Sacred Heart para sa “cold heart” at “heartless world”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of Sacred Heart, 27 June 2025

*Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.*

Nag-senior citizen ako noong Marso at masasabi ko na sa tanang buhay ko, itong 2025 ang pinaka-mainit at maalinsangang taon sa lahat. Mula pa man noong dati, gabi lang ako gumagamit ng aircon ngunit mula nitong Abril, maghapon na ako kung mag-aircon sa silid. Kung minsan nga ay pati electric fan binubuksan ko kapag gabi sa labis na init ng panahon nitong nagdaang tag-araw.

Hindi lamang minsan ko narinig ang maraming nagsabing parang “impierno” ang summer 2025 dahil para sa atin, sukdulan ang apoy sa impierno kaya napaka-init.

Subalit ayon kay Dante Alighierri, isang batikang makata ng Italya noong unang panahon na sumulat ng Divine Comedy, ang kailaliman daw ng impierno ay hindi naman pagka-init-init dahil sa apoy kungdi pagkalamig-lamig parang yelo!

Ayon sa kanyang tula na nobela, ang pinaka-masaklap aniya sa lahat ng kasalanan at kasamaan magagawa ng tao ay ang manlamig ang puso. Magkaroon ng “cold heart” sa Ingles hanggang sa mawalan na ng puso ang mga tao gaya ng sinasaad sa isa pang English expression na “heartless world.”

*Larawan mula sa forbes.com 2018, fashion week sa New York.*

Ang mga katagang ito na cold heart at heartless world ay mas mainam na huwag nang isalin sa ating sariling wika sapagkat mas mananamnam at mailalarawan natin ang kahulugan sa wikang Ingles kesa sabihing malamig na puso o daigdig na walang puso. Kapag sinabing cold heart o malamig na puso, ito ay patay na puso, walang buhay parang bangkay. O bato. Kapag ang mga tao ay naging ganito, mismo ang daidig ay wala na ring puso, walang pagmamahal, walang awa, walang malasakit, walang pakialam.

Gayon ang kahulugan ng puso para sa sangkatauhan – hindi lamang ito sumasagisag sa pag-ibig at pagmamahal kungdi sa buhay. Sa malasakit, sa kabutihan, maging sa kaalaman gaya ng sinasaad ng English expression na “to know by heart” na ibig sabihin ay makabisado, matandaan.

At paano natin tinatandaan ang mga bagay-bagay? Ito ay ating inire-record na mula sa dalawang kataga ng wikang Latin, re (uliting muli) at cord na mula sa cor o puso. Alalaong-baga, ang tandaan, ang memoryahin at kabisaduhin ay isapusong muli sapagkat dito sa ating puso natatago ang lahat-lahat ng ating alaala at kaalaman maging pakiramdam gaya ng kutob na nagsasaad ng pakiramdam at kaalaman na di maipaliwanag ngunit totoo.

Higit sa lahat, dito sa ating puso nananahan ang Diyos sa atin gaya ng sinasaad ng dokumento ng Vatican II sa makabagong mundo (Gaudium Spes). Kaya ngayong Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, pinapaala sa atin ng pagdiriwang ito ang hiwaga ng katotohanan ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa lahat ng tao sa lahat ng panahon.

Hindi tayo nabibigo sa ating pag-asa, sapagkat ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay ibinuhos sa ating mga puso sa pamamagitan ng Espiritu Santo na ipinagkaloob sa atin. Sapagkat noong tayo’y mahihina pa, namatay si Cristo sa takdang panahon para sa mga makasalanan. Mahirap mangyaring ialay ninuman ang kanyang buhayn alang-alang sa isang mabuting tao. Ngunit ipinadama sa atin ng Diyos ang kanyang pag-ibig sa atin nang mamatay si Cristo para sa atin noong tayo ay makasalanan pa (Roma 5:5-8).

Gayon na lamang ang pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin – hindi masukat gaya ng pahayag ni Jesus kay Nicodemo dahil ito ibinubuhos hindi inuunti-unti, hindi tinitingi. Binubuhos. Palaging marami ang pag-ibig na kanyang binibigay sa atin sapagkat napakalaki ng kanyang puso ni Jesus.

