Category: reflection

Gaano kadalas ang minsan?

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-18 ng Nobyembre 2025
Larawan mula sa starforallseasons.com

Hindi ko po napanood ang pelikulang iyan noong 1982 pero usap-usapan dahil daw sa sobrang ganda lalo ng aming mga mommy at tita na libang na libang sa Betamax. First year college ako noon at sa sobrang sikat ng pelikulang iyan, isang drayber ang nagpinta sa jeepney niyang nasasakyan ko patungong Recto ng signage na “gaano kadulas ang minsan?”

Pero iba po ang kuwento ko sa inyo. Hindi pelikula o pakuwela kungdi sa Bibliya.

Naalala ko ang pelikulang iyan dahil sa Unang Pagbasa sa Misa ngayong araw ng Martes mula sa ikalawang aklat ng Macabeo kung saan ang isang nobenta anyos na Hudyo, si Eleazar ay hinimok ng kanyang mga kaibigan na kunwari ay kumain ng baboy upang hindi siya patayin ng mga paganong mananakop.

Mas gusto ko ang salin sa Ingles nang sabihin ni Eleazar sa kanyang mga kababayan na patayin na lang siya ngayon din kesa magkunwari pa. Aniya ano ang mabuting halimbawa ang maiiwan niya sa mga kabataan kung sa kanyang katandaan ay magtataksil siya sa Diyos sa pagkain ng ipinagbabawal.

“At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense… should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age” (2 Maccabees 6:24, 25).

Ito yung nagustuhan kong sinabi ni Eleazar, should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life?”

Iyon yung matindi sa sinabi niya, pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life.

Magkukunwari o magsisinungaling ba ako maski minsan sandali sa buhay ko?

Hindi ba kadalasan iyan ang palusot natin mula pa noong panahon nina Eba at Adan marahil? Minsan lang naman titikim… minsan lang naman gagawin… minsan lang naman nagkamali o nagkasala.

Totoo naman minsan-minsan ay sablay ating mga desisyon at nasasabi. Hindi rin maiwasan minsan minsan ang pagkakasala at pagkakamali. Pero, iyon nga ang punto ni Eleazar marahil upang ating pagnilayan, gaano kadalas ang minsan?

Yung minsan-minsan na iyan ang nakakatakot dahil madalas ang minsan katumbas ay wala ng wakas. Minsan ka lang magkamali o magkasala o magkunwari, maaring ikawasak o gumuho at maglaho lahat ng ating mga plano at pangarap na ilang taong pinagpagalan at pinagpagurang mabuti. Kadalasan, marami sa ating mga sablay sa buhay ay dahil lang sa binale-walang minsan.

Mapapatawad tayo ng Diyos sa ating mga kasalanan pati ng ating mga kapwa tao subalit, yung minsang pagkakamali o pagkakasala ay hindi na maibabalik ang dating kaayusan. Madalas yang minsang pagkakamali o pagkakasala ay mayroong tinatawag kong “irreversible consequences”.

Larawan ni Vincenzo Malagoli sa Pexels.com

Kapag ikaw ay nakapatay o maski nga lang masangkot sa krimen ng murder, siguradong maiiba ang takbo ng iyong buhay. Tiyak iyon, kahit na ika’y matapagtago at hindi makulong dahil habang buhay kang uusigin ng iyong konsiyensiya. Iyang minsan lang na pagkakamali dala ng init ng ulo o kalasingan ay hindi na mababago ng gaano mang kataimtim na pagsisisi dahil hindi na maibabalik ang buhay na nawala.

Ikalawang halimbawa na palagi kong sinasabi sa mga kabataan noon pa man na mayroong irreversible consequences ay ang mabuntis ng wala sa panahon. Patatawarin kayo ng Diyos maging ng inyong mga magulang ngunit kapwa ang babae at lalake maiiba na takbo ng buhay pagkatapos ng minsang pangyayari. Mapanagutan man o hindi.

