Your words today, O Lord Jesus are short but give much to reflect on: "Be merciful... stop judging... stop condemning... Forgive... Give."
Jesus, teach me to be "shamefaced" like Daniel in the first reading: it is not enough that I realize my sinfulness, of my wickedness in refusing to love, in turning away from you, in disregarding your words over and over and still - be forgiven and loved.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
So often in life, I forget the Father's mercy that I have totally been oblivious to being merciful; thank you Jesus in giving this comparison today, of being merciful as the Father is merciful.
What a shame of how often I look up to myself as so good, so righteous against others that I judge and condemn them; teach me to be like you, Lord: merciful, non-judgmental, forgiving; most of all, teach me to give freely like you, Lord; remind me always to remember your mercy on me to realize that more than an ideal, mercy is about how it feels in my own life.
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given me with so much love and mercy, kindness and forgiveness of sins but I have refused to be merciful with others; have mercy on me, Lord and let me be merciful like the Father. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Second Sunday in Advent-A, 07 December 2025 Isaiah 11:1-10 ><}}}}*> Romans 15:4-9 ><}}}}*> Matthew 3:1-12
Photo by author, The Deesis Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.
A few weeks before the Holy Father visited Turkiye recently, we were also in Istanbul and had the great chance of visiting the magnificent Hagia Sophia. And we wonder why Pope Leo XIV skipped the more historical and popular Hagia Sophia to visit instead the Blue Mosque just across.
The Hagia Sophia or “Holy Wisdom” was the largest church in the Eastern Roman Empire when Istanbul was called Constantinople until the Ottoman Turks conquered the city and converted the church into a mosque. More than a hundred years ago when Turkiye became a republic, the government made Hagia Sophia a museum until recently when it was reverted into a mosque again.
My initial feeling when I got inside Hagia Sophia was deep sadness. “Malaking panghihinayang” as in “sayang na sayang” in Filipino because it used to be ours but due to the Great Schism of 1054 when the Eastern Roman Church broke away from Rome, it fell into the hands of the Moslems who made it into a mosque, altering or hiding the many great works of art there that date back to the Byzantine era 1200 to 1400 years ago.
Photo by author, The Deesis Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.
One of its many treasures you might be familiar found in history books and magazines is the “Deesis Mosaic” of Jesus flanked to his left by his Mother Mary and John the Baptist to his right.
From the Greek word “deesis” that means supplication or intercession, the mosaic features Mary and John beseeching Jesus to forgive mankind at his Second Coming. Though the three images have been badly deteriorated due to the elements passing through the window beside it, its beauty remains intact, especially the evocative faces of Mary, Jesus and John.
Seeing it personally, one could feel the pagsusumamo of John the Baptist and Mother Mary expressed in the softness of their face in earnestly asking Jesus to forgive mankind on the day of judgment. And it seems to be working so well as you could feel too the tender compassion of Jesus Christ’s look as he raised his right hand in a blessing position while holding with his other hand a thick book that is perhaps a Bible.
Detail of John the Baptist from the Deesis Mosaic in his abbreviated Greek name Ionnes Prodromos; photo by author, Istanbul, 01 November 2025.
The Deesis Mosaic is very Advent in character because it is about God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus at his Second Coming at the end of time.
Here we find how early on in the ancient Church they have been preoccupied in this first aspect of Advent, the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time and of Advent’s essence – our conversion from sins. At the forefront of that call is the Lord’s Precursor, John the Baptist, that is why every second and third Sundays of Advent we hear in the gospel his ministry at Jordan.
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. … At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region aroun d the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins (Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6).
John the Baptist remains relevant in preparing for the Lord’s coming, whether at the end of time or in preparation for our Christmas celebration. Like him, we are all called to be an Advent person, vigilantly preparing ourselves for Christ’s coming at the end of time that happens in every here and now, right in our own desert in this modern time.