Lahat tayo kasya sa kanyang napakalaking Puso kaya tayo man ay inaanyayahan ni Jesus na lumusong at maglublob sa kanyang puso kung saan ang kanyang pag-ibig ay naghahanap sa nawawala at naliligaw; pag-ibig na umuunawa at umiintindi sa naguguluhan at nalilito; pag-ibig na palaging bukas at tumatanggap sa sino mang ibig manahan, tumahan kung umiiyak sa lungkot at hapis.

Ito ang Puso ni Jesus na sinasaad ng larawan ng isang Mabuting Pastol gaya ng propesiya ni Ezekiel sa Unang Pagbasa at mismong kinukuwento ni Jesus sa kanyang talinghaga sa ebanghelyo ngayon.

Makakapasok lamang tayo sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus kapag atin munang pinasok ating sariling puso kung saan mismo siya nananahan sa atin. Palagi nating sinasabi ang puso ang sentro ng ating katauhan at iyan ay totoo kasi nga doon din nananahan si Jesus.

Subalit dahil sa ating mga kasalanan, sa marami nating hilig at kagustuhan at sinusundang ibang diyus-diyosan, nawawala tayo sa puso ni Jesus dahil ang totoo, nawawala na rin ating puso. Ang pinaka-simpleng paliwanag ng kasalanan na aking ginagamit palagi ay ito: sin is a refusal to love.

Ang kasalanan ay pagtanggi na magmahal. Mula sa salitang ugat na sala na ibig sabihin ay sumala o magmintis o hindi magampanan dapat gampanan, ang kasalanan ay sumala sa iisang atas ni Jesus na magmahal. Sa tuwing hindi tayo nagmamahal, tayo ay nagkakasala. Kapag tayo ay nababad sa kasalanan, nagiging manhid tayo kaya di na tayo makaramdam ng iba at kapwa. ?Dito na manlalamig ang ating puso dahil tayo ay mahihiwalay na sa iba at kapwa, wala na tayong pakialam. Tayo ay napuputol at nag-iisa, hiwalay sa Diyos at kapwa, maging sa ating sariling katauhan kaya madalas ang mga makasalanan ay hindi makapagmahal kasi nga nawawala sa sarili.

At ganyan ang takbo ng daigdig ngayon, kanya-kanya, wala sa sarili tila baga bawat isa kaya lahat na lang dinaraan sa pera-pera. Ang lahat na lamang ay sinusukat, kinukuwenta, tinatantiya katulad ng algorithm sa social media kung saan nakukuha ang marami nating pattern sa buhay gaya ng mga hilig at gusto. Nagiging “commodity” na lamang ang tao ngayon, parang produkto at kasangkapan na ginagamit, binebenta at binibili.

Huwag nating hayaang magpatuloy na lamang ito na ang mundo ay manatiling materyal lamang – malamig at manhid, walang pakiramdam. Ibalik natin ang buhay, ang ating pagkatao na pakikibahagi sa buhay ng Diyos na nanahan dito sa ating puso. Gaya ng talinghaga ni Jesus, ang Diyos ay hindi isang observer na tagamasid o spectator na manonood lamang ng takbo ng ating buhay ng mga tao. Kaya sinugo ng Ama si Jesus sa atin sapagkat mula pa man noon ibig niyang makilahok sa buhay natin dangan lamang ay lagi natin siyang pinupuwera. Lalo ngayon sa makabagong panahon na pilit inaalis na ang Diyos sa buhay ng tao!

Sa Sacred Heart ni Jesus, muling nabubuo ang tao sa kanyang sarili at ang sangkatauhan sapagkat ang pag-ibig niya ay pag-ibig na hinahanap ang mga sira at pira-piraso nating sarili upang makumpuni at mabuong muli. Ipinapaalala sa atin ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay hindi isang ideya lamang o dalumat na nakalutang sa alapaap kungdi nakatapak sa lupa – isang pag-ibig na aktibo, marubdob at matalik na nakikipag-ugnayan gaya ng ating mga naranasan noong tayo ay gulung-gulo, litong-lito, nawawala at halos wala nang saysay ang buhay. Buhaying muli ating mga puso upang maranasan tunay na kagandahan ng buhay ng tao, hindi ng robot o makina. Ating dasalin palagi:

O Jesus na mayroong
maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso,
Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y
matulad sa Puso Mo!
Amen.

