The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr, 14 August 2023
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 17:22-27
Photo by author, Bolinao, Pangasinan, April 2022.
Glory and praise to you,
God our loving Father,
for speaking to us again today
through Moses in the first
reading; for the first time,
he finally gave us the important
question we never ask,
we always avoid,
and take for granted:
"And now, Israel,
what does the Lord,
your God, ask of you?"
(Deuteronomy 10:12).
Forgive us, dear Father,
for never asking this important
question of "What do you ask of us?"
because very often we are so
occupied with our selves, with all
of our pursuits for fame and power,
wealth and security;
we rarely ask this question because
we are afraid of commitments,
we are afraid of sharing,
we are afraid of serving,
we are afraid of being true
and just, fair and honest,
most of all, of finding you
in our neighbors!
Forgive us, Lord our God,
for playing god like you,
lording it over your whole creation
destroying earth as we exploit
its resources for more power
to dominate others and worst,
in deciding who must live,
who must die;
teach us to be like
St. Maximilian Kolbe,
the Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century
who gave his entire life serving
you through modern means of
communications to spread your truth
and good news that is why he was
imprisoned by the Nazis in Auschwitz
where he eventually gave up his life
for another man about to be executed.
Help us O Lord to always
keep in mind you alone is our God
whom we must serve in those in need,
for those neglected,
the poor and the sick;
like St. Maximilian Kolbe,
may we ask always
what you want from us
and strive by your grace,
to fulfill your will.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sunday in the Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 13 August 2023
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 9:1-5 ><}}}}*> Matthew 14:22-33
Our gospel this Sunday speaks of winds and storms, something we have experienced recently that brought so much rains and caused widespread floods even in Metro Manila.
Storms and typhoons are categorized by the winds they pack that induce the heavy rains which result in floods. At the center of every storm and typhoon is called the “eye” which is its most calm part without winds at all, even with clear skies; however, all the hazards and dangers of a storm come from the wall of that eye of the storm that is why we have the expression “lull in the storm” – that moment of calmness before suddenly everything breaks loose as the storm passes or pummels an area.
Our first reading and gospel today imply something about this “eye of the storm” where God is found, where Jesus comes. Both readings tell us that it is not really in the raging storm where we find God but right in that eye of the storm, the peace and stillness of our heart within.
Photo by author, Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon, 04 March 2023.
In the first reading, God told Elijah to wait for him at the entrance of the cave as he fled from soldiers of Queen Jezebel out to kill him. First came a strong wind, followed by an earthquake, then, fire, but God was nowhere.
After these shattering events, Elijah found God in a “tiny whispering sound” that followed. What a beautiful imagery of the prophet deep in prayers! It was in his serenity, in his complete trust in the Lord – in the eye of a storm – that he found God and had to cover his face with a cloak as a sign of respect. Imagine the stormy condition of Elijah at that time, of being hunted.
Here we find again the importance of prayer life, the eye of the storm, our communion with God in Jesus Christ. It is in prayer where God first comes and reveals himself to us. More than the recitation of traditional prayers, prayer is being one with God, of wrestling with him in our inner selves that is always in turmoil, always with a storm that makes us choose whether to stay or to leave, to wait for God or go ahead with what we believe and think. Prayer is wrestling with God like Jacob because deep within us is always a storm and typhoon going on, with an eye as its center where God is, where Jesus walks on water to save us when like his apostles we are in the middle of a storm at the darkest hour of the night.
Photo by author, sunrise at the Lake of Galilee, Israel, May 2017.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “come.” Peter got out the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:26-33
These two instances of Elijah in the cave and Jesus walking on water show us that God is always present in our lives. Whatever is happening around us does not determine God’s presence.
What matters most is that we pay attention to him alone in Jesus, our Emmanuel or God-is-with-us. Every time we cry out “where is God?”, it is us who have left him, it is us who have doubted like Peter who even in the middle of a storm was thinking more of himself than Jesus. See how doubtful was Peter that even after Jesus had identified himself by saying “It is I” which is actually “I AM” as God had called himself to Moses and the Israelites, he dared to say “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on water.” How funny that when Jesus gave in to his request, Peter sank because he still doubted the Lord. Just like us when we would dare God but when he plays our games, we chicken out, still unbelieving, still unconvinced.
Is it really God whom we are seeking especially in moments of storms in life?
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 24 July 2023.
If all we seek is fame, comfort and pleasure even amid the storms in life, paying attention only to our selves, we would surely miss the Lord who is always beside us. People, things, events can distract us and lead us astray at critical moments in life.
