Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, 22 July 2026 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18
“Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene”, painting in 1835 by Russian painter Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov now hanging at the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg; from en.wikipedia.org.
"I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18)
What a joy must have been for St. Mary Magdalene to proclaim to the Apostles your rising, your appearance to her, Lord Jesus.
Most joyous of all, Lord is how you have called her by name, "Mary!"
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken by Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus (John 20:1, 11-14).
Many times Lord Jesus I feel like St. Mary Magdalene on that very early morning of Easter: feeling lost or distant from you who seem to be missing or taken away from me; but so often, like St. Mary Magdalene, we fail to recognize you with our eyes because we picture you so differently to who you really are.
Many times our sight fails that is why most often, you call us by name; unfortunately in this age of social media and so many other distractions in life, we fail to hear nor even listen to your voice because we are afraid of silence as we are so afraid of the truth - that you love us so much that is why you have forgiven our sins.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her (John 20:16-18).
“Noli me tangere” (touch me not) fresco in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis Assisi Church in Italy painted by Giotto de Bondone in the 13th century from commons.wikimedia.org.
Everyday you come to us, Jesus, calling us by name like Mary Magdalene - someone you personally know, with all of our sins and most kept secrets in our hearts, in our past.
If we could just be patient like St. Mary Magdalene in picking the pieces of our lives, of converting daily, of transcending the scars of sins of our past, then we shall hear and joyously listen to your voice spoken in a whisper, so sweet, so reassuring of your real presence, most of all filled with tenderness because you love us immensely, Jesus.
If we could just listen to your voice, Jesus, then like St. Mary Magdalene, we can proclaim too with joyful enthusiasm to other disciples "I have seen the Lord!" spreading you love and good news of salvation. Amen.
From Facebook, April 2021: “There is an urgency to announce the Joy, the joy of the Risen Lord!”
Lord My Chef SundayRecipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 19 July 2026 Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 ><))))*> Romans 8:26-27 ><))))*> Matthew 13:24-43
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Before reflecting on the second set of parables by Jesus this Sunday, let us take a brief stop at the very short second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans; it is so lovely and we cannot resist reflecting on the word “groaning” by the great Apostle.
Last Sunday, St. Paul said “We know all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now… we also groan within ourselves as we await for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22,23). And then this Sunday, he spoke again of “groaning”:
Brothers and sister: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27).
To groan or to sigh according to Mr. Webster is a deep, prolonged sound made involuntarily in response to pain, grief or frustration. We have a very picturesque translation of those words in Filipino which is magbuntung-hininga that many of our old folks frowned upon because it is a sign of surrendering, of giving up.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Is it bad? Not at all. Even Jesus sighed at the disbelief among the Jews with him (Mk.8:12). To groan, to sigh is to be fully human and even Christian if we go by the line of thought of St. Paul last week and this Sunday.
Groaning for him is the most profound spiritual response to brokenness. That is why I love our Filipino word magbuntung-hininga that evokes an image of digging deep inside – halukayin – for breath to breathe and forge on in life. It is like gulping a handful of air to breathe before taking a plunge or meeting head on a difficult situation in life. It is actually a kind of spirituality, an expression of holiness of surrendering everything to God, of letting go and letting God.
St. Paul spoke of three kinds of groaning: the first two we heard last Sunday, creation groaning and believers groaning as we have cited earlier. Creation groaning means the world is subject to decay while Christians groan inwardly, bearing all pains and hardships in clear hopes of redemption in Christ.
This Sunday, St. Paul spoke anew of “inexpressible groaning”, of sighing because it is too deep for words that the Holy Spirit within us is doing all the expressions of our deepest feelings. It is the one fact of life we often forget when in deep trials and tribulations: that the Holy Spirit is already within us in all our weaknesses. Actually, we do not have to come before God with perfect words, clear thoughts or settled hearts when praying because he knows everything we are going through. Simply be still for God is with us.
And this my friends is the very meaning of Jesus Christ’s second set of parables this Sunday, the weeds among the wheat.
Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well… His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:24-26, 28-30).
We live in an imperfect world, of weeds growing among the wheat. There will always be diseases and sickness, failures and death along with scammers and criminals, liars and idiots, suckers and ungrateful and traitors among us. Add to these all the other woes we have in life like that ongoing war in the Middle East that have kicked up gas prices so high like drones and missiles. Hayyyy…!
