Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 21 November 2025 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Luke 19:45-48
Photo by author, Mary’s home in Ephesus, 03 November 2025.
God our loving Father, today I praise and thank you again for the recent chance to travel and experience your majesty and beauty abroad and among other peoples of different culture; most of all, I am grateful to have been to the home of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ephesus; until now, I am savoring, "masticating" the blessed experience.
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (Luke 19:45-46).
As I recall that brief moment of stay inside the Ephesus home of Mary, I felt my whole being emptied - hollowed - and as I knelt and prayed without any distractions, no worries about pictures nor of time, slowly I felt being filled within by you, O God: from hollowedness to holiness or hallowed; that is why Jesus drove away the merchants out of temple: every temple, every place of worship including our very selves is a home and dwelling place of God; the chief priests, scribes and leader of the people felt under attack by Jesus because they were empty of God, filled of the world and its things; the people were spellbound on the other hand because they have realized that truly, we are the indwelling of God; therefore, let us cleanse ourselves always within not only of sin but also of so many things that distract us away from God to dwell in us like social media.
O Blessed Virgin Mary, from the very start you have been reserved by God from any stain of sin to be the Mother of the Christ but it was also fulfilled because of human cooperation: of your parents dedicating you to God and most of all, of your fiat to God. Pray for us, Mama Mary that we may cultivate a prayer life that shall make us a home to God; let us express our fiat to him daily by presenting ourselves to him like you. Amen.
Photo by author, back of Mary’s home in Ephesus, 03 November 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 04 August 2025 Monday, Memorial of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney, Priest Numbers 11:4-15 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 14:13-21
People complain and ask me why our patron saint, St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney is always portrayed “unattractive” as old, balding and so thin who seemed to be so tired, even sad. Para daw hirap na hirap.
Usually I smile at them because when I entered the seminary, I felt the same way too upon seeing his images. But as I learned about his life and teachings, the more I realized St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney is actually one of the original “rock star” saints of the Church with his white, balding hair so much like Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin!
There is something so deeply within him when we try to feel and observe his portrayals in the arts as more than images but a reality and experience of a man deemed weak yet so strong with an intensity of a Michael Jordan in his life and ministry. He was another St. Paul who had truly let “Christ lived in him” (Gal. 2:20), “strongest when weakest” (2Cor.12:10) who declared with conviction that “the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” Hence in my prayers last night and today, I asked Jesus to give me a heart “so big, so wide to welcome everyone and life’s many challenges” (https://lordmychef.com/2025/08/03/praying-with-our-patron-saint-john-baptiste-marie-vianney/).
Detail of a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France from godongphoto / Shutterstock.
The readings this Monday of the eighteenth week in Ordinary Time perfectly jibed the celebration of the Memorial of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney as they spoke of the heart of the priest.
In the first reading we heard of Moses lamenting to God of the difficulty in dealing with his people who were so stubborn and refused to recognize God’s immense love for them, so similar with us priests in many occasions when we feel so frustrated and sad when parishioners fail to see the good things we are doing for them.
When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the Lord became very angry, he was grieved. “Why do you treat your servant so badly?” Moses asked the Lord. “Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with all this people?”… I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress” (Numbers 11:10-11, 14-15).
Many times, we priests feel like Moses who cannot voice out problems with the people who would never understand it at all. Worst, people would even blame us priests why we work so hard or why do we bother at all with their lives. “Pabayaan na lang ninyo kami…sanay na kami” are what they often say. It can be frustrating when people refuse to match the fire and ardor of their priests.
In this scene, we find one of the many instances in the life of Moses that was centered on God in prayers. The heart of the priest is a heart in prayer. The attitude of Moses in the first reading conversing with God in prayer shows us that in our life and ministry, there is no one to turn to except God alone with whom we can be our most personal self, even dare God to “take us” or “kill us” when we are so fed up. The good news is, God never took those words seriously as he knew Moses and the prophets including us who spoke to him that way never knew what we were saying at all.