Yes, we are like John the Baptist living in our own desert, a world we describe as a global village wired and connected by the internet yet so apart from each other. Instead of bringing us closer with one another, all these modern inventions have actually grown us more detached from one another like when eating in a fast food. It is so alienating especially for us seniors to be placing our orders on those tall electronic boards programmed for us to order more food and drinks not healthy at all.
Or, take those TNVS or Transport Network Vehicle Services like Grab. We no longer travel in the real sense as we just move to destinations with that desert feeling when inside a Grab car with the driver too far from us passengers in front, following instructions from apps while we at the back sit silently scrolling our phones or pounding a laptop. See also how driving has become going in the wilderness with the horrendous traffic where humans turn into monsters in road rage while machines and CCTVs monitor who’s violating traffic rules and who gets through the RFID.
Photo by author, Basic Education Department Chapel, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, December 2023.
This Second Sunday in Advent, John the Baptist invites us to be aware of the desert we are living into where we have become less personal, less human as we move away from God that we have lost our sense of sin, acting more on impulses without much thinking its effects and consequences.
We think more of ourselves than of God and others, overextending our rights insisting on our ways that actually destroy lives through abortions and gender manipulations. We no longer speak of what is true and good by simply following trends and what is convenient. No more feelings, no more compassion. No more others. No more God nor heaven and eternity.
“St. John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness” by German painter Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779) from commons.wikimedia.org.
We do not have to dress on camel’s hair nor eat locusts and wild honey like John but simply make a space within us for God and for others.
We would be gravely wrong to think John was only speaking to the people of his time especially to the Pharisees and Sadducees; Matthew wrote his gospel account at that time to nourish the faith of early Christians facing persecutions and many challenges in life like in our own time when it is so tempting to follow the evil ways of the world.
John continues to warn us today of the sure return of the Christ when everyone shall face judgment which is not something to be feared like a sword of Damocles hanging above our heads ready to strike us anytime. It is a call and a demand for concrete actions of conversion, of leaving our sinful ways to follow Christ’s path of holiness.
“Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:10-11).
Advent assures us of Christ’s Second Coming when he shall purify and renew us to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy in the first reading when “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid… the calf and young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them… the cow and bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest, the lion shall eat hay like the ox… the baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair”(Isaiah 11:6-8).
“Peaceable Kingdom”, a painting based on Is.11:1-10 by American Edward Hicks, a Quaker pastor (1780-1849) from wikimedia.org.
As we have reflected last Sunday, every coming of Jesus is a day of judgment but not a catastrophe. It becomes a disaster for those unprepared, living in sin. But for those like John the Baptist, striving to live the gospel amid the desert of this world, Christ’s coming is salvation and peace for Jesus is full of love and compassion and tenderness for his people.
Life is so difficult these days especially when we see our great disparities with the corrupt who simply steal our money and those we call “lumalaban ng patas sa buhay”. Imagine how in our country the world is like a desert, so hostile with the weak and the poor who have to wrestle with 500 pesos – if ever they have – to stretch it for a noche buena on Christmas Eve.
St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that in times like these, we look up to God and his Sacred Words, to keep hoping, trusting and believing in Christ’s coming already happening especially in the Sunday Eucharist. Let us gather together as one community, encouraging each other in Christ like John in Jordan while awaiting the Lord’s coming, rejoicing like the psalmist today who sang, “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever” (Ps. 72:7). Amen. A blessed Second Week in Advent everyone!
Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-26 ng Nobyembre 2025
Larawan mula sa Catholic News Agency, 22 Nobyembre 2025.
Tawag pansin at higit sa lahat ay nakatutuwa ang pahayag ng Santo Papa Leo XIV kamakailan mula sa Roma na mag-ingat aniya ang lahat sa maling habag at awa.
Nagtipon sa Roma noong isang linggo ang mga bumubuo sa court of appeals ng Simbahan kung tawagin ay Roman Rota na siyang humahawak sa mga kaso ng marriage annulment. Heto yung pambungad na bahagi ng balita mula sa Vatican:
In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.
