The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, 01 May 2024 Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 >>> + <<< Matthew 13:54-58
“Childhood of Christ” painting by Gerard von Honthorst, franciscanmedia.org.
Praise and glory to You, God our Father in entrusting Your Son Jesus Christ to the most noble and holiest of men, St. Joseph who came from the lineage of King David.
Though he never spoke a word in the Gospel, St. Joseph's obedience in doing everything as You had commanded him (Mt. 1:24) proved his being a model disciple too of Jesus like his wife, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On this first day of May when we celebrate his memorial as St. Joseph the Worker, our beloved Patron shows us how family life is so sacred as part of Your Divine plan, O gracious Father in heaven.
St. Joseph worked as a carpenter, a provider to the Holy Family who must have also experienced every dad's problem of never making enough for Mary and Jesus; most likely, the Holy Family he headed did not live a perfect idyllic life, living through scandals and gossips as our gospel today showed when the people of Nazareth rejected the adult Jesus Christ, taking offense at him by asking, "Is he not the carpenter's son?" (Mt. 13:55, 57).
Photo by author, site of St. Joseph’s carpentry shop beneath St. Joseph’s Church in Nazareth, Israel, May 2017.
Dear God, grant us the same grace You gave St. Joseph who lived through scandal and gossip in a righteous way, just like what St. Paul had told us in the first reading, "And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection"; help us to be like St. Joseph who "let the peace of Christ controlled his heart" (Col.3:14-15) in everything to show us that holiness in life is not a poster card but one lived in the ambiguity and complexity of this world rooted in Jesus our Lord. Amen.
St. Joseph, Protector of the Child Jesus and Mary, Pray for us!
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 15 January 2024 1 Samuel 15:16-23 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 2:18-22
Photo by author, 2019.
God our Father, teach me to be innovative in witnessing you, in proclaiming you, in making you present in this fast changing world but at the same time still rooted in you, obedient to you; how sad that in our Church today with so many efforts in the guise of "creativity" that led only to empty novelties pretending to be attuned with the time, many have slowly desecrated our liturgy, our celebrations and worst, put into question the relevance of our long held beliefs and teachings on faith and morals; while we have to embrace change happening in the world and in the Church, may we not forget it is YOU, dear Lord, whom we seek, whom we desire, whom we aspire not the social influencers nor rock stars nor any celebrities; teach us to innovate in our ways that are still rooted in you and your precepts not with technology nor with new thoughts; may we learn to understand your Son Jesus Christ's words in today's gospel:
“No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:21-22
Forgive us, dear God, for all the novelties we have brought even into our worship and teachings that have detached us more from you and one another; instead of fostering openness and inclusivity, the opposite had happened because to win more people is first of all to remain faithful and obedient to you which King Saul of Israel had forgotten:
But Samuel said: ”Does the Lord so delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the command of the Lord? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:23
This New Year, lead us back to you, God, through our leaders in the Church who are faithful to you in prayers, in liturgy, in teachings; innovative like Jesus Christ who fulfilled your Laws of Old in the New settings. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Second Week of Advent, 15 December 2023 Isaiah 48:17-19 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 11:16-19
Photo by author, Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, November 2022.
How funny, O God, at this Season of Advent we listen to every Christmas carol over and over again and yet miss your Son Jesus Christ in the end?
Everyone loves the tune and the voice of Bing Crosby singing "Do you hear what I hear?" yet we refuse to listen to the Child born on that first Christmas day!
Jesus said to the crowds: ”To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
Matthew 11:16-19
Dear Jesus, please open our ears and our hearts to truly LISTEN to you, to HEAR you and follow you; forgive us for listening only to us, for hearing more the noise of the world than your voice right there in our hearts; let us listen to you, Lord, once and for all to experience "prosperity like a river, vindication like the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:18); harden not our hearts to follow you and imbibe your words in our lives. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 08 December 2023 Genesis 3:9-15, 20 ><}}}*> Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 ><}}}*> Luke 1:26-38
Photo by Rev. Fr. Gerry Pascual of Iba, Zambales at Santuario di Greccio, Rieti, Italy in 2019.
God our loving Father, we praise and thank you on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception for continuing to do your wondrous works for our salvation, for our healing for our good.
You are so kind to us, Father, despite our sins and turning away from you, you search us, you call us, most of all, you still bless us with your merciful presence in Jesus Christ.
Teach us to be like Mary, our Blessed Virgin Mother, to be open always to your coming, to your calls, to your grace; teach us most of all to be selfless, to be kind too to your boundless kindness, O God; many times, we are like Adam and Eve with so many alibis, always hiding from you, evading you, not trusting you.
