Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 7:36-50
Photo from Getty Images of painting by Frenchman James Tissot of sinful woman anointing and kissing the feet of Jesus in the house of Simon (Lk.7:36-50).
After praying over today's scriptures, I realized, Lord Jesus one gift I think I must ask from you especially now I am already old: the grace of self-composure, of being at home with my self, of being comfortable with my true self.
A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now, there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears. The she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:36-39).
Lord Jesus, "mahihiya po ako - sa aking sarili, sa inyo at sa iba pang naroon kung nasaksihan ko po ito ng personal."
It was not an embarrassing moment actually but why all the reactions of Simon and his guests who were his fellow Pharisees?
Because the woman was so truthful, sincere and honest; she did not mind at all the spectacle, the respected people around when she did a public contrition of her sins to Christ; it is not really about us imitating her but imitating you, Jesus who was never bothered by that sinful woman in coming to you, washing your feet with her tears, wiping them dry with her hair, and anointing with oiled perfume.
You were so free, Jesus, from what others may say being approached and touched by a sinner as Simon had thought; you were so free, Jesus, to focus solely with the woman and appreciate her kindness; you were so free, Jesus, to forgive her for all her sins after admitting her own sinfulness, so unlike the others present there, judging the woman, casting doubts on you, Jesus especially after you have forgiven her sins.
There are times, Lord, despite the presence of other people, I am so absorbed with my self that most often I am suspicious of what others are thinking of me that I cannot truly listen and understand their words because I am so insecure with myself; truly, the more I talk of others, the more I talk of myself!
Teach me, Jesus to be comfortable with my self, to be at home with my true self, to be at home with my self so that I may truly express myself to you, Lord; teach me to be like St. Paul who had no any insecurity at all in claiming himself to be "the least of the Apostles" being the persecutor of the early Christians; teach me to be comfortable with my true self so that I may focus more on your abounding grace bestowed on me despite everything so that like you I may focus more on those needing your loving presence and grace. Amen.
Photo by author, patio of St. Agnes Church in Jerusalem, May 2017.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 30 August 2026 Jeremiah 20:7-9 ><}}}}*> Romans 12:1-2 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:21-27
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
In this Sunday’s readings we see a very human side of Jeremiah and Peter, of their ambivalence in their relationship with God following their calls to be a prophet and an apostle respectively.
Here we find why it is very crucial to have a personal answer to Christ’s question last Sunday, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt.16:15) because as both have experienced, it is not that easy serving God. Fulfilling the Divine mission is never a bed of roses but actually being crucified like Christ. Jeremiah and Peter give us good reasons – and very comforting ones about intimacy with the Lord in fulfilling his mission entrusted to us.
Let’s take Jeremiah first.
You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word if the Lord has brought me derision and reproach all the day (Jeremiah 20:7-8).
Photo by author, Malagos Nature Park, Davao City, August 2018.
In the older translations, Jeremiah cried “You seduced me, O Lord” or “You enticed me, O Lord.” That’s what I meant in our previous reflection on intimacy when the Canaanite woman “engaged” Jesus into a conversation to persuade him in healing her daughter.
Here in Jeremiah we find that strong engagement of God and man.
Have you ever wondered in immense awe within while examining our “yes” to God in following him, in accepting his invitation to do his mission that many times we sigh deeply, asking, “why did I say yes?” or “bakit ba ako sumunod pa?”
There is always that feeling like Jeremiah that we were “catapulted” by God without any warning at all into difficult situations in life like speaking contrary to what most people are thinking and saying and following, “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me… the word of the Lord has brought me derision and reproach all the day” (Jer.20:7,8).
Recall those times when you have suffered while in the service of God that like Jeremiah in another part of his book cried, “should good be repaid with evil?” (Jer.18:20) when his own folks plotted against him for speaking the truth and about justice.
Many times we have experienced it to be so unfair with God that we who speak and do what is good are the ones on the distaff side of life, the ones maligned and seen as bad than those who thrive in evil. Just look at our corrupt officials and their enablers even in the church!