During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago. (Mula sa ulat ni Almudena Martinez-Bordiu ng Catholic News Agency)
Noon pa mang mahalal na Santo Papa si Leo XIV, marami na siyang pahayag na nakakatawag pansin hindi sapagkat kakaiba o nakakagulat katulad ng sinundan niyang si Papa Francisco.
Pagmasdan palaging malinaw at ayon sa turo ng Simbahan at kanyang mga tradisyon ang mga pahayag ni Papa Leon. Walang malabo na nagbibigay daan sa maling pagkaunawa o interpretasyon. At sa lahat ng kanyang binitiwang salita, ito ang pinaka-nagustuhan ko dahil totoong-totoo. Hindi lamang sa larangan ng pagsusuri sa mga kaso ng annulment ng mga kasal kungdi sa ating buhay mismo.
Bagaman mahalaga ang maging mahabagin na siyang pinaka tuon ng pansin ni Pope Francis noon, niliwanag ngayon ni Papa Leon na hindi maaring puro na lang awa at habag.
Mula sa FB post ni Dr. Tony Leachon.
Tunay naman na maraming pagkakataon lumalabis ating habag at awa habang nakakalimutan ang katotohanan. Lalo na sa ating mga Pinoy na puro na lang awa at bihira gumana ang batas kaya naman palala ng palala ang ating sitwasyon na nawawala na ang kaayusan dahil bihirang bigyang pagkakataon ang gawi ng katarungan.
Sa tuwing nasasantabi ang katotohanan at nangingibabaw ang pagkaawa, ito ay nagiging maling uri ng habag dahil hindi maaring pairalin ang awa kung walang katotohanan. Ipinaliwanag ni Papa Leon noong isang linggo na palagi sa lahat ng pagkakataon na hanapin at tingnan muna ang katotohanan sa mga bagay-bagay na kinokonsidera ukol sa mga kaso ng sa kasal. Idiniin ng Santo Papa na dapat maunang hanapin at panindigan ang katotohanan dahil ito mismo si Jesu_Kristo na nagsabing “Ako ang daan at ang katotohanan at ang buhay” (Jn. 14:6).
Gayon din sa buhay. Ang maging maawain sa gitna ng kawalan ng katotohanan lalo na namamayani ang kasinungalingan ay maling-mali sapagkat sa tuwing nauuna ang awa at habag kesa katotohanan, nasasantabi rin ang katarungan kung saan mayroong tiyak na napagkakaitan nito. Hindi nagiging patas ang kalagayan kung puro awa at walang katotohanan.
Kasalan sa binaha na simbahan ng Barasoain sa Malolos City, 22 Hulyo 2025; larawan kuha ni Aaron Favila ng Associated Press.
Sa tuwing nauuna ang pagkamaawain sa gitna ng kawalan ng katotohanan, lalo tayo nagiging walang awa o merciless sa dapat kaawaan habang hinahayaan natin ang pag-iral ng kasinungalingan. Balang araw, lulubha at lalala ang kamaliang ito kaya higit na marami ang mahihirapan.
Hindi maaring pairalin ang habag at awa kung mayroong mali at kasamaan. Iyan problema sa ating bansa: lahat na lang kinaawan at pinatawad maski walang pagsisisi ni pag-amin ng kasalanan kaya wala ring napaparusahan ni nakukulong! Magtataka pa ba tayo wala tayong kaayusan at higit sa lahat, wala tayong patunguhan?
Kinabukasan ng halalan noong 2019 habang almusal, nagsabi ng sorry sa akin ang aming kasambahay sa kumbento. Bakita ika ko? Kasi daw binoto niya pa rin si Bong Revilla bilang Senador sa kabila ng pagsasabi ko na huwag iboto; paliwanag niya sa akin ay “nakakaawa naman kung walang boboto kay Bong”.
