Lent is seeing God in others

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the First Week of Lent, 19 February 2024
Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 ><))))*> + + + <*((((>< Matthew 25:31-46

*Photo by Mr. Jay Javier in Quiapo, Manila, 09 January 2024.*

Today I pray dear God
to your directive since the
Old Testament until the coming
of your Son Jesus Christ:
"Be holy , for I, the Lord your God,
am holy" (Leviticus 19:2).

But, what is really to be holy,
what is to be like you,
God?

Perfect.
Loving.
Kind.
Good.
Merciful.
Forgiving.
Caring.
Understanding.
Warm.
Open.

There are so many other
traits and characteristics I can think
of you as being holy,
O God,
that we have to imitate
to be like
you
that makes holiness
 so difficult,
elusive,
and impossible!

Who can really be like you
when we are so different from you?
But, thank you in sending us
Jesus who not only made it
possible for us to be holy
like you, God,
but also made it
simpler:

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me… Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least one, you did not do for me.”
Matthew 25:40, 45

On this blessed season
of Lent,
teach us to fast 
and be empty of ourselves,
of our pride,
and of our sins
so we may be filled with YOU;
holiness is first of all 
being filled
with you, O God,
that we feel,
we see,
we think
of others like you,
that is, of seeing you
in each one of us.

When we begin to
realize and experience 
that you fill us, O God,
then we learn to be
generous in sharing
more of ourselves, 
of our time,
of our talent,
of our treasure,
and most of all,
of you dear God
dwelling in us
with others;
we can only be holy
not when we try being
like you but more of finding
you first in us
in order to find you
in others too!

Then, 
maybe we stop
fighting,
committing every sin
against each other
if only we can see you
dwelling,
filling 
each one of us.
Amen.

Ang masamang simoy ng hangin tuwing Pasko

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-06 ng Disyembre 2023

*Larawan kuha ng may akda sa Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga noong Nobyembre 2022.*

Huwag sanang masamain itong aking lathalain tungkol sa isang hindi magandang gawain tuwing panahon ng Pasko ng Pagsilang ng Panginoong Jesus nating mahal. Totoong sa panahong ito na malamig ang simoy ng hangin at dama ang tuwa at kagalakan ng lahat saanman ngunit mayroong ilan na hindi maganda ang mga nasa loobin at damdamin.

Tunay nga na ang diwa ng Pasko ay ang pagbibigay ng dakilang handog ng Diyos sa atin ng Kanyang Bugtong na Anak kung kaya tayo man ay tinatawagang magbahagi ng biyaya at pagpapala Niya sa ating kapwa; ngunit, hindi nangangahulugang sasamantalahin natin ang panghihingi kaninuman. Hindi naman malaking bahagi ng Kapaskuhan ang panghihingi kumpara sa gampaning magbigay at magbahagi.

Gayun din naman, sakaling tayo ay manghihingi, ito ay dapat sa diwa pa rin ng ginawang pagbibigay ng Diyos ng Kanyang Anak sa atin. Alalaong baga, lagi nating isaalang-alang ang pagmamahal o charity sa tuwing tayo ay hihingi. At mamamasko. Magbigay man o manghingi, Pasko man o hindi, dapat si Kristo ang batayan ng ating gawain.

Dalawang bagay ang ibig kong ibahagi.

Una ay dapat nating alalahanin na kusa ang pagbibigay at pagbabahagi. Huwag tayong namimilit sa panghihingi. Mayroong mga iba na kung makahingi at mamasko ay parang may pinatago. Higit sa lahat, akala mo obligasyon ng lahat ng hingian ay magbigay!

Minsan nakita ko post ng isang kaibigan naninirahan sa Canada. Tahasan niyang sinabi sa kanyang post sa Facebook na huwag na siyang anyayahan maging “friend” kasi malulungkot lang sila. Paliwanag ng kaibigan ko palagi na lang daw kasunod ng pag-anyaya sa kanya sa Facebook ay, “mare, pahiram naman…”

Juice colored! Akala ko ako lang ang ginaganoon! At lalong nagulat ang kaibigan ko na pati daw ba ako ay hinihingian? E oo ika ko. Gusto pa nga ng iba ay G-cash e wala naman akong ganun.