And we ask, where is God?
How could God allow all these things to happen like when a poor, hardworking motorcycle taxi rider in Caloocan City trying to make ends meet died after being stabbed with an ice pick then robbed by his passenger still at large?
We wonder as a nation how long do we have to bear all the stupidities and idiosyncrasies of those corrupt, evil people in government even in the church when the majority of us have to suffer at the consequences of their excesses and abuses?
The author of the Book of Wisdom reflected on these realities thousands of years ago and had asked the same questions we ask today. He invites us to prayerfully reflect God’s goodness and kindness:
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins (Wisdom 12:18-19).
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 21 January 2026.
Despite the weeds – the evil men and women who seem to always prevail – the author of Wisdom in his reflections reminds us to be like God, “the just must be kind.”
It is a very tall order, even difficult but we have to give it a chance because we have seen and proven that many times our human response to the evils and injustices happening end up becoming more brutal like the wars happening right now. Many times, human solutions actually create bigger problems.
That is why all three readings this Sunday tell us to be patient, to dive deeper in prayer where the Holy Spirit enlightens us clearly.
Photo from inquirer.net, Pandacan Church fire, 11 July 2020.
We have seen and experienced in recent years that indeed, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20) like with those two good men in the NBI testifying at the impeachment of the Vice-President or of that most decent lawyer from Cebu, Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan smashing all the lies and grandstanding of her lawyers. Every day we experience grace after grace of deliverance from all dangers through people including strangers who have helped us kindly.
That is why we have to go back to this Sunday’s second reading where St. Paul reminds us that even when we cannot say what is happening within us, the Holy Spirit is praying in us and for us. There are more things happening in us that we have to be thankful with than be sorry or complain about.
Let go of all those negative feelings and thoughts; life is already difficult, don’t make it harder. Instead, may we come to Jesus and learn from him to be patient like God who “gave us good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins” (Wis.12:19).
Let us cultivate our hearts – the field where the seeds are sown that despite the weeds they shall still bear fruit with good works and peace for everyone.
Our classes in the University have begun recently; every time I celebrate Mass with our students, I always remind them these things which I hope may help you too: study hard, work harder, pray hardest.May you have a Holy Spirit-filled week ahead. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 19 June 2026 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 6:19-23
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Thank you dear Lord for the last week, thank you for this beautiful Friday as you give us this sacred moment to examine two vital organs of our body: our heart, our eyes the both lead us to treasures we eye, treasures we keep.
"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matthew 6:21).
Guide me, Jesus as I look inward into my heart to see what occupies it most of the time, what I value and desire much daily in life, the things and even persons perhaps I hold onto, protect and depend on for meaning and security, the things and people I value most, I treasure more than you.
"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).
How lovely are your words, Jesus, because what we look at, what we focus on with our eyes do not merely inform us of what we see but mostly shape our inner self, filling our hearts and thus forming our sense of who we are; what we look at, what we choose to see either lead us to light or darkness like Athaliah in the first reading who was consumed with wealth and power.
Teach me, Jesus, to focus my eyes on those things and persons who can make me see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more closely. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 04 May 2026 Acts 14:5-18 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 14:21-26
Photo by author, National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 25 February 2026.
We begin today our novena to our Lady of Fatima whose feast falls on May 13, 109 years since the Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to the three children at Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal. Two of the three visionaries are now saints, the siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto while their cousin, the Venerable Sr. Lucia dos Santos who died in 2005 at the age of 97 is on the way to sainthood too.
The Fatima is one of the most significant Marian apparitions in modern time that continues to affect the world and our country particularly with its ever-relevant messages of prayer and conversion of the people.
Photo from Pinterest.com.
And yet, until now, many are still skeptical of the Fatima apparitions especially the miraculous “dancing sun” of October 13, 1917 despite the great number of witnesses who attested to its veracity. Most of all, for many of us Catholics, it seems the Blessed Mother’s call for conversion in her Son Jesus Christ remains unheeded. Or even disregarded.
Because, as the former Catholic Anais Nin wrote in one of her journals, “we do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.”