LAOAG CITY, PHILIPPINES – MAY 08: A dog walks past campaign posters supporting presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in a residential neighborhood on May 08, 2022 in Laoag City, Philippines. The son and namesake of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was accused and charged of amassing billions of dollars of ill-gotten wealth as well as committing tens of thousands of human rights abuses during his autocratic rule, has mounted a hugely popular campaign to return his family name to power. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. enjoys a wide lead in opinion polls against his main rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, owing to a massive disinformation campaign that has effectively rebranded the Marcos dictatorship as a “golden age.” Marcos is running alongside Davao city Mayor Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte who is the subject of an international investigation for alleged human rights violations during his bloody war on drugs. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

Ikatlong halimbawa naisip ko ngayon lang ay ang maling pagboto sa bawat halalan.

Isang lingkod ng simbahan ang nagtanong sa akin na pagtitiisan na lang daw ba natin ang kasalukuyang pangulo gayong sinabi na ng kapatid nitong siya ay adik?

Bagamat batid kong siya ay DDS, pinagsikapan ko pa ring pagpaliwanagan. Sabi ko sa kanya, sila lang ang magtitiis, hindi kami kasi sila lang ang bumoto sa tambalang BBM at Sara noon.

Hindi sila nakinig sa sinasabi at paliwanag nating iba ang kandidato sa pagkapangulo at bise nito.

Ganyan kako ang demokrasya, parang pag-aasawa: hindi ka nakinig sa paliwanag ng iba, tapos nagkamali ka sa iyong pinili – aba, pagtiiisan mo. Minsan ka lang nga gumawa ng desisyon ngunit hindi mo sinuring mabuti ni pinagdasalan, pagdusahan mo. Ganun talaga. Kaya hindi uubra ang pagpapababa sa kasalukuyang pangulo na katulad ng sinasabi ng ilan na magdiborsiyo ang mag-asawa dahil minsan lang nagkamali.

Huwag tayong palilinlang sa minsan. May kasabihan sa Ingles na the devil is in the details: nasa mumunting bagay o detalye ang demonyo na mismong uri ng ating minsan na madalas ituring lang naman.

Pag-aralang mabuti mga bagay-bagay lahat na may kinalaman sa pagpapasya na makaka-apekto sa takbo ng buhay natin. Hindi maaring sabihin minsan lang dahil kung madalas ang minsan-minsan, bisyo na iyan!

Pagnilayan po natin yung minsan… gaano kadalas yung ating minsan na sa atin ay nagpahamak? Salamuch kaibigan. God bless!

larawan mula sa inquirer.net.

What impresses Jesus?

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 11 September 2025
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2023.

Of course, there is no need for us to impress Jesus Christ for he loves us so immensely beyond measure. However, I have realized this week in my prayers that the Lord is most impressed with us when we are in our weakest.

It has been recurring in my prayers several times with the latest in this Wednesday’s gospel, “Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours’” (Luke 6:20).

I just love that scene of Jesus looking up to his disciples, looking up to us because normally we humans are the ones who look up to God his Father where he is seated to his right in heaven. When we pray, we sometimes raise our hands reaching up to God.

There is something so beautiful and wonderful when the Sacred Scriptures tell us of Jesus looking up to us. What an honor and a privilege! Because that happens when we are weakest, most flawed, and dirty with sin.

Imagine being there at that scene of the sermon on the plain and Jesus had to raise his eyes toward his disciples: he must have been at a lower position than them. This scene will have its fullness in the washing of the disciples’ feet after their Last Supper on Holy Thursday.

We who could no longer bow that low to clean and wash our feet as well as trim our toenails know this so well. Imagine all the dirt and flaws Jesus must have seen in the disciples’ feet that evening. Not a word was heard from Jesus. He teased no one nor complained of the dirt and unsightly things he must have seen too. Jesus simply bore everything because he loved them so much.

Photo from Our Lady of Fatima University website, June 2025.

Jesus continues to look up to us every time we receive him in our hands during the Holy Communion. That is why I always tell the people especially our students to be very solemn during that occasion when the Son of God most powerful, all-knowing in his simplest form and sign as a thin wafer, enters us body and blood. It is the most perfect time to pray to Jesus, to tell him everything and most of all, to listen to him because that is when he is right inside our body, when he is down inside us, we above him.

