The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XXI-B//26 August 2018
Words That Heal, Words Of Eternal Life
Today we conclude the “bread of life discourse” by Jesus Christ found in the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. The people who have followed Him four Sundays ago after the miraculous feeding of more than 5000 abandon Him after being disillusioned with His claims that He is “the bread who came down from heaven…that the food He would give is His flesh and the drink He would give is His blood.” Only the Twelve Apostles would stay with Jesus.
Sometimes in life, we get disillusioned with people, with organizations and institutions including the Church, and even with God Himself. And it is always easy to leave, to resign when we are disillusioned. Here is Al Green with his classic “Let’s Stay Together” to soothe you and give you more reasons to remain with your loved ones despite the pains and hurts in life. The music is soooo good that it is worth listening to the other versions of this Motown classic. Sing – and dance – if you want to enjoy. Most of all, remain in Jesus.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XX-B//19August 2018
Body and Blood of Christ, Our Communion With God
Finally… the Beatles in our LordMyChefSundayMusic!
But did you know that the great Paul McCartney wrote this song not for a particular person but as an “ode to pot”? Yes, in honor of marijuana, that holy grass producing holy smoke!
I was alone, I took a ride
I didn’t know what I would find there
Another road where maybe I
Could see another kind of mind there
Ooh, then I suddenly see you
Ooh, did I tell you I need you
Every single day of my life
Sir Paul revealed this only recently in an interview for a book about him and his works (check Google). But again, as I have told you last Sunday, that is the beauty of music: truly a universal language that takes on a life of its own wherein it becomes applicable to every situation. On this penultimate Sunday of the Lord’s “bread of life” discourse, we find this classic Beatle music speaking also of God’s “communion” with us through Jesus Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist: “we find Jesus speaking more boldly to the unfriendly audience by increasing the force of His declaration as “the bread of life” by repeating it eight times in eight verses! Jesus did not budge in the arguments of the crowd and instead slowly spiraled up His discourse as food and drink for eternal life…showing us the direction we have to follow in Him.” https://lordmychef.wordpress.com/2018/08/18/lordmychefsundayrecipe-19-august-2018/
Have to be clear with you, dear reader, I was not into pot and have not read the inspiration behind this song when I wrote my Sunday reflection… but that is indeed the effect of getting into Jesus in the Sunday Mass, beyond compare with weeds or any other drug: Here again is Jesus Christ before us…inviting us to enter into a communion with Him and in Him without murmuring and quarrelling to calmly reflect on this mystery of the Lord as our food and drink to eternal life… let us not rush God like the crowd at Capernaum by demanding spectacular and verifiable things to remind us of His presence. Jesus is with us in the most ordinary things like bread and wine, in the most common experience like the Mass. He speaks to us in the most consistent manner, always repeating the same words of assurances of His love and mercy, kindness and presence. Never doubt for we are making progress every Sunday, from Eucharist to Eucharist. Sooner or later, we shall come to that promised day of eternal life in the Father through Jesus Christ.” Have a hearty lunch with family and friends and God. And music!
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XIX-B//12August 2018
Believe. Love. And live.
On this third consecutive Sunday of the “bread of life” discourse of Jesus found only in the sixth chapter of John’s gospel account, our LordMyChefSundayMusic takes its cue again from the 70’s group Bread with their hit “Everything I Own.” Listeners have always interpreted it as a song about a broken relationship; but, according to its composer David Gates, the song is tribute to his late father when he composed it in 1972. The first stanza says so well Gates’ love for his late father.
But that is the beauty of music! It has a unique quality of being so universal in meaning with many applications in the various instances of our lives. It is indeed the food of the soul, like Jesus Christ as the bread of life. We simply have to believe. And when we believe, we love and start to live. But when we stop believing, then we also stop loving because there is no more life to live. Jesus is now offering us Himself as our bread of life, our sustenance in this life and to eternity. Most of all, when we have Jesus as our bread of life, we partake in His divine life that leads us to real fulfillment. But, are we willing to let go of everything to have Jesus, to believe in Him so we can truly love and live fulfilled?
You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, set me free
The finest years I ever knew,
Were all the years I had with you
(Ref.) And I would give anything I own
I’d give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again
You taught me how to love
What it’s of, what it’s of
You never said too much,
But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you//Nobody else could ever know,
The part of me that can’t let go (repeat refrain)
Is there someone you know,
Your loving them so,
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away,
And they don’t hear the words you long to say (Ref.)