There is a saying that goes, “if you can’t bear the heat, leave the kitchen”; but, it cannot be applied with the priesthood that is neither a profession nor a job one can easily walk out from and start into another venture or career. Priesthood is a call or a “vocation” from God; however, priesthood is more of the Caller than the call. It is a life centered on prayer to become like Jesus Christ who alone feels and understands and appreciates all our ups and downs in the ministry. The more we get closer to Jesus in the Cross, the more we experience fulfillment that we would never dare to trade it for anything or anyone else, not even the prettiest woman on earth.
Photo by author, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Sacred Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2024.
Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus that continues to be wounded and hurt by sins of men and women in this modern age so selfish and materialistic. Thus, every priest is called to be a “wounded healer” too like Christ who in his woundedness healed the wounds of others. We remind people of the paradox and scandal of the Cross of Jesus, of life itself by taking into heart Christ’s teaching, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 16:25).
Let us now reflect on our gospel.
When Jesus heard of death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. the crowds heard of this and followed him on for from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick (Matthew 14:13-14).
Observe the brevity of Matthew in narrating the situation at the scene without losing its very soul and meaning especially for us priests: Jesus did not have any intentions to go after Herod nor to challenge him for his execution of John the Baptist who spoke the truth.
Instead, Jesus sought solitude. Like Moses in the first reading, Jesus turned to God in his grief and anguish of the death of John the Baptist. He crossed the lake to pray and be one with the Father to pour out his sadness and most of all, to reflect on what to do next after John’s death.
Jesus shows us in this scene of his going into solitude that our low points in life as priests are also our high points like Christ’s Transfiguration. Every prayer moment is a transfiguration moment because that is when we get closest with Jesus. It has been consistently proven in our collective and personal experiences as priests verified by studies that crises in the priesthood happen when we stop praying because that is detaching from Jesus Christ, our Caller.
Priesthood is not only difficult but very difficult starting with the vestments we have to wear. What a shame when priests prefer to do away with the proper vestments as well as wearing of shoes during celebrations of the Mass and other sacraments because the weather is so hot. What then are we going to bear if the weather is already a big issue for us? One of the teachings of St. John Vianney that I have always followed is the value of putting on good vestments in the celebration of Sacraments because they are a homily in themselves, proclaiming the glory and love of God for us all.
Many times, people forget priests have personal concerns and problems too, that we get hurt, get lonely, get sick and grieve at the death of family and friends. Despite all these lows in our life as priests, we go and follow the Caller Jesus Christ when people come and ask for our help and service. Woe to our brother priests who forget this and think more of themselves especially of their comfort!
See how when Jesus was praying in solitude and the crowd followed him, it was not difficult for him to forget his own worries that his heart was moved with pity upon seeing them disembarked from their boats. Despite his sadness at the death of John, Jesus taught the crowd who have followed him and healed the sick among them. And when the Twelve told him to drive away the crowd to search for their own food and lodging, Jesus told them to give them food themselves. What followed was the great miracle of the feeding of over five thousand people from five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish. It was the event that prepared the Twelve and the people to the Last Supper of the Lord and the road to Emmaus where Jesus was recognized at his “breaking of bread”.
The whole life of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney was a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God in Christ’s priesthood. He had a heart so big and wide, hearing confessions daily up to 16 hours! Pray for us your priests to have big hearts too to bear all the wounds and hurts because only the heart that suffers, that is “broken” can truly sing of the joys and pains of living, of the sense and meaning of serving to the point of being emptied, and of the healing and transforming power of Christ’s love and mercy. Amen. Pray for us your priests. Salamuch. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).
have not been to France nor do I know French but while searching for images of St. John Marie Vianney, I found this from the French website, https://www.notrehistoireavecmarie.com/; it is perhaps the depiction of the new pastor speaking to the young Antoine whom he asked for directions to Ars.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 04 August 2025 Monday, Memorial of St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney, Priest Numbers 11:4-15 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 14:13-21
I have not been to France nor do I know French but while searching for images of St. John Marie Vianney, I found this from the French website, https://www.notrehistoireavecmarie.com/; it is perhaps the depiction of the new pastor speaking to the young Antoine whom he asked for directions to Ars.