Hindi ko malaman noon kung ako ay tatawa o magagalit. Sabi ko na lang sa kanya, puro ka awa kay Bong e hayun siya pa isa sa mga maraming nakuhang boto bilang senador, dinaig mga karapat-dapat! Ano nangyari mula noon hanggang ngayon? Sangkot diumano sa mga kaso ng pandarambong si Bong Revilla, hindi ba? Kasi nga binalewala ng mga botante ang katotohanan ng dati niyang kaso ng corruption kay Napoles at higit sa lahat ang kawalan niya ng kakayahan bilang mambabatas.
Ganyan nangyayari sa buhay saan man kapag isinasantabi ang katotohanan at pinaiiral palagi ang awa at habag. Kay rami nating mga mag-aaral na nakakatapos at guma-graduate na walang alam dahil kinaawaan lang ng guro. Tama nga tawag sa kanila, “pasang-awa” pero sino ang kawawa kapag bumabagsak ang tulay o lumalala ang pasyente?
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, 20 Marso 2025, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches.
Walang natututo ng ano mang aral sa paaralan o sa buhay man nang dahil lang sa awa. Hindi titino ang bansa kapag lalaktawan ang mga batas dahil kaaawaan palagi ang mga lumalabag.
Reklamo tayo ng reklamo na namimili ang batas o selective kung saan mayroong mga pinapaboran at hindi kasi naman mas pinipili natin palagi ang awa kesa katotohanan na mayroong mali o kulang.
Kailan natin haharapin ang katotohanan? Kaya nga sinabi ni Jesus na “ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa munting bagayay pagkakatiwalaan ng higit na malalaking bagay, ang hindi tapat sa munting bagay at hindi rin mapagkakatiwalaan sa malalaking bagay” (Lk.16:10-14).
Hindi tayo nagiging maawain o merciful bagkus ay nagiging walang awa o merciless nga tayo kapag maling awa ang umiiral sa atin dahil malayo tayo sa katotohanan. Katotohanang muna bago habag at awa. Veritas et Misericordia gaya ng motto ng aming pamantasan. Naawa ni Jesus sa mga makasalanan tulad ng babaeng nahuli sa pakikiapid, kay Maria Magdalena at kay Dimas dahil umamin silang lahat sa katotohanan na sila nga ay nagkasala. Gagana lamang ang habag at awa ng Diyos kapag mayroong pag-amin at pagtanggap sa katotohanan. Huwad ang ano mang awa kapag walang katotohanan dahil tiyak wala ring katarungan na umiiral doon.
Walang bansa ang umunlad dahil lang sa awa, lalo na sa maling awa kungdi sa pagsasaliksik at paninindigan ng katotohanan.
Higit sa lahat ay nakakabuhay ng pag-asa ang pahayag ni Pope Leo para sa Simbahang Katolika lalo na dito sa Pilipinas. Nakakahiya at nakakalungkot kaming mga pari na gayon na lang kung makapula sa mga politiko at upisyal ng gobyerno sangkot sa anomalya ngunit kapag kapwa pari ang may katiwalian at alingasngas… ano laging hiling namin maging ng mga tao?
Patawarin. Kaawaan. Hayaan na lang.
Bakit ganoon?
Bukod na ang pari ay dapat larawan ng kabutihan, kami rin siyang dapat tagapagtanghal at tagapagtanggol ng katotohanan. Hindi lang ng awa. Iyong tama na awa gaya ng sinasaad ni Papa Leon. At ng Diyos.
Ang masakit ay, palaging pakiusap at sangkalan ng mga pari ay awa kahit na mali ang ginawa o ginagawa. Kaya malaking aral sa Simbahan ang yumanig na sex scandal noon. At diyan natin makikita walang katanda-tanda ang ilang pari at obispo dito sa Pilipinas: kapag pinag-usapan kaso ng mga paring sangkot sa sex at money scams, kaagad-agad ang hiling nila ay “awa”.
