Knowledge inflates, love builds

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 12 September 2024
1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Luke 6:27-38

Brothers and sisters: Knowledge inflates with pride, love builds up. If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him (1 Corinthians 8:1-2).

O dear Jesus,
how lovely are your words
today through St. Paul;
so timely like during his time
when so many of us today 
have become so proud and
arrogant in knowing so much
that have bloated their egos,
seeing only themselves 
unmindful of others around them,
losing their personal touch,
forgetting their humanity,
miserably failing to love
at all.

Dear Jesus,
remind us anew of that
basic truth that true knowledge
is when we realize we know
so little,
that we must learn more
not only from books 
but most of all from persons;
let us be more loving
so that we can build more
lasting and fulfilling relationships;
let us be more loving
so we can build more trust
and understanding when we
learn to love our enemies;
let us be more loving
so we can build more goodwill
and fellowship by being more
merciful like the Father in heaven;
let us be more loving
so we can build persons
than destroy them by being
non-judgmental of one another;
let us be more loving, Jesus,
so we can build and overflow
with more grace and gifts
as we give more of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

We are Mary Magdalene

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, 22 July 2024
Song of Songs 3:1-4 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18

*“The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene” painting by Alexander Ivanov (1834-1836) at the Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia from commons.wikimedia.org.*

We rejoice today, Lord Jesus,
for this most wondrous Feast of
your friend St. Mary Magdalene:
in her we find hope and joy
that like her, we who are sinners
are assured of a grace-filled future,
of a trustworthy friend in You,
and abounding love and mercy
also in You.

We are, dear Jesus,
the modern Mary Magdalene:
sinful and worldly,
perhaps so vain with our
outside appearance and bearing
in public, sometimes on the brink
of giving up in life because nobody seem
to care at all for us;
many times like Mary Magdalene,
we walk alone in darkness 
searching for You, Lord Jesus;
many times we wonder too
how we could move the huge 
and heavy stone of past sins,
weaknesses and failures, 
addictions and vices 
that cover us and prevent us
from moving forward, finding You;
many times, O Lord,
we mistake You for somebody else
like Mary Magdalene when she mistook
You to be the gardener at the tomb
because we are so preoccupied
of many things in life. 

But, You assure us today
on this Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
our fears and assumptions are not 
true at all; help us to stop clinging 
to our many past for You are not there,
Jesus; You are always in the here and now,
in the present moment, personally calling us
in our name like Mary!

The Bride says: On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves – I sought him but I did not find him. I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city. Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I have hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves (Song of Songs 3:1-4).

Like that lover,
the Bride in the first reading,
we are Mary Magdalene
in search of love and meaning
in this world;
in search of You, Jesus,
our Lord and Savior;
so often, we seek You
in this world, in its loud noise
of too much self bragging
as well as in the midst of the
world's riches and powers;
the more we seek You,
the more elusive You have become
until You came when like Mary Magdalene
we have believed in You,
we have listened to You.
we have become silent
and attentive
to You, Lord Jesus;
thank You for coming,
thank You for finding me,
thank You for calling me
like Mary
to proclaim You are risen
to others who believe in You,
searching You,
waiting for You.
Amen.

When we are at a loss

The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter, 10 April 2024
Acts 5:17-26 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> John 3:16-21

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

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.
Acts 5:24

Your words, O Lord,
from the first reading are
very amusing:
after discovering the jail
securely locked
with guards stationed
outside but the apostles
nowhere,
they were the ones
who felt at a "loss";
they who have imprisoned
the Apostles
were the ones
LOST
when they were supposed
to control the situation.

How ironic
so often in life
when we feel to have
been more in control of
everything even people,
when we feel we lord
over everyone,
that is when we feel
more empty,
and more
at a loss.

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
John 3:19

*Photo by author, Jesuit Cemetery at the Sacred Heart Novitiate.*

Forgive us,
Lord Jesus
in choosing darkness
of sin,
darkness of pride,
darkness of bitterness
and of unforgiving
that is why many times
we are at a loss
in life especially 
when we profess 
to believe in You,
when we claim to be
Your disciples;
let us go toward 
Your light of truth
and justice,
Your light of loving
service,
Your light of mercy
and forgiveness
so that in our very selves,
people may truly experience
"God so loved the world."
Amen.

Lent is contrition with consistency

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent, 05 March 2024
Daniel 3:25, 34-43     <*((((>< + ><))))*>     Matthew 18:21-35

In this season of Lent,
teach us, Lord, to be
consistent in our contrition;
let us realize that true 
contrition for our sins is
not only when we have cried,
nor when we have beaten 
our breasts with mea culpa,
mea culpa, mea maxima culpa,
nor when we say sorry to
everyone we have sinned.