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XVIII-B//05August 2018
Meaningful Existence in Christ, the Bread of Life
To fully appreciate this lovely song, try watching the movie “Begin Again” with your family and friends this Sunday. Just stay home, be together to feel each other’s presence and find Christ among you. In our Sunday reflection today, we said that “Sometimes, we feel we truly love God and those around us but when we examine our priorities in life, we do not really love that much because we fail and even refuse to care, recognize and look for the person. What we easily and often look for is the object, the things we can have to fill us, even bloat us.” It is the same point of view of this song “Lost Stars” wherein we never stop searching for meaning in life, trying to lead others out of darkness to more fulfilment in life. “Begin Again” shows us how true are the teachings of Jesus in the gospel today, that we must search and aspire for the higher things in life, not to be consigned with what the world offers that bloat our egos. Life’s direction calls us to a continuous laboring in love, of always finding and giving meaning in our lives in God. I have underlined some lyrics that are so related with the gospel today too.
Please don’t see just a girl caught up in dreams and fantasies Please see me reaching out for someone I can’t see
Take my hand, let’s see where we wake up tomorrow Best laid plans, sometimes are just a one night stand
I’ll be damned, Cupid’s demanding back his arrow
So let’s get drunk on our tears
And God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season and this lamb is on the run We’re searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars?
Trying to light up the dark
Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy
Woe is me, if we’re not careful turns into reality
Don’t you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page, maybe we’ll find a brand new ending
Where we’re dancing in our tears…
*You may follow the lyrics on the music video. Enjoy!
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XVII-B//29July 2018
Seeing With the Eyes of Christ
The theology and symbolism found in today’s gospel which is the beginning of the “bread of life” discourse found only in John chapter six has inspired me to feature this song by Bread in our LordMyChefSundayMusic. Written by David Gates, “Make It With You” was #1 hit in August 22, 1970 for its lovely melody and sweet lyrics of a man offering not only his love but his very self to his dearly beloved woman. As I have told you in our Sunday recipe for the soul, we have to see every person as a subject to be loved and cherished, not as an object to be possessed and used for personal ends like things. When we see people with the eyes of Jesus Christ, there would always be plenty of bread for everyone because that is when we do our best “to make it with you” as this song suggests. Imagine Jesus Christ singing this love song to you as He continues to make you a part of His very Self, giving you the daily Bread of Life for this earthly journey to heaven.
Hey have you ever tried
Really reaching out for the other side?
I may be climbing on rainbows
But baby, here goes
Dreams are for those who sleep
Life is for us to keep
And if you’re wondering what this song is leading to,
I want to make it with you
I really think that we could make it, girl
Though you don’t know me well
And every little thing only time will tell
If you believe the things that I do,
And we’ll see it through
Life can be short or long
Love can be right or wrong
And if I chose the one I’d like to help me through
I’d like to make it with you
I really think that we could make it, girl
Baby you know that dreams there for those who sleep
Life is for us to keep
And if I chose the one I’d like to help me through
I’d like to make it with you
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music//Week XVI-B//22July 2018
Resting in Jesus Christ
It is again Sunday, the day of the Lord, our rest day too. Rest is not merely a stop in our tasks and routines; rest is coming home to God. Our tagalog word for rest is pahinga that literally means to be breathed on. In the story of creation, man became alive after being breathed on by God. Whenever we rest in God, we come home to Him and let Him breathe on us His life-giving Spirit in the Holy Mass, in our prayers, and in our family gatherings. That is when we are also recreated in God. That is the deeper meaning of “R&R” – rest and recreation can only happen in God.
Here is a beautiful song by David Benoit sang by Dianne Reeves in 1986, “Land of the Loving.” It speaks of how a woman had finally found the love of her life, the one who truly loves her and gives meaning to her life. In finding her true love, she also found home, the land of the loving. Sing with Dianne in the lovely music by David, recall how Jesus invites you to come home to Him and rest. When you find Jesus and rest in Him, then, you are home sweet home…
Deep in your eyes is a promise
Love can be ours if we want it
Starting tonight every dream I ever knew
Here in your arms I’m believing
Finally my life has a meaning of its own
Here in the land of loving I am home
I was alone in the city
Searchin’ for someone to find me
Cold empty nights and a million strangers’ eyes
Here in your arms I’m beginning
To leave behind all the loneliness I knew
Here in the land of loving there is you
In this simple room magic is made
Though the world seems unchanged
Leave the lights on I’m a little afraid
This might be just one sweet dream
Deep in the night love is growing
Though I had no way of knowing
That when I found you I found ev’rything I need
Here in your love I’ll be staying
Fin’lly my life won’t be living all alone
Here in the land of the loving I am home
*Photo by Gretchen Ira Banaticla, Virginia, USA. Used with permission.
Discipleship is Directional, Not About Destination
Somebody asked me last night after reading my Sunday reflection, “where is the direction?”