Ang tunay na kayamanan, nakikita ng mata, nakikilala ng puso

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sacred Heart Novena Day 3, 20 June 2025

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.

Nasa puso, hindi sa mga kamay ang pagiging bukas-palad

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II 
Sacred Heart Novena Day 1, 18 June 2025

Tamang-tama ang ating mga pagbasa sa araw na ito ng Miyerkules ng ika-labing isang linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon na nagtutuon ng ating pansin sa ating puso sa unang araw ng nobena sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus.

Ang mga aral ng Panginoong Jesus sa ebanghelyo na huwag maging pakitang-tao lamang ang ating mga gawa ng kabutihan kungdi magbukal mula sa kaibuturan ng ating mga puso ang siya ring nilalagom ni San Pablo sa kanyang sulat sa mga taga-Corinto at maging sa ating lahat ngayon:

Tandaan ninyo ito: ang naghahasik ng kakaunti ay mag-aani ng kakaunti, at ang naghahasik naman ng marami ay mag-aani ng marami. Ang bawat isa’y dapat magbigay ayon sa sariling pasiya, maluwag sa loob at di napipilitan lamang, sapagkat ang ibig ng Diyos ay kusang pagkakaloob. Magagawa ng Diyos na pasaganain kayo sa lahat ng bagay – higit pa sa inyong pangangailangan – upang may magamit sa pagkakawanggawa (2 Corinto 9:6-8).

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Marso 2023.*

Mas mainam ang salin sa Inggles ng ika-pitong talata, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Kailan ba tayo nagiging “cheerful giver” o galak na kusang loob sa pagbibigay?

Maraming pagkakataon sa buhay natin na madali tayong magbigay at magbahagi ng ano man mayroon tayo tulad ng salapi, pagkain, damit at iba pang gamit kapag tayo ay sagana sa mga bagay na materyal. Gayon din kung tayo ay panatag ang katayuan kapag walang problema at suliraning mabigat, kapag tayo ika nga ng mga kabataan ay chill-chill lamang.

Subalit, nangyayari din naman na maramot tayo maski tayo ay sagana sa buhay at panatag ang lahat. Para bang bad trip tayong tumulong maski alam naman nating mayroon tayong sapat para sa atin o walang gaanong alalahanin.

Sa kabilang dako naman, may mga pagkakataon na kahit tayo ay hindi naman saganang-sagana sa mga bagay at iba pang uri ng kayamanan ay mapagbigay pa rin naman tayo ng tulong maging ng ngiti at pakikisama. May mga panahon na napakagaan natin sa pagtulong at pagdamay kahit naman tayo mismo ay gipit ang kalagayan. At siyempre naman, hindi rin nating maikakaila na pinakamaramot at masungit tayo kapag tayo ay kapos at salat sa ano mang magaganda sa buhay.

Pagmasdang mabuti. Meron man o wala, maari tayong maging mapagbigay o madamot. Ibig sabihin, wala sa ating mga kamay o laman ng bulsa ang pagiging mapagbigay. Ito ay naroon sa ating puso!

Ang ating puso ang pinagmumulan, hindi ang ating mga kamay ang siyang dahilan at kakayanan ng ating pagiging bukas-palad bagaman ang palad ay bahagi ng kamay; sa lahat ng bahagi ng ating katawan, itong puso ang sentro ng lahat ng ating kilos at galaw maging ng pagpapasya kung kayat nasa puso ang ating buhay at sentro ng katauhan. Kapag namatay ang puso, tayo ay mamamatay. Kaya doon din sa puso nananahan ang Diyos sa atin kung saan bumubukal ating pananampalataya at pagtitiwala sa Kanya.

Magiging cheerful giver lamang tayo at generous o bukas-palad kapag buo tiwala natin sa Diyos na hindi Niya tayo pababayaan magbigay man tayo ng magbigay. At ito ay madarama lamang doon sa puso kung saan nananahan ang Diyos sa atin. Kapag buo ang ating pagtitiwala sa Diyos doon sa puso natin, wala tayong takot magbahagi at maging mabuti, magmahal sa kapwa maski tayo ay sakbibi ng mga sakit dahil panatag ating puso at kalooban sa Diyos na pinagmumulan ng lahat ng kabutihan.