Teach us, O Lord, to imitate Mary to not seek so many reasons and explanations, to simply trust in you and say YES to your will and plans always; may we always keep in mind like Mary, your sublime kindness O God of always inviting us, asking us, never imposing on us to freely choose him and make Christmas possible every day. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Albert the Great, Doctor of the Church, 15 November 2023
Wisdom 6:1-11 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 17:11-19
Photo by author, Jesuit Cemetery, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 21 March 2023.
Thank you dear God
for the gift of authority,
a share in your authority
to govern other people regardless
if they are a few or a handful of
loosely organized people like
family and friends
or a large number of subjects
in our work or organization,
community and the Church,
and the whole nation.
But most especially,
we pray for our civil and
Church people of authority
to heed your counsel:
To you therefore O princes are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin. For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response. Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed.
Wisdom 6:9-11
You have sent us your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ as the
perfect example of authority figure,
who spoke with authority during his time
because his authority is a sharing
in your authority, Father,
an expression of his perfect
obedience to you;
let us realize that every authority
must be lived in total obedience
to you, O God, like Jesus.
When authority is lived in obedience,
those in authority become humble,
getting closer to their subjects
especially those in the margins
like the weak and the sick;
the Samaritan leper was the only one
who returned to Jesus to thank him
because not only because
he was the least of the ten
lepers being an outsider;
but, most of all, he humbly
and gratefully returned to thank Jesus
because he lived his obedience with
authority, Jesus whom he called Master.
Like St. Albert the Great
whose feast we celebrate today,
patron of scientists and a man
of learning and wisdom who held
great authority in his Order
and in the Church in Germany
during his time, may we always
live our authority in obedience
and live obedience with authority
to lead us all into humility
like Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 25 October 2023
Romans 6:12-18 ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[>< Luke 12:39-48
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, Bohol, 2018.
Be patient with us,
Lord Jesus Christ,
when until now we feel
so exclusive
and so different
from the rest;
so many times
we are like Peter
in today's gospel
asking, "Lord, is this parable
meant for us or for everyone?"
(Luke 12:41)
Every time we separate
ourselves from others,
every time we put on that
feeling of being different
from others;
whenever we find
alibis and excuses,
then we are still slaves
of sin.
Purify us, dear Jesus;
make us docile and
obedient to you our only Lord
and Master in whom we
find true peace and freedom
from sin and weakness of flesh;
let us listen more intently
to your voice whispered in silence
so we may give our total selves
to you because our help,
our life,
our meaning
are found only in you
who made heaven and earth!
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 09 October 2023
Jonah 1:1-2:1-2, 11 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 10:25-37
Photo by author, Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) in Tarlac, 19 July 2023.
As we embark to
our work and duties this
first working day of this new week,
bless us, dear God our Father,
to follow your path;
if we have to cross the street,
if we have to go to the other side
of the road or of life's terrain,
let us follow you.
Like with Jonah,
find ways so we can go back
to your path,
to your mission.
This is the word of the Lord to Jonah, the son of Amittai: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarhish away from the Lord. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarhish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarhish, away from the Lord.
Jonah 1:1-3
Forgive us,
merciful Father,
how often we are like
Jonah trying to run away
from you,
always going out the
opposite direction far from you,
refusing to accept your invitation
to a destination where you
may be found too.
Like the Good Samaritan
in today's gospel,
teach us to be kind
with everyone,
to dare cross the street,
to go to the other side
to care,
to feel,
to know
others not like us
for you, O God,
comes most often
in people and circumstances
we least expected.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Twenty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 07 September 2023
Colossians 1:9-14 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 5:1-11
Photo by author, St. Scholastica Convent, Baguio City, 23 August 2023.
God our loving Father,
I have been praying
for many things from you
for myself and friends
but today, I imitate
the prayers of St. Paul
for the Colossians:
…that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…
Colossians 1:9-10
This is what we should first
pray for daily,
to be filled with knowledge
of your will, O God:
we do not have to be all-knowing
like you but be open
to discern your will,
to follow and do
what you ask us
without doubts
or apprehensions like
when Simon Peter
obeyed Jesus Christ's
order to cast their nets into
the deep despite their not
catching anything at all
the previous night;
forgive us, Father,
for many times we
feel and so believe
that we know so much,
the we know better
that anyone, including
you.
Fill us with knowledge
of your will, O God,
so we may have the
spiritual wisdom and
understanding to see our
sinfulness before you,
just like Simon Peter
after that miraculous catch
of fish when he fell at the
knees of Jesus, saying,
"Depart from me, O Lord,
for I am a sinful man"
(Lk.5:8).
Fill us with knowledge
of your will, O God,
so we may seek
meaning and fulfillment,
not just material things
and pleasures we can totally
abandon to follow Jesus
catching men and women
for him "to be delivered
from the power of darkness"
to have redemption.
Amen.
Photo by author, St. Scholastica Convent, Baguio City, 23 August 2023.