Hindi lahat ng tao ay nakaluluwag sa buhay. At kung sakali mang sila ay nakaririwasa, hindi ito dahilan para sila ay hingan. At hingan ng hingan.

Aaminin ko sa inyo na talamak ito sa mga taong-simbahan na wala nang ginawa kungdi manghingi nang manghingi.

Tanungin ninyo kung ano kanilang naibigay pati ng kanilang pari, wala. Ni panahon hindi makapagbigay, ni ayaw magmisa, hindi mahagilap at kung makahingi, wagas. At may presyo pa!

Higit sa lahat, yung iba nananakot pa kung hindi magbibigay ay baka daw “malasin”. Sila na rin ang sumalungat sa turo na walag suwerte suwerte sa pananampalataya dahil lahat ay pagpapala.

Pakaisipin din sana natin ngayong panahon ng Kapaskuhan lalo na marahil ay mayroong “favorite charity” o mga sadyang binabahaginan at tinutulungan ang marami nating mga kababayan lalo na yaong mga nakaluluwag sa kabuhayan. Maging ang Panginoong Jesus ay hindi naman pinagbigyan ang lahat ng lumapit sa kanya noon.

Ikalawa, maging magalang sa panghihingi. Nakalulungkot kasi na maraming tao ngayon ang hindi na yata marunong mahiya sa panghihingi. Wala man lamang pagpipitagan. Gaya nga ng daing ng kaibigan ko, akala mo makikipag-kaibigan pero iba pala ang layon.

Ito yung mga text na bitin tulad ng “Pare…” o kaya ay “mare”. Sinasabi ko yan maski sa mga kakilala ko. Huwag na huwag kayong magtetext ng bitin. Yun bang akala mo mayroong masamang nangyari kaya ikaw naman biglang titingin sabay text ulit ng humihingi ng pabor.

Pasensiya na po. Ang tawag doon ay “kawalan ng modo.” Kabastusan.

Laganap ang sisteng ito sa internet lalo na noong 2020 nang kasagsagan ng COVID pandemic at lockdown. Noong Kapaskuhan noon, mayroong nagtanong sa akin na tama daw ba iyong gawain ng ilang inaanak na namamasko at sinasabing i-Gcash na lang kanilang aguinaldo?

Sabi ko ay hindi. Iyon ika ko ay kawalan ng paggalang. Pang-aabuso. Walang pinagkaiba sa holdap.

Muli, walang obligasyon ang sino man na magbigay at magregalo kanino man kahit kailan. Kusa ang pagreregalo. Higit sa lahat, ang regalo ay tanda ng pagkatao ng nagbigay. Kung ipipilit ang panghihingi ng tulong o abuloy o regalo, samakatwid, kinalimutan ang pagkatao ng hinihingian.

At iyan ang mabahong simoy ng Pasko.

Pumarito si Kristo at nagkatawang-tao katulad natin upang ipakita sa atin ang ating dangal bilang tao. Na ang daan sa pagiging katulad ng Diyos na banal ay sa pagpapakatao. Kung ang tuon ng pansin ngayong Pasko ay ang regalo, abuloy, o tulong na makakamit, ibig sabihin wala ang diwa ni Kristo sa nanghihingi.

Ituring na lang silang mga tulisan o mga mapagsamantala sa pagkakataon. At sana ay maimulat din sa tunay na diwa ng Pasko, ng pagbibigay at panghihingi. Simple lang naman ang paanyaya ng Diyos sa atin na ibahagi si Kristo araw-araw sa ating pagmamahal at paglilingkod ano mang panahon. Higit sa mga pera at bagay na kaloob ay ang sariling pagkatao. Nawa ay maging makabuluhan at kaaya-aya ang inyong Kapaskuhan!

Noble spirit

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr, 22 November 2023
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Luke 19:11-28

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, in Tagalag, Valenzuela City, 13 September 2023.*

Praise and glory to you,
God our loving Father!