On this feast of our Patron Saint, John Baptiste Marie Vianney, I praise and thank you dear Jesus for the gift of vocation to the priesthood; thank you for calling me to become your priest; thank you for the courage and strength to accept your call; most of all, thank you for your patience in me despite my repeated sins and failures as your priest.
Onn this feast of our Patron Saint, John Baptiste Marie Vianney, I pray to you Lord Jesus our Eternal Priest to give me a big heart, a heart so wide to welcome everyone and life's many challenges.
When Jesus heard of death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. the crowds heard of this and followed him on for from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick (Matthew 14:13-14).
O Jesus, only a heart so wide like yours can take those kind of "beatings" - to withdraw in silence, perhaps cry in silence, to be hurting alone with the pain of the suffering and death of a brother in ministry; you bore all our pains and went straight to the Father to find solace and strength for the terrible news nobody else would really feel nor understand; make me a good, loving brother to other priests, Jesus; on the other hand, despite your grief and sadness, you did not drive away the crowd so eager to have you in feeding them with your words and teachings, in healing their sick notwithstanding the pains you have in the death of John the Baptist; where did you get that kind of immense feeling of oneness with the crowd that when you saw them, your "heart was moved with pity for them" and cured their sick and eventually fed them not only with your words but with true bread!
That is why I pray for a bigger heart as your priest, Lord Jesus - a heart so big to willingly accept and bear every pain and hurt in your name because only a wounded heart like yours can truly sing of the joys and pains of living, of the sense and meaning of serving, of the healing power of your love.
Detail of a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France from godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Forgive me, Jesus, when many times I feel like giving up, complaining to you like Moses in today's first reading, hurting deep inside when your people could not see and realize all the good things you have been doing for them; hence, I pray for a big heart to bear the pains and disappointments of your people even if they are not reasonable nor valid at all; most of all, give me a big heart, Lord, because according to St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney, "the priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus." Amen.
St. John Baptiste Marie Vianney, Pray for us priests! Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 4, 21 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Siguro napakanta kayo sa pamagat ng ating pagninilay ngayong araw na buhat sa 1992 hit ng yumaong si Bodjie Dasig at ng kanyang Law of Gravity na Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko (ginawa din itong pelikula noong 1994 starring Dina Bonnevie, Alice Dixson at Rustom Padilla).
Usiginanga… kantahin nga natin:
Sana dalawa ang puso ko Hindi na sana nalilito kung sino sa inyo Sana dalawa ang puso ko Hindi na sana kailangan pang pumili sa inyo
Maraming naging bersiyon ang kantang iyon kasi nga bukod sa maganda ang tono, e talaga namang paborito ng maraming “nalilito” sa pag-ibig kungdi sa kungdi sa buhay mismo.
Subalit ang mabuting balita ngayong ikaapat na araw ng ating Nobenaryo sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ay batid mismo ito ng Panginoon – ang ating kalituhan sa buhay na kanyang tinatalakay sa ebanghelyo ngayon.
“Walang makapagilingkod nang sabay sa dalawang panginoon sapagkat kapopootan niya ang isa at iibigin ang ikalawa, paglilingkuran nang tapat ang isa at hahamakin ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo makapaglilingkod ng sabay sa Diyos at sa kayamanan” (Mateo 6:24).
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred heart Novitiate, Marso 2024.
Ginamit na kataga sa English translation ng bahaging ito ng ebanghelyo ang orihinal na kataga na “mammon” – You cannot serve both God and mammon.
Kung tutuusin sabi ng mga dalubhasa sa bibliya, walang tiyak na translation ang “mammon” at naging pakahulugan na lang ang kayamanan at pera o salapi. Ayon sa kanila, malawak at kumplikado ang sinasaad ng “mammon” katulad ng ano mang labis (excess) at imbalance o kawalan ng balanse sa mga bagay-bagay na nagdudulot ng pagkakasakit at kawalan ng katarungan.