Being sorry for our sins
before you, God our Father,
is being consistent -
when our contrition leads us
to change our evil ways
and most of all, when we 
become consistent in our 
prayer and lives
that we stop with our
sins and evil ways.

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud: “For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; as though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be inn your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
Daniel 3:25, 37, 39

Most of all,
O God,
to be contrite for our sins
is being consistent also
in being forgiving
with our fellow sinners;
every day, we call you
God "Our Father", 
asking you to forgive us 
our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us
but so often,
we just say these words
without really acting on them,
fulfilling them by forgiving
our fellow sinners;
to be sorry for our own sins
is to see also the pure
heart of another sinner
asking for forgiveness
of sins.

To be contrite
is to be consistent
in forgiving others
from one's heart
because a truly contrite heart
sees and feels
a fellow contrite heart too!
Amen.

Lent is white as snow

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent, 27 February 2024
Isaiah 1;10, 16-20     <*[[[[>< + + + ><]]]]*>     Matthew 23:1-12

Praise and glory
to you, God our Father,
for this Season of Lent!
Though it is characterized
with sobriety due to the
the spirit of penance,
you have ensured 
it not to be dull nor drab
with the joy of Easter
we all anticipate.
And so, what a joy
to listen to your words
today of the bursts of reds
you promised to cleanse
and turn into white as snow.

Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord. Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool.
Isaiah 1:18

Your words make me wonder,
Lord, why sins be like scarlet
and crimson?
Could it be because both
shades evoke power we
humans always abuse
that consciously or
unconsciously, we draw
blood that in the process
take life of others
because of our sinful
desires and schemes;
forgive us, O Lord,
for our hypocrisies
that have killed
others literally
and figuratively.

In Jesus' name,
help us, O God
to "set things right",
to be true and humble
before you for
"Whoever exalts himself
will be humbled; but whoever
humbles himself will be
exalted" (Matthew 23:12);
let us set things right
by being fair and just
especially to those
weak and marginalized;
let us set things right
by giving back
what we have stolen
from others;
let us set things right
by being concerned
with others through
love and good works 
that uplift people
physically,
morally,
and spiritually.
Amen.

*Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera in Calgary, Alberta, 21 February 2024.*

Lent is allowing God do his work in us

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the First Week of Lent, 21 February 2024
Jonah 3:1-10     ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>     Luke 11:29-32

*Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera, somewhere in Alberta, Canada, 17 February 2024.*

God our Father,
in this Season of Lent,
let us take one step backward 
to let you do your work
in us,
among us.

We have been so used
to our expertise
and knowledge
that we seem to know
everything,
even better than you
like Jonah.

Allow us to take
"sackcloth and ashes"
like the people of Nineveh
to transcend our habits
by taking the back seat this time,
limiting ourselves to your
simple instructions
as we try to believe in you
and others too.

Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
Jonah 3:4-5

Continue to speak to us
even harshly like Jesus
in the gospel, 
calling us an "evil generation"
seeking signs of your
presence in Christ;
very often,
we need to be shaken
deep inside,
to stop a while
so you can work in us
and among us,
filling us with your 
love and mercy
so that we discover
your love and mercy
in us when we are 
able to cry like the 
psalmist:
"Have mercy on me,
O God,
in your goodness;
in the greatness of your
compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me
from my guilt and of my sin
cleanse me"
(Ps. 51:3-4).
Amen.

The “gift” in every “present”

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Anthony Claret, Bishop, 24 October 2023
Romans 5:12, 15, 17-19 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:35-38

*Photo by author at Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 12 July 2023.*

Praise and glory
to you, God our Father!
So true are the words of
St. Paul everyday, "Where sin
increased, grace overflowed
all the more, so that, as sin
reigned in death, grace also
might reign through justification
for eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord"
(Romans 5:20-21).

Every day you bless us,
dear God in Jesus Christ
with the gift of forgiveness
in every present moment 
to start anew and be free 
from bondage to sin
and be free to do what is good,
to become a better person,
a better witness of your
grace of forgiveness, 
prepared "like servants
who gird their loins and 
light their lamp" awaiting his
return with our good deeds
amid all the evil and sin that
persist including death.

Though it is very sad
especially when we turn on the TV
or read in papers all those news
and images of wars and atrocities
that show the reality of how 
humanity is still in solidarity
with Adam in our sinful ways,
may we always remember that 
sin and death have no more 
control over us; the death 
is no longer the end we all fear 
because it is no longer an end 
but a beginning of something better
with Jesus who had overcome it
with his gift of forgiveness in every
here and now, 
in every present
that assures us with eternal life.