It is very sad and even confusing. Ako ba mali? Ako ba may problema?
But that’s nothing compared with what Peter felt after Jesus told the disciples that he shall suffer greatly in the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes in Jerusalem, that he would die but rise again on the third day:
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:22-23).
Photo by author, Petra in Jordan, May 2019.
Jesus and the disciples were still in Caesarea Philippi; Peter had just been praised by Jesus in identifying him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then, suddenly, Jesus made the first prediction of his coming passion, death, and resurrection.
If we were there, we would have reacted the same way as Peter most likely.
When Jesus called us to follow him, he knew all our flaws and weaknesses like Peter and Jeremiah.
According to biblical scholars, of the four major prophets, Jeremiah was the youngest and most sensitive of all. Maramdamin. Or, even, balat-sibuyas, onion-skinned. While Peter on the other hand was very impulsive and outspoken like in this instance.
Think of your own personality.
And there lies the great mystery: why of all people me, or I am the one called to serve, called to do this work of the Lord when we could just be plain and simple like the rest.
When we were in high school seminary, one of the movies we watched on Betamax was “Oh God!” starring John Denver and George Burns as God. John asked God who suddenly appeared inside his car why call him to preach about him and not Billy Graham with many followers.
Recall those times when you asked God the same question when there are far more better persons in the world than you to become a priest or nun or servant.
Photo by author, pilgrims waiting to enter Ascension site of Christ in Jerusalem, May 2019.
“God does not call the qualified but qualifies his call.”
Very often, the devil tempts us to turn away from God in such situations we feel unqualified to do his work. Notice that when Jesus turned to Peter saying “Get behind me, Satan!”, it was reminiscent of his temptations in the wilderness.
Trust God and his words, focus in him alone not in yourself whois weak and imperfect. Discipleship is more of thinking of God and his ways, not of our self and our way. It is not easy and will never be easy because it is about people and God and self, of being not of doing or techniques that is with things and materials.
Discipleship is thinking like God and relationships leading to eternity, of asking “who” not “what” or “how much” as humans mostly do, so concerned with solving problems and finding solutions without or little concern for persons.
Discipleship is slow process and tedious, calling for more patience and perseverance in Christ that is opposite the way of the world that has to be fast and efficient, economical and cost-effective like turning stones into bread.
Photo by author, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 14 June 2026
Discipleship is about being fruitful, relying more on God, sacrificing and letting go, forgiving and helping while humans think about success measured in having more wealth and fame and power.
It is normal to be so eager-beaver and impulsive sometimes like Peter or sensitive like Jeremiah; human as we are, lovingly serving others in Christ can take an enormous toll on us.
What is important is that we keep that passion within, that fire burning in our heart like Jeremiah while choosing to lead a moral life as St. Paul tells us to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom.12:1).
This Sunday Jesus reminds us to get Satan behind us always, to think in God’s ways that is always difficult as he promises to come again “with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct” (Mt. 16:27). Amen. Let us pray for a better weather this week, pray harder for those affected by the rains and floods and those in Nepal.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Twenty-first Week In Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord Revelation 21:9-14 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 1:45-51
St. Bartholomew depicted by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel holding in one hand a large knife said to have been used in skinning him alive with his own skin held by his other hand. Photo from Pinterest.
Thank you, God our loving Father for this Monday; though still gloomy with forecast of more rains like the past weeks, we rejoice in celebrating the Feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the amazing Apostles of Your Son Jesus Christ; he died a martyr after being skinned alive and crucified upside down like St. Peter; it must have been his most glorious achievement because after skinning him alive, his torturers must have seen and realized his faith was not that skin-deep: layers upon layers of skin they must have found only Jesus deeply ingrained in his very person!
How lovely of St. Bartholomew known earlier as Nathanael his baring of his true self, that first layer of our person we often hide when he asked Philip if anyone good could come from Nazareth; truly as Jesus had said, there was no guile in him, so unlike us with so many masks and pretensions layered on our person.