Higit sa lahat, nagiging bukas-palad tayo at cheerful giver dahil malinaw sa atin na ano mang mayroon tayo sa buhay, ito ay sa Diyos pa rin. Ano mang pera o gamit o kabutihan ibigay natin sa iba, hindi ito mauubos ni masasaid dahil sa Diyos na walang hanggan naman ang lahat ng ito. Hindi magmumula sa kaisipan kungdi sa kaibuturan ng puso ang kaalaman at katiyakang ito.

Wika nga ni Papa Leo XIII sa kanyang sulat noong 1899 sa pagtatalaga ng sangkatauhan sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, doon aniya sa Sacred Heart natatagpuan ang tanda at larawan ng walang hanggang pagmamahal sa atin ni Jesu-Kristo kaya tayo man ay nakapagmamahal. Sino mang nagmamahal na tunay, siguradong siya ay mapagbigay ng kusa. Higit sa lahat, nagagalak palagi tulad ni Jesus.

Nawa sa unang araw na ito ng ating pagsisiyam sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Sacred Heart sa isang linggo, suriin nating mabuti ang ating mga puso kung naroon ang pagtitiwala kay Jesus. Ating pagmasdang mabuti ating mga kamay kung ang mga ito ay naka-ugnay doon sa ating puso na siyang sentro at hantungan ng pagkakadugtong-dugtong di lamang ng ating mga kamay at braso kungdi ng lahat ng bahagi ng ating katawan. Hindi tayo makapagmamahal nang tunay, pati ating mga kamay ay tiyak titiklop at sasaradong parang galit na kamao kapag ang puso natin ay tumigas at namatay. Kaya ating idalangin:

O Jesus na mayroong
maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso,
Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y
matulad sa Puso Mo!
Amen.

Praying for joy

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 30 May 2025
Acts 18:9-18     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     John 16:20-23

*Photo by author, Cabo da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.*

In a few days you are
going to "leave" us, Jesus;
this Sunday is your Ascension,
your physical departure from us
and you described so well our situation:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, as she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 16:20-23).

What has been "born"
in me in your Rising from the dead?
What is that joy like a woman
in the pangs of childbirth
suddenly becoming a joy so
incomparable?

Oh, it is that joy of having you
in my heart, Jesus:
I have found joy more in my heart
than outside of me;
your joy is that assurance
you are with me always
no matter what,
as certain as the rising and
the setting of the sun,
as lovely as the blooming of flowers,
soothing like the hush of the wind
or the gushing of water in a river
or the rush of the waves to
the shore.

Keep that joy in my heart,
Jesus that no one can take away;
a joy in my heart that even
if I do not receive the things
I ask in prayer,
I still believe,
I still hope,
I still rejoice
in you.

Sorry, Jesus,
I still question you on anything
despite that joy of knowing you,
 of having you
but many times I wonder
why all the pains and sufferings
with me and those close to me;
there are times,
Lord that I lose my heart
that I could not feel that joy of you
when you don't answer
my prayers.

But, 
to still keep on praying
even if it not answered at all
is already pure joy in you,
Jesus!

Like peace,
true joy is so difficult
and elusive when not found
in you, Jesus
that we always have to wait
for you,
feel you,
suffer and cry with you
and sometimes die in you
so that joy shall be
born in us
again
and again
and again.
Amen.

Easter is Jesus personally knowing each of us

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.

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2022.*

Easter is opening our “locked doors”

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Second Sunday in Easter Octave, 27 April 2025
Acts of Apostles 5:12-16 ><}}}}*> Revelation 1:9-11,12-13,17-19 ><}}}}*> John 20:19-13

*Photo by author, Angels’ Hills Retreat & Formation Center, Tagaytay, 19 April 2025.*

Locked doors. Exactly what I have dreaded most these days not because of claustrophobia but more of amnesia as I often forget my keys that I get locked out of my room.

Many of you probably know that kind of feeling of being locked out of our rooms or even house: we are so stressed that we go through self-blame and self-pity of being so forgetful to intense annoyance when we have to destroy our locks and knobs to replace them with new ones.

