“Do not disturb”: Pagpapala ng mga may-sakit

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-11 ng Pebrero 2026

*Larawan kuha ni Arkitek Philip Santiago, Lourdes, France, Oktubre 2025.*

Isa sa mga turo sa amin ni Bp. Almario (+) noong kami ay mga seminarista pa ay huwag na huwag daw kaming maglalagay sa pintuan ng aming silid kapag naging pari na ng “Do not disturb” sign.

Paliwanag niya sa amin ay buhay ng mga pari ang palaging maistorbo at magambala lalo na kung mayroong may-sakit at naghihingalo ano mang oras gaya ng hating-gabi at madaling-araw.

Naalala ko ang turo niyang iyon noong Lunes sa aking homilya tungkol sa ebanghelyo na si Hesus ay “inistorbo” ng mga tao nang tumawid ng lawa at dumaong sila sa Capernaum.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Lawa ng Galilea, Israel, Mayo 2017.*

Noong panahong iyon, sina Hesus at ang kanyang mga alagad ay tumawid ng lawa, at pagdating sa Genesaret ay isinadsad nila ang bangka. Paglunsad nila, nakilala siya agad ng mga tao kaya’t nagmamadaling nilibot ng mga ito ang mga pook sa paligid; at ang mga maysakit, na nakaratay na sa higaan ay dinala nila kay Hesus, saanman nila mabalitaang naroon siya. At saanman siya dumating, maging sa nayon, lungsod, o kabukiran, ay dinadala sa liwasan ang mga maysakit, at isinasamo sa kanya na pahipuin sila kahit man lang sa palawit ng kanyang kasuutan. At lahat ng makahipo nito ay gumagaling (Marcos 6:53-56).

Imagine natin ang eksenang ito: ni hindi na nakapagpahinga man lang si Hesus pagdating sa Capernaum. Ni hindi niya nakuhang bumuwelo. Agad-agad Siya na sumama sa mga tao. Kung ano man mga plano Niya marahil noong mga araw na iyon ay Kanyang ipinagpaliban para sa mga tao, lalo na sa mga may-sakit.

At iyon naman ang totoo kay Hesus – palagi Siyang may panahon sa bawat isa sa atin. Kaya nga hindi naman Siya pumapalag sa mga humihipo sa Kanyang damit upang gumaling sa kanilang mga sakit. Kailanman ay hindi pinigilan ni Hesus mga tao na siya ay istorbohin upang magpagaling, mangaral at magpaliwanag. Minsan nga ay inaya niya Kanyang mga alagad tumungo sa ilang na pook upang mamahinga ngunit wala Siyang nagawa kungdi ang maawa nang makita Niya na nauna pang dumating sa kanila ang mga tao na parang mga “tupang walang pastol” kaya tinuruan Niya at pinagaling mga may-sakit. At pagkaraan ay pinakain pa!

Napaka-gandang katangian ni Hesus ang kanyang pagtugon sa mga pang-aabala lalo ng mga may-sakit at naghihingalo. Ito marahil ang kaganapan ng ating panalanging “disturb me Lord” sapagkat tunay tayo nagagambala ng Panginoon tuwing kinakilanga at pinaglilingkuran natin ang mga may-sakit at maging iba pang mga nahihirapan sa buhay.

Kaya naman tuwing ginugunita ang Birhen ng Lourdes sa ika-11 ng Pebrero, atin ring ipinagdiriwang ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga May-Sakit. Bantog ang maraming himala ng kagalingan sa pamamagitan ng pamimintuho sa Birhen ng Lourdes. Itinuturing din na mapaghimala ang bukal ng tubig doon sa Lourdes, France na ipinahukay ng Mahal na Birhen sa pinagpakitaan niyang bata noon na ngayon ay Santa na, si St. Bernadette Soubirous.

Itinakda ni San Juan Pablo II noong Mayo 13, 1992 at isinabay sa kapistahan ng Lourdes ang World Day of the Sick upang aniya ay “ating makita sa mga may-sakit ang mukha ni Kristo na sa Kanyang pagpapakasakit, pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay ay natamo ang kaligtasan ng sangkatauhan.”

Bakit nga ba gayon na lamang ang pagpapahalaga ng Diyos sa mga may-sakit? Dahil lang ba sa sila’y mahihina at walang halos magagawa kaya kailangan nating tulungan at kalingain?

Maraming dahilan ang ating maiisip na pawang mga patungkol sa mga may-sakit dahil nga sa sila ay mahihina, maraming tinitiis at iniindang hirap sa kanilang karamdaman.

Ngunit, marahil hindi sumagi sa ating isipan ang malaking pagpapala na hatid sa atin ng mga may-sakit dahil sa pamamagitan nila ay ating nakikita, nararanasan pagliligtas ni Kristo. Gaya ng sinabi ni San Juan Pablo II, sa kanila ating nakikita ang mukha ni Kristo na nagligtas sa atin sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang pagpapasakit, pagkamatay at muling pagkabuhay.

Tatlong katotohanan aking napagtanto na biyayang binabahagi sa atin ng mga may-sakit at naghihingalo.

Personal nating nararanasan si Hesus sa mga may-sakit.

Tunay lamang nating masasabing “Katawan ni Kristo” ang Banal na Ostiya kung nahawakan natin ang maruming sugat at balat ng isang may-sakit, o naglinis at nagpaligo sa may-sakit. Higit itong totoo kapag pamilya natin ang may sakit na inaalagaan at kinakalinga.