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” (John 1:45-47)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Everywhere in this life there are layers of everything: layers of clothing, layers of skin, layers of meaning, and layers of faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ who asked us yesterday "who do you say that I am?"
Teach me, Jesus to remove that first layer of covering myself with masks pretending to be somebody else as good; let me bare my true self before you, free and faithful in telling you what I feel, what I think like St. Bartholomew because you see everything beneath our many layers of covering.
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” (John 1:48-49)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Most of lovely of all, dear Jesus is how you "see" us even from afar, especially whenever we are "under the fig tree"; you know very well our desire to see you too, to find you and to dwell in you; unless we are able to remove our layers of duplicity and guile, we shall never see your promise "you will see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51); thank you, dear Jesus for your loving gaze upon us despite our many sins and brokenness; help me to look at you too, to see you like St. Bartholomew as "truly the Son of God, the King of Israel." Amen.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 20 August 2026
How amazing, O Lord Jesus that when it is already evening, when darkness is all around us, that is when you are actually inside us, if we could just open our hearts and eyes of faith then we shall see you truly our Light glowing within, bringing warmth and joy.
Many times in our darkness we lose sight not only of you, Lord Jesus but also of our self that away from you we lose our identity and let our job and tasks define us or worst, our possessions and achievements as well as pains and hurts; we cave into our darkness within not seeing your wounded handed touching me holding me unmindful of your holding me, loving me.
When things get dark and we can’t see anything teach me Jesus to listen to your silence to feel your presence sense your movements follow your steps waiting trusting self-emptying.
Most of all, Jesus, help me emulate your Mother our Mother too, Mary most holy, to remain focused on you cusping you in my palms when all is dark holding on to your words believing they shall be fulfilled when I remain and stay with you there on the Cross. Amen.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 20 August 2026
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Let me come home to you, Lord God: to gaze in your loving eyes anew, be wrapped around with your tight embrace without being judged nor blamed.
Let me come home to you, Lord God: with nothing at all, to be poor of material wealth and rich in Spirit and virtues, empty of pride, filled with your humility and simplicity so scarce of everything abundant in you and your love.
Let me come home to you, Lord God: no longer afraid of the dark and everything not yet known and seen, nor terrified of great waves of tasks and duties, of strong winds like what people think and say about me because in you alone is my certainty as well as safety and security.
Photo by author, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
Let me come home to you, Lord God: to be nourished by your words that give life and meaning, to be quenched of my thirst with your living water that restores my being, cleanses me of my sins and shame.
Let me come home to you, Lord God: to rest in you, be at home in you because you are my origin, my root my home my peace my destination in this long journey in life for you are my Lord and my God. Amen.
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 09 January 2026.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II First Sunday in Lent-A, 22 February 2026 Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 + Romans 5:12-19 + Matthew 4:1-11
Photo from earth.com.
We now live in a world so noisy with many voices competing for our attention. Everybody is talking including cars and elevators, phones and gadgets and apps with names Siri and Alexa. So often, it is from these competing voices come our temptations in life, too.
In his first Lenten Message, Pope Leo XIV invites us to listen more to the word of God in order to be converted anew to Him. He said it so well that “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”
Very true! And the question this first Sunday in Lent asks us is, whose voice do I follow? Because the voice we listen most is likely the one we prefer or love most – in fact, it could be the voice of the one we keep a relationship with!
That is the tragic truth of the story of the fall of Adam and Eve in the first reading today – they listened more to the voice of the devil signified by the serpent than to God who warned them not to eat the forbidden fruit.
And that continues to happen every day in our lives! That is why to sin is not merely to turn away from God but actually a refusal to love because sin is rejecting a relationship with God to whom we must listen to. This we see today in Matthew’s version of the temptations of Christ in the desert.
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4).
Detail of “The Temptation of Jesus According to St. Matthew” on the wall of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy. Photo from psephizo.com.
Right at the start, Jesus made it clear by quoting the Sacred Scriptures, the word of God, that “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Jesus, the Word who became flesh to live among us tells us clearly today that same truth. God’s word is life when He created everything by just speaking. Any voice that leads to destruction is from the devil, the father of fake news. And the devil’s biggest lie we must always avoid is making and having things easily. See how until now every fake news is always about “instants” like instant food and health, instant solution to everything without realizing its sinful effects as well as side effects that may actually harm us more.