Hence, the need for us to remain focused in Jesus by looking right into the very “eye of our storm”, into what is disrupting us, seeking Christ like the psalmist in our responsorial psalm today who begged, “Lord let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.”
In this age with so many storms of distractions outside us in a world on a 24/7 mode with almost everyone in his/her own world listening/watching to their playlists and podcasts with eyes stuck on their gadgets or stuck in their ears, do we make time to find our “eye of storm”, our center of peace and calmness where God is?
See how St. Paul in the second reading was tormented or tortured in himself because of his fellow Jews’ refusal to accept the good news that Jesus is their awaited Christ. It was a perfect storm within him that saddened him but never bothered him because he was focused with God and his mission. He had no qualms in bearing many sufferings and facing death because amid all the storms in his life, he had found Jesus. This focus on God is the reason why Jesus remained behind to pray that night when he told the Twelve to go ahead to the other side of the lake. This is the first time Matthew tells us Jesus was praying. Two things I wish to share with you regarding prayer life as the eye of our storms in life.
First, the most difficult prayer is always the most meritorious. Prayer is not about feelings nor of feeling good and light but in giving one’s self to God wholly that even if nothing seems to happen, we remain in God, with God. Desire only God in prayer, asking him for courage to find and follow Jesus. Like the apostles in the boat, true prayer happens when we feel abandoned and isolated, so far from God. It is in our many trials in life when we pray that we learn how strong and faithful are we in God’s grace!
Second, there are no distractions in prayer. I have realized that most often, the distractions we consider during prayer periods may actually be from God, not from the devil as we usually believed. Recall how Jesus forced the 12 to go ahead to the other side of the lake perhaps to test them and face their inner distractions and storms. The people, things, and events that distract us in our prayers are from God as reminders of the issues we have to face and resolve in life so we may see him clearly.
Why do you see your enemies in your prayers? Maybe it is time to forgive them.
Why all these malicious thoughts happening during prayers? Maybe it is about time you stop watching porn and start respecting women as persons.
Why do our embarrassing moments keep on appearing in prayers? Maybe God wants us to forgive ourselves and move on with life.
They are not distractions but blessings that if we open ourselves to confront our inner storms, no strong wind from outside can topple us because we have Jesus inside us. Today is a Sunday. Go celebrate Mass in your parish. Forget all the noise and distractions you experience, be focused only on God. Find your eye of the storm in yourself and there you shall find God, loving you, comforting you, blessing you! Amen. Have a blessed week ahead.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Clare, Virgin, 11 August 2023
Deuteronomy 4:32-40 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> Matthew 16:24-28
Photo by author, Camp John Hay, 12 July 2023.
"Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire,
as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take
a nation for himself from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with his strong hand and outstretched arm,
and by great terrors, all of which the Lord, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?"
(Deuteronomy 4:33-34)
I heard your questions,
God our Father,
like a whisper so near
yet so loud and clear from
deep within;
and you know my answer,
so well, Lord
and yet despite my deep yes,
here I am still wandering
in the desert,
looking somewhere else,
running away from you,
doubting you
when deep within me,
I know,
I am so sure,
I have experienced
"there is no other" God
but YOU.
Of course my life is not marked
with such dramatic events as you did
to your people in the desert
but still, I could feel them,
I have felt them
and merely reading the questions by Moses
put me into silence
for deep inside me,
you have never stopped in
creating wonders
in my life that make me realize
what a gift and a privilege
to be alive!
And indeed,
as your Son Jesus Christ
had taught us, to have you
is the only valuable,
the only worthy
response of gratitude
to you, O God;
like St. Clare,
let me come after Jesus
by denying myself,
taking my cross
and following him
in love and mercy,
kindness and fidelity,
service and intimacy.
Amen.
Photo by author, La Mesa Dam Watershed Park, Quezon City, January 2023.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin & Martyr, 09 August 2023
Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26-29, 34-35 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 15:21-28
Photo by author, sunrise at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 12 July 2023.
How timely are your words
these past three days,
God our loving Father;
like your people in the wilderness
after their Exodus from Egypt,
we continue to grumble and
complain against you and your
plans for us through the people
you have sent to lead us
like our parents, siblings,
even friends and superiors
in work or in community.
Worst than our stubbornness
in defying your instructions through
the modern Moses you send us,
we have even created our
own monsters and ghosts
within us,
exacerbating the fears
we have in trusting you,
believing you,
and following you!