This we see not only so true with the Fatima apparitions but even since the time of our Lord Jesus Christ when his very own people rejected him, even crucified him.
We wonder like the Apostle St. Jude why did Jesus not appear to His enemies and to more people after Easter at that time so that they would finally believe that He is the Christ?
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:22-23).
Artwork from thecripplegate.com.
Of the many healings performed by Jesus, the most amazing ones are those concerning the blind like Bartimaeus at the roadside and the man born blind He had healed on a sabbath on the way to Jerusalem.
Blindness in the bible especially in the healings of Jesus are not just physical in nature but more of spiritual in meaning. The American writer Helen Keller who was herself blind wrote, “The worst thing that could happen to anyone with sight is not to have a vision.”
True. Having vision is being able to look beyond not only into the future but most of all to see deeper realities that only the heart can see.
That is why Jesus did not have to appear to His enemies after Easter or even to more people then and today: His coming and appearing mean nothing unless we have His eyes of faith, His very love for us and for others especially the weak, the old, those not like us at all.
The more we love God, the more we see Him in ourselves and in others. When we love, when we care, when we share, when we truly pray, that is when the Father and Jesus dwell in us, enabling us to see Christ in others. Without that faith and love in Jesus and of Jesus, we will never see Him even if He suddenly appears today before us!
Truly, “we do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.”
If we are empty of Christ, we will never see Him who is “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn.14:6). And that is when we remain in darkness of sin and evil and ignorance. Even stupidity.
Just like now. How unfortunate that in spite our living in an age of images, of everything seen and shown and revealed, the more we still doubt the truth and worst, choose to believe and hold on what is false, what is fake!
Despite the glaring clarity of evils of corruption, lies, and so many other sins, some of us simply justify or have alibis and excuses when things do not match up with truth and reality. It is not that many cannot see the truth these days; what is most tragic is how so many refuse and choose not to see the truth and realities because they are self-centered, believing only in themselves, see themselves as the ideal and standard of everything. Or their gods.
Like the people at Lystra we heard in the first reading. After Paul had healed a crippled man, the people offered him and Barnabas with sacrifices, thinking they were Zeus and Hermes who have gone down to their city. Despite their tearing of their garments to show they were humans and their words proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, the people were not restrained from worshipping them (Acts 14:14-18).
National Pilgrim Image of Fatima, National Shrine of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 25 February 2025.
As we begin our Novena to our Lady of Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary invites us not only to open our eyes but most especially our hearts to Jesus, to finally feel Him in us, calling us to conversion so that He may reign in us, that we may be more loving, more kind, more just especially in this time of crisis.
Like the three children of Fatima, St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Venerable Sr. Lucia.
Or that Roman centurion at the foot of Christ’s Cross who declared after His death, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Mt.27:54).
The Blessed Virgin of Fatima had seen 109 years ago the future – its errors and evils but she had also seen the grace and blessings unfolding upon us in Jesus Christ.
From the Annunciation until her Assumption, Mary had always lived in the love of her Son Jesus, seeing us always in the love of Christ. That is why she had returned in Fatima in 1917 because she loves us so much as our Mother.
Let us imitate her humility and fidelity in Christ her Son, living in His love so that we too may find Jesus ever present among us despite the many darkness looming around us. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 25 September 2025 Thursday in Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Haggai 1:1-8 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 9:7-9
God our loving Father, give us humility and courage to admit our sins and faults for all the mess we are into today as a nation: the wholesale corruption and looting of government money that resulted in more floods, substandard facilities, inefficient services and shameless servants; painful but true, these are all because of our misplaced priorities in life.
Now thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; you have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; and whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it (Haggai 1:5-6).
Like the people at the time of your Prophet Haggai, we have been preoccupied with our selves, of gaining so much money and material things forgetting you, O God, and things of the above like decency, morality, and spirituality; for the right price, many among us have brought into power not just corrupt but inept officials to run our government; many among us have glorified thievery, of amassing wealth even in sinful ways that everything is now measured in terms of money and gold; many among us have forgotten you, Lord, to live in your ways and precepts following more of the world that led us to destruction and emptiness; let us prioritize you again, Lord so that we too may see how you see things and persons unlike Herod in the gospel; let us prioritize you, Lord so that we may start planting and building things you want in life that delight you and perfect us in the process. Amen.
