Jesus and Mary. But most of all, we find Jesus being the love language of God even in his childhood with His all-encompassing love that reached its highest point at the Crucifixion.

God knows everything, especially our weaknesses in keeping our relationships. Jesus is not judging us and knows very well the pains many are enduring as a result of separation and divorce. The Letter to the Hebrews we heard in the second reading tells us how Jesus in suffering death has become like us in order to share with us the grace we need to keep our human relationships strong.

Every Sunday, I visit our patients in the hospital to give them Holy Communion, hear their confessions and often, anoint most of them with Oil for the sick.

Whenever I meet couples especially those already old and with debilitating sickness, I praise God for the tremendous grace he gives them. In them I always find God so truly present among us, especially in every husband and wife lovingly serving each other in sickness and in health. Let us pray for all couples that they may cooperate with God’s grace in keeping their marriage alive. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead!

Praying for the patience of Job

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Twenty-sixth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 03 October 2024
Job 19:21-27 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 10:1-12

*Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, 07 September 2024.*

God our loving Father:

Grant me the "patience of Job".
Like him, everyday I go through many
trials and sufferings:
some are of my own-making,
some can be explained and understood,
but most often,
many of them are a mystery,
beyond explanations,
beyond comprehension.
Yes, Lord:
many times I have so many
questions in life that are left
unanswered but like Job,
I believe You alone knows
everything I am going through,
especially the pains and hurts,
the difficulties and hardships.

But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God: my inmost being is consumed with longing (Job 19:25-27).

Lord Jesus Christ:

Thank you for calling me,
for sending me into your
great harvest;
how lovely are your words,
"The harvest is abundant
 but the laborers are few;
so ask the master
to send out laborers
for his harvest" (Matthew 10:2);
so many times,
we think the solution to our
problems are found in things
without knowing nor realizing
what we need are more people
willing to labor with somebody else's
pains and hurts,
people willing to labor
for people so lost in the mysteries
of life saddled with many things
without clear explanations
except to be patient like Job,
trusting that in the end,
our vindication is in You.
Amen.

Discipleship, not membership

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 29 September 2024
Numbers 11:25-29 ><}}}}*> James 5:1-6 ><}}}}*> Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

*Photo by author, ongoing works on the stained glass of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 24 July 2024.*

Our Sunday gospel is getting more exciting each week as Jesus gets closer to Jerusalem in fulfillment of His mission with His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

One thing we see these past Sundays is how Mark followed a certain series of contrasts in the trajectory of his reportage. Note the contrasting scenes with every Sunday as we find today the Twelve appeared united as one unlike last week when they debated on the way who was the greatest among them.

More than that, Mark narrated today two strongly contrasting components of the Lord’s teachings to His disciples about discipleship and membership.

*Photo by author in Magalang, Pampanga, 23 September 2024.*

First is His tolerance on those who do good even though they do not belong to His fold, telling us to let everyone do what is good because no one has a monopoly of serving.

At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-40).

Then in a sudden shift, Jesus severely criticized those who cause scandal, strongly urging His disciples including us today to totally eradicate whatever that leads us to sin and evil. Rejecting sin is discipleship in essence, not membership.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the un quenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna” (Mark 9:42-43, 45, 47).

*Jesus teaching his Twelve Apostles, from GettyImages.*

What a lively discussion the Twelve must have had that day with Jesus. This scene is a favorite of many Christians when discussing the scriptures, of how they are to be understood and interpreted with our ready excuses that Jesus did not literally mean what He said about cutting off our sinful hand or sinful foot and plucking out our sinful eye.

But, have we really reflected on its meanings and implications to our lives today?

Jesus reminds us this Sunday that discipleship is more than membership because in doing what is good, “the sky is the limit” so to speak. No disciple of Christ can lay claim to a monopoly in doing what is good, serving others; moreover, no disciple of Christ can belittle the good works of others even if they do not belong to the same religion or church.

When our good deeds become “exclusive” and selective, then, that cease to be good.