So they spread discouraging reports among the children of Israel about the land they had scouted, saying, “The land that we explored is a country that consumes its inhabitants. And all the people we saw there are huge, veritable giants (the Anakim were a race of giants); we felt like mere grasshoppers, and so we must have seemed to them.”
Numbers 13:32-33
Forgive us Father
for our outrageous foolishness
that have infected so many others,
paralyzing us to move
on in life,
to dare and dream
great things in life
that could proclaim
your majesty and mercy,
your life and love;
forgive us Father
for choosing mediocrity
than striving for the best
for us,
for others,
and for you;
forgive us Father
for not daring to venture
into the unknown
where Jesus Christ
goes, the Tyre and Sidon
of our lives that we fail
to meet him.
Grant us, O Lord,
the courage,
tenacity and faith
of the Canaanite woman
who begged Jesus
to exorcise her daughter;
most of all,
grant us the clarity
of mind and perseverance
of St. Teresa Benedicta
to seek and follow you,
and stand for you
even before the real monsters
of our time
like the gas chambers of
indifference and
the prison camps
of power and pleasures
that all negate the Cross
of Jesus Christ..
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Dominic, Priest, 08 August 2023
Numbers 12:1-13 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 14:22-36
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 24 July 2023.
Thank you very much,
God our loving Father,
for continuing to comfort
us, especially those maligned
by many with their complaints
and grumblings; but,
at the same time,
grant us the grace too
to be firm and strong that
the darkest side of
complaints and grumblings
always come from people
closest and nearest to us
like Miriam and Aaron,
the siblings of Moses.
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the marriage he had contracted with a Cushite woman. They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the Lord speaks? Does he not speak through us also?” The Lord heard this. Now, Moses himself was by far the meekest man on the face of the earth. So at once the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the meeting tent.” Then the Lord came down in the column of cloud… so angry was the Lord against them that when he departed, and the cloud withdrew from the tent, there was Miriam, a snow-white leper!
Numbers 12:1-5, 9
O Lord,
we mean no harm
to those closest to us
who complain against us,
grumbling against us at our back;
let us be assured always that
you know this very well
especially when we strive
to do your will and people
become jealous of us.
For our detractors,
the complainers and grumblers
especially when we are not around,
grant them the courage to be like
Simon Peter to open up with you,
Lord, to come close to you
even in the midst of a storm;
let them feel and experience
the turbulence within,
the pains and hurts
of doing your work.
Like St. Dominic,
let us be your torch-bearer
in bringing light not only
to the dark corners of the world
but to the darkness enveloping
us within like our jealousies
and insecurities,
especially of those closest to us.
Amen.
St. Dominic de Guzman,
Pray for us!
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Feast of St. John Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests, 04 August 2023
Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37 ><}}}*> + <*{{{>< Matthew 13:54-58
Photo by author, Manila Cathedral Sacristy, 07 July 2023.
Praise and glory to you,
God our Father for the gift of
St. John Marie Vianney,
our Patron Saint,
your priests!
Oh what a glorious day
is this day falling on a
First Friday,
a day special to the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
our Eternal Priest.
Thank you,
thank you,
thank you, Lord.
From the very start
as we have heard from
the Book of Leviticus
in the first reading,
you have set special
days of celebrations
to remember you and
your saving works;
at its service are
your priests.
Always.
But, no...
We are not the center
of your festivals, Lord,
but your mere servants;
how sad that since then
in the wilderness
down to your Temple
up to our own time
in these beautiful churches
we celebrate the Holy Mass,
we your priests have
consciously or unconsciously
turned attention and focus
onto ourselves.
Mea culpa, mea culpa,
mea maxima culpa!
Forgive us your priests
for playing God,
O merciful Father.
Help us to keep coming back
to Nazareth like your Son Jesus;
let us get lost in the hiddenness
and silence of Nazareth;
let us be at home with you
in the obscurity and nothingness
of Nazareth;
let us welcome too the
rejections of Nazareth
like Jesus our Eternal Priest.
In all these 25 years as a priest,
my prayer to you dear God
remains the same:
Lord, you have given me
with so much
and I have given you so little;
teach me to give more
of myself,
more of YOU.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 03 August 2023
Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Matthew 13:47-53
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 24 July 2023.
God our Father,
it is undeniably true
that days are getting
faster and shorter;
life is quickly passing
without us really realizing;
how crazy we have become
working so hard eight to
ten hours a day, five days
a week only to enjoy life
in less than 24 hours;
we are all in a hurry in a
rat race that has no winner,
wishing we could be older
too soon only to wish later
how we could be young again.