Jesus does not need our triumphs and “goodness” because they all came from him actually. What he does not have is what we have a lot- the negative things like sins, hurts and bitterness, anger and resentment festering deep inside us for a long time. Those are the thing Jesus want from us, the very things he is most “impressed” with us that we are able to live with those burdens for so long. But, he is most impressed with us in the truest sense when we are able to surrender these to him because that’s when we are blessed and filled in him.

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:20-22).

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2023.

In this age of affluence brought about by technological advances, being poor and hungry, being maligned and weeping are things to be avoided at all costs. With people so fascinated with money and wealth, fame and power, being poor and hungry for God, weeping and being maligned for what is true and good and just are not impressive at all, even foolish.

But, look at the effect of those shameless social media posts by “nepo babies” of their crass lifestyle sustained by ill-gotten wealth at the expense of the poor – they have all been bashed relentlessly in the country leading to more evidence of corruption among government officials and law-makers while in Indonesia and Nepal, these same practices have sparked social unrest and upheavals recently!

For so long, many have wished to be rich and wealthy, to have all the money to buy good food and drinks, build mansions filled with expensive cars and adorn themselves with signature clothes and jewelries in the belief they can impress others. Maybe with their fellows with the same benighted souls but more often, they only bred jealousies and envies that led to vicious circles of corruption and crimes in the name of having more money.

In truth, no one is impressed with material things because people who feel good only with possessions are actually the most pitiable ones for they could not see their own value as a person. To be able to see one’s value as a person despite one’s sins and weaknesses is the beginning of being truly human.

Recall the Lord’s parable of the Pharisee and the publican praying at the temple: the publican who stayed at the back beating his chest so contrite for his sins went home blessed according to Jesus than the Pharisee who boasted of his own righteousness. “Magpakatotoo ka!” screamed a soda commercial not too long ago but still echoes so true these days.

Jesus is not impressed with what we have done nor achieved but with what we have become – that amid all the beatings and pains of life with all of our shortcomings and sins, we forge on with life, persevering in faith, filled with hope that Christ is our salvation. What impresses Jesus Christ most in us is what we lack because that is when he can be closest to us, one in us. See yourself the way Jesus sees you – as a person, loved and cared for. Regardless of what. Let me end this with a prayer wrapped in a song which I have always loved because it sounds like Jesus speaking to me, so impressed with me despite of everything.

From YouTube.com

The need for sensitivity

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.

Photo by Lara Jameson on Pexels.com

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.

Ang “masamang balita” ng Jollibee sa Visita Iglesia

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-10 ng Abril 2025
Larawan kuha ng may-akda.

Noong isang taon ko pa ito ibig ilathala nang aking makita sa harapan ng aming simbahan, ang Pambansang Dambana ng Birhen ng Fatima dito sa Valenzuela ang karatula ng pambansang bubuyog ukol sa Visita Iglesia. Sa aking panlasa, hindi bagay, hindi match ang mix na ito. Hindi ito “mabuting balita” ayon sa Jollibee.

Ako man po ay maka-Jollibee. Paborito ko ang kanilang palabok, pangalawa lamang ang Chicken Joy at pangatlo ang Champ bagaman ayoko po ng pagkaing mayroong pinya kaya inaalis ko ito sa dambuhala nilang langhap-sarap na burger.

Subalit tuwing mga Mahal na Araw lalo na noong isang taon, ako ay nalulungkot sa Jollibee. Marahil pati ang langit at maaring lumuluha sa lungkot ang mga anghel tuwing nakikita si Jollibee masayang-masaya kung Biyernes Santo kasi masama sa panlasa ang kanilang kampanya sa Visita-Iglesia.

Hindi yata Katoliko si Jollibee tulad ng karamihan sa ating mga Pilipino bagamat mayroong ilan silang mga tinadahan na binasbasan at minimisahan ng obispo at mga pari tuwing pinasisinayangan at nagdiriwang ng anibersaryo.

Larawan mula sa Facebook.

Noong isang araw aking nakita ang post sa Facebook ng maraming taong-simbahan kasama ilang mga pari na pinupuri ang Jollibee sa kanilang advertisement ng Visita Iglesia sa mga simbahan sa buong kapuluan kasama na kanilang mga tindahan mayroong mapa ng simbahang maaring puntahan upang manalangin at mag-peregrinasyon (pilgrimage po) kasama na ang pinaka-malapit sa kainan ng Jollibee. Marami ang pumuri sa Jollibee sa naturang kampanya. Sabi ng isang uploader, “Kudos kay Jollibee ah.. very catholic.”

