The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
01 May 2019 in Amman, Jordan
Dearest God our loving Father:
Thank you very much for the wonderful experience yesterday at Petra. Thank you in giving us a glimpse of your majesty, of the spectacular work of your hands.
Thank you for taking care of us here in Jordan. Continue to guide us, keep us and protect us as we head for your Holy Land.
So nice of you that as we celebrate today the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we head for his native town of Bethlehem in two days. And his workshop in Nazareth.
Cleanse us and purify our hearts that everything we say and do may be all out of love.
You called us into this pilgrimage.
Like the ancient people of Petra, though they did not know you or recognized you, they believed in eternal life with their great burial sites.
Like them, may we do things always in love, “the bond of perfection” (Col.3:19).
May “the peace of Jesus Christ control our hearts, the peace into which we were called in one Body. And be thankful” (Col.3:15). Amen.
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Category: Presence of God
Lent is home.
40 Shades of Lent, Saturday, Week-V, 13 April 2019
Ezekiel 37:21-28///John 11:45-56
After forty days, we are finally home in you, God our Father. Finally. But, are we really home? Are we ready for the holiest of all your days, Lord, set to begin tonight with the Palm Sunday of your Passion?
Continue to cleanse our hearts and our souls, Lord.
Continue to guide us into your direction, not like some of the people of your time.
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
John 11:45-46
Lead us home into the Father, Lord Jesus.
Fulfill in us Ezekiel’s prophecy:
My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the Lord, who makes Israel holy, when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
Thank you Lord for Lent, for the 40 days of journey. May each day be always a journey with you and in you always. Amen.
Lent is embracing God’s truth
40 Shades of Lent, Wednesday, Week-IV, 03 April 2019
Isaiah 49:8-15///John 5:17-30
How lovely are your words for us today, O God our loving Father! So refreshing, so reassuring especially at times when dark clouds loom above us, when we are in deep turmoils or when our pains hurt so much.
Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness, Show yourselves! Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
Isaiah 49:8-9, 15
What an amazing God indeed! So close, so personal like anyone.
Yet, O God, how unfortunate that so often we are tempted to doubt your love, your truth, your presence! So often we choose not to believe that we are loved by you or by those closest to us.
We keep on denying you have chosen to love us, preferring to live trapped in the many worries of this life.
Give us the grace of faith to embrace your truth, your love, especially Jesus Christ your Son who had come to make you closest to us as our breath. Let us see your work continuing in Christ that may eventually continue them in us and among us. Amen.
A Lenten Christmas?
40 Shades of Lent, Solemnity of the Annunciation, 25 March 2019
Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10///Hebrews 10:4-10///Luke 1:26-38
The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is a Christmas celebration outside the Christmas cycle. Since the middle of the sixth century, it has always been celebrated on March 25 that falls within Lent except when Ash Wednesday comes early February like in recent years that it occurs within the Easter season.
What is very interesting with this Solemnity of the Lord is how its gospel from Luke is proclaimed in Advent and Lent, two major seasons that are similar in varying degrees with its violet motif and with its penitential character that is a call to conversion. Both Advent and Lent invite us to create a space within us so we may receive Jesus Christ in us like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Angel Gabriel continues to come to us, bringing Jesus Christ. But, does anybody willing to listen to the angel to receive the Son of God like Mary?
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”
Luke 1:30-31, 35
Yesterday in our third Sunday of Lent, we reflected the Lord’s call to conversion by repenting our sins and changing our life directions in Him. Conversion is finding Jesus in our very self so we may also find Him in other persons and in the events of our lives. This can only happen when there is a room for Jesus in us like Mary. We simply have to create that space in us by emptying our hearts of our pride and other sins so the Holy Spirit may overshadow us to make us God’s presence. It requires a lot of trust on our part in God and His power. How sad that in this age of great technological marvels, we continue to be like Ahaz in the first reading who entered into secret alliances with Israel’s pagan neighbors trusting in their military might than with God. Like Ahaz, we often pretend not to be tempting or testing God with signs from Him yet, the fact is our hearts are so far from Him. Conversion is taking two or three steps backward so that we can allow God to do His works in us. Problem is we have never truly allowed the Holy Spirit to overshadow us with God’s power to be His presence in the world. We are always afraid even ashamed at what others would say. Or sometimes, we are always in great hurry that we cannot wait for God to accomplish His work in us.
