That “Gut” Feeling About God

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Monday

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

Jeremiah 13:1-11///Matthew 13:31-35

It is again a Monday, Lord, and we are all so busy going back to work, to the normal “grind” of the week. And your words drive home to us something very close, literally speaking, hitting our guts, our loins: “This wicked people who refuse to obey my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, and follow strange gods to serve and adore them, shall be like this loincloth which is so good for nothing. For, as close as the loincloth clings to a man’s loins, so had I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord; to be my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty. But they did not listen.”(Jer.13:10-11)

How shameful indeed Lord, as we start each day, freshen up ourselves, put on our best clothes but deep inside, very close to our guts, we have “a good for nothing loincloth” – rotting and dirty that permeates deep into our very person. That gut feeling that even if we pretend to be so good, so holy, deep inside, down in our guts, we know something is terribly wrong.

Teach us to go back to you, to be more docile in the Holy Spirit, to follow our “guts” wherever you are leading us. May we give your little voice, your words like the mustard seed to be sowed and grow in us so we can experience your glory, your beauty, and your goodness. So often, we take little things for granted, forgetting that like the “loincloth”, these are the ones closest to us that truly give us comfort and confidence as a person, as a believer, as your follower. Amen.

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

*About the photo: the flower of the mustard plant I have taken during our Holy Land Pilgrimage April 2017 at the Ein-Karem area on the way to the Church of the Visitation.

Allowing God’s Word to Grow and Bear Fruit In Us

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer for Friday

27 July 2018, Week-16/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 3:14-17///Matthew 13:18-23

Every morning, Lord, I try to heed your word, “Return, rebellious children”(Jer.3:14). This is especially true every Friday when we pray “misere nobis” of Psalm 51 for we are indeed like the people of Judah who heard your words through Jeremiah but refused to act on them until tragedy struck the the whole nation.

Jeremiah is absolutely right, Lord. We are rebellious children, like the seeds sown on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns. Our streets testify to this reality: our traffic is horrendous, mirroring our life these days with everybody insisting on each one’s ways, without any tinge of courtesy and respect to everyone.

Motorists. Passengers. Pedestrians. We have forgotten all about decency. Worst of all are the law enforcers who have no regard at all with the laws and with the people.

Thank you very much that in Jesus Christ your Son, you have never given up on us like the sower who never gets tired of sowing the seeds of your words into our hearts daily. Help us to be fertile soil, welcoming your words into our hearts, our very being, not only by listening, studying and praying them but acting on them, allowing them to grow and bear fruit in us through our life of witnessing in acts of kindness and love.

Your seeds are all good, Lord. Let it grow in me today. 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.

Holding On To God

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday

24 July 2018, Week-16/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Micah 7:14-15,18-20///Matthew 12:46-50

I cannot believe everything that is happening in the country, God. Are you kidding us? Have you forgotten us? At first, I thought it was only due to the weather that I felt so low, desolate. And now, in our country.

I feel like one of the remnants in prophet Micah’s time: those few left behind holding on to you with their little faith being shaken by the majority who seem more blessed and better off amid their infidelities and evil ways – and inanities as well. I feel like praying with the remnants of Israel of old, “Shepherd your people with your staff – the flock of your inheritance – that dwells apart in a woodland in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.”(Mic.7:14-15)

Keep me strong in my faith especially at this times everything is sagging in our country: our morals, our honor, our values, our leaders. Teach me to keep on following your Son Jesus Christ as His “brother and sister and mother”(Mt.12:50), striving to fulfill your will despite the many odds and temptations to be on my own, to join the mob with their truncated views on life and people. You are so merciful in forgiving my sins, and letting me go of my past. How can I leave you now in the middle of many storms, Lord? May these days of darkness past, and leave me standing before you faithfully.

I pray also Lord to those severely affected by the rains and floods. May they never lose faith and hope in you as we who were spared share more love and charity to them. 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.

Putting God on Trial

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Monday

23 July 2018, Week-16/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Micah 6:1-4,6-8///Matthew 12:38-42

God our Father, you never cease to surprise me with your creativity. Like a dedicated teacher, you never run out of illustrations of how much you love me despite my many sins. Today you present me with a court-room drama that I used to see in many TV series I have followed.

“Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice! Hear, O mountains, the plea of the Lord, pay attention, O foundations of the earth! For the Lord has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel. O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you?”(Mic.6:1-3)

Despite the many good things you have done for me, I continue to live in sin. I have turned away from you that no amount of worship and offering would suffice except “Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with you, O God.”(Mic.6:8)

The saddest thing in this courtroom drama is how we have refused to rest our case, always putting you on trial with our sins, asking for signs even up to this time. Let us rest the case for you have dismissed it in our favor by sending us your Son Jesus Christ. Teach me O Lord Jesus, to seek no more signs from you. Help me to open my eyes and my heart to see in your Passion, Death and Resurrection that you are my life and my salvation.