Sorry po. Hindi po yata tama ang inyong caption. Sa unang tingin, tila maganda pero kung susuriin natin, mali. Hindi po ito Catholic practice dahil ito ay salungat sa hiling sa atin ng Simbahan noon pa mang simula na magkaroon ng pagsasakripisyo tuwing panahon ng Kuwaresma at mga Mahal na Araw.

Sa katunayan, ang turo ng Simbahan ay mag-ayuno tuwing Miyerkules ng Abo at Biyernes Santo bilang pagninilay at pakikiisa sa pagpapakasakit at pagkamatay ni Jesu-Kristo doon sa krus mahigit dalawang libong taon na ang nakalipas. Totoo na hindi na mamatay si Jesus at hindi naman nating kailangang malungkot at malumbay sa mga panahong ito ngunit, paano tayo makapagninilay at dasal ng taos kung nasa isip natin ang pagsasaya ng pagkain ng masasarap tuwing Mahal na Araw o Biyernes Santo?

Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo lalo ng mga kaibigan ko sa Jollibee, malinaw na ang kanilang Visita-Iglesia campaign ay commercialization ng ating banal na tradisyon at gawaing Katoliko. Sa halip na makatulong ang Jollibee kasama na ang iba pang mga fastfood chain na mayroong Lenten special meals sa paggunita ng mga Mahal na Araw na maranasan man lamang nating mga Filipino muli ang tunay na diwa ng Paskuwa ng Panginoong Jesus, ito ay kanilang winawasak. Hindi nga po tayo dapat kumain bilang bahagi ng panawagang mag-ayuno o fasting tuwing Miyerkules ng Abo at Biyernes Santo. Ito ang hindi batid ng mga fastfood chain: tuwing sasapit ang Kuwaresma, palagi silang nag-aalok ng fish sandwich at iba pang pagkaing walang karne bilang bahagi ng fasting (edad 18-59) at abstinence.

Nasaan na ang panawagang mag-sakripisyo para sa mga banal na gawain ng Kuwaresma at mga Mahal na Araw tulad ng Visita Iglesia kung ang hahantungan ay Jollibee o mga fastfood?

Inuulit ko po na wala tayong layuning siraan ang Jollibee na naghatid ng maraming karangalan sa ating bayan lalo na sa larangan ng pagkain at negosyo kung saan ay inilampaso ng isang bubuyog ang dambuhalang McDonalds ng Amerika pati na sa ibang bahagi ng Asya. Sa larangang ito ng panahon ng Kuwaresma at mga Mahal na Araw, sa aking pananaw ay lumabis ang Jollibee sa kanilang gimik na Visita-Iglesia. Sa katunayan, mayroon ako nabasa sa ibang bahagi na tinatawag nila itong “Bee-sita Iglesia.” Wala po sa hulog at pokus ang kanilang kampanya na tila mayroong pagkapagano dahil malapit na itong maging idolatry. Hindi magtatagal, baka ang darasalin na ng mga bata ay “Jollibee to the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit…”

Ang pinakamasakit sa lahat ay makita ang mga fastfood chain tuwing Biyernes Santo na umaapaw sa mga tao – daig pa mga simbahan – na tila wala na yatang pagpapahalaga sa pagpapakasakit at pagkamatay ni Jesus para sa atin.

Batid ko po na pakaunti ng pakaunti ang mga mananampalataya na hindi na nag-aabstinensiya at ayuno tuwing Biyernes Santo. Magiging malala pa ito sa ganitong uri ng kampanya ng Jollibee tuwing Visita-Iglesia. HIndi ba sila maaring mangilin kung Biyernes Santo man lang? O, kahit mula alas-dose ng tanghali ng Biyernes Santo hanggang alas-singko ng hapon sa paglabas ng prusisyon? Hintayin man lamang sana ng mga fastfood chain at restaurant na “malibing” ang Panginoon bago sila magbukas ng tindahan nila.