A very dear friend last week texted me with a prayer request for her surgery today. She specifically asked me to pray for her doctors that the Holy Spirit may guide their hands in removing cysts in her pancreas. What I liked most in her request is the fact that she herself is an accomplished doctor under the care of perhaps the best doctors in the country in one of the leading hospitals in the city. Imagine her deep faith and complete trust in God! Here is a lady doctor, a woman of science so busy with her profession and family yet always making – not finding – time for God in her prayers especially the Sunday Mass.
I am always amazed by people like her who always have that glow in their face exuding with deep joy and peace within borne out of their deep spirituality. One can always feel in them the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that despite their weaknesses and shortcomings, Christ is seen and experienced among them.
Jesus did not merely come on the first Christmas over 2000 years ago. Most of all, Jesus does not come only every December 25. Jesus comes to us every day throughout the whole day which is the reason we pray the Angelus in the morning, at noon and in the early evening. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us of this reality of Christ’s coming by offering Himself as our perfect sacrifice to the Father. He is real and truly transforms us into better persons if we are willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work like Mary. Today’s solemnity of the Annunciation falling on the driest and most humid season of the year during Lent reminds us of how God continues to stir us into opening to Him, creating a space for Him to let His Spirit overshadow us not only to change us but also the world around us.
In what instances of your life do you feel God stirring you to do something for Him but you feel afraid or inadequate like Mary at the beginning of her conversation with the angel? Listen first to God or His angel by emptying yourself, creating a space for Jesus Christ. Then imitate Mary in her fiat or expression of faith by praying, “I am the servant of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.” Amen.
The Ides of March
40 Shades of Lent, Friday, Week-1, 15 March 2019
Ezekiel 18:21-28///Matthew 5:20-26
Lord Jesus Christ, it is “the Ides of March” and like “Friday the 13th” some of us are thinking of so many misfortunes and bad things that could befall us on this date made notorious by the assassination of the Roman emperor Julius Ceasar. Forgive us in professing our faith in you yet continue to subscribe to so many superstitious beliefs.
Remind us O Lord of the ironic twist that the Ides of March is not gone if we continue to live in sin, or, if after leading a virtuous life we turn into evil deeds because in both instances we shall die. It is true that you “never derive joy in the death of the wicked” (Ez. 18:23) because you have come to forgive us from our sins so we can lead holy lives as children of the Father.
Indeed, Shakespeare was absolutely right when Cassius voiced out in his play Julius Caesar that “the fault my dear Brutus is not in the stars but in ourselves.”
Give us the courage to look into our hearts to examine our lives and see if our worship of You and our dealing with others are in congruent with each other. Let us stop our attitudes of blaming and complaining to start changing our ways according to your will O Lord. Amen.
Objective of Prayer
40 Shades of Lent, Thursday in Week-1, 14 March 2019
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25///Matthew 7:7-12
God our loving Father, if there is one thing we wish to tell you today, it is the Psalmist’s song for today, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”
So many times, we felt like “Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish” with no other recourse but to you O God. We know our limits and our weaknesses as well as sinfulness, yet, you keep on trusting us, giving us so many responsibilities and missions in life. Not because we are great or so good but simply because we trust in you.
Teach us to discover anew that in prayer, our lone objective is You alone, O God: not things like money and wealth, power and honor. It is you alone whom we seek, whom we ask for, whom we knock doors for.
Give us the grace to strive to for your Person for you are more than a concept.
Give us the grace to experience your Person as you are not according to our belief or imaginations.
Just to feel your presence O God is more than enough for especially when we are in great need. Stay with us, remain in us always. Amen.
Becoming a presence of God
40 Shades of Lent
Friday after Ash Wednesday, 08 March 2019
Isaiah 58:1-9///Matthew 9:14-15
God our loving Father, in this 40-day journey of Lent in and with your Son Jesus Christ, help us to imbibe anew the value of “fasting”. How unfortunate that in this age when we have made everything so fast and quick, we have forgotten or totally disregarded the other meaning of that word “fasting” that seemed to have been stuck with the past.
We have ceased to fast not only during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday but even before receiving the Holy Communion in the Sunday Mass, making all kinds of excuses with bold claims of having sacrificed so much in doing good deeds that we need not fast from food anymore.
And if ever we fast these days, we repeat the very same mistakes of the people in the Old Testament of having themselves as the focus of their fasting rather than you, O God, through others.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it? Afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high!”