As I have shared with you, life is essentially directional and not about destination. Life is more of dealing with the questions “why” and “what” than of “where”. When we search more of the where, we can get frustrated because in this journey of life, we really do not know the place where we should be or would be. As we journey in life centered on Christ in prayer and silence, the more we still do not know of what will happen next, of what we’ll see next – yet, we are so excited. We continue living because we believe, and most of all, we love! When we love, we experience God. That is when we begin to realize that indeed, heaven is more than a place or destination but a presence — that is also when we find our direction. Here is a soothing music from Earth, Wind and Fire called Devotion from their album aptly titled Open Our Eyes released in 1974 that points to a direction. Enjoy!
Through devotion, blessed are the children
Praise the teacher, that brings true love to many
Your devotion, opens all life’s treasures
And deliverance, from the fruits of evil
So our mission, to bring a melody
Ringin’ voices sing sweet harmony
For you here’s a song, to make your day brighter
One that will last, you long through troubled days
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Thursday
12 July 2018, Week-14/Year-2 Ordinary Time
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9///Matthew 10:7-15
I am very sorry Lord for so many things that clutter my mind today. It is always a struggle to be good. Not only in doing what is good but most of all in being with You, in staying with You, in always believing and trusting in You.
Sorry if so often I wonder if You mean even today that we must proclaim “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand, that we would cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons? Moreover, that without cost we have received and without cost must we give? How can we go on in this time without taking gold or silver or copper for our belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick? Yet, You also tell us the laborer deserves his keep?”(Mt.10:7-10)
What does it take to really do Your will, God?
Based on what I have learned, there are many things that take for anyone to do Your will like faith, love, and courage along with detachment and “positive indifference” by St. Ignatius of Loyola. But last night before going to rest, I realized the importance of always reviewing my life, of examining not only my conscience but also my consciousness to see and feel how You have loved me immensely and continues to do so!
Reading Hosea over and over makes me feel sorrowful of my sinfulness yet so loved by You as my Father. How crazy have I been that “the more You call me, the more I drift away from You, forgetting how You have stooped to feed me, teaching me how to walk as Your own child. Yet, despite my infidelity and sinfulness, You never vent on Your blazing anger because You are God and not human like us.”(Hos.11:2, 3, 4,9)
Like the psalmist yesterday and today, let me see Your face, touch me with Your love and presence so that I may always stay with You and most of all, follow You closely. Somehow, like Your psalmists in the Old Testament, we have our gifted musicians who also make us feel Your love for us, Your longing for us. Help me to give myself to You too today. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022
Photo by the author, Betania-Tagaytay, August 2017.
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Prayer-Recipe, Tuesday
10 July 2018, Week-14/Year-2 Ordinary Time
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13///Matthew 9:32-38
How easy for us Lord to always pray like the psalmist that we trust in You but, in reality we rely more with our very selves and with material things! Like what You told Hosea in the first reading, “we make kings not by Your authority and we make princes without Your approval (Hos.8:4)” for we are so self-centered.
Most of the time, we forget that what we really need here on earth are people – persons like each one of us with equal dignity created in Your image and likeness who must be respected regardless of creed and color. Whenever something good happens with our brethren like when Jesus healed a demoniac in today’s gospel, we are like those people of His time who were either struck in awe or doubtful and suspicious without realizing that You come to us with every person who loves and cares for the sick and the poor.
Move and stir our hearts, let us be merciful like Jesus Christ who said “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”(Mt.9:37-38) Teach us to stop praying for more things and start praying for brothers and sisters capable of loving and caring for one another. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022. Photo from Google.
Pray this with the late Robert Palmer’s “Every Kinda People”, have breakfast and be kind with everyone you meet today.
In my homily today I have mentioned that “people took offense at Jesus for they lacked faith because they do not love Him… To believe in Jesus, like with any person, demands love. When we truly love a person including Jesus, our eyes are always opened, recognizing them even in their shadows or footsteps. When we truly love anyone, there is no need to see because in our hearts, that person is already present in us.”
In fact, we would never even see the one we truly love because they are already in eternity like Jesus and our dearly departed. But even if we do not see them, we truly recognize them because we love. That explains why so often, we thought we “see” the ones we love. Loving, believing, seeing and recognizing are all interconnected; when there is a breakdown in our love, we stop believing, we become unfaithful as we fail to recognize our beloved. That is when we also sin. And that is the pain of not being seen and recognized by those closest to us like our family and friends because they refuse to love us in return. But even if it happens, just keep on loving and believing because in Jesus, we are His everything. Miracles can only happen and joy would start to overflow when we love, believe, and recognize Jesus in Himself and in others.
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