Hindi ba malaking kabalintunaang makita sa araw ng ating pagninilay sa mga hirap ng Panginoong Jesu-Kristo ay naroon pa rin ang pagsasaya ng mga tao na para tayong mga pagano kumakain at nagsasaya?

Ang mga Mahal na Araw ay inilalaan upang magnilay ng taos sa ginawang pagliligtas sa atin ng Panginoon. Hindi naman natin ikamamatay ang hindi pagkain sa Jollibee ng isang raw lang tulad ng Biyernes Santo sa buong taon. At lalo namang hindi ipaghihirap at ikalulugi ng Jollibee sa sila man ay mangilin man lamang tuwing Biyernes Santo. Amen.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Kapilya ng Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 Marso 2025.

Right perspective, clear vision, then mission.

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 20 March 2025
Photo by author, Canyon Woods Resort Club, Laurel, Batangas, 15 March 2025.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” – Paulo Coelho, “The Alchemist”

It is exactly what I am experiencing these days since we had our university management team-building seminar in Batangas last weekend when my realizations there were reinforced in my ongoing annual personal retreat here in Novaliches that started Monday evening.

It is a moment of consolation when suddenly, the whole universe conspires not only to get whatever you want but simply to affirm you being on the right track, giving you the proverbial pat on the shoulder that everything is going fine, everything falling into its right places.

Photo by author with flash, Canyon Woods Resort Club, Laurel, Batangas, 15 March 2025.

Pardon me for writing for the third time about perspectives and point-of-view (POV) as I could not contain the joy of the fruits of my prayers.

Another thing is the fact that when I took these photos randomly, there was no plan at all in writing about the subject of perspective. Never thought how these photos would turn out to be pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on perspective and POV.

We have reflected the other day how our perspectives of things and people as well as events contribute to the understanding or breakdown in communication as they reveal our inner thoughts and dispositions. It is not only important at how we narrate a story from whatever POV but most of all, at how open are we in refining our perspectives so that we achieve unity.

(More photos from our team-building in Batangas.)

  • Lights at the lobby of Canyon Woods taken from below.
  • Sunset from my room…
  • sunrise from same room.
  • Delighful scene of window and moon at night.

During our Holy Hour Tuesday night to cap our first day of prayers, I realized something very close to our subject of perspective while praying over the following gospel passage regarding the Mystery of God:

Jesus told his disciples, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be” (Matthew 6:22-23).

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

When we have the right perspective in life, we get a clear vision of life too.

That is why in our previous blog we have said we need to refine our perspective like an artist who has to spend and invest time not only in his/her studies but most especially in his/her dealing and interactions with people to come up with an obra maestra.

Living, after all, is an art, of our participation in the grace of God to bring out the best in each of us. St. Paul was very clear about this perspective regarding leadership and community life that both aim to show the giftedness of every member.

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

Our perspectives are put to the test in moments of darkness like when we are in trials and tribulations, difficulties and crises. It is during darkness in life when people are distinguished from merely having sight or with a vision. According to the American writer Helen Keller, the worst thing that can happen in life is for anyone with sight not to have any vision at all.

Of course, we all know Helen was blind who wrote some of the loveliest poetry of her time.

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

Many people just have sight that can be easily blurred that eventually affect their perspective. It is more than looking from the inside or from the outside (POV) but of how we see or look at everything and everyone from within us.

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

A person of vision always sees beyond and therefore achieves more, always more fulfilled and fruitful than those who merely sees things, people and events as they are.

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

People with the right perspective will always have vision in seeing everything despite many obstacles in life. They remain focused on what they “see” that others could not see at all. With a right perspective and proper vision, that person still sees when “darkness is his only light and hopelessness is his only hope” (T. S. Eliot in Four Quartets).

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

My spiritual director since 2016, Jesuit Father Danny Gozar asked me during outside prayer periods that I “deliberately appreciate” God’s creation like feeling the gentle breeze, walking barefooted to be caressed by the green grass soaked in morning dew, feel the burning heat of the sun and if it rains – which it did briefly – try to get wet to feel the raindrops.

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

What struck me most were the many sounds of nature here in Sacred Heart Novitiate due to its mini-forest.

Crows caw the whole day along with the crickets while the ugly gecko fills the whole place with its cries of tu…ko! tu…ko!