Our ability to do good is always a grace of God, a gift poured out upon us by God daily so that we can be more loving and caring, more understanding and forgiving to one another. The moment we forget that, then, we start playing God.

In telling His disciples to let that man exorcize those possessed even he were not among the Twelve was clearly a command for us to recognize all who do good as brothers and sisters even if they do not necessarily share our beliefs and traditions. It is a call to respect one another.

Recall how in John’s gospel Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd who has other sheep not in this fold. And we cannot deny that many times those who do not belong to our Church or group are doing better in serving others than us who are so entangled with bureaucracy and programs or procedures, not to mention fame and other selfish motives.

This attitude of having a monopoly of ministries and charities is one serious malady afflicting parishes today. Very often, the people with this attitude are the cordon sanitaire of priests who most likely are a Jollibee or a pabida since they were seminarians. They are the epal for short who volunteer in everything leaving nothing else for others to do, eventually spawning more pabida and epal in the church. Many parishioners refuse to serve not because they are lazy nor indifferent nor afraid but simply they are never given a chance to serve due to the monopolistic attitudes of some. It is a sad case of ministry and service based on membership than discipleship.

Jesus is telling us this Sunday that there should be no divisions in doing good. Allow others to do good! Give them the chance to enter heaven too with their services and charities.

God wants us all to be “prophets” as explained by Moses to Joshua in the first reading when Meldad and Eldad prophesied even though they were not present in the Lord’s meeting tent. Moses rightly identified “jealousy” as one reason for such monopolistic attitude of good works by some believers.

Sin is the only obstacle in doing good, not membership. That is why, Jesus was severely stern in His words, telling how better it is for one causing others to sin to be thrown into the sea with a great millstone around one’s neck. Or, to cut off one’s hand or foot, and pluck out one’s eye that cause anyone to sin.

*Photo by author at Fatima Ave., Valenzuela City, 25 July 2024.*

If doing good were “sky is the limit” among disciples of Jesus, sin definitely has no room among us.

See how in this Sunday gospel Jesus implied to John and other disciples including us today of the grave sin of pride when we have that attitude of having a monopoly of good works, of relying more on membership than discipleship. It makes us proud and bloats our ego, leading us to more sins along the way until later on, we succumb to what the Greeks called as hubris.

That is why St. James in the second reading instructed us to examine our attitudes on social ills like poverty and inequality because wealth, like fame and glory, are always stained by sin.

A good disciple is always a good member of the Church – or any team and organization for that matter. Most of all, in our own family and circle of friends!

From Caesarea Philippi down to Capernaum that began three Sundays ago, Mark has continued to show us who Jesus really is, as the Christ who invites us with a personal answer to His same question to the Twelve, “who do you say that I am?” (Mk. 8:29).

The contrasts we found in Him today are not opposed to each other like His meekness with the sick and toughness with those who cause sin. Jesus is very open with anyone doing good, being kind and helpful but amid all these contrasts, He remains firm on His demands on discipleship rooted on His Cross, not just membership or being called a Christian.

When we look on His face, on His person, we find integrity and coherence, wholeness and holiness for Jesus is the Christ who had come to make us all divine, to become holy like Him “filled with His spirit” (Num. 11:29). Amen. Have a blessed week and October ahead!

*Photo by Ka Ruben, the new stained glass at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 13 September 2024.*

Timeless

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, Priest, 27 September 2024
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 9:18-22

*Photo by Mr. Howie Severino of GMA7 News in Taal, Batangas, 2018.*

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. He (God) has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11).

How lovely
and mysterious 
are your words today,
God our Father;
you have appointed time
for everything,
making everything appropriate
to its time,
and has put the timeless
into our hearts.

We live and move
in time,
through time
measured and taken 
in various ways
seen in the past,
the present,
and the future;
there is the inescapable
dimension and reality
we keep on freezing momentarily,
hoping to go back in the past
while we are so eager 
to know what is to happen
next in the future.

