Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 04 June 2025 Acts 20:28-38 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 17:11-19
What a moving first reading today as we come to close the Easter Season when Paul bid goodbye to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus.
They were all in tears because most likely they would never see Paul again; but most of all, of the sincerity of Paul in his words spoken to them.
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood…I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know very well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:28, 33-35).
Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive because in giving that is when we have to use more of our hands in toiling and working; in the work of our hands, we not only share Christ in the good deeds we do but most of all, open the eyes and hearts of others to welcome Jesus into them to work also through their very own hands.
It is the same imagery we have of Jesus praying for us his disciples, laying over his hands over us as he "consecrate" us in truth.
Oh dear Jesus, make our hands strong to keep working, doing the difficult things many avoid so we can bless more people; keep our hands open too to share our work and blessings with others; most of all, keep our hands clasp together in prayer to you to surrender ourselves to your will always so that our hands may be cleansed of dirt and stains of sin worthy in giving praise to you and touching those in need. Amen.
Paul saying goodbye at Ephesus on the way to Rome for his trial and eventual martyrdom.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga & Companions, 03 June 2025 Acts 20:17-27 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 17:1-11
Photo by author, St. Paul Retreat House, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 January 2025.
Dear Jesus, help us your disciples in this modern age to be like St. Paul who never "shrinked" in boldly standing for your gospel values; how lovely in today's first reading that St. Paul twice mentioned he never "shrink" from telling and proclaiming God's plan for everyone.
“and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes… for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God” (Acts 20:20, 27).
How lovely that on this day too we celebrate the memorial of Uganda's first martyrs led by St. Charles Lwanga and companions never shrink before their king to engage in homosexual and other pervert sexual acts; they stood firm in your teachings of the sanctity of the human body as temple of your spirit.
How true are your words, Lord Jesus at the end of your great discourse and prayer for your disciples at the Last Supper that indeed, "Father, the hour has come" (John 17:1): the hour has come when people are so proud with their wrong sense of "pride" in rejecting your gift of sexuality and human body; how sad that these days, our country despite being the only Christian nation in this part of Asia is now the "trans" capital in the region; for the longest time too, our country has been one of the top users of online pornography; and worst of all, we have the most irreconcilable situation of being a nation deeply religious yet with a government so corrupt that we have always lagged in development as a country where much of its human resources have to work abroad to earn decently.
The hour has come, Jesus, that we too make a stand for what is true and just, that we do not shrink in doing and teaching your gospel values; grant us the courage as well as clarity of mind and magnanimity of spirit and heart in not shrinking for you in the face of so-called modernity and wokism. Amen.
St. Charles Lwanga and companion martyrs of Uganda, Pray for us!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 02 June 2025 Acts 19:1-8 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> John 16:29-33
Photo by author, mountains of San Antonio, Zambales from the side of Anawangin Cove, 2024.
Lord Jesus, teach me and help me understand you.
I really wonder if the disciples truly understood you on that Last Supper:
The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe” (John 16:29-31)?
Oh how easy it is to claim I have understood you Lord Jesus when in fact more often I misunderstand you when difficulties and sufferings come my way that I complain a lot; when pains and disappointments happen I lose interest in following you; when frustrations come because I cannot know fully what is to come after following you.
There are times mediocrity seeps in me that I become lackluster making no effort to learn more, to be more daring, and to be a better person and disciple in following and imitating you, Lord.
To understand you, Jesus means to experience peace always in you, to keep on choosing you still no matter what because that is when we truly enter in your presence with nothing else important but do your will.
Understanding you Jesus is being open and ready not to understand everything about you and still believe you and trust you. Amen.
Photo by author, mountains of San Antonio, Zambales from the side of Anawangin Cove, 2024.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle C, 01 June 2025 Acts 1:1-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 9:24-28;10:19-23 ><}}}}*> Luke 24:46-53
Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 26 December 2025.
We all have experienced dreams so real where we met friends and relatives even strangers that we described as “totoong-totoo” that we woke up crying or simply joyful and feeling so light. The clothes even the scent and ambiance were so real that we tried going back to sleep to continue the dream!