Alalaong-baga, ang “mammon” gaya ng ano mang labis at sobra ay nakakasama at nakakasira sa ating pagkatao. Maaring ituring ang pagkain at inumin o kahit anong bagay na mabuti ngunit sumasama kung sumosobra. Ang “mammon” ay ano mang bagay na nakaka-addict na ayaw na nating bitiwan hanggang sa malunod o malulong na tayo at malimutan natin ating sarili pati mga kapwa natin.
Totoo naman na kailangan natin ang pera upang makapag-aral, magkaroon ng damit at ng makakain ngunit kapag ito at iba pang mga bagay maging mga tao na ang ating pinapanginoon, ang mga ito ay nagiging mammon. At kung magkagayon, mas malamang na hindi malayo na tayo ay nagkakasala o namumuhay sa kasalanan. Kaya kailangang matukoy natin ang ating mga “mammon” bago maging huli ang lahat at masira na ating buhay sa kasalanan.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred heart Novitiate, Marso 2024.
Gayon din naman, hindi pa rin sapat na matukoy lamang natin ang iba’t ibang “mammon” at mga kalabisan sa buhay natin. Mahalaga ring makita ang sitwasyon ng buhay ngayon na kung saan ang Diyos ay binabale-wala at ang mga turo ng Simbahan maging ano mang kabutihan ay pinagtatawanan.
Ito pinakamahirap sa ating panahon ngayon na namumuhay tayo sa gitna ng maraming makabagong teknolohiya na nagbubunsod ng mga kakaibang kamalayan at kaisipan kung saan ang lahat ay sinusukat na lamang sa pera at kapakinabangan. Hindi lamang nangingibabaw ang mga materyal na bagay at lahat ng uri ng “mammon” kungdi wala na rin ang Diyos sa usapan.
Tawag dito sa Ingles ay “dissonance” o mawala sa tono tulad ng sa musika. Hindi ba ganito ang buhay nating ngayon, wala sa tono?
Sa ating pagsisikap na mamuhay ayon sa ebanghelyo, lumago sa espirituwalidad at maging banal gaya ng panawagan ni Jesus sa ating lahat, kitang-kita at damang-dama natin na napaka-hirap nito. Palaging nakasalungat ating mga pahalagahan o values sa pinahahalagahan at patakaran ng mundo na ang gusto palagi ay maging mayaman at makapangyarihan, maging sikat at kilala, maging malaya sa maling paraan kayat ang panawagan ng marami ay diborsiyo at abortion, pati na rin same sex marriage.
13th Day Devotion sa Our Lady of Fatima University CAS Chapel, Agosto 2023.
Subukan mong ituro o magsalita ukol sa katapatan sa pag-aasawa, ang kamalian ng pakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalake o babae, ang karapatan ng mga sanggol sa sinapupunan at ikaw ay pagtatawanan, lalaitin at kukutyain habang pinagsasabihan ng lahat ng pangalan mula kosnerbatibo o makaluma, Pariseo, at nagmamalinis.
Balikan ating mga pagbasa nitong lumipas na isang linggo na ang mga paksa ay salungat sa gawi ng kasalukuyang daigdig tulad ng pagmamahal sa kaaway, pagiging bukas-palad, at pagdarasal tuwina.
Sa mundo ngayon, ang binibigyang halaga palagi ay kaginhawahan, kung ano ang madali at kalugod-lugod. Ultimo ang pagtanda ay tinitingnang kapintasan at sakit na kinatatakutan kaya lahat ay gustong manatiling bata.
Noon pa man ay napansin na ito ni San Pablo ngunit para sa kanya, walang saysay ang ipagyabang ating husay at galing bagkus dapat nating ikatuwa ang mga sakit at pagtitiis na pinagdaraanan sa ngalan ng Panginoon.
ganito ang kanyang (Panginoon) sagot, “Ang tulong ko ko’y sapat sa lahat ng pangangailangan mo; lalong nahahayag ang aking kapangyarihan kung ikaw ay mahina.” Kaya’t buong galak na ipagmamapuri ko ang aking kahinaan upang palakasin ako ng kapangyarihan ni Cristo. Dahil kay Cristo, walang halaga sa akin kung ako ma’y mahina, kutyain, pahirapan, usigin, at magtiis. Sapagkat kung kailan ako mahina, saka naman ako malakas (2Corinto 12:9-10).
