Jesus Transforms First Our Questions to Transform Us

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Thursday, 16 August 2018, Week XIX, Year II

Ezekiel 12:1-12///Matthew 18:21-19:1

Dearest Lord Jesus:

Every day we come to you with so many questions, an endless series of who, why and why not, and how. As I prayed today’s gospel, I realized you seldom give straight answers to questions given to you in many instances like when Peter asked you about how many times should we forgive a brother who sins against us. In many occasions in the gospel like today, you answer questions with a parable. It is as if you first transform our questions in order to transform us eventually with the answers we can glean from your parables.

As I dwelled on your parable of the unforgiving servant, I have realized one important aspect with our questions to you, Lord Jesus. And that is our being so fearful of many things in life, especially of being loving and merciful like you.

We try to be specific like Peter, asking in a numerical form “how many times should I forgive… seven times?” The other day, we asked “who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” Once we have asked you “who is my neighbor?” or “Lord, are you going to establish your kingdom now?” In these instances, you never gave in to our questions because you knew very well we asked these while bounded by fears. We lacked freedom. Or, we refused to be free to be who we really are as beloved children of a very loving Father in heaven. Because we doubt your love and mercy.

And so, you give us parables like today’s unforgiving servant to assure us that we are loved and forgiven by the Father. Give us the grace to fully embrace this truth, that we would always listen to your gentle voice within to forgive and to love with all our hearts. Amen.Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

*Photo by Fr. Nick F. Lalog II, still life experiment, September 2016.

Singing Mary’s Magnificat In Our Time

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer, Wednesday

15 August 2018, Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM

Revelations 11:19;12:1-6,10//1Corinthians 15:20-27//Luke 1:39-56

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God,

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

We praise and glorify you, God our loving Father, in bringing us back to you though we are not worthy of your love and mercy. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary whom you have assumed body and soul into heaven upon the completion of her mission here on earth.

And so, loving Father, we ask you for the grace to be like Mary, singing her Magnificat not only with our lips and voices but like her, with our lives so that when Christ returns at the end of time, we too would be assumed body and soul into heaven.

Let us always proclaim your greatness, let our spirit rejoice in you alone, not in our selves nor talents nor achievements. Keep us humble to remember everything is a grace from you that we are able to do so many things, great and small alike (Lk.1:46-48).

Let us do your work always, your will be done – not our plans and agenda so that your mercy would pervade in this self-righteous world (Lk.1:50).

Let us show the strength of your arm by working for justice and peace, guided by kindness, even by weakness to shame those who brag of their powers and might (Lk.1:51-52).

Let us find our place in this world to make a stand for what is good and true by keeping a sacred space for you in our hearts and mind so we can stop usurping too much roles and credits to be seen and liked by everyone. Keep us empty like Mary to be filled with your Holy Spirit to become the very presence of Jesus Christ (Lk.1:53-55). Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022

*Photo from Google, the famous painting of the Assumption by El Greco.

You are prayed for these rainy days

MossMalagos

14 August 2018

My dearest relatives and friends:

This is the worst rainy season I think I ever have. And it seems more rains are still coming. What saddens me most is the fact that in the midst of these rains and floods, I know many of you are also battling at the same time other storms in life like sickness or death in the family or among friends.

You are all remembered and prayed for especially when heavy rains are pouring. In 1995, I went through serious trials in life and vocation while in the seminary during the entire rainy season. Every time I would pray in the afternoon, I would always look at the trees and plants outside our seminary chapel. And that was when I realized that it is always after the rains and storms when leaves are greenest.

Here are some photos I have taken from the Malagos Garden Resort in Davao City last Friday, August 11, 2018.

Hope they soothe your hearts. God bless you always!

In Christ Jesus,
fr nick f lalog ll

ButterflyMalagos

The Sweetest Things In Life

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday

14 August 2018, Memorial of St. Maximillian Kolbe

Week-XIX, Year II, Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4///Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14

Together with the psalmist this morning, I sing to you O Lord, “How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”(Ps.119:103)

So many times in life, I seek and long for some “sweetness” that would comfort me, assure me of being loved and cared for. But, sadly, O Lord, I end up bitter and sad after seeking sweetness in sugar-coated promises of the world. Teach me to be like Ezekiel, to eat your words, to speak your words, to live your words. Indeed, the only sweetest thing in this life is to remain a child before you, trusting you, relying more on you.