Help us to center our lives
in you again like when your
people were in the wilderness;
let us be aware and mindful
of your presence in our midst
like your tent:
"Whenever the cloud rose
from the Dwelling,
the children of Israel
would set out on their journey.
But if the cloud did not lift,
they would not go forward;
only when it lifted
did they go forward"
(Exodus 40:36-37).
Let us be discerning,
Lord, in our moves,
in our lives "like the head
of the household who brings
from his storeroom
both the new and the old"
(Matthew 13:52);
lead me, Lord,
and do not let me be
led by the world,
by my desires,
by my ego
and pride.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 02 August 2023
Exodus 34:29-35 >><)))*> + >><)))*> + >><)))*> Matthew 13:44-46
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, 2019.
God our loving Father,
let our face reflect your
glory and majesty,
your love and mercy
like Moses as described
in our first reading today.
How lovely
and awesome too
that after meeting
with you face to face,
the skin of Moses'
face was radiant
that they were afraid
to approach him;
very clearly
you have left traces
of you on his face
whereas we on the other
hand, despite our
coming to you,
listening to your word,
and receiving your Son
Jesus in the Eucharist,
our face remain the same?
More sad is how
we could not find
or refuse to recognize
your face on everyone's face
especially those nearest
to us like family and friends;
despite our
coming to you,
listening to your word,
and receiving your Son
Jesus in the Eucharist,
our face could not reflect
the joy of finding you, Lord,
like a hidden treasure
buried in the field or
a fine pearl finally
found by a merchant.
God our Father,
let us face squarely
our problem with our
face; it is not merely
the skin nor its lines
nor its glow that
creams and cosmetics
may hide for sometime;
like you and Moses
meeting face-to-face
in your tent,
may we realize
whatever is found
in our face is a reflection
of what is truly inside
our hearts,
when there is union
of life and love
that happens
in our union in you
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 01 August 2023
Exodus 33:7-11, 34:5-9, 28 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 13:36-43
Photo by author, March 2020.
God our loving Father,
as we enter the brand-new
month of August today,
your words speak a lot of
"entering" too today:
of Moses entering your
tent and Jesus entering
the house:
As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down and stand at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another.
Exodus 33:9, 11
Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
Matthew 13:36
But your entering
in both instances speak
more of physical space
but a union of life and love
made possible in Jesus Christ.
Every time we enter
a church and other places
of worship,
we enter you, God,
to dwell in you
who has been dwelling
in us too.
Like St. Alphonsus de Liguori
whose memorial we celebrate
today, transform our lives
in Jesus Christ, let it unfold
according to your Divine plan,
achieving equilibrium in morality
like you, "merciful and gracious
God, kind and forgiving
wickedness, crime and sin;
yet not declaring the guilty
guiltless" (Ex. 34:6, 7).
Amen.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Hulyo 2023
Larawan kuha ng may akda sa Anvaya Cove, Bataan, 19 Mayo 2023.
*Ito ay tula na aking nakatha
dahil sa pagkamangha
sa mga katagang "Halika nga"
ng awiting "Habang Buhay"
ni Zack Tabudlo.
Halika nga!
Madalas sinasambit
upang tayo ay lumapit
upang makita at marinig
ng higit
tumatawag
o sumisitsit;
malimit
kapag nabanggit
hatid ay tuwa at galak
sa nakakarinig
lalo na kung
may kasabay na kaway
ng kamay at
pagngiti
ng labi!
Halika nga!
Kay sarap balikan
itong pagtawag
noon sa amin
ng mga magulang
na puno ng lambing
at pagmamahal;
kapag ito'y tutugunin
tiyak ikaw ay pupupugin
ng halik sa pisngi
tila sinasabing
ika'y nakaaaliw
kaya sana ay inyong
dinggin
kanilang pangangaral
at habilin.
Halika nga!
Iyan din ang
tawag sa atin
ng Diyos nating butihin
ngunit hindi natin
pinapansin.
Halika nga!
ang paanyaya
ng Diyos sa atin
upang ating pasanin
ay Kanyang pagaanin,
sa Kanya tayo pagpapahingahin.
Halika nga!
Tanging hiling
ng Diyos sa atin
huwag nang tumingin
sa iba, Siya lang
ang mahalin, sambahin
at sundin; huwag mahumaling
sa magaan at madaling
pamamaraan ng mundo
na siyang tukso at pangloloko
nitong diyablo
na sinungaling
at tuso!
Larawan kuha ng may akda sa Anvaya Cove, Bataan, 19 Mayo 2023.
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