Mismong ang Panginoong Jesus ito rin ang naranasan noong siya ay pumarito sa lupa. Hanggang sa Krus hindi siya tinantanan ng diablo sa panunukso, pilit na hinahati kanyang puso at kalooban upang talikuran ang Ama sa langit kasama na tayong mga tao.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2025.
Subalit nanatiling matatag si Jesus. Ni minsan hindi niya naisip na sana dalawa ang kanyang puso sapagkat sa kanyang Kamahal-Mahalang Puso, iisa ang nanatiling tuon at laman.
Ngunit pagsumakitan ninyo nang higit sa lahat ang pagharian kayo ng Diyos at mamuhay nang ayon sa kanyang kalooban, at ipagkakaloob niya ang lahat ng kailangan ninyo (Mateo 6:33).
Nag-iisa lang ang ating puso dahil nag-iisa lamang tayo sa Puso ni Jesus. Bawat isa sa atin ay kanyang pinakamamahal.
Sa atin bang puso, si Jesus din ang ang pinaka-mamahal? O, nahahati na rin ang puso natin, namamangka sa dalawang ilog?
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 3, 20 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Kamangha-mangang pakinggan mga obserbasyon ng Panginoong Jesus sa maraming bagay sa ating buhay na nagpapatunay na taong-tao nga siya katulad natin. Nakatapak siya sa lupa at dama lahat ng ating karanasan at pinagdaraanan katulad nitong pahayag niya sa ebanghelyo sa araw na ito na muling tumugma sa ating pagnonobena sa Sacred Heart.
Sinabi ni Jesus, “Huwag kayong mag-impok ng mga kayamanan dito sa lupa; dito’y may naninirang tanga at kalawang at may nakakapasok na magnanakaw. Sa halip, impukin ninyo ay mga kayamanan sa langit; doo’y walang naninirang tanga at kalawang, at walang nakakapasok na magnanakaw. Sapagkat kung saan naroon ang inyong kayamanan, naroon din naman ang inyong puso” (Mateo 6:19-21).
Higit pa sa isang obserbasyon, inaanyayahan at hinahamon din tayo ngayon ni Jesus na suriing mabuti upang matapat nating maamin sa sarili kung saan nga ba nakatuon ang puso natin. Ano o sino nga ba ang ating tanging yaman o tunay na kayamanan sa buhay?
Hindi pa rin mabura sa aking isipan isang katotohanang tumambad sa akin nitong nakaraang Christmas party sa opisina kung saan noong parlor game na “bring me” ay tinanong ng emcee kung “ano ang una mong hinahanap pagkagising sa umaga?”
Sagot ko ay salamin upang mabasa ko ang oras subalit laking gulat ko na ang tumpak na sagot daw ay cellphone!
Nagsurvey ako sa elevator hanggang sa Misa noong hapon na iyon sa chapel maging noong Simbang Gabi sa parokya at ang sagot ng bayan – cellphone pa rin!
Naisip-isip ko, wala bang naghahanap ng tsinelas o kape o ng asawa o ng anak man lang pagkagising kungdi cellphone?
Paano na ang Diyos, may naghahanap pa ba sa kanya tuwing umaga? Siguro kapag mayroon na lang krisis o matinding pagsubok ang tao sa kanyang buhay. Ngunit kung sagana at maayos ang pamumuhay, mga materyal na bagay ating inaatupag marahil, lalo na ang cellphone at social media.