Isaiah 58:3-4
In this age of superabundance of almost everything in the world like food, clothes, money, gadgets and other things except YOU, teach us to let go of some comforts and pleasures to be one with those in suffering.
Most of all, let us fast to be empty of our very selves so we can create a space for you and for others. Fill us with your Self to become your very presence here on earth:
Isaiah 58:9
“Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am!”
What a joy it would be if more people experience you, O Father, through us. Amen.
Face of God, Face of Man
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, 04 March 2019, Week VIII, Year I
Sirach 17:19-24///Mark 10:17-27
Good morning Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the Monday rush again, as well as the Monday blues. So often on Mondays, we feel like that young man in the gospel coming to you, praying and pleading to you with our life’s many concerns and baggages.
And you are always there present with us and for us, never failing to look at us full of love and compassion.
What a lovely scene we fail to recognize because our faces fell as we hurriedly went away sad from you. We never bothered to even look at you because we are so occupied with our very selves!
Allow us to pause a little, to glance at your loving face, especially those going through many difficulties like medical procedures of surgery, chemotheraphy, dialysis, or physical theraphy. We pray also for those burdened with so many problems with their very self or family members, with work and career, with finances and everything.
You know very well, O Lord whats eating us up inside, what’s bothering us as you could always see our sad faces so focused on the darkness within us and around us. Give us the grace to just turn a little and look at your face, see your glow, and feel the warmth of your presence. In that way, we can slowly return to you and completely trust in you again. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
“Kung Mamasukan Sa Atin Ang Diyos”
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Ika-25 ng Pebrero 2019
Hanggang ngayo’y hindi ko pa rin mawari
Ang tagpo noon sa baybayin ng Lawa ng Genesaret
Nang ang makapangyarihan Hari ng mga hari
Humiram ng bangka kay Simon na isang hamak.
Sa aking pagbubulay-bulay sa tagpong iyon
Sumilay sa aking malay kung paano kaya
Itong Panginoon Hesus ay biglang mag-apply
Upang mamasukan sa atin bilang tauhan natin?
“Sir…o kaya’y ma’am” marahil ang bati Niyang marahan.
“Ibig ko po sanang mag-apply bilang inyong tauhan
Diyan sa inyong puso at kalooban
Na tila baga laging nabibigatan at sugatan.”
“Ang dami-rami mo nang naging mga bossing
Kaya mga utos di matalos pulos naman galos ang iyong tantos;
Subukan mo naman akong ika’y pagsilbihan
Diyan sa iyong puso at kalooban, di kita sasaktan, peksman.”
“Hindi ako magpapahinga maski ika’y kapusin ng hininga
Araw gabi ako ang iyong karamay sa lahat ng iyong away
Gagabay sa iyong mga pagpapasya at desisyon na agaw-buhay
Hindi kita bibigyan ng rason para dumaing o manghinayang.”
“Sa aking sasahurin, huwag nang alalahanin
Dahil isa lang naman ang aking hiling:
Pangakong ako lang ang iyong mamahalin at susundin
Asahan mo walang tigil na dating ng pag-ibig at pag-ibig pa rin.”
Ano pa ba ang ating mahihiling
Kung ganito ang mamamasukan sa atin?
Aba, ay atin nang tanggapin
Itong Panginoong Hesus na piniling maging ating alipin!
Thinking Like Jesus
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Thursday, 21 February 2019, Week VI, Year I
Genesis 9:1-13///Mark 8:27-33
My dearest God and Father, today you remind me of the beautiful story of Noah, of how you had promised through him never again to destroy earth.
What a joy always to my eyes to see your rainbow, its beautiful colors without any definitive origin nor end, reminding me of how you have given us more than a promise but a covenant.
When I was a child, I always heard that at the end of every rainbow is a pot of gold that would make anyone who would find it very wealthy. As I matured, I realized O God that the pot of gold of your rainbow is your Son Jesus Christ our Lord: whoever finds Him becomes wealthy indeed!
Like the song of the psalmist today, “From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth”, Jesus became your rainbow, your new covenant who stretched His arms on the Cross to save us.
Give me the grace O God to think like Jesus as the Christ who willed to suffer and die for us in accordance with your Holy Will.
Give me the grace O God to think like Jesus as the Christ so that my life and those around me are enriched in your love and mercy. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
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