May mga pagkakataong tuwing konsekrasyon habang binibigkas ko yung mga sinabi at ginawa ni Hesus sa Huling Hapunan (institution narrative) saka dumarating sa aking gunita mga pasyente na aking hinawakan, hinipo… o nilinisan. Namamangha ako sa biyaya na nagawa ko lahat yun gayong mahina aking sikmura (sabi po ng aking Ina noong nabubuhay pa siya, sa lahat daw ng matakaw ako mahina ang sikmura!).

Mahirap ipaliwanag ni ilarawan aking nadarama sa mga pagkakataon na iyon madalas ako ay naluluha, parang may daluyong sa aking dibdib na biglang gagaan at ang tanging nasasabi ko ay basta ganun yun! Totoo nga sabi ni San Juan Pablo II na ating nakikita mukha ni Kristo sa may-sakit. Ito marahil ay sapagkat sila man nakikita na si Kristo.

Ang mga may-sakit pinaka-malapit kay Kristo.

Sa Ebanghelyo ayon kay San Lukas, tiniyak ni Hesus kay Dimas na “ngayon din isasama kita sa paraiso” (23:43). Hindi sinabi ni Hesus na mamyang alas-tres pagkamatay ko o sa Linggo sa aking pagkabuhay. Ang sinabi ni Hesus ay ngayon din habang sila ay nakabayubay sa krus.

Alalaong-baga, sa pangungusap na iyon ni Hesus, inilalahad niya sa atin ang katotohanan na ang pintuan ng langit ay narito mismo sa lupang ibabaw. Higit sa lahat, pumapasok tayo sa langit kapag tayo naroon sa krus ng pagtitiis at paghihirap. Kaya hindi kataka-taka na natatanaw na ng mga may-sakit at mga naghihingalo ang langit na kanilang pupuntahan maging si Kristo na kanilang hahantungan.

Aking napansin sa marami kong pasyente na naihanda sa pagpanaw, mayroon tila “cycle” na sila at ang mga bantay na pinagdaraanan. Una, yung pasyente ang palaging umiiyak dahil takot o galit sa kanilang sinapit. Sino nga ba hindi matatakot at maiiyak kung malaman mo na mamatay ka na dahil sa iyong sakit.

Ngunit unti-unti habang kanilang natatanggap ang kanilang kalagayan at karamdaman, naiiba ang sitwasyon: ang mga may-sakit ang puno ng tuwa at sigla at lakas ng loob habang ang mga mahal sa buhay ang bagabag at naiiyak. Ito marahil ay sapagkat natatanaw na nga ng mga may-sakit kanilang tutunguhan lalo na kung sila ay naihanda o nakapaghandang mabuti spiritually. Hindi na sila umiiyak dahil batid nilang mas mabuti ang kanilang pupuntahan. Ang mga naiiwan ang kinakabahan at umiiyak dahil walang katiyakan silang nakikita sa buhay. Paano na kapag pumanaw na si itay o si inay o sino mang mahal natin sa buhay? Paano tayo? Hindi natin alam ano susunod sa buhay natin di tulad ng papanaw na sigurado na ang langit!

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Basilika ng Manaoag, Pangasinan, 09 Enero 2026.*

Napaka-buti ng Diyos.

Kumbinsido ako lalo ngayon mula nang maging chaplain ako sa ospital na napaka-buti ng Diyos, na mahal na mahal niya tayong lahat. Nakatitiyak ako na mas marami pa rin ang nasa langit kesa nasa impiyerno.

Hanggang sa kahuli-hulihan, ibig ng Diyos tayo ay masagip kaya nga naparito Kanyang Anak na si Jesu-Kristo. Ang tanging napupunta lang sa impiyerno ay yaong sadyang ayaw sa Diyos.

Madalas sinasabi sa akin ng mga duktor at nurse dito sa ospital ay “Father hinitay lang po kayo ng pasyente bago pumanaw.” Kasi nga bihirang-bihira mga pumapanaw na pasyente na hindi ko napupuntahan. Ako mismo ay nagtataka: kapag wala ako, walang naghihingalo? At kung mayroon man, palaging inaabutan ko pa kahit na anong layo pa aking panggalingan! Gayun din kung hatinggabi o madaling-araw: nagigising ako maski sa text ng mga nurse kung mayroong mag-request ng pagpapahid ng langis.

Sadyang mabuti ang Diyos at mahal Niya tayong lahat na hindi Siya tatawag ng sino man kung hindi naman sa Kanya uuwi at hihimlay.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Chapel of angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Marso 2025.*

Sa loob ng limang taong pagiging kapelyan ko sa Fatima University Medical Center sa Valenzuela, naranasan ko maraming pagpapala mula sa mga dinadalaw na pasyente na nagpalalim at nagpayabong sa aking katauhan hindi lamang sa aking pagkapari.

Dahil sa kanila, lalong naging makahulugan at makatotohanan sa akin ang bawat pagdiriwang ng Banal na Eukaristiya kung saan tunay na tunay ngang dumarating si Hesus sa Kanyang Katawan at Dugo.

Totoong nakakapagod ang dumalaw lalo na ang mag-alaga ng may-sakit ngunit mayroong ibang kagaanan ng kalooban itong hatid sa ating katauhan na sagad hanggang ating