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.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sunday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 09 July 2023
Zechariah 9:9-10 ><}}}*> Romans 8:9, 11-13 ><}}}*> Matthew 11:25-30
Photo by Ms. Nikki Vergara, 2020.
Today we hear the final installment of Jesus Christ’s instructions to the Twelve as he sent them to their first mission which started two Sundays ago. Discipleship is essentially becoming like Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master who is meek and humble of heart.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
For the third straight Sunday, Jesus has been teaching the Twelve including us today some important lessons in discipleship: first is to fear no one except God, then to be never influenced by others except God, and now, to learn from him who is “meek and humble” of heart.
Photo by author at the sacristy of the Manila Cathedral, 07 July 2023.
In the whole Bible, we find that “meekness” is the most remarkable quality of any one sent by God to his people, especially with Moses and King David.
Despite some instances of them getting angry and even being harsh sometimes, both were described as being meek especially Moses described as “the meekest man on the face of the earth” (Num.12:3).
When Jesus came and brought salvation to mankind by obediently dying on the Cross, he became the embodiment of meekness.
To be meek means being gentle and obedient, exactly who Jesus Christ is. All throughout his life, Jesus had repeatedly expressed everything he said and did were in total obedience to the Father who sent him to save us. That is why that we too find Christ’s words and actions as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of God coming to save his people, of sending someone so different from the other kings and servants before him. This is very evident in the gospel of Matthew who emphasized on the meekness of Jesus Christ that in narrating to us his version of the Palm Sunday entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, he actually cited (Mt. 21:4-5) our first reading today from Zechariah:
Thus says the Lord: Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.
Zechariah 9:9
Unlike the kings and other powerful men of the world who rode on prancing horses symbolic of their power and strength, here is Jesus Christ riding a placid donkey, symbolic of his meekness and humility, most especially of his message of peace.
Meekness in Tagalog is maamo, from the root word amo referring to “master”, connoting one’s recognition of master by being submissive in the positive sense. Maamo also means being tame as opposite with being wild. Hence, the English word of being gentle, or gentility.
The good news of Jesus being “meek and humble” is that we need not be afraid of becoming his disciples, of becoming truly Christians in this age relativism when anything goes, no more absolutes like God and morality. Now more than ever, St. Paul’s admonitions in the second reading are so real when we are challenged to live in solidarity with Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit, or to live in solidarity with the old humanity enslaved to sin.
Yes, the Gospel of Jesus is demanding. And so is true love which is most demanding.
Photo by author, La Mesa Forest Reserve seen from Our Lady of Fatima University-Quezon City with the Sierra Madre as background, January 2023.
There will always be pains and hurts but these occasions make our discipleship, our love for Christ and for others most meaningful and fulfilling. The Lord’s “yoke is easy and his burden is light” because it is naturally human and divine like him made possible with his paschal mystery. Being loving and kind, forgiving and merciful, caring and helpful are never painful nor tiring because they liberate us, setting us free from the imprisonment and shackles of sin due to our pride and self-centeredness, leading us to true freedom and fulfillment.
Why is it now life has become so complicated? It is not because of Jesus nor of his Church who simply echoes his teachings as he had commanded. Life has become complicated ever since we have allowed and accepted all these modern thoughts of freedom that actually “unfreed” us like these trends from the “sex revolution” that have spawned all the evils plaguing us, from divorce to contraceptions and abortions that not only destroy human life but most especially the family, society’s basic unit. There are some insisting on altering the most basic and natural of God’s creation like gender as either male or female, nothing in between; and, marriage solely between man and woman.
See how life has been reduced to lifestyle characterized by commercialization of everything including persons with sex casually portrayed as an act or activity and a mere part of the body. Everything has become relative, to each his own. That is why life has become so tiring, even empty despite all the comforts and modern amenities we now enjoy.
We have been removing God from everything, from all his creation. That is why Jesus comes to us today, calling us all to come to him, all who are burdened to find rest in him.
Find Christ in yourself, you find Christ in others. When we find Christ, we find God, we find truth, we find life, we find rest.
Our gospel this Sunday comes as a fitting closing to the Lord’s lessons on discipleship. It is never easy in becoming a Christian, of standing for what is right and true, just and fair, in being kind and forgiving, in lovingly serving others without expecting anything in return.
Let’s not make it more difficult on our part. Examine the demands of Christ are actually simple, love him by obeying him. What are the demands of those trying to lord over us these days like those so-called wokes and liberals who are so harsh in insisting their views that are self-serving and unnatural.
Remember, our series of these instructions came when “At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt.9:36, June 18, 11th Sunday). Jesus added that we pray for more laborers to work in the bountiful harvest, for more persons who are loving and warm, not demanding nor insistent on themselves and their beliefs. Have a restful week ahead! Amen.
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