I feel so ashamed before you O Lord for the many times I act like your apostles, asking “who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven” in the belief deep inside that, it could be me. Yes, you know it so well when deep inside I feel so entitled being your disciple, of being “good” and worthy unlike others.

Give me the grace Lord Jesus Christ to be like St. Maximillian Kolbe who truly led a life so sweet when he faithfully followed you like your Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary. He led a life so sweet because in his loving service and sacrifices for your words using modern media, many lives were touched and blessed. Without any sugary pretensions to greatness and fame known only as prisoner “16670” at Auschwitz, St. Maximillian made the ultimate sweet sacrifice of his life for the love of the family of a man due for execution. Indeed, he is the patron saint of our “troubled century”, showing us the truly sweetest things in life are you, O Lord, your words, and your Cross. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

Photo from Google.

A Prayer to Weather the Storms

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Monday

13 August 2018, Week-XIX, Year II, Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28///Matthew 17:22-27

You know very well my prayers last night, O Lord: that you take care of my family and friends affected by the floods and the rains that are expected to worsen this week. These past years I have learned to accept the flow of nature, never bothering you to stop or reverse it except that you give us the grace to cope with it. Most of all, that we finally learn to respect your wonderful creation we have destroyed these past years due to greed and lack of concern.

As we brace for more rains this week, give us the grace to see your glory amidst life’s many storms. In the first reading there is Ezekiel living during the Babylonian exile by the river of Chebar who saw a vision of the coming of your Son Jesus Christ. There was splendor all over his vision though he did not readily understand its meaning during that most trying time in Israel’s history.

In the gospel, Jesus predicted anew His coming passion and death that deeply grieved His disciples not knowing it would eventually lead to His Resurrection. And in the midst of His coming pasch were the many controversies against Him by His enemies like the paying of temple tax. Yet, Jesus kept His cool filled with wit and humor when He told Peter to catch a fish to find a shekel in its mouth to pay for their temple taxes.

And finally today, we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Pontian and St. Hippolytus whose lives presented us a quirky twist that eventually revealed your glory. St. Hippolytus became an anti-pope of St. Pontian due to many differences that threatened the stability of the early Church. But their exile and suffering in Sardinia became the occasion for them to be reconciled before giving their very lives for the glory of the Christ.

Like Ezekiel, Jesus, Hippolytus and Pontian, give us the grace, loving Father, to keep in mind that you always prevail despite many setbacks due to nature and human faults. May we sing like the psalmist, “Heaven and earth are filled with your glory!” Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

Photo by Fr. Nick F. Lalog II, Sonnem Berg Mountain View, Davao City. 11 August 2018

Asking God to Come to Us Vs. God Asking Us to Come to Him

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday

07 August 2018, Week-XVIII, Year II, Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-16,18-22///Matthew 14:22-36

It is only now have I realized Lord the great difference of asking you to come to me and you asking me to come to you. So often in prayer, I always ask you to come to me: “Come Lord Jesus! Come Holy Spirit!”

It is always easier to ask you to come to me and you do always come!

But as I prayed over that word “come”, I have realized that it is always you who ask me to come to you. Prayer is really your work, Lord; we simply respond to your call. What really happens when I call you to come to me is when I become like Peter: you first call me out to “come” to you but when I see the giant waves, the many dangers and inconvenience of coming to you, I change path and get lost or when in the middle of the sea, I sink.

In both instances, then I call on you to “come to me and rescue me, Lord” like Peter today in the gospel. It is the same case with Judah in the first reading: you have called Judah to come to you but she changed ways and became unfaithful. Jeremiah and the other prophets reminded them of your call to come to you but they were very stubborn. And now with Judah’s “incurable wounds” when she is about to get totally lost, you assured her you would still come to her to heal her, to save her.

Life is always a coming to you, O God our loving Father. Keep us faithful to you in Jesus Christ who is “the way, the truth and the life” that we may never go astray, that we may never waver or doubt your call to come to you. Keep us faithful in coming to you so we no longer call out to you to come to us when we are deep in sin. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

Prayer As Our Mountain of Transfiguration

close up view of bible and rosary — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Monday

06 August 2018, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord-B

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14///2Peter 1:16-19///Mark 9:2-10

Thank you very much Lord Jesus for bringing us always with you like “Peter, James, and his brother John to a high mountain” to pray with you. It is always a grace to be able to pray in you and with you. Not just to tell you what we need or what we feel. Just to be with you is more than enough. After all, when you were transfigured before the three apostles you were “just” praying which is the key to any transfiguration.