Pagmasdan kung paanong halos sambahin ng mga tao ngayon ang cellphone na pirming dala-dala hanggang sa loob ng simbahan o palikuran. Sa mga sasakyan at tahanan at kung saan-saan, nakakagulat makita lalo mga bata nakasubsob ang ulo sa cellphone. Ang malungkot, isa sa mga unang inaalam ng karamihan ngayon ay kung anong cellphone ang gamit mo dahil dito na sinusukat ang pagkatao lalo na kapag gamit mo ay iPhone 16 Pro-Max! May nagtatanong pa nga kung “fully paid” daw ba iyong Pro-Max?
At hindi biro ang halaga ng mga cellphone ngayon kaya nga para tayong mga baliw hindi lang sa pagbili nito kungdi sa labis na pagpapahalaga. Pagmasdan kapag nawawala ang cellphone nino man – hindi mapakali at parang kiti-kiti sa pagkapkap ng buong katawan at pag-aapuhap sa kapaligiran para matagpuan nawawalang cellphone. Kay saklap na katotohanan subalit halos lahat tayo ay guilty, your honor.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, 2015.
Sa ikatlong araw din na ito ng ating nobenaryo sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, tayo man ay kanyang inaanyayahan na maging malinaw at matalas ating mga mata upang makita natin higit na mahahalaga sa buhay.
“Ang mata ang pinakailaw ng katawan. Kaya’t kung malinaw ang iyong mata, maliliwanagan ang buo mong katawan. Ngunit kung malabo ang iyong mata, madirimlan ang buo mong katawan. Kaya’t kung ang liwanag na nasa iyo ay kadiliman pala, napakadilim niyan!” (Mateo 6:22-23)
Kapag malabo ating mga mata, kapag mga bagay na materyal lang pinapansin at binibigyang halaga at ayaw nang tumanaw sa malalalim na katotohanan sa buhay, iba ang kahihiligan ng ating puso.
Mananatili tayong salat at dukha sa tunay na kayamanan sa Diyos na tanging sa kanya lamang matatagpuan sa pamamagitan ng ating mga ugnayan sa ating mga kapwa lalo na sa ating pamilya at mga kamag-anak pati na mga kaibigan. Sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan, doon lumalalim at yumayaman ating katauhan sa iba’t ibang karanasan ating napagdaraanan lalo na ng mga pagsubok at dagok sa buhay tulad ng hindi mahalin, tanggihan o talikuran at pagtaksilan, masaktan at mabigo, magkasakit at maghikahos sa buhay, maging mamatayan.
Iyan ang itinuturo ni San Pablo sa unang pagbasa: para sa kanya, ang ipinagmamalaki niyang higit ay ang kanyang mga kahinaan at kabiguan dahil doon nahahayag kapangyarihan at kadakilaan ni Jesus. Taliwas at salungat sa gawi ng mundo lalo ngayon na puro payabangan, pahusayan, pasikatan mga tao lalo na sa social media.
Subalit batid din natin naman ang masaklap na katotohanan na sa kabila ng maraming karangyaan at kayamanan, kapangyarihan at katanyagan, lalo namang naliligaw at nawawala mga tao sa ngayon. Kulang at kulang pa rin ating kagalakan at kaganapan o fulfillment sa buhay.
Wika nga ni San Agustin, “Ginawa mo kami para sa Iyo, O Panginoon, at hindi mapapanatag aming puso hanggat hindi napapahingalay sa Iyo” (You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you”).
Ngayong ikatlong araw ng ating pagsisiyam sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, buong kababaang loob tayo dumulog sa kanya at ilahad ating mga pusong dukha at salat sa tuwa at kagalakan, ang ating mga puso na taksil at puno ng kasalanan. Higit sa lahat, atin ding mga puso na sugatan sa maraming sakit at hapis na pinagdaanan. Hayaan nating linisin, hilumin at panibaguhin ni Jesus ating mga puso upang siya na ang lumuklok at manahan dito yaman rin lamang na Siya ang ating tanging yaman. Managing tayo:
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 18 June 2025 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Photo by the author, La Mesa Dam Eco-Park, QC, February 2023.
What will it take for me to be a cheerful giver, Lord? Maybe, first I must have that complete trust in you, Jesus Christ; no one can be generous unless one trusts completely God the source and giver of all good things in life.
Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingl, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make very grace abndant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
St. Paul's words in today's first reading echoed your teachings, Jesus in today's gospel, of the need to do everything from the heart, not to please others, but God alone; to do anything from the heart calls demands trust!
I have been through moments of abundance when sometimes I was generous and sometimes not generous at all, when giving was "costly" despite still having a lot for myself.
Why?
It was not really of the abundance that I have in my hands that make me generous, Jesus but the abundance of faith and trust I have in you in my heart; teach me, Jesus to be more trusting in you in order to be more loving so that I may be generous, whatever I may have in my hands, whether I have less or more. Amen.
Detail of a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Visitation Monastery in Marclaz, France. (photo: godongphoto / Shutterstock)
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 by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Fourth Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 11 May 2025 Acts 13:14, 43-52 ><}}}}*> Revelation 7:9, 14-17 ><}}}}*> John 10:27-30
The new Pope, Leo XIV, appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, 09 May 2025; photo from vaticannews.va
What a lovely fourth Sunday in Easter also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” when we are blessed with a new Pope – Leo XIV – who will shepherd us into this modern time. Truly, Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd knows us so well that he did not make us wait long in having a new Pope in this troubled time.
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).
“I know them.” How lovely are these words of Jesus to us, his “sheep” especially for those going through a lot of trials and difficulties, for those feeling lost and empty, for those about to give up on life.
Let us dwell on his words “I know them”.
For the Jews and in the Bible, knowing is more of the heart than of the mind. Knowing a person is not just knowing one’s name but most of all of being in a personal relationship, an affinity with the person.
In declaring “I know them”, Jesus affirms how he personally regards each one as somebody dear to him, somebody close to him. We are all a somebody, a someone to Jesus whom he personally loves and cares for.
This we have seen among the people we have met in Lent like the apostles Peter, James and John during the transfiguration, the prodigal son, the woman caught in adultery. Or during the Holy Week like Judas who betrayed the Lord, Peter who denied Jesus thrice, Dimas the thief, the centurion who believed in him after his death on the Cross, John and the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross. They were all in their most difficult situations in life yet Jesus knew them so well that he assured them of his loving presence, lifting them up to move on with life.
Recall also the people we met this Easter Season like Mary Magdalene and companions early in the morning later followed by Peter and the beloved disciple who all found the tomb empty, the disciples at the upper room with locked doors that evening of Easter, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Thomas Didymus, the disciples led by Peter at breakfast with Jesus at the shore of Lake Tiberias. In their most joyous moments in life amid the darkness and emptiness, the doubts and unbelief or blindness following Easter, they were accompanied and joined by the Risen Lord to ensure and assure them that indeed he is alive and will always be with them.
In the same manner, think also of those moments in your own life of darkness and emptiness, whether negatively or positively, for better or for worse… who remained standing by your side?
Jesus. Only Jesus. And always Jesus. Because he knows us so well.
Jesus is truly the Good Shepherd who knows us so well even in these modern times where there are more vehicles and traffic, more disruptions to life yet he continues to shepherd us like the many shepherds still in many countries in Europe and the Middle East.
And that makes this passage most touching and refreshing because though times may have changed, Jesus has remained personally committed with each one of us. He keeps on looking for us, searching us, following us. Loving us most of all. But, are we present in Jesus?
Notice the four verbs in this short gospel we have today: ascribed to Jesus are the verbs “know” and “give” while to us the sheep, “hear” and “follow” where problems always happen. Do we “follow” what we “hear”? “To hear” is to recognize the authority and importance of the speaker’s words; it is to enter into a communion with him, to put oneself in his guidance, to “follow” him as his disciple.
Jesus speaks to us daily but nobody cares because right after waking up, most of us today look for our cellphone than pray! We are more interested with the “likes” and “followers” we have garnered from our previous posts. We are more enthralled with the seductive voices and images of social media that feed on our ego and senses, giving us false feelings of security and acceptance. We would rather be consumers than disciples who are called to sacrifice like the shepherd.
Photo of a sheep’s fleece by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2022.