In a special way, Lord I pray for our brothers and sisters severely affected by the continued rains that have caused widespread floods especially in Pangasinan and Bataan provinces. Give them something to eat this morning and keep them safe. Amen.Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 .

Firm Faith, Firm Self

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday

17 July 2018, Week-15/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Isaiah 7:1-9///Matthew 11:20-24

Thank you Lord for the reminder that “unless my faith is firm I shall not be firm!”(Is.7:9)

So many times I forget this truth as I try to do everything to make myself strong physically, mentally and emotionally. So many times I forget that everything is fleeting in this world especially my body, including my enemies. So many times I forget that the path to real strength of my person is in having a firm faith in You because only You remain.

Everything passes in this world; nations and peoples, cities and states rise and fall but not You, O Lord! You never stop speaking your words of wisdom into the silence of my heart, calling me to trust in You, to have faith in You as You find ways in saving me from my many problems and miseries. Give me the grace to repent and to harden not my heart when I hear Your voice in Christ Jesus. 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, Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, 06 July 2018.

What Does It Take?

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.

Sent to Cleanse Evil

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer, Wednesday

11 July 2018, Week-14/Year-2 Ordinary Time

Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12///Matthew 10:1-7

God our almighty Father, as we celebrate today the feast of St. Benedict, we implore You send us the Holy Spirit so we may pray and work – “ora et labora” – in fighting evil in this world. Remind us always that like the 12 Apostles, we are sent by Your Son Jesus Christ with “authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.” (Mt.10:1)

Like St. Benedict who admonished at the start of his Monastic Rule, may we “listen carefully” to Your voice in our prayers and labors, always“seeking your face” like what the psalmist sings today. We admit that our time is similar with that of Hosea’s Israel when idolatry is rampant, our “hearts so false” (Hos.10:2) and far from You. May we emulate St. Benedict in reawakening Christian life and ideals to heal us of so many infirmities plaguing our body and soul due to the spiritual and moral decadence around us. Amen.

St. Benedict, pray for us. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022.

Every Kinda People

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.

Praying with Anthony, the Saint of Padua

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Wednesday

13 June 2018, Week-10/Year-2 Ordinary Time

1 Kings 18:20-39///Matthew 5:17-19

Thank You, God our Father in giving us St. Anthony of Padua who is renowned in interceding for anything that is lost – perhaps, including lost faith in You, lost values and lost selves. So many times, we are like the Israelites in our first reading today who are lost in our faith in You. Like them, we have become “wishy-washy” in following and trusting You, relying more with the modern Baals of wealth and fame.

We are so lost with the worldly things that we have become callous and insensitive with the plight of the poor and the suffering among us. Help us to find our way back to you, Father, through Your Son Jesus Christ who is the fulfillment of the laws and the prophets. Amen.

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

Praying with Anthony Bourdain

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for Tuesday

12 June 2018, Week-10/Year-2 Ordinary Time

1Kings 17:7-16///Matthew 5:13-16

God Almighty, You never fail to surprise me: last night while praying, You sent me the late atheist (?) celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain to inspire me in my homily and prayer.

He said, “Food and sin are two words that have long been linked.”

It is true. You banished Adam and Eve from Paradise after they have eaten the forbidden fruit. Then, You sent us Your Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin by giving us His Body and Blood as our food and drink in this long journey back home to You in Paradise.

It is very amazing that our faith is always tested and strengthened through food. A non-believer in You like Bourdain, the widow of Zarephath became Your instrument to deliver Elijah from hunger and thirst. For a year amid a drought, the widow’s “jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry” as You have foretold through Elijah, keeping them alive and strong.

So often, we who are supposed to be religious, who are supposed to believe and trust in You are the ones who also doubt You and Your providence. We refuse to share our food along with money and other treasures because we are afraid of having too little of these gifts. Not only that. So many times we are selfish to share Your love and joy, mercy and forgiveness, kindness and warmth, including knowledge and guidance with those suffering and who are lost, those who have forgotten the real taste of life, pushing some of them to suicide.

Make us the salt of the earth, Lord, so that through our loving presence with others, we may become food to nourish their tired body and soul, to let them taste the goodness of life despite its many pains and sufferings, preserving them wholly until Jesus comes again. 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.