Today I pray to you for 
the gift of a "noble spirit"
like that courageous mother
of seven brothers who died on
the same day before her as she
extolled them to resist temptations
and remained faithful to you:
"Filled with a noble sprit that 
stirred her womanly heart with
manly courage" (2 Maccabees 7:21).

What a beautiful description of that
woman's great courage and faith 
in you, dear God!

Give us a noble spirit, Lord, 
a selfless soul that thinks more
of others than one's self especially
in this age when we are so self-conscious
and conceited with our bloated egos
always on the take, as if the world
revolves around us; a soul that is
not selfish and other centered
because of deep faith and trust
in you, Father.

Stir your noble spirit in us, Lord;
let us find anew our moral compass,
our moral grounding in you and your
laws especially in this age when
"everything and anything goes"
regardless of morals and virtues,
an age that glorifies every person as
a universe in himself,
crowning himself as god, 
yet so afraid of the truth,
so ignorant of freedom,
without any idea of 
the real meaning of living
and loving that in the end,
could not accept death.

Like that courageous woman
and St. Cecilia, stir the noble spirit
within us, Lord Jesus,
to embrace wholeheartedly
our being human,
our being finite,
our being-towards-death
so that we may start living
as you have taught us by
giving and sharing ourselves
and everything we have
in order to be fulfilled,
by facing death so that
we may live in you.
Amen.

Cross my heart?

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 14 September 2023
Numbers 21:4-9 ><]]]]'> Philippians 2:6-11 ><]]]]'> John 3:13-17

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 2017.*

The cross is perhaps one of the most widely used but also abused and misunderstood sign in almost every generation. In fact, we are so accustomed to the cross of Jesus Christ found everywhere like in churches and cemeteries, offices and classrooms, hospitals, inside every kind of vehicle and, of course, houses. Almost everybody carry it on our persons for various reasons: as an object of veneration, as a badge, or as a jewel.

On the cross we find Jesus shown in glory, peacefully sleeping in death, sometimes with his body broken by suffering. Hence, many times we use the word “cross” like in “cross my heart” to indicate our sincerity and truthfulness. But, are we truly aware of its meaning and significance in our faith, of its centrality as the symbol of God’s love for us expressed by the self-sacrificing death of Jesus Christ his Son?

*Photo by author, St. Scholastica Convent, Baguio City, 23 August 2023.*

Today we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross which started in the fourth century. According to legend it began with the miraculous discovery of the True Cross by Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, on 14 September 326, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. She then ordered through her son the emperor the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that was dedicated nine years later with a portion of the True Cross placed inside it in September 13, 335. The following day, the Cross was brought outside of the church to be venerated by the clergy and the faithful.

In the year 627, during the reign of the Emperor Heraclius I of Constantinople, the Persians conquered the city of Jerusalem and removed a major part of the Cross from its sanctuary. The emperor then launched a campaign to recover the True Cross which he regarded as the new Ark of the Covenant for the new People of God. Before embarking into war, Emperor Heraclius went to church wearing black as a sign of penance, then prostrated himself before the altar and begged God for courage. His prayer was granted as he won the war and recovered the Cross from the Persians. He brought the Cross back to Jerusalem in 641 amid great celebrations by carrying it on his shoulders. Upon reaching the gate leading to Calvary, the emperor could not go forward! Heraclius and his retinue were astonished and could not understand what had happened until the Patriarch Zachary of Jerusalem told him, “Take care, O Emperor! In truth, the imperial clothing you are wearing does not sufficiently resemble the poor and humiliated condition of Jesus carrying His cross.”

Upon hearing those words, the emperor removed his shoes and bejewelled robes, put on a poor man’s clothing and was eventually able to proceed to Calvary and replaced the Cross inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where a number of miracles happened during the occasion: a dead man returned to life, four paralytics were cured, ten lepers were healed, 15 blind men were given their sight, with several possessed people exorcised and many sick people totally healed!

*Photo by author, Mirador Jesuit Villa & Retreat House, Baguio City, 24 August 2023.*

Very notable in this story were the words of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It was only after the emperor had taken off his royal clothings and put on those of the poor was he able to carry the Cross.