Their sounds were so musical to my ears, sounds I have last heard decades ago while growing up in the province but almost totally gone in the city.

What is amusing is how with merely the sounds they make, we can form images of how these creatures look like!

The same thing with God himself.

When we are formed in Jesus Christ’s perspectives in life, everything around us becomes a reminder of God’s presence, of himself with us. We cannot see him but with his gift of vision, we see him. And follow him.

That is why, with proper perspective comes vision. Then, mission!

Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.

The Prophet Isaiah and Tears for Fears

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 07 March 2025
Photo from nationalshrine.org of Prophet Isaiah at the crypt church inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

While praying last night the first reading this Friday after Ash Wednesday, my attention was drawn to the Prophet Isaiah’s very strong words declaring, Thus says the Lord God: Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Is. 58:1-9).

Immediately my imaginations ran high with images of Formula cars racing full-throttle on tracks with their deafening sound waxed by the odorous burning of their tires that segued into the cool, opening synth music later with drums and bass of Tears of Fears’ 1984 hit Shout.

Whoa! It was really a rock and roll moment with the Lord last night that was suddenly punctuated with an emergency sick call in the ICU of our hospital where I serve as chaplain. After half an hour when I got back in my room, I finished my prayer and listened to more music by Tears for Fears that I realized Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith are modern Isaiahs!

But first, the Prophet Isaiah who is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament.

Photo from nationalshrine.org of Prophet Isaiah at the south entrance of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC.

While in third year high school seminary in the early 80’s, our religion teacher Msgr. Narsing Sampana assigned me to report this great prophet. I thought it was a punishment because the Book of Isaiah is one of the longest and most difficult in the whole Bible. But looking back as I would always tell Msgr. Narsing, I learned a lot from him that after nine years of leaving the seminary, I have always loved Prophet Isaiah and his book that eventually helped me rediscovered my priestly vocation later in life.

It was Isaiah who prophesied the birth of the Messiah by the Blessed Virgin that he is widely read during the Advent Season as he warned the people too of the coming judgment of God for their sins; hence, his frequent reading in this season of Lent.

It was from his book that the lyrics were taken in one of the most loved Filipino Church music Hindi Kita Malilimutan by Jesuit Father Manoling Francisco that came out on the year we graduated in high school, 1982.

Isaiah was a very bold prophet who spoke strongly against evil and sins particularly injustice among the Israelites of his time, including of their king. He minced no words in speaking for God like today when he said “Cry out full-throated” which is to express confidently through shouting, with strong feeling and without limits.

That was Isaiah, a bold speaker yet also spoke with words filled with hope in God’s love and mercy on us. He is the kind of witness we need these days when many Christians especially Catholics disturbingly quiet about the many issues going on like wokism pretending to be for equality and justice through the social media.

Photo by Denniz Futalan on Pexels.com

In the Church, we need an Isaiah with some bishops and priests selectively silent in disciplining the clergy so immersed in abuses not only sexual in nature but also pertaining to finances and even our liturgy. How sad when bishops and priests attack government officials and politicians for their corruption but keep their eyes and mouth shut with clerical abuses in all forms. These rampant abuses within the Church is manifested in the ever growing abuses of the liturgy itself. Check your social media feeds to see how some priests contradicted the very spirit of Lent with their pompous novelties in imposing ashes on the faithful two days ago. No wonder, even those in other sects and cults came out in the streets with their “own” kind of Ash Wednesday rituals as if it is kanya-kanya lang style like what some priests did.

An Isaiah is what we really need in the Church in this time of synodality that sadly this early could end up as another set of documents to gather dust in parish bodegas.

Photo from bbc.com 2022 before the release of Tears for Fears “The Tipping Point”, their first since 2004.

This is where we find the enduring duo of Orzabal and Smith who make up Tears for Fears a modern Isaiah with their prophetic songs.

With everybody wanting to rule the world – pun intended – their Shout is so Lenten in nature. It is exactly what Isaiah meant 2800 years ago when he said “cry out full-throated” that Tears for Fears perfectly first sang in 1984:

Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on

Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on

In violent times
You shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white
They really, really ought to know

Those one track minds
That took you for a working boy
Kiss them goodbye
You shouldn't have to jump for joy
You shouldn't have to jump for joy

Shout
Shout
Let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on
I'm talking to you
Come on

They gave you life
And in return you gave them hell
As cold as ice
I hope we live to tell the tale
I hope we live to tell the tale
From imdb.com.

