God our loving Father, as we end this first week in Lent, teach us more on the need to be empty of ourselves, empty of our pride for us to be consistent and most especially, kind.
We have been so filled with the world that our hearts burn with anger and hate, totally disregarding reason and morals with so many parents still in grief, crying for their children mercilessly killed on mere suspicions while friends and neighbors even family are caught in a huge web of lies everyone believes; worst, everyone sees one's self being so right while others so wrong, even accusing you, O God, of being "unfair" like during the time of Ezekiel.
How sad in this age of boundless and instant communications, our world had shrunk into little worlds and galaxies of "me and mine and I"; teach us your way of kindness in Jesus so we may see everyone as a "kin" - a kindred, a one of us filled with goodwill for one another; remind us always, Jesus, that it is not enough that we do not just kill anyone but most of all has goodwill with everyone right in our hearts as a sign of true worship for it is only when we see each one as a kin that loving can begin consistently. Amen.
Photo by author, Northern Blossoms Farm, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 21 February 2025 Genesis 11:1-9 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Mark 8:34-9:1
What a blessed Friday, Lord Jesus! You are still with us, about to cross the week into another new set of seven days but, here you are again reminding us of our journey that's not to a party and all fun but to the Cross:
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “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 his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).
As I prayed on this scene, Jesus, I could hear both the murmuring and deafening silence of people in the crowd especially when you spoke of denying, losing one's self and that dreaded Roman punishment, the cross! But, yes, Jesus, even deep down in me, I felt at a loss... OK na sana Lord ang lahat, bakit may paglimot pa ng sarili at pagpapasan ng krus?
Forgive me, Jesus for being so used to your words without really appreciating them, masticating them enough to extract their meaning and timeliness; many times, I have that attitude of the the Tower of Babel when all we want is to be on top, to be in control that is why you confused them with many languages at that time because we always forget you speak only one language in Jesus: the language of love by self-giving, by self-sacrifice, by being one in you in the Holy Spirit.
Take us to the streets, Jesus, to keep your words your language lived and spoken especially among the poor and suffering. Amen.
Photographer: Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the First Week of Advent, 04 December 2024 Isaiah 25:6-10 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Matthew 15:29-37
Photo by author, Pulong Sampalok, DRT, Bulacan, 22 November 2024.
Praise and glory to You, God our loving Father for this gift of Advent Season: thank you in bringing us to this brand new day of salvation, of freedom, of new life in Jesus; most of all, thank you for ending death in Christ's advent.
On this mountain he will destroy he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces… (Isaiah 25:7-8).
Come to us this Advent, dear Jesus and take away all kinds of veils of selfishness that cover and make us unloving, unkind, unmerciful, unhappy... set us free, Jesus, free to love and serve especially the sick and hungry; set us free, Jesus, this Advent to open our hearts to bring out those treasures You have filled us with like goodwill and care for others like the disciples in today's gospel. Amen.
Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Fatima Tribune, 27 November 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Thirty-first Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 06 November 2024 Philippians 2:12-18 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Luke 14:25-33
Photo by author, Fatima Ave., Valenzuela City, 25 July 2024.
Grant me, dear Jesus the serenity and composure of St. Paul: so peaceful, so dignified, so free in the face of death.
Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life… But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me (Philippians 2:14-16, 17-18).
Many times O Lord the burdens are too heavy and unbearable, with pains and suffering so overwhelming that I really wonder if I would make any difference at all; but, you are always here present in the "nick of time" sending people reminding me of jokes I have long forgotten but still tickle them; or simple lessons I could not recall but they have kept and guided them through life; or music I made them listened to that have lingered in their heads; or books and poems that have opened their horizons.
Teach me, Jesus to renounce everything I have, empty me of my pride, of my self to be filled with you only so that I may truly shine like light in this world so at home and fascinated with neons and klieg lights that mislead them to darkness. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Thirty-first Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 05 November 2024 Philippians 2:5-11 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 14:15-24
Photo by author somewhere in Pampanga, 17 September 2024.
One of those at table with Jesus said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.” He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came,he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves” (Luke 14:15-18).
Forgive us, Lord Jesus Christ for our endless excuses and countless alibis in not answering your calls nor accepting your invitations; we make so many excuses and alibis, citing various reasons because we cannot be sincere enough to tell you we have other plans, we follow other gods, we believe and trust others than you, Lord.