Kawalan ng katarungan at isang kasinungalingan kapag mga kaparian sa pamumuno at pangunguna ng obispo ay puro awa habang winawalang bahala ang katotohanan. Nakakatawa at nakaka-inis maringgan mga pari at obispo nasisiyahan sa mga kuwentong Maritess pero kapag ang paksa ay katiwalian ng isang pari, ni hindi man lamang alamin, suriin kung totoo o hindi upang maituwid. Kaya sa kahuli-hulihan, maraming pari at obispo lumalakad may ipot sa ulo dahil kitang-kita ng iba ang kamalian at kasinungaligan na sila ang ni ayaw tumingin ni umamin.
Sa mga nangyayari ngayon sa bansa, ito rin ang hamon sa amin sa Simbahan: magpakatotoo, huwag pairalin maling awa o false mercy wika ni Pope Leo upang si Kristo ang tunay na maghari sa ating buhay upang makamit tunay na pag-unlad sa lahat ng larangan ng buhay. Ano ang iyong palagay sa sinabi ni Papa Leon ukol sa maling awa? Mag-ingat at baka mayroon ka rin niyon. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 September 2025 Thursday in the Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I 1 Timothy 4:12-16 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Luke 7:36-50
Photo by author, Manila Club, BGC, June 2025.
Your words today surprised me again, Lord Jesus: so many times I find myself like Simon the Pharisee, always welcoming you into my home, into my life, into my meal and many times too like him, I am shocked, becoming judgmental at times like the others when a sinner comes like that sinful woman who gatecrashed to get near you, Lord.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hudnred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one I suppose, whose larger debt was forgive.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly” (Luke 7:39-43).
Forgive me, Jesus, when I fail to see my own sinfulness, my past where I came from before being with you as a disciple: I, too, am a sinner like that woman who broke all protocols and conventions just to get close to you, to touch you and be restored by you in your mercy and forgiveness; let me heed Paul's call to Timothy to be "absorbed" in your love because discipleship is more than knowing you and following you but most of all, loving you most especially among the unloveable for we were once like them.
Like that sinful woman, let me go in peace today by rejoicing in your infinite mercy for us all, not just me. Amen.
Photo by author, Manila Club, BGC, June 2025.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 July 2025 Friday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 11:10-12:14 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 12:1-8
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
How lovely are your words today, O God, on this dark, rainy Friday with many light and shadows that show life's many contrasts with you still remaining with us, in us, and among us.
Although Moses and Aaron performed these various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land (Exodus 11:10).
You know everything, dear God that is why you set the stage for the first passover at "evening twilight" just in time for the people to see the light of freedom in you; you sometimes allow storms to happen but you already have provisions for us beforehand:
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began ton pick the heads of grain and eat them (Matthew 12:1).
What a beautiful contrast is today's gospel!
How did it happen the Twelve were hungry while with Jesus who had fed more than 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish?
Right there under the glaring light and heat of the sun on a Sabbath when you "fed" on the Twelve with grains in the field; moreover, when criticized by your enemies, you defended the Twelve!
You are a God of
mystery, Jesus!
Truly "greater than
the temple" for you are
the Christ,
the Son of God
who became human like us
to show us you are with us,
in us,
and among us
when everything seems
so dark or so bright
that may blind our sights;
incline our hearts to you, Jesus
who "desires mercy,
not sacrifices"
so that when we grapple
in light and shadows,
it is solely you whom we hold on.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches 20 March 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 17 June 2025 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ><]]]'> + ><]]]'> + ><]]]'> Matthew 5:43-48
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024.
Your words struck me hard again today, Lord Jesus: can we really be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect? (Matthew 5:48)
Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).
When I recall your mercies,
Jesus as you spared me
from the bad things I deserved
due to my many and repeated sins,
the more I must be loving
and perfect like the Father;
when I think, O Lord,
of your many graces poured
upon me, of the many good things
that are mostly I never asked
and certainly I never deserved,
it is but natural that I must be loving
and perfect like the Father;
when I examine my life
and experience how you have filled
and blessed me, Jesus,
with all your mercy and grace
despite and in spite of who I am,
the more I am convinced
of my need to be perfect
like the Father.