From their second album Songs from the Big Chair, Shout is Tears for Fears second biggest hit after Everybody Wants to Rule the World released in 1985. Orzabal admitted on many occasions that Shout was a “simple song about protest”.

Their lyrics are clearly prophetic, a witnessing of their very lives since the 80’s until now. We are so glad that Tears for Fears have rereleased Shout recently with both of them still having the energy and conviction in playing this song despite their shorter and white hair. Being prophetic is witnessing or walking our talk like Orzabal and Smith. Like a good wine, they sound better in their latest music videos with their song taking a life of its own that gladly many young people have embraced too like us 40 years ago.

Let us join Tears for Fears shouting and standing for the same calls for justice they first shouted in 1984 that was also shouted full-throated by Isaiah in 800 BC. Have a blessed weekend, everyone!

Here’s Tears for Fears original music video for Shout for your rock and roll reflection this first Friday of Lent 2025.

From YouTube.com.

Ang Simbahan at ang EDSA ’86

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-25 ng Pebrero 2025
Larawan mula sa wikipedia.org.

Hindi maikakaila ang mahalagang papel ng Simbahang Katolika sa tagumpay ng People Power 1986 na sinasagisag ng National Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace mismo sa kanto ng EDSA at Ortigas Avenue kung saan pinigilan ng mga madre, pari, seminarista at layko ang mga sundalong sasalakay sana noon sa mga “rebeldeng” nasa Kampo Crame.

Sa gitna ng maraming pagbabago sa pag-usbong ng maraming matatayog na gusali, nananatiling paalala ang dambanang ito ng katotohanang wala tayong magagawa sa buhay natin kung nakahiwalay tayo sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ni Kristo Hesus kasama ang kanyang Ina na si Maria (Juan 15:5).

Nguni’t ipinahihiwatig din ng simbahang ito ang malaking bugtong sa ating panahon ngayon, kung ano na ang nangyari sa diwa ng EDSA 1986 na tila sa paglipas ng panahon ay unti-unti nang nalilimutan ng marami? Tingnang kung paano sa ngayon ang EDSA ang tanda ng lahat ng magulo at mali sa ating bayan, taliwas sa dating ningning at karangalan nito. Higit sa lahat, kay laking kabalintunaan ng ating kasalukuyan na ang mga pinatalsik ng EDSA noon ay hindi lang basta nakabalik ngayon kungdi sila pang muli ang namumuno, muling nananahan mismo sa palasyo ng Malacanang!

Larawan ni Jaime Cardinal Sin sa Villa San Miguel, 23 Pebrero 1986, kuha ni Alex Bowi/Getty Images.

Anyare? Kung paanong naging mahalaga ang papel ng Simbahang Katolika noon sa tagumpay ng People Power 1986, pagkalipas ng halos apat na dekada ay masasabi ring malaki ang kinalaman ng mga pari at obispo sa pagkupas at pananamlay ng diwa ng EDSA sa ngayon.

At taliwas sa larawan ng EDSA Shrine ang ating makikita sa ngayon ay ang pagkalango ng maraming mga obispo at pari sa kapangyarihan ng pulitika mula noong Pebrero 1986.

Wala nang nakasunod sa yapak ng karunungan at kabutihan ng yumaong Cardinal Sin na masasabi nating hindi namulitika at lalong hindi pulitiko noong 1986. Isang tunay na pastol ng kanyang mga kawan, inihatid ni Cardinal Sin tayo noon sa mayamang pastulan at malinis na batisan ika nga. Kung hindi sa kanyang panawagan sa Radyo Veritas noong gabi ng Pebrero 21, 1986, napulbos na marahil ang Kampo Aguinaldo at Krame, hindi na naging Pangulo si Tabako at umigsi buhay ng alamat na si Enrile.

