Our continuing journey in Christ

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
First Friday in August, Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II
07 August 2026
Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7     <*((((>< + ><))))*>     Matthew 16:24-28

*Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.*

Thank you for this
first Friday in August,
Lord Jesus; 
your words remind us 
of our continuing journey
in you
and with you;
many times, 
we go towards you
but sometimes
we go on so many detours
because we think them
as shortcuts,
as better,
most often but wrongly,
much lighter.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses hisnlife for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25).

Christian journey
is a continual turning 
of our hearts to you,
Lord Jesus;
problem is how we 
easily forget,
how foolishly we insist
like the people of Nineveh
to live in power and wealth,
in greed and violence,
in selfishness;
life and its fullness can only
be found in you, Jesus;
help us find our way back to you
when we are lost,
let us leave the sidewalks
to join you on the road itself
as we journey to the Cross
so that along the way
experience your life
and joy and fulfillment.
Amen.

Jesus meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like thine!

Becoming a Bartimaeus

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 30 May 2024
1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 10:46-52

Teach us, Jesus,
to be like Bartimaeus;
let us admit our blindness
to what true and good and beautiful
that is YOU;
teach us to be like
Bartimaeus to cry out to
You, Jesus, 
to wait for You always, 
to believe in You as the Only One
who can heal us of our blindness;
most of all,
teach us, Lord,
to leave the side of the streets,
to come to You, Jesus
to the middle of the road
to follow You on the way to
the Cross!

He threw his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Mark 10:50

Forgive us, dear Jesus
for being so afraid,
to confront head on
the many ongoing
debates and attacks
against Your teachings
we hold so dearly
like the value of every person,
the inviolability of human life,
the sanctity of marriage;
forgive us, Jesus
when we hide in being "open"
choosing to be silent
just to accommodate the few
noisy people advocating for
too much rights without any
responsibilities,
speaking about equality
without any regard at all for
God and religion,
spirituality and theology.

Let us be like Bartimaeus
shouting louder than ever
amid calls of some to be silent,
to not insist Your teachings on others
when it is indeed the only one
true and just;
let us be like Bartimaeus
by affirming who we are -
"a chosen race,
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
a people of his own,
so that we may announce
Your praises who called us out
of darkness into his wonderful
light"
(1 Peter 2:9).

Have pity on us,
Jesus,
we want to see You
and follow You.
Amen.

A tale of roads and ways

The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Third Week of Easter, 19 April 2024
Acts 9:1-20 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 6:52-59

*Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo, Sagada, Mt. Province, 2014.*

Lord Jesus,
today You tell us
how often You write
in straight crooked ways
that always bring us
to the right path in life.

Saul, stil breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him (Acts 9:1-4).

Of course,
we know by heart this story
of Saul's conversion
who became known as Paul;
but, what is so lovely in his story
is how he persecuted the early Christians
then known as followers of the "Way"
when on his way near Damascus,
You appeared to him, O Lord;
Paul eventually reached Damascus
not to arrest the followers of the Way
but found himself following You, Jesus
the only Way in this life!

Many times, Jesus,
we are blinded like Paul,
going on our own journey
and paths in life;
like the Jews in Capernaum
who were so blinded too 
that they quarreled 
among themselves
in their inability to grasp
what You meant by 
eating Your flesh.

Dearest Jesus,
take away our blindness,
send us our own Ananias
who would guide us to You
like Paul;
thank You, Jesus,
in allowing us to follow
our own path even if it is
the wrong way only to let us
see eventually how blinded
we have been
as You slowly lead us back
to Your path
of faith in You
 to enable us to hope
 in You until eventually,
we end up serving You lovingly
in others whom we have crossed
path with as You wondrously
write straight our crooked ways
to meet You
in each other.
Amen.