Listening is an art because it teaches us to be patient, to wait and most of all, to persevere which leads us to perfection and excellence. Haste always makes waste. When we listen, we become patient, choosing to wait than take shortcuts or get instants that avoid difficulties and hardships like gambling to be wealthy without working, or cheating to pass exams without learning as well as freedom without responsibilities.
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on then parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command is angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “Again, it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:5-7).
Photo by author, Domiican Hills, Baguio City, January 2019.
More than an art, listening is a virtue because it demands silence which is a fullness wherein we are able to listen and distinguish every voice and sound so that we may choose which to listen to and follow.
The word “listen” is the palindrome of “silent” – we listen best in silence to hear God, others and our very selves.
When we learn to be silent, we also become more trusting because when we trust, we speak less and listen more. The most silent people are the also the most trusting. When we trust, we wait and avoid shortcuts and instants.
The voice of God stirs our inner self, not just our senses because His voice leads us to deeper realities and meanings in life. Remember that Jesus eventually fed more than five thousand people from just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish when He saw them already prepared inside their hearts and soul; when Jesus felt them more open to God than to the world, then He gave them bread and fish for their stomach.
Notice how the devil’s temptation to Jesus continues among us with those voices calling us to overly assert ourselves, to be influencers and clout chasers or content creators to be praised and followed by everyone when actually is all about wealth and money, and of course, power. It is the voice of control and manipulation. How sad that many of us gobble their lies completely, consuming everything, filling ourselves even with trash.
The voice of God calls us to sacrifice, to bear pains and sufferings not to be overburdened in life but for us to see God especially among those mostly in need like the poor and marginalized. Often, the voice of God is the softest and tiniest in our hearts calling us to simply trust Him by doing the simplest things like smiling to strangers, easing the pain of those lonely and sad, giving bread to the poor and hungry. Listening to the silence of God enables us to trust Him more that we learn to share and forget ourselves. Then, we grow and mature truly as persons.
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him (Matthew 4:8-11).
Again, we go back to Pope Leo XIV’s Lenten Message about listening as “the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”
Don’t you feel sad at the sight of today’s everyday life where everyone has something in their ears, whether the tiny earpods or the headset/headphone?
What used to be insane like talking by one’s self has now become a status symbol as everyone looks crazy speaking by themselves through modern devices amid a crowd while walking or seated anywhere conversing to somebody at the other end of their lines unmindful, oblivious of the persons around them. May sariling mundo.
Many these days have created their own worlds and universe with them at its center through our new Baal, the cellphone – the very first thing everyone is looking for after waking up and the last thing in everyone’s hand before sleeping. How sad many among us today practically live in social media. What is most tragic is that all these modern means of communications were invented to bring us closer together when in fact, the more we have grown apart from each others! We are not only polarized as people but even separated from God.
The third temptation of the devil to Jesus continues with us today with all those voices telling us to forget God and morality and truth so that we become popular by being viral and trending. It is the biggest scam and fake news of all by the devil – of us being the “master” to rule and have world with all of its luxuries and power. The voice seems harmless, as if asserting our true selves but actually destroys our being and relationships with God, with others and eventually with our very selves.
Lent is an inside journey into our hearts, of finding Jesus anew inside our hearts where He dwells. St. Paul tells us in the second reading how Jesus brought us back to God, to grace and salvation.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us not to harden our hearts today so that we may listen anew to Your voice within us to find our way back to God, to peace and to fulfillment in ourselves and in one another.Amen. Have a blessed week ahead!
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 22 January 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church, 02 January 2026 1 John 2:22-28 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 1:19-28
Photo by author, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.
Lord Jesus,
today I feel like John
being asked by priests
and Levites sent by Jews
from Jerusalem:
"Who are you?"