Let Jesus Christ 
your Son reign in our hearts
that we may always live
in the present moment of
every here and now,
the timeless in our hearts
with our fervent loving service
to you through others;
like St. Vincent de Paul,
let us be rooted in you,
Jesus, living in the present,
lovingly serving the poor
and needy among us;
but most of all,
make our hearts 
attuned in you, Jesus,
in prayer to experience
the timeless
even right here
in this life.
Amen.

*Photo by Vincenzo Malagoli on Pexels.com*

Light and sound

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of St. Padre Pio, Priest, 23 September 2024
Proverbs 3:27-34 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that hose who enter may see the light… Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away” (Luke 8:16, 18).

God our loving Father,
thank you very much in giving
us a modern saint in San Pedro Pio
who is so beloved not only for his
miracles but most of all
in his bringing your Son Jesus Christ's
light into this dark modern world,
listening always not only to You
but to everyone so weighed down
by sin and all forms of sufferings.

With your so many gifts
to San Padre Pio
especially the stigmata of Jesus,
he remained so humble,
witnessing to this
modern world of excessive
wealth and poverty
in money and spirituality,
 San Padre Pio refused no one
whatever good he could offer
to those who came to him
and continue to come to him
for intercession.

Fill us, dear Father,
with St. Padre Pio's same love
of You and love of neighbor
rooted in the meaningful celebration
and deep love for the Holy Eucharist,
always making your light shining
brightly in our life of witnessing
as we too listen intently to your words
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Grace & joy, together. Always.

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Twenty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 19 September 2024
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ><))))*> + <*((((>< Luke 7:36-50

*Photo by author, St. Scholastica Spirtuality Center, Tagaytay City, 21 August 2024.*

Praise and glory
to you, God our loving Father!
Thank you for your unending
gifts of grace for us
despite our many sins
and our being undeserving.

Truly like St. Paul,
we too feel so small, 
"the least" for our so many sins
yet you never denied us with
that immense grace of 
mercy and forgiveness,
redemption and new life in
Christ Jesus our Lord
that we so often forget.

Let us affirm 
and be grateful
by cultivating this great grace
you have given us in Jesus
be who we are in your sight,
never making your grace "ineffective"
like the Pharisees in today's gospel 
who could not stand 
the sight of Jesus 
interacting with a sinful woman,
of Jesus speaking to a sinner,
of Jesus forgiving so great a sin.

May we keep in our
heart and mind your tremendous
gift of grace to be near you,
to be like you,
to be filled with you
by living out your grace
in grateful witnessing 
of loving and joyful service 
to others.

Help us remember 
that like in the Annunciation
to Mary, rejoicing and grace
are always together:
from the Greek words 
charis for grace and
chara for rejoicing,
rejoicing and joy
are clearest signs of
grace anywhere 
like that woman
who washed 
and anointed
the Lord's feet.
Amen.

A special prayer for widows

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Hildegard, Virgin & Doctor of Church, 17 September 2024
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Luke 7:11-17

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompnaied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep” (Luke 7:11-13).

Today, O God our Father,
you remind us of life's fragility, 
of life's daily crossings
into a gate, a portal
of death and life,
of weeping and rejoicing,
of absence and presence
like Jesus drawing near
to the gate of the city of Nain;
you give us each day
a chance to enter each day
filled with life and joy,
love and mercy
of your Son Jesus Christ.

We pray most especially for widows
who have lost everything:
their husband,
their son or daughter,
their joy and meaning in life;
help them cross each day's
gate and portal of their daily Nain;
how lovely that Jesus was 
moved by the widowed mother
not by the dead son to be buried;
many times we forget the living
especially widows
without realizing the unique
pains and hurts they go through
in losing a husband
and a child.

Take care, dear Jesus,
of the widows and widowers too
who often cry alone,
suffer in silence
for their loss;
visit them today with
your warmth and joy
to comfort them with your
loving presence through
their family and friends,
the Church which is your Body.
Through the intercession of the 
great mystic St. Hildegarde von Bingen,
may widows and widowers
experience what she had written that
"The mystery of God hugs you
in its all-encompassing mystery."
Amen.