Maraming pari at obispo iba nakita sa pakikibaka noon ni Cardinal Sin. Nakaligtaan nilang tularan ang buhay-panalangin (prayer life) ni Cardinal Sin na siyang bukal ng kanyang kabanalan o, kung di kayo papayag ay espiritualidad. Sa kabila ng maraming kontrobersiya sa kanyang mga sinasabi noon, isang mababanaagan palagi sa kanya ang malinaw na tanda ng buhay na pananalangin. Mayroon siyang prayer life kaya mayroon din siyang kababaang-loob at malasakit sa maliliit.

Maliban sa ilang natitira pang katulad ni Cardinal Sin, maraming obispo at pari ngayon ang sampay-bakod o amuyong sa mga pulitiko at mayayaman. Marami sa kanila mga TH na social climber nagkukunwaring “social activist” na puro burgis ang kasama pati asta at salita.

Larawan kuha ni Pete Reyes kina Sr. Porfiria “Pingping” Ocariza (+) at Sr. Teresita Burias nananalangin upang pigilan mga kawal sasalakay sana noon sa mga rebelde sa Kampo Crame noong People Power 1986.

Kung noong EDSA ay tanda ng kanilang paglilingkod at kawang-gawa ang kanilang mga sutana na sumasagisag sa kanilang kaisahan sa Panginoong Jesu-Kristo, maraming mga obispo at pari ngayon dinurungisan kanilang habito na naging pasaporte palapit sa mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan.

Nakakalungkot ang maraming obispo at pari na nagsisiksikan sa pagmimisa para sa ilang mayayaman habang napakaraming maliliit na ni hindi mabasbasan kanilang mga yumao, ni hindi madalaw para dasalan mga may sakit. Minsang magkawang-gawa, naka-Facebook naman!

Ang pinakanakakasuka sa lahat na tiyak taliwas sa diwa ng EDSA 1986 ay ang mga obispo at pari na sunud-sunuran sa mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan. Nawala na ang kredibilidad ng mga kaparian na taglay noon ni Cardinal Sin dahil alam na alam ng mga pulitiko at mayayaman ang kahinaan ng mga obispo at pari – kuwarta, kuwalta, salapi at pera. Kitang-kita ito sa mga kasalan at lamayan. Maski sa tolda, magmimisa mga obispo at maraming pari para sa anibersaryo ng gasolinahan, sisindihan mga Christmas lights ng kanilang tindahan, magtutulak ng wheelchair ng milyunaryong lumpo, at iiwanan mga parokya maski Linggo para makimisa sa libing ng yumaong donya o don. Istambayan ay Starbucks, tanghalian sa lahat ng eat-all-you-can at bakasyon sa abroad, first class pa sa eroplano sagot ng mayayaman at pulitiko. Nasaan diwa ng EDSA? Wala! Nilamon at tinabunan ng buhol buhol na trapik ang EDSA!

Noon sa EDSA 1986, humingi ng tulong sa mayayaman para sa mga kawal at mga tao pero ngayon, hindi na nahihiya mga obispo at pari ipasagot sa governor at mayor kanilang mga party at outing. Hindi lang donasyon sa mga pagawain sa parokya hinihingi nila kungdi mga sariling pagawain sa bahay at sasakyan.

Nakakahiya. Nakakapanlumo.

Larawan ni Linglong Ortiz, 23 Pebrero 1986.

Kung paanong ang mga pari at obispo ang naging malaking bahagi ng tagumpay ng EDSA People Power noong Pebrero 1986, sila ngayon ang isang malaking dahilan sa pagkawasak ng diwa nito. Hindi na madama ng mga maliliit kanilang mga pastol na nanginginain sa mga handaan, iniwanan mga maralita sa kanilang kariton.

Nawa makita muli naming mga pari at obispo ang malaking estatwa ni Maria, ang Reyna ng Kapayapaan doon sa bubong ng simbahan sa EDSA at matanto rin paanong nanatili si Maria malapit sa Anak niyang si Jesus at sa mga tulad niyang anawim, mga maliliit. Hindi sa panig ng mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan.

Pansinin na habang tumatagal ang EDSA, tila nawawala na pagkakaisa natin sa Diyos kay Kristo kasama ang kanyang Ina na si Maria na dapat sana ay pangunahan ng mga obispo at pari. Iyon ang diwa ng EDSA noon na hindi ko makita ngayon. Pansin din ba ninyo?