This is what we call as the dynamic of “presence in absence” when loved ones long dead or gone or simply far from us we still feel near and close too. It is the same familiar kind of relationship that we have with God whom we feel also as too near yet so far like what Luke described to us in the Ascension of Jesus Christ:
As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:51-53).
Photo by Mr. Sean Pleta in Melbourne, March 2015.
When Luke said that Jesus “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven”, he was describing to us Christ’s new and higher kind of relationship with all his disciples that include us today.
Jesus did not merely enter a physical reality that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us in the second reading; he actually entered into a new level of relationship with us and everyone. This “leveling up” in our relationships that no longer require physical presence is the dynamic of presence in absence. We don’t have to be physically present because there are deeper ties that bind us with God and with others, both the living and the dead.
Recall how since Easter we have been reflecting on this aspect of new level of relationship with Jesus who told Mary Magdalene at their first meeting to “touch me not” because of the need for a higher level of relating with him no longer bound by time and space. This Jesus showed when on the evening of Easter he entered the locked doors where the disciples were hiding. And Luke tells us that beautiful account of Jesus walking to Emmaus with two disciples who did not recognize him but upon reaching home after the breaking of bread, the two disciples recognized Jesus who immediately disappeared from their side. It was always a case of presence in absence!
Note also that in all appearances of Jesus after Easter to his disciples, there was always joy that continued even after his Ascension when “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.” Normally, there is sadness after every separation and goodbye. But not with the disciples of Jesus including us!
How can you explain that even if Jesus does not seem to answer our prayers, we just keep on praying to him? Why do we remain in Jesus despite his apparent absence? That’s because deep in our hearts we are certainly sure he is always with us, that he loves us so much, that eventually, he will answer our prayers though he does answer our prayers always but not in the way we wanted it to be.
That is why we need to make that effort to deepen and cultivate our relationship with Jesus to always see his presence in his absence like what the angel told the disciples in the first reading after his Ascension, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
Do not look up or anywhere but look inside our hearts where Jesus dwells as he had told us last Sunday if we keep his words and love one another. We need to level up in our relationship with God through prayers and good works.
We need to see more with our heart than with our eyes because the deepest truths and realities in life are seen with the heart and soul. The ancient Persian sage and poet Rumi said it so beautifully, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation.”
Since Easter, we have been reflecting on the profound difference of Christ’s Resurrection with his birth on Christmas filled with external signs and symbols. Easter is characterized by absence like darkness and emptiness where we find the presence of Jesus and his light.
This presence in absence is also the reality we have in those we refer to as “low-maintenance” friendships where we have some people who do not demand anything from us nor we demand much from them. We meet when time allows and chat once in a while yet we remain the bestest friends because of the love and respect we have for each other. Basta, alam na this!
That is also the reality of our relationship with God. Do we experience the same joys in his presence in absence? Are we at home with our relationship with Christ found in darkness and emptiness, present in his apparent absence? Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, let us rise up in our relationships with you with others; let us be more loving and faithful, kind and understanding, fair and just even without seeing you and one another. Amen.
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove and Resort, Morong, Bataan, 25 May 2023.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 30 May 2025 Acts 18:9-18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 16:20-23
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
In a few days you are going to "leave" us, Jesus; this Sunday is your Ascension, your physical departure from us and you described so well our situation:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, as she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 16:20-23).
What has been "born" in me in your Rising from the dead? What is that joy like a woman in the pangs of childbirth suddenly becoming a joy so incomparable?
Oh, it is that joy of having you in my heart, Jesus: I have found joy more in my heart than outside of me; your joy is that assurance you are with me always no matter what, as certain as the rising and the setting of the sun, as lovely as the blooming of flowers, soothing like the hush of the wind or the gushing of water in a river or the rush of the waves to the shore.
Keep that joy in my heart, Jesus that no one can take away; a joy in my heart that even if I do not receive the things I ask in prayer, I still believe, I still hope, I still rejoice in you.