May we not waste every
present that is a gift.
Amen.

The anger of God?

The Lord Is My Chef daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 06 October 2023
Baruch 1:15-22 <*((((>< +++ ><))))*> Luke 10:13-16

*Photo by author in San Juan, La Union, 24 July 2023.*

Of course, 
dear God,
you never get angry
with us nor with any one
for you are love and
kindness yourself,
so rich in mercy 
and forgiveness.

What truly happens,
O Father, is that when
we finally become aware 
of our sinfulness,
of the evils we have done
repeatedly,
shamelessly despite
your goodness,
we become angry with
ourselves because 
that is when we realize
all the bad things happening
to us are the results of our
turning away from you,
from your words,
from your precepts.

And the evils and the curse which the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant, at the time he led our ancestors forth from the land of Egypt to give us the land flowing with milk and honey, cling to us even today. For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets who he sent us, but each one of us went off after the devices of our own wicked hearts, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.
Baruch 1:20-22

Grant us, merciful Lord, 
the grace of a sense of sinfulness 
because the more we are aware
of our sinfulness,
the more we get closer to you;
when we acknowledge our sins,
that is when we admit
there is a gap between us
and among us we need to close
and make whole anew; 
open our eyes,
our hearts,
our souls to your truth
and presence, Lord Jesus;
let us not be blind 
to your coming
to free us from the
bondage of sins that
have made us more angry
than ever with ourselves
and with others;
let us not be complacent,
Jesus with all the blessings
you have poured upon us
so we may change and be
converted.

Indeed, the motto of the 
Carthusians, an order founded 
by St. Bruno whose memorial 
we celebrate today is so true:
"while the world changes,
the cross stands firm."

Like St. Bruno and 
the Carthusians,
may we strive 
"to seek God assiduously,
to find God promptly,
and to possess God fully."
Amen.

The scourge & mercy of God

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, Priest, 27 September 2023
Ezra 9:5-9 <*(((>< + ><)))*> __ <*(((>< + ><)))*> Luke 9:1-6

*Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 25 July 2023.*

Show us your will,
your ways,
and your path,
loving Father
in the face of the many
great changes happening now
in our lives,
in our world,
in our places of work;
truly, changes are
inevitable; in the process,
there would be alterations,
destructions in order to build
like the restoration of your
temple after the exile;
but, dear God, 
let us not forget in all these
our own sinfulness
and your mercy and forgiveness.
Give us the grace to cry
and pray like Ezra:

I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you, O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven. From the time of our fathers even to this day great has been our guilt, and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up, we and our kings and our priests, to the will of the kings of foreign lands, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace, as is the case today. And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the Lord our God…”
Ezra 9:6-8

How sad that we
never learn from
our lessons of past sins,
of how the many scourges
we deserve fell on us that
we still keep on living in evil,
denying its hold on us,
becoming blind to all
the excesses around us
that indeed our wicked deeds
are heaped up above our heads!
 
How sad, most of all,
that we easily forget your
love and mercy,
the forgiveness and 
new life you gave us
to start anew
in rebuilding our lives
in you.

Let us heed
your call and summons
to proclaim Christ's
gospel of forgiveness
and healing like 
St. Vincent de Paul
to the many people
deep into sin
and evil these days
because of fame
and power
and wealth.
Amen.

True authority is solidarity

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 05 September 2023
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:31-37

*Photo by author, sunrise at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 12 July 2023.*

Praise and glory to you,
God our loving Father
for this wonderful day!
Please, we pray, for lesser
rains today,
for a better weather 
today for everyone
to make up for the
many losses we have
incurred since the 
rains and floods came
two weeks ago.

In this time of calamities,
we pray for those in authority;
enough with excessive display
of authority by anyone vested
with any kind of authority
by the law who throw their
weight around even in
public; help us realize,
dear God that authority
is not about having powers
that set them apart from us,
of those in the higher up;
authority is about being 
one with us below like
Jesus Christ your Son.

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Luke 4:31-32, 36

Help us realize, 
dear Jesus, 
that to have authority like you
is being nearer your subjects,
that true authority is not power
but solidarity with those subject
to one's authority.

Authority is not power but
mercy and compassion with
subjects deep in miseries
and sufferings.

Authority is walking
and feeling the joys and pains,
sharing the hopes and desires
of the subjects to be liberated
and freed.

Authority is empowering
others to discover their giftedness
"encouraging one another
and building one another up"
(1 Thess. 5:11).
Amen.