Photo by author, Dangwa Flower Center, Manila, September 2018.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 22 July 2025 Tuesday, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Song of Songs 3:1-4 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18
“Martha and Mary Magdalene” painting by Caravaggio (1598). The painting shows Martha of Bethany and Mary Magdalene long considered to have been sisters. Martha is in the act of converting Mary from her life of pleasure to the life of virtue in Christ. Martha, her face shadowed, leans forward, passionately arguing with Mary, who twirls an orange blossom between her fingers as she holds a mirror, symbolising the vanity she is about to give up. The power of the image lies in Mary’s face, caught at the moment when conversion begins (from en.wikipedia.org).
Thank you dear Jesus in giving us a chance to revisit your Resurrection with this Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles; she whom you love so much by forgiving her sins and later called her by name on that Easter morning reminds us of your lavish mercy and love for each of us; how lovely that in that crucial moment of darkness as she grieved your death with your body missing, she suddenly burst into deep joy filled with life upon seeing you!
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her (John 20:18).
“The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene” painting by Alexander Ivanov (1834-1836) at the Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia from commons.wikimedia.org.
"I have seen the Lord."
I have seen you, Jesus when I stop clinging to my sinful past, when I stop doubting your mercy and forgiveness, wondering how I could move the huge and heavy stone of my weaknesses and failures, addictions and vices that make me mistake you into somebody else like the gardener because I am so preoccupied with many things in life.
Teach me, Jesus to stop clinging to you, "touching" you and having you according to my own view and perception not as who you really are so that I may meet you to personally experience you right here inside my heart like St. Mary Magdalene that Easter.
The Bride says: The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city. Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I have hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves (Song of Songs 3:1, 3-4).
"I have seen the Lord."
I have seen you, Jesus when I love truly like the Bride in the first reading when I seek you in persons not in wealth and power, in silence not in the noise and cacophony of vanity and fame; let me see you Jesus by being still, patiently waiting and listening for your coming and calling of my name to proclaim You are risen to others who believe in You, also searching You, waiting for You. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Painting by Giotto of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ appearing to St. Mary Magdalene from commons.wikimedia.org.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2025 Acts 12:1-11 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-19
St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome.
We enter today the 13th week in Ordinary Time with a fourth celebration on a Sunday of another Solemnity, that of Saints Peter and Paul, the two pillars of the Church Jesus Christ established over 2000 years ago.
Sts. Peter and Paul were men of diverse backgrounds with Peter the fisherman, impulsive and so human while Paul the Pharisee was an intellectual converted by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Both were flawed as persons yet so loved and called by the Lord – Peter as first leader of his church and Paul as its first missionary to the Gentiles. Their Solemnity reminds us of Christ’s call for us to build his Body, his Church here on earth.
While this celebration is about the two great apostles of Jesus, our readings direct us to God’s goodness and grace in his actions on behalf of the church founded by Christ. Its focus is on God, not ourselves.
Statues of Sts. Peter & Paul, st. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; photos from opusdei.org
Being an apostle of Jesus is not about doing great things or being so good but more of encountering and keeping faith in Christ our Lord. By recognizing ourselves as the church – the Body of Christ as we have reflected last Sunday, all of our actions are indeed God’s actions on behalf of the church because it is through us that the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is continued and completed in this age.
What is essential is we constantly enter into a conversation with Jesus in prayer not only to tell him things but most especially for us to realize how he sees us!
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).
Photo by author at Caesarea, Israel, May 2017.
What really happened at Caesarea Philippi was a close encounter of the apostles with Jesus, especially Simon whom would he called as Peter on that day on.
Very often in most reflections and commentaries, we are told to answer the question of Jesus like Peter in our most personal way not based from what we have read or heard: “who do you say I am?”
Of course, what else can we say but imitate Peter’s answer that seems to be the most correct answer.
But, is it really the best answer? Not really.
Paul later in his many writings will declare similar answers but far more better like when he said “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21).
Jesus is telling us something else in this scene, as if asking us too, would you want to know “who do I say you are?” What the Lord is actually telling us in this scene is the fact that he knows us so well inasmuch as he knows himself perfectly because he is God. In fact, he had said there was no need for him to have human testimony as the Christ (Jn. 2:25; 5:34).