Sorry, Jesus, I still question you on anything despite that joy of knowing you, of having you but many times I wonder why all the pains and sufferings with me and those close to me; there are times, Lord that I lose my heart that I could not feel that joy of you when you don't answer my prayers.
But, to still keep on praying even if it not answered at all is already pure joy in you, Jesus!
Like peace, true joy is so difficult and elusive when not found in you, Jesus that we always have to wait for you, feel you, suffer and cry with you and sometimes die in you so that joy shall be born in us again and again and again. Amen.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 28 May 2025
Photo by author, Cota da Cabo, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
Salamuch for the very positive response to our blog Praying to “do no harm” where we underscored the need for more sensitivity among us to be able to respond to those being pushed to the limits in life (https://lordmychef.com/2025/05/27/praying-to-do-no-harm/) .
Sensitivity is the condition of a person (or thing) being sensitive that in the positive sense means someone who is quick to detect and appreciate other’s feelings while in the negative sense, one who is easily hurt or delicately affected by other’s feelings and attitudes.
For this sharing, we refer to the positive sense of the need for sensitivity especially in these days when it has become more of a rarity as more and more people seem to becoming numb and even callous. It is maybe a sign that points to one reality we have been seeing but refused to acknowledge these years – the dwindling number of people praying these days.
Prayer is more than reciting certain formal prayers we have learned by heart since childhood or reading novena prayers to a host of our devotions and practices. Prayer is primarily a relationship we keep with God. We pray because we love God.
Photo by author, Cota da Cabo, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
This is the reason that in prayer, it does not really matter we are able to say or tell God everything because He knows them so well even before we asked Him (Mt.6:8). What really matters most in prayer as St. John Paul II used to say is that we are able to hear and listen to what God wants from us. That we surely do not know at all that is why we need to pray.
Just like in our relationships with others when we simply have to be sensitive with their presence when each one’s presence is more than enough. Or in fact, is everything!
When we pray more and cultivate a prayer life – a relationship with God – it is our sensitivity that is most heightened. The more we become sensitive of our ourselves and surroundings, we become more aware of God’s presence in us and among us. The more we become sensitive of ourselves and of God, then, we become sensitive of others too. Then our relationship with God flows naturally into our relationship with others which becomes the fruit of our prayers: have we become more kind and understanding, more loving and forgiving, more just?
Another beautiful thing with prayer that heightens our sensitivity is the gift of being proactive when we are able to “predict” the future without really predicting it! Our Filipino expression of magdilang-anghel says it so well that whatever we say happens or turns out to be true because we can feel everything and everyone with our heightened sensitivity.
Photo by author, Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Dumaguete City, 07 November 2024.
Prayerful people are always sensitive in the positive sense. They are the ones most in touch with the realities of life, literally and figuratively speaking. They are always “present” like God who calls Himself “I AM WHO AM” – the perfectly present. Without sensitivity, there can be no presence at all.
See how kids these days do not mind at all nor pay respects or at least recognize anyone – whether family member or guests – when they are engrossed in their computer games or watching movies or simply scrolling their cellphones. Sorry as I find many of these kids are growing disrespectful as in, bastos.
Experts have long been warning us of the dire effects especially to children of these gadgets and social media itself that make us insensitive, numb and callous practically with the world around us.
How sad and sickening to see young people literally so absorbed and immersed as in subsob in their cellphones, wired with those pods stuck in their ears living in a world of their own, unmindful of the sounds and commotion, of the people and everything happening around them.
Going back to that beautiful scene after an earthquake shook the prison cell of Paul and Silas in yesterday’s first reading, see how the apostle’s sensitivity and presence saved and converted their jailer.
The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas… After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. About midnight… there was suddenly such a severe earthquake… When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here” (Acts 16:22, 23, 25, 26, 27-28).
Speaking of earthquake, I just found it quite amusing how some students did not feel at all the “jolt” when the 5.1 earthquake struck us before noon yesterday. After we have evacuated our building, I met some students who were laughing at themselves to have not felt at all the earthquake, saying they were caught by surprise when the alarm went off that signaled the evacuation.