It is the same thing that is asked of us today: it is so easy to display the cross inside our homes and cars, or wear it as a jewelry or even as a tattoo on our skin. But that would amount to nothing unless we have the cross inside our hearts, our very being. More than the many signs of the cross and imaginary drawing of its lines we draw on our chest is the need for us to empty ourselves of our pride and sins so that we can be filled by Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8

Called kenosis in Greek, self-emptying is the way of the Cross of Christ. It is choosing love and mercy than self-centeredness and self-righteousness; sacrifice than satisfaction; fairness and justice than greed and possession; bearing all the pains and perseverance than complaining and whining about difficulties and trials in life like the Israelites in the wilderness (first reading); and, thinking more of others than of one’s self.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic had taught something very amusing about the positivity of being negative, when negative was actually positive – healthy and COVID free! Remember how during those days when we would always wish we would yield negative results in our swab tests for COVID?

When we look at the sign of the cross (+), it is a positive sign, a plus sign. Though the cross calls us to let go, to be detached and dispossessed, it is actually an invitation to have more of God, of life and fulfillment! In this time of affluence when everything is practically easily available for as long as you have the means and the resources, the sign of the Cross reminds us that life is more of letting go and of giving than of having like God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn.3:16). St. Francis of Assisi said it perfectly why the Cross is an exaltation, a triumph:

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  

Amen.  Have a blessed Thursday!

Why love is the greatest commandment

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time, 25 August 2023
Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 22:34-40

*Photo by Mr. Jay Javier at Tayabas, Quezon, 13 August 2023.*

O how often,
Lord Jesus Christ
that we ask you until now
the same question by 
a scholar of the law:
"Teacher, 
which commandment
of the law is the greatest?"
(Matthew 22:34).

And we have always known
your answer, which is, loving God
with one's total self
and loving others as we love our
very selves.

But why do we keep on asking
the same question until now?

Because, we have always believed
that loving is having,
that loving is fullness,
when in fact, it is the 
exact opposite:
loving is not having,
loving is being poor,
loving is emptiness,
loving is letting go,
loving is surrendering
for the one you love.

Just like Ruth,
that Moabite woman,
a pagan who left everything
to join her widowed
mother-in-law Naomi to go
back to Bethlehem;
both of them were
widowed, both were
childless and empty,
so poor without anything 
except each other
and God.

Let the words of Ruth
be our prayer today
to those we love 
without if nor buts,
especially those empty
and poor, sick and dying:
"Do not ask me to abandon 
or forsake you! for wherever
you go I will go, wherever 
you lodge I will lodge,
your people shall by my people,
and your God my God"
(Ruth 1:16).

God our Father,
help us to remain faithful
and to keep loving when
in the midst of sufferings
and trials, of emptiness
and nothingness like Ruth
to Naomi; how lovely to recall
that Ruth's love for Naomi led
to her becoming the grandmother
of King David and one of the four women
in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus
for it is loving without nothing in return
that we gain, and it is in loving 
even in losing ourselves
that we find ourselves in you.  
Amen.

Seeing Jesus

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, 10 August 2023
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 <*[[[[><< + >><]]]]'> John 12:24-26

God our loving Father,
help us to see and follow Jesus
your Son like your servant
St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr.
Though there may be less
persecutions these days
of Christians, the call to be 
Christ's witnesses is more
compelling today as we live
in world that tries to forget you
and negate you.
Like the Greek visitors in
Jerusalem who asked help 
from Philip and Andrew 
to see Jesus, we too want
to see him.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”
John 12:24

To see you, O Lord Jesus
is more than laying one's eyes
on your image
or your Blessed Sacrament;
to see you like St. Lawrence
is to have an insight,
to penetrate your inner mind
of self-sacrifice,
of losing one's self like
the grain of wheat that falls
on the ground to die, disintegrate
and be transformed
as new wheat bearing
much grain to feed more people.

Like St. Lawrence,
let us see that reality
to have the courage to offer
ourselves to you through others
in a life of service and sacrifice
so we may inspire more to serve you,
most especially see you too.