Photo by author, Sea of Galilee, Israel, May 2019.
What I see more at Caesarea Philippi is Jesus Christ’s omniscience as God who knows everything – even that early he already knew Peter would deny him thrice, that Judas Iscariot would betray him, so on and so forth.
Jesus knows everything about us but he chose to love and believe in us that despite and in spite of everything he knew that could go wrong with us later in life, of how we would fall into sin over and over, STILL – he calls us, he sends us on a mission because he believes in us, he loves us.
Many times in life, we forget the truth about the saints who are just like us, ordinary people with many weaknesses and flaws, imperfections and even idiosyncrasies. What made them stand out and did all those great feats for the Lord was because they were able to see themselves the way Jesus sees them.
That’s the very core of the story at Caesarea Philippi – Jesus made the apostles felt especially Peter how valuable they were, how they were all loved, of how Jesus saw them as his ambassadors later when he returns to the Father.
Bass relief of St. Peter at the Malolos Cathedral, 2019.
Jesus had no need of knowing what people were saying about him because he knew himself so well aside from the fact he surely knew what they were saying about him. Actually, the answers the apostles gave him were for them to know and think about why people wrongly perceived Jesus.
Most of all, Jesus had no need to know what everyone of us is saying about who he is because, again, he knows himself perfectly. Whatever answer others would have given about him would have been surely appreciated and praised by Jesus. What matters most for everyone to realize is the fact that despite Christ’s foreknowledge of Peter’s fall and weaknesses, he still dared to call him to head his church. The same holds true with everyone of us. Jesus wants us to continue building his Body, his church here on earth, to make Jesus more present in us in this world so dark and lost searching for meaning except in Christ.
The same thing is true with Paul when Jesus called him on the road to Damascus to persecute the first Christians. Jesus knew everything Paul was doing; most of all, Jesus knew that even when converted, Paul would still be stubborn and insistent, would eventually quarrel with other disciples like Peter, Barnabas and John Mark but still, Jesus called him and even set him aside for a special mission to the Gentiles.
Bass relief of St. Paul at Malolos Cathedral 2019.
Again in his experiences, Paul saw how Jesus loved and trusted him that even he were the worst of all the apostles of the Lord, he was given such great task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth at that time. That is why in our second reading we find Paul giving up his whole life in the service of Jesus after experiencing Christ’s tremendous love for him.
Like Peter and Paul, we are all gifted with the same faith in Christ Jesus who challenges us to accept the same mission to continue in this modern time of proclaiming his gospel of love and mercy, of building up his Body the church so that there would be a more humane and just society here on earth as Vatican II envisioned (Lumen Gentium).
Many times when God works in us and through us, we could not believe it as happening like Peter when set free from prison by an angel at night. There are times we are resigned with our situations, of being deserving of the many hardships and sufferings without realizing that there are more bad things we deserve to suffer in this life but Jesus spared us because he believes in us that he sends us to some more missions for him.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for still calling me, sending me to a mission despite my many flaws and imperfections; thank you for trusting me, believing me; let me see myself the way you see me as someone worth loving and trusting. Amen.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 10 June 2025 Homily on the advanced birthday celebration and book launching last June 4 of Dr. Vic Santos Jr., President of Fatima University Medical Center in Valenzuela and Antipolo
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
We heard today in the first reading St. Luke’s account of St. Paul’s departure from Miletus to Rome for his trial and eventual martyrdom. We are told how the priests and leaders of the Ephesus community cried as St. Paul bid goodbye. It was a major turning point in the Apostle’s life.
We too are gathered tonight at a major turning point in the life of Dr. Vic as he officially becomes an elder among us, a senior sixty cent. There are no crying as we so filled with joy celebrating his gift of life. Like the Ephesians who were so glad in being a part of the life and mission of St. Paul, we praise and thank God for Dr. Vic’s gift of self especially to us, his family and friends and colleagues.
I’d like to focus your attention to St. Paul’s speech where he discussed how he had used his hands in his ministry, “You know very well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:34-35).
What a beautiful imagery of the hardworking hands of St. Paul who was a tent maker by profession who earned money for his own needs so as not to be a burden to the community.