Sorry and please excuse us as this may be extending too much the earthquake this noon but, it isn’t funny anymore when we are jolted by news of some people we hardly know taking their lives for various reasons. We wonder and even search our souls wondering what happened they “harmed” themselves until we realize that partly because, we were not there at all when they most needed us.
Photo by author, Cota da Cabo, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
This is why we need to recover our vanishing sensitivity through prayers to be aware, to notice and feel others around us, especially those silently screaming for help when many are so absorbed in their own little worlds. Every time we become sensitive of God’s presence and reality, we become sensitive of ourselves and of others too. Let us pray:
Forgive us, Jesus for being far from those in pain and sufferings, for being insensitive to those crying in silence, for being indifferent to the realities of mental health and total well-being of everyone.
Give us a chance, Jesus to be like Paul and Silas of saving one life from doing no harm to one's self by first being sensitive to your presence in prayers because the more we pray, the more we become sensitive of you and of others. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 27 May 2025 Acts 16:22-34 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 16:5-11
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Let me begin this prayer Lord Jesus with the call of St. Paul to their jailer, "Do no harm to yourself; we are all here" following the many sad news of people harming themselves and others because of so much pains and sufferings.
The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas… After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. About midnight… there was suddenly such a severe earthquake… When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here” (Acts 16:22, 23, 25, 26, 27-28).
These are the words most precious these days, Lord: "Do no harm to yourself."
Do no harm to yourself even if you have failed for you are more precious than grades and achievements.
Do no harm to yourself despite the pains and hurts there must be a better way to stop the beatings.
Do no harm to yourself because we are here... but, alas, Lord! We can only cry those words after they have harmed themselves and others. Worst, we call only those words "Do no harm to yourself" when they are gone.
Forgive us, Jesus for being far from those in pain and sufferings, for being insensitive to those crying in silence, for being indifferent to the realities of mental health and total well-being of everyone.
Give us a chance, Jesus to be like Paul and Silas of saving one life from doing no harm to one's self by first being sensitive to your presence in prayers because the more we pray, the more we become sensitive of you and of others. Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 26 May 2025 Acts 16:11-15 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> John 15:26-16:4
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).
Thank you, dear Jesus in sending us the Holy Spirit as our Advocate who empowers us to speak also of the truth he tells us; most of all, to abide with you and your gospel truth.
Remind us, Lord Jesus that being an advocate for you, witnessing your gospel need not be dramatic at all like that chance meeting of Paul with some women at a river in Philippi where he spoke about you and your good news of salvation; forgive us, Jesus when in this age of instant and widespread communications, we balk and even feel ashamed of speaking about you and your teachings, even ashamed of proudly making the sign of the Cross.
Forgive us, Jesus when we are inhibited for many reasons from speaking about our faith in you, when even the powers of the Advocate we doubt.
Give us a joyful heart like that of St. Philip Neri always opened to your loving presence most especially in prayerful moments in you. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sixth Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 25 May 2025 Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 ><}}}}*> Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 ><}}}}*> John 14:23-29
Photo by author, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 28 March 2025.
Let us start again our Sunday reflection from the Book of Revelation where we heard last week John mentioning the word “new” four times when he saw “new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem” coming with a voice of the Lord declaring “I make all things new” (Revelation 21:1, 2, 5).
In continuing his narration this Sunday of his visions while imprisoned in Patmos, John tells us how he not merely “saw” but also “experienced” heaven when he wrote:
The Angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal… I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb (Revelation 21:10-11, 22).
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
Try imagining John’s experience of heaven, almost indescribable for its beauty and majesty as the very presence of God when he specified “there is no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.”
John reminds us again this Sunday that though these new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem are the things to come at the end of time, these are already happening right now in our midst. His description of heaven like jasper and other precious stones indicate not only the incomparable beauty of heaven but the very truth that our home is in God. Thus, an invitation too for us today to live in the light of God for he dwells among us in Christ.
