mental health

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II
Memorial of St. Peter Claver, SJ, Priest, 09 September 2026
1 Corinthians 7:25-31     <*((((>< + ><))))*>     Luke 6:20-26

*Photo by a friend from Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.*

The rains have not stopped,
the sun remains hidden
and dark clouds continue
not only above us but even
in our lives these days;
many are so hard pressed
in life - displaced from homes
due to floods, some could not work
and earn with barely nothing to 
keep them warm and fed
while others are depressed,
fearful, uncertain of what is next:

I pray for them all,
Jesus; speak to them
directly like today in 
the gospel; let them hear,
move them and stir their hearts
to life and animation,
to realize they are loved
and cared for,
to never lose hope
in this life,
to let go of their past
sins and mistakes,
to simply not worry
and trust you 
by being grateful
for your many blessings.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of god is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satistifed. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:20-22).

You are speaking directly
to each one of us, Jesus;
may those going through
difficulties these days
hear and feel your blessings,
Jesus;
it is hard and so difficult
to listen and accept
being called blessed
according to your gospel,
Jesus
because many of us are
going through it!

May your beatitudes
comfort us, dear Jesus,
find consolation in you
like your Jesuit Saint
Peter Claver
who offered his life
 to those enslaved
in Colombia,
choosing to live among
those despised than among
those comfortable;
help me find blessedness
Jesus in solidarity with
those suffering,
for those in the margins,
for those forgotten
for those suffering in silence.
Amen.

Let me begin this prayer
Lord Jesus with the call of
St. Paul to their jailer,
"Do no harm to yourself;
we are all here"
following the many
sad news of people
harming themselves
and others because
of so much pains and sufferings.

These are the words most precious
these days, Lord:
"Do no harm to yourself."

Do no harm to yourself
even if you have failed
for you are more precious than
grades and achievements.

Do no harm to yourself
despite the pains and hurts
there must be a better way
to stop the beatings.

Do no harm to yourself
because we are here...
but, alas, Lord!
We can only cry those words
after they have harmed
themselves and others.
Worst,
we call only those words
"Do no harm to yourself"
when they are gone.

Forgive us,
Jesus for being far
from those in pain and sufferings,
for being insensitive
to those crying in silence,
for being indifferent
to the realities of mental health
and total well-being
of everyone.

Give us a chance,
Jesus to be like Paul and Silas
of saving one life
from doing no harm to one's self
by first being sensitive
to your presence in prayers
because the more we pray,
the more we become sensitive
of you and of others.
Amen.

Category: mental health

You are blessed

Praying to “do no harm”