Let us not count the costs
of what we give up for they have
all been paid for by Jesus;
like St. Lawrence,
let us consider everything
as a pure grace from you
meant to be shared
for indeed, "you love a cheerful giver";
may we keep in mind and heart
that "God is able to make every grace
abundant for us,
so that, always having all we need,
we may have an abundance
for every good work"
(2Cor.9:8).

In this world of affluence
amid the ironic poverty of so many,
may we emulate St. Lawrence
in learning and living Christ's teaching
that true wealth is found
not in having things for ourselves
but in sharing and giving
with the others the gifts
we have received.
Amen.

St. Lawrence,
Deacon and Martyr,
Pray for us!

Praying and thanking, truly

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious, 21 June 2023
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

*Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte at Atok, Benguet, 01 September 2019.*

Lord Jesus Christ,
let me realize everything
is purely your grace
so that I may learn to
pray and thank you 
truly and sincerely;
it is only when we recognize 
this fundamental truth
that whatever we have
is a grace from you, O Lord,
that we learn 
to truly pray 
and 
give you thanks.

Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8, 11

We can only be true
to you in our prayers, 
Jesus, when we acknowledge 
all your grace in us;
that is when we stop
showing off our kindness
and holiness, we stop
wasting time and efforts
on superficialities and 
outside appearance
because you are in us
and you are more than
enough for us.

In the same manner,
we can only be truly
grateful when we 
accept and own and
recognize the many 
grace you have 
showered us;
that is when we 
become a cheerful giver
because the best act
of thanksgiving
is in sharing our gifts,
your grace
with others.

After all, the word grace
is "charis" in Greek from
which also came the word
eucharist or thanksgiving
which is "eu-charis-tia".

What a tremendous grace
indeed to love and serve you,
Lord Jesus Christ when we
witness your loving service
to others, sharing and giving
only you,
always you.
Amen.

True wealth

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 20 June 2023
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 5:43-48

*Photo by author, Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan, January 2023.*

How deep are your mysteries,
O Lord Jesus Christ,
so irresistibly true
but at the same time daring
and challenging for us
who are focused 
on what we have
without realizing
everything 
comes from you.

Many times, dear Lord,
we are like the Corinthians
rich in so many things
yet not convinced
we are so blessed
that we are also afraid 
of losing whatever we have; 
make us emulate the 
solicitude of the Macedonians 
in sharing their treasures 
with the needy churches
even if they were less affluent
than the Corinthians; 
make us realize that true wealth 
is freedom from our possessions,
of being free for sharing our gifts
and talents and treasures.

Help us realize, Jesus,
that true excellence in faith
is expressed in charity,
in oneness with those in need.

Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:7-9

Teach us to immerse ourselves
to your mystery of self-denial
and self-sacrifice, 
to your process of being
perfect like the Father
in heaven.
Amen.

Why give?

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 I, 30 May 2023
Sirach 35:1-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 10:28-31

*Photo by Mr. John Ryan Jacob, December 2022, Paco, Obando, Bulacan.*

Why give at all, Lord?

Today you answer this 
"frequently asked question" 
of so many people especially
Christians:  why should I give?

Appear not before the Lord empty-handed, for all that you offer is in fulfillment of the precepts. The just one’s offering enriches the altar and rises as a sweet odor before the Most High. The just one’s sacrifice is most pleasing nor will it ever be forgotten.
Sirach 35:4-6

There are so many reasons
why we should give but in the
wise words by Ben Sirach today,
one clear reason why we should
give is because everything is yours,
O God; we own nothing at all!

Whatever we have is yours
and the more we give,
the more we share,
the more you bless us!

Teach us, O God,
not to be selfish,
to be open,
to be generous
for we are mere channels
of your blessings and 
grace; forgive us, Jesus,
when we are like the rich man
who asked you about gaining
eternal life but unwilling to give
up his possession to share with others
or like Simon Peter counting 
whatever we have given
and shared, most especially 
what we have given up for you
as if everything we have is 
totally ours, that we owe no one
except ourselves in having them
without realizing we are your mere
stewards of whatever we have;
so often, we fail to realize 
the simple truth 
that when everyone
gives, everyone receives.
That is why we must give.
Amen.