This “divine indwelling” has always been a part of our Catholic doctrine.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Recall how in the Old Testament during the chosen people’s wandering in the desert when God dwelled among them in a tent or booth called sukkoth where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. God’s presence was marked by a pillar of smoke over the tent at daytime and a pillar of fire at night. From this came their Feast of the Booths being the dwelling of God; hence, at the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, Peter told the Lord how they would build booths for him, Moses and Elijah as he felt they were already in heaven!
Booth or tent or temple. Or church.
These indicate the presence of God now manifest in Jesus Christ, “the word who became flesh and dwelled among us.” That is why these past three Sundays of Easter we returned to his words spoken at the Last Supper to deepen our understanding and appreciation of Easter that teaches us about our relationship in God expressed with one another.
Two Sundays ago Jesus identified himself as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, us; then, last Sunday he gave us his “new commandment” of love that is rooted in God, a love that leads to our communion or oneness with God like Jesus and the Father. This Sunday, Jesus deepens that relationship we all have in him in the Father which perfectly matches the vision and experience of John found in the Book of Revelation.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23).
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
This “dwelling” of Jesus and the Father among those who love him and keep his word is the Church, his Body which we his disciples make up.
In instructing his disciples at the Last Supper that included us today to keep his word and commandment to love, Jesus taught how this love is manifested in the Church, his Body, the indwelling of God in Jesus Christ with us his people.
Recall when the curtain in the temple was torn apart from top to bottom at his death on Good Friday that signaled the end of temple worship when people will worship in truth and in spirit as Jesus had spoken to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.
When Pope Leo XIV was elected two weeks ago, one of the news that have struck me was about the presence of non-Catholics at St. Peter’s Square celebrating on that day. According to the news, the non-Catholics joined the crowds because they never felt such kind of unity where people were one in praising God, celebrating his loving presence in gifting the world – not just Catholics – with a Pope as the Vicar of Christ.
What a beautiful reality we now have of God’s dwelling among us as the Church!
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
From the Hebrew concept of qahal or congregation, Jesus linked love and his dwelling with his disciples in forming a community as his Body, the new Temple he had told he would raise in three days we now call the church which in Greek is called ekklesia that literally means to lead out “ek” the people, “kaleo”. Loving and dwelling of God among us is the reality of the Church as a community of believers called to lead others out of darkness into light, out of emptiness into fullness, out of death into life in Jesus Christ – exactly what the early Church did in our first reading today when they agreed not to impose burdens on gentile converts like circumcision and other Jewish traditions.
The Church herself is a Sacrament, a visible sign of Jesus Christ’s saving presence along with the other seven sacraments we have. The challenge is how these sacraments become dynamic ways of living for us, truly a Divine indwelling and not just signs we go through.
Every Sunday in the Mass, we renew our baptismal vows as children of God, expressing our love for each other as a community, visibly the dwelling of God, making the new heaven, the new earth and the new Jerusalem not just a vision but a reality happening now. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, dwell in us, dwell among us by making us follow your light not the artificial lights of the world; let us keep your word by loving more like you for where there is love, there is God dwelling in us because he is love himself. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 23 May 2025 Acts 15:22-31 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> John 15:12-17
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Thank you, dear Jesus in choosing me and making me your friend; let me be a friend to others too like you.
You said it so well, Lord, "You are my friends if you do what I command you" - which is to love! Furthermore, you told us, "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing" (John 15:14) but, how sad that we do the opposite: we do not truly love one another like you, taking each one as a friend; worst, we make others like slaves especially if they are not like us in color and status, belief and gender.
Teach us, dear Jesus, to imitate Judas called Barsabbas and Silas along with Paul and Barnabas sent to the Christians in Antioch to deliver the letter of the Apostles and presbyters regarding the issues of circumcision and other Jewish practices some wanted the Gentile converts to undertake; how lovely that as the faith spread far and wide reaching many people, the Apostles and the presbyters decided not to burden the brothers with Jewish customs and practices; here we find love in action, friendship is in taking away the burdens of others than putting on heavier burdens on them; most of all, a true friend who loves like you Jesus is one who encourages others in your way. Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
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