What a great question
we all have to confront
at the start of the new year
because unless we truly know
and accept who we are,
we can never give the right
answer in making you known,
Jesus; many times,
we fail to make you known
not because you are difficult to
know but simply because we do not
know who we are unlike John;
we cannot give a definitive answer
"I am not the Christ"
because even if we do not
claim it verbally, unconsciously
we pretend as the Christ;
many times, Lord
you are not known
not because you are so far
but because our lives are so far
from you that people could not
believe what we say about you;
most often, you are not known
Jesus not because your teachings
are hard and difficult but because
we ourselves are lost and could not
find the way into our true selves
to be the voice of one in the desert
like John crying out,
"Make straight the path
of the Lord."
At the start of this new year, dear Jesus, help me to be like John or St. Basil or St. Gregory who knew themselves very well, embracing everything about me especially my sins and weaknesses so that like John, I can declare "I am not the Christ" and therefore, stop from pretending or acting or speaking as the Messiah; let me embrace the limitations I have, the darkness and emptiness within me so that I may remain in you and your grace only. Amen.
Photo by author, detail of John the Baptist from the Deesis Mosaic in the hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkiye, 01 November 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the First Week of Advent, 04 December 2025 Isaiah 26:1-6 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 7:21, 24-27
Photo by author, Malolos Cathedral, December 2019.
On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: "A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith" (Isaiah 26:1-2).
Like most cities, O Lord our God, I lay in ruins: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually; feeling lost, almost collapsing, trembling in so many fears and concerns; but my faith in you assures me of being "a strong city" with "walls and ramparts" that protect me; I may not see them now but "open the gates" of my heart to trust in you, in your continuing work in me so mysterious that leads to victory eventually.
Give me patience and perseverance; enliven my hope in you, Jesus Christ who comes to me daily, dwelling in me to be my "everlasting rock".
Jesus said to his disciples: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rains fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
Keep me faithful in you, Lord Jesus as I rejoice in your works, in your comfort, in your presence and coming. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 13 November 2025 Thursday in the Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Wisdom 7:22-8:1 <*((((>< + >><))))*> Luke 17:20-25
Photo by author, Bucharest, Romania, 05 November 2025.
Fill me with your Wisdom, Lord that I may find and experience you within me; fill me with Wisdom, Lord, that I may be "not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered" (Wisdom 7:22) in realizing and living your very presence within me; fill me with Wisdom, Lord, so I may not seek you in spectacle but feel you more in your presence.
Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21).
Guide me, Jesus with your Holy Spirit to be open and sensitive with God's hidden ways of working in our lives, in our communities, in our history; let me continue to seek God in all things especially in my life where the hidden presence of God's Kingdom is most felt but often unnoticed because it happens in silence even emptiness "For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity" (Wisdom 7:24).
Help me realize and treasure the reality of God's kingdom not a spectacle like a dazzling show the world so loved that is momentary and empty; let me realize that God's kingdom is presence, a movement of grace after grace after grace. Amen.
Photo by author, sunset at Istanbul, Turkiye, 02 November 2025
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 24 October 2025 Friday in Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Romans 7:18-25 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:54-59
Lord Jesus Christ, today I join St. Paul in his cry, “Miserable one that I am!" for deep in my heart I am your slave O Lord, of righteousness, of what is good but what I do and follow is sin like your warning in the gospel, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak".
So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members (Romans 7:21-23).
Not only every day
but so many times each day
I experience this inner clash
within me, sometimes good prevails
and there are times sin prevails.
How I wish I could sit
with St. Paul to discuss this
as I imagine his own agony
in fighting sin and evil desires
within; how reassuring
and inspiring to learn
how everyone goes through
this internal warfare.
Like St. Paul,
may I have the courage
to recognize and embrace,
accept and own this internal
strife between good and evil;
reconcile me, dear Jesus
in you who dwells within me;
let me recognize and
read your signs of presence,
of salvation,
of integration
within me and through
my community so that
in the end,
like St. Paul I may
declare, "It is no longer
I who live, but Christ
who lives in me"
(Galatians 2:20).
Amen.
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