Though life has become more affluent these days, it has ironically become more empty and lost without direction because we just keep on having and possessing, consuming and ingesting everything the world offers that leave us guilty and empty because we cannot experience any sense of fulfillment and meaning.
How ironic that amid this pandemic of “obesity”, we fill ourselves mostly with trash and poison, literally and figuratively speaking that we feel so lost more than ever with so much time wasted and sadly, life and relationships thrown away. Everything has become more of the mind than of the heart with persons being commodified as things, everything seen in monetary terms, so utilitarian in nature.
Only Jesus “knows” us so well that is why only he “gives eternal life” as Peter exclaimed in this Saturday gospel in the third week of Easter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and we are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn.6:68-69).
Unlike anybody, Jesus is the Son of God sent to gather us, to save us and to bring us closer to the Father so that no one among us shall perish. That is the plan of God fulfilled by Christ which we must continue like the apostles as we have heard in the first reading when Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel of Jesus to the gentiles.
This Sunday, Jesus our Good Shepherd assures us, wherever we may be – in darkness and emptiness, or under the dark clouds of a thunderstorm, under a thatched roof of misery – that he knows us so well. He loves us.
Feel the warmth of Christ’s loving heart this Sunday by being present with your loved ones, the people you know so well like Jesus. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you are our Good Shepherd and we are your sheep; only you know us so well, only you can give us eternal life, only you can keep us safe not to be snatched by anyone like the corrupt and shallow candidates running for office again this election; give us the wisdom, courage and faith to follow you and stand by you like those elders in white garments seen by John in his vision of heaven in the second reading; let us vote wisely, let us not waste that power you shared with us. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 29 November 2024 Revelation 20:1-4, 11-21:2 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 21:29-33
Photo by author, Pulong Sampalok, DRT, Bulacan, 23 Novebmer 2024.
It is the last Friday of November and the final one too of our current Church calendar for tomorrow evening we begin the new Season of Advent; that is why, Your words, O Lord, are more pronounced, more detailed though deeply symbolic of the coming end of time and most especially, of a "new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" (Revelation 21:2).
How will all these happen and when, we do not know as Jesus Himself had insisted nobody knows that except the Father; let us live, therefore, O Lord, doing Your Holy Will because in the end, all "were judged according to their deeds" (Revelation 20:13).
Of course, every good we do does not really come from us but from You, dear God; if ever we are able to do anything good, it is because we have opened our hearts and selves to You, Father who transforms us into better persons in Jesus Christ.
Help us imitate the fig tree, dear Jesus: continually transformed in You by staying one with You in Your Paschal Mystery; make us better persons, Jesus purified and cleansed by the Cross so that even while here on earth, we may dwell in your house, be one in You to make You present here and now. Amen.
Photo by author, Pulong Sampalok, DRT, Bulacan, 23 Novebmer 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 14 November 2024 Philemon 7-20 <*[[[[>< + + + ><]]]]*> Luke 17:20-25
Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera at Banff, Canada, August 2024.
Refresh my heart today, Jesus; refresh my heart that has become hard like a stone because of the many pains and hurts; refresh my heart, Lord, that has become numb to the cries and pleas of others in pain; refresh my heart, Jesus, that has turned away from you because of many disappointments; please refresh my heart, dear Lord because I am so tired of being by myself.
Like Philemon, I feel life has been so unfair, with me asking like Jeremiah in the Old Testament, "why should doing good be repaid with evil?"; and yes, like St. Paul, many times I find the gospel so difficult to balance with the ways and realities of the world that like the computer, I need to be "refreshed" in you, Jesus to be truly responsive and faithful to you.
Refresh me in you alone, Jesus, for you are the only one who is our life and meaning; you are the kingdom of God within I refuse to reign over me due to sin; refresh me in you, Jesus, by being faithful to you in my prayer life, of making time, of keeping our time together instead of looking for your many physical signs when all along, you have always been in me if I just stop and be silent to let you refresh me; refresh me, Jesus so I may also refresh others in you. Amen.
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, an orange-bellied flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma), December 2023.
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