With his caring and loving hands, people accepted Jesus Christ and Christianity.
With his gentle and kind hands the people saw and experienced the love of God, felt more convinced than ever of God’s presence among them.
With his strong hands as an Apostle of Jesus, the people felt the discipline of God.
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
It is the same thing why we are here tonight. So many sights were restored by the gentle hands of Dr. Vic that helped us to better or even see again.
Dr. Vic’s hands toiled not only in the clinic and OR but also in the tennis court and golf course as well as the kitchen that reminded us of God’s loving presence among us, of the Divine grip that everything will be fine so we can enjoy life. The hands of Dr. Vic as an ophthalmologist, as a husband and a dad, a brother and a friend and a colleague tell us we are in good hands. Like the hands of St. Paul, his hands allowed us to be touched by God’s love and mercy, kindness and forgiveness.
But there is something else about the hands of Dr. Vic I would like you to reflect upon. Like St. Paul, Dr. Vic’s hands not only restored sight but most of all allowed us to have vision, of seeing beyond physical or material things.
St. Paul’s hands were so gifted that more than half of the New Testament writings were from him; in fact, he was the first to write about Jesus Christ, way ahead of the gospel writers. By his writings, we are able to have a glimpse about God in Jesus Christ and eternal life.
Photo by Dra. Mary Anne Santos, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
With his gifted hands in writing not just prescriptions but also elegant prose and essays, Dr. Vic opened our eyes to see the deeper realities and truth behind our many common experiences in life. His hands seem to have eyes too that he can weave a beautiful tapestry of the joy of living side by side with its many pains and hurts, even losses and griefs, failures and disappointments. Dr. Vic’s hands are so precise not only in surgery but especially in writing, giving us hope to never give up, to always forge on, and be open to many possibilities in life.
Like St. Paul, Dr. Vic can boldly proclaim of the timeless truth of Christ’s teaching that “it is better to give than receive” because he had experienced God’s abundant blessings through his very hands that were always opened, ready to work and take on new tasks, willing to hold others hands to lead and guide them to healing and new life.
Salamuch po, Dr Vic in sharing with us your blessed hands that taught us to find God we rarely see due to our many blindness in life.
Your hands did not only heal our sight but gave us a vision of God present in us and among us always. We pray like Jesus in the gospel tonight that the Father may consecrate you with his sacred hands in order to bless you with more fulfillment and fruitfulness on your 60th birthday. With Dra. Mary Anne and your sons – Angelo, Francis, and Vince – may God fill your hands with his blessings, holiness and healing. Amen.
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 18 February 2025
Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 <*000>< + ><000*> Mark 8:14-21
Photo by author, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, October 2024.
When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:17-18, 20)
Yes, dear Jesus, I still do not understand; enlighten my mind and my heart, Jesus, to see your light, to find your face among the people I meet so I could understand more; I still do not understand so many things and people, Lord Jesus, because I have become numb and oblivious to your presence; worst, I have become so complacent with those around me without realizing their needs nor situation as I focus more on what I have and what I do not have.
Cleanse my heart and my mind, Jesus, like what the Father did to earth at the time of Noah; wash away my many presumptions and prejudices against others so I may understand more, stop concluding right away until I have seen more in order to love more like you. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 27 January 2025 Hebrews 9:15, 24-28 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Mark 3:22-30
Lord Jesus Christ, take away our colored lenses that prevent us from seeing the real pictures in the world and of life; many times, our lenses are not only colored but even defective that make us see distorted images as the realities when they are not.
Like the Pharisees, we wear different lenses that prevent us from seeing your true self as full of good, of love and mercy; like the Pharisees, our views of others are distorted because we see only ourselves as better while at the same time, still like the Pharisees, we debate truth because we could not accept others as better than us, leaving us all trapped in self-condemned state of sinning that make us see everything as hopeless, worst, nothing is good at all in the world even in our very selves which is the sin agains the Holy Spirit.
Make us see through your loving and merciful lens our selves, others, the world around us, and most especially YOU; give us your lenses to see we have been saved and most of all, worth saving because we are loved by YOU and the Father in heaven.
Let us rejoice and relish your saving power, Lord, when You as the Christ, "Offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sins but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28). Amen.
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