What a shame at times, dear Jesus when our excuses and alibis do not even hold nor could stand tests and yet, you accept them so that we would not be put to shame; forgive us, Jesus, when our perception and understanding of your kingdom is something of going up, of being on high as we it in the world so magnified by social media these days; open our eyes and our hearts to see that your path has always been to go down, to be little, to be humble which is the way of Kenosis, of self-emptying. Amen.
Brothers and sisters: Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself… (Philippians 2:5-7).
Photo by author somewhere in Pampanga, 17 September 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, 31 July 2024 Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 13:44-46
Photo by Ms. Jessica Soho, caves of Manresa in Spain where St. Ignatius prayed and compiled his journals, the Spiritual Exercises, May 2024.
Dearest Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous like your servant St. Ignatius of Loyola, like the Prophet Jeremiah; grant me the grace of "positive indifference", of letting go whatever keeps me from loving God and others while remaining engaged with whatever that makes me love God and others so that I may always praise, revere and serve God my Lord and Master.
Forgive me, dear Jesus, at times when I complain, when I cry out to You like the Prophet Jeremiah today: "Why is my pain continuous, my wounds incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide!" (Jeremiah 15:18)
Let me realize that as a disciple, as your prophet especially in this time of so much emphasis on relativism, on having one's self as the measure of what is right and acceptable, of what is cultured and intellectual even at the expense of making a mockery of you, our Lord and God, I have to speak in clear and blunt language, calling a male as a he or a sir, a female as a she or a ma'am, nothing of them or their as singular, of immoral as wrong and sinful, of every life in whatever stage as precious that may all make me be an object of attacks and ridicule even among friends and relatives.
Let me realize, Jesus, my Lord and Master, that despite the trend of many today to wave the banner of evil in multi-colors and shades, we have to be firm in waving your white and pure banner of truth even if it may be old and tattered in time; most of all, let me keep in mind and heart and soul that as we continue to love and forgive even our bashers and haters, we would never be loved in return just like You.
Take my will, O Lord, my liberty and everything I have like that man in today's parable (Matthew 13:44-46), let me leave everything behind to gain You like that great treasure and pearl of great price; give me the grace and courage to do your most holy will. Amen.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Pray for us.
Photo by Ms. Jessica Soho, Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, Spain where St. Ignatius pledged his loyalty to the Mother of God, May 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church, 15 July 2024 Isaiah 1:10-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 10:34-11:1
Photo from The Valenzuela Times, 02 July 2024.
On this blessed Monday, your word "bring" invites me to examine what I bring:
“Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me” (Isaiah 1:13).
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword” (Matthew 10:34).
Teach me, O Lord, to bring your peace and justice, to bring your truth and light so that I may bring that much-needed balance we are searching in life.
Like St. Bonaventure, help me to bring myself before You, dear God in prayers, to immerse myself in your words in the scriptures so that I may bring together the ideal and practical, the spiritual and material.
Many times, O Lord, we bring our very selves, it is our ego and pride we love to bring everywhere for everyone to see, forgetting that we must first bring You back into our hearts, bring You back into our minds, bring You back into our lives so that we can finally bring out the best worship of You. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 28 May 2024 1 Peter 1:10-16 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 10:28-31
Photo by author, Simon Peter before Jesus after their bountiful catch in Galilee, May 2017.
Forgive me Jesus
for being so like Simon Peter,
so irrepressible on many occasions,
saying things without much
thinking and reflection
like in today's gospel
when he bragged to You,
"We have given up everything
and followed you" (Mark 10:28);
let me be aware always that
all that I have,
whatever good I can do
are all because of You, Jesus;
like Simon Peter,
let me grow and mature
in my faith in You
when he wrote us today
"be holy yourselves in every
aspect of your conduct,
for it is written, Be holy
because I am holy"
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
Make me holy, Lord, fill me with Your Spirit by first emptying me of myself, of my pride, of my insecurities, of my sins in order to be filled with Your Spirit so I may truly conform to You and be Your presence in the world today; I know I have not given that much yet to You through others for I still think of myself always; take away whatever I still keep and hide to myself that I am not aware of, remind me to abandon and offer everything to You. Amen.
12th century mosaic from Sicily of Peter drowning from orthodoxartsjournal.org.
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