But, surely there must be a great difference of being locked inside a room that is more stressful and even fearful leading to claustrophobia. Imagine how the disciples of Jesus felt on that evening of Easter when they have to hide inside the Upper Room and locked the doors for fears of being arrested too following reports of the empty tomb.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” – John 20:19

*Painting by James Tissot (1836-1902) of Jesus Christ’s appearance to his disciples on Easter evening.*

Only John tells us this detail of the evening of Easter of how the disciples hid inside locked doors, that despite that, Jesus Christ still came through. Aside from the darkness and empty tomb that characterized Easter which all evangelists narrated, John seems to be telling us something important about those locked doors.

Do you have any locked doors in your life that is why you can’t experience the joy of Easter?

One thing for sure: John included that little detail of the locked doors of the Upper Room where the disciples hid to show us that no obstacle, no locked doors can prevent Jesus from “coming” to us. Jesus had triumphed over sin and death. He is Risen! Nothing can stop Christ from breaking barriers among us and within us to bring his peace and joy of Easter.

*Photo by Nadejda Bostanova on Pexels.com*

However, the problem could be with us as we refuse to recognize Jesus coming to us.

Our refusal to forgive those who have hurt us, especially if they have tried reaching out to us, even apologizing can be a locked door within us. It could be the other way around when who have hurt others have locked inside ourselves in our refusal to ask forgiveness and be reconciled with a loved one.

There may be other locked doors in our life like our fears of failure and disappointment, of lost and separation from our loved ones due to various reasons like betrayal or death. Think of the other kinds of locked doors in our life that have kept us in the darkness of grief and sadness, bitterness and hatred or anger, even hopelessness.

See how in our gospel there are so many elements linked together in experiencing our Risen Lord – the need to believe like Thomas who was not inside the locked doors when Jesus first appeared. The nice thing with Thomas despite his doubts, he came to the room with locked doors to await Christ’s coming and he was not disappointed!

Like Thomas the Apostle, we have to believe Jesus in order to see him. We have to welcome Jesus inside our locked doors. Most of all, we have to come our from our locked doors to be one with others freed by Jesus.

*“The Incredultiy of Thomas”, painting by Caravaggio from artsandculture.googe.com.*

Every day amid all our daily darkness and emptiness, Jesus breaks our locked doors, coming into our lives like that Easter evening, bringing peace and forgiveness and most of all, joy of finding him, of seeing him, of experiencing him.

The world tells us to see is to believe but Jesus tells us to believe first so that we may see because it is only when we believe that we truly love and when we love, that is when the miracles of Easter begin to happen. Everyday.

Locked doors isolate us and isolation is separation which is the absence of love. This eventually leads to hopelessness which is the exact opposite of love. When we lose hope, we destroy everything, including life. People without hope are the most angry, the most isolated people who would kill and destroy everything because there is nothing to look for nor expect. They are locked inside their own prisons of selfishness.

Jesus rose from the dead to break all barriers to life especially sin and evil that imprison us so that we may believe again, love and hope to live Easter daily.

Easter does not remove the darkness nor emptiness within us but definitely breaks locked doors in us so we can go free to follow the light of Christ, to spread that light with others imprisoned in their locked doors of unbelief.

In the first reading, we find the Apostles after Pentecost continuing the work of Jesus by preaching and healing the sick while in the second reading we heard John thrown into exile to Patmos and yet, still chose to proclaim the gospel and wrote his visions while in prison.

We all know from the Acts of the Apostles that it was not all good news for the early Church that soon faced persecution. But by remaining open to Jesus Christ’s daily coming in themselves and through others like their persecutor named Saul who became Paul, Christianity flourished.

Today in our modern age, St. John Paul II designated in May 2000 this octave or eighth Sunday in Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday as an invitation to Christians to face with confidence in the Divine Mercy the difficulties and trials that we still have to experience in the years to come.

There will always be darkness and emptiness in life. Including locked rooms. But, Easter is Christ’s triumph over all these. Rejoice in breaking free today. Many times in life, all we need in life is a simple spark of believing in Jesus risen, with us inviting us to come and follow him in his light and life. Amen.

God among us

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).

*Photo by Emilio Su00e1nchez on Pexels.com*

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.

Refresh our hearts, Jesus…

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.