Dearest Jesus, we are all undeserving of your love and grace, mercy and blessings but you simply showered us with these all because you love us; let our love for you be genuine with our concern for others like you who became poor for us so that we may become rich for God through others (2 Corinthians 8:9). Start in me, Lord Jesus, a revolution of love in tenderness and kindness in a world that has become so harsh and inhospitable. Amen.
Photo by author, sunflower farm, Benguet Province, 12 July 2024.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Second Week in Lent, 17 March 2025 Daniel 9:4-10 + + + Luke 6:36-38
Photo by author, Canyon Woods Resort, Laurel, Batangas, 15 March 2025.
Lord Jesus Christ, on this first working day of Second Week in Lent, give me the grace to be shamefaced; give me the sense of embarrassment, the sense of sinfulness, a sense of humanity.
Yes, Lord, we have been so callous and numb, so thick-faced as in "kapal"!
“Lord, great and awesome god, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets… Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day… O Lord, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers for having sinned against you” (Daniel 9:4-7, 8).
Do not let us sink deeper into sin and misery like your people in the time of your Prophet Daniel, Lord, for us to be shamefaced in admitting our sins, our treachery against you; our nation is so divided these days with no one having any sense of shame at all with the decadence we have sank into like excessive profanities, rampant fake news, overt personalisms, too much politics without any regard at all with what is right and wrong, with what is evil and what is good and worst of all, without any respect for one another and for life in general; many of us have discarded your image and likeness in us as we have lost our sense of sinfulness and shame.
Let us be shamefaced like Daniel, Jesus; mahiya naman kami, Lord!
Before we can be merciful with others, let us be shamefaced first; let us be shamefaced, Jesus, so we can be generous with others for without any shame at all like with what is happening now in our country, we are sinking deeper into the pit of destruction. Amen.
Photo by author, Canyon Woods Resort, Laurel, Batangas, 15 March 2025.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 19 February 2025 Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 <*0000>< + ><0000*> Mark 8:22-26
I really wonder, dear God, how it felt to be inside Noah's Ark for 40 days? The feeling of restlessness, of anxiety and uncertainty of the future, so unsure of what was to come while at the same time filled with hope praying for the best.
How was the boat too? How did it look like? What was the smell inside, the feeling inside that big ark, the sounds from all the animals and everything within and outside?
We have been there many times, Father, in that big ark called life; we have passed through many floods, have waited many times for the waters to recede, for the sun to shine, for life to return to normal.
Through it all, you never left us, Lord; send us Noah who would stand with us inside the ark for 40 days and 40 nights, stay afloat, stay alive wherever direction you bring us.
Help us, dear Father to be patient even if we can't see right away the distant shore like that blind man healed by Jesus at Bethsaida; lead us, Father in this ark of life away from the idolatry of modern world, away from the trappings of easy and comfortable life, away from sin and evil to be closer to your mercy, to your "beth hesda" - to your house of mercy. Amen.
Photo by author, Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Dumaguete City, November 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Memorial of St. Anthony, Abbot, 17 January 2025 Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 2:1-12
Photo by author, sunset in Atok, Benguet, 27 January 2025.
God our Father, let us enter into your rest, let us go back to you in Jesus Christ and enter your rest like in Paradise before the Fall; spare us of your wrath like with the Israelites in Meribah and Massah when they challenged and provoked you and thus be prevented from entering your rest, the Promised Land.
Let us be on guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:1-2, 11).
With Christ's coming, you have opened anew heaven to us, enabling us to enter your rest like what happened in the opening of the roof above him to lower a paralytic; in Jesus, that rest you have after creating everything in Genesis has become a reality with his gift of forgiveness and reconciliation to everyone as experienced by the paralytic in today's gospel; O dearest Lord Jesus, help me to rise again by picking up the pieces of my life made whole in you again filled with your breath, filled with your life, soundly at rest in your love and mercy. Amen.
Photo by author, sunset in Atok, Benguet, 27 January 2025.
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.
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