So often, we take prayers so lightly, or worst, for granted that we can dismiss it easily when we are busy. Like your gospel yesterday, we often pray to look for the food that perishes and not for YOU. We forget that prayer is a relationship, of being with you, of being one with you that leads to transfiguration.

Continue to bring us along with you on top of the mountain to pray. Teach us to be silent, to stop talking like Peter without knowing what we are saying. Most of all, teach us to listen to you always. To set aside our own agenda and plans in life so that your will is done not ours. May we be transfigured in your heart and person, O Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Father. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022

Parables Explaining Mysteries of Life

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Thursday

02 August 2018, Week-17/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 18:1-4///Matthew 13:47-53

Breathe on me, today, O God my loving Father as I go on my Sabbath rest.

Keep me still in your divine presence. Let me stop explaining the many parables you share in the Bible. Remind me that the beauty of these parables lies not in my ability to explain its meaning. As simple stories with deep realities and truths, parables actually explain us people, of who we are, presenting us the meaning of our lives and yearnings.

Just like my being a clay in your hands, our eternal Potter. So often, I marvel at its meanings as relayed to us by your prophet Jeremiah, relishing at its wonderful imagery and yet, here I am, always resisting your potter’s hands, especially when I have to be remolded. Like the potter, you take everything into consideration everything about me, the good and the bad, so that the best would come out in the end. But I always resist – because I insist on explaining its meaning than simply allowing myself to be covered by its rich meaning.

How can I truly understand you and your parables when I refuse to be like a “scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt.13:52) to take into consideration all things that are both new and old in me to truly see the beauty of life explained by your parables? Like the net cast into the sea, you continue to call all of us to serve and praise you in others. It is our task to follow you, to submit ourselves to be shaped by your hands like the clay in the potter’s hand to eventually become your wonderful masterpiece. Rather than grasping the meaning of your parables, let me be held and kept by your parables to see and marvel at the beauty of life in you. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

When We Are Rejected for Being Faithful To God

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Wednesday

01 August 2018, Week-17/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 15:10,16-21///Matthew 13:44-46

My dearest God and Father: So often in life, I go into tantrums before you like Jeremiah when things get rough as I try to be faithful to you. You have heard me many nights crying like Jeremiah, “Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”(Jer.15:10,16)

There are times my mind tells me to abandon your ways of peace, to get even with my enemies but you are always there in my heart, pushing me more than ever to intensely seek you in many difficult situations. Like St. Paul, there is always that urge in me to boast “I am a fool for Christ!”(1Cor.4:10) as I try to understand and forgive, to love and to be kind with people whom I have expected to know me and accept me most.

What a consolation to learn that most saints like Alphonsus Liguori whose feast we celebrate today also went through many rejections in life – even from his fellow Redemptorists like what happened with Jeremiah and your Son Jesus who were rejected by their countrymen.

Sorry, my Lord and my God, for complaining, for the tantrums when I am rejected. You know very well how like St. Augustine my heart is restless until it rests in you. Despite the many rejections as I strive to be faithful to you, I feel like that man in today’s parable who found a treasure buried in a field, hid it again, and left to sell everything to buy that field. Or, like the merchant who found the finest pearl and decided to sell everything he has so he could buy that precious pearl.

Keep me strong, faithful Father, when there are many rejections that come along my way in following you. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

*Photo from Google.

The Mystery of Sin

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday

31 July 2018, Week-17/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 14:17-22///Matthew 13:36-43

Today I thank you Lord for your gift of St. Ignatius of Loyola whose feast we now celebrate. His Spiritual Exercises has tremendously nourished me in experiencing your immense love for me. This is particularly true even in my meditations concerning my sins. Like the prophet Jeremiah, I have realized how this mystery of sin can also be a religious experience. Every time I would meditate on my sins as recommended by St. Ignatius, I come to understand them more as turning away from you my Lord and Master, leading me into great sorrow of failing to love you.

“Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword, if I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you.” (Jer.14:17-20)

But the greatest wonder of all is that even if I am deeply in sins like in the parable of the weeds among the wheat, you continue to unconditionally love me, Father, always giving me the chance to experience your love and mercy in Christ Jesus your Son so that I, in turn, may love and serve you, again, and again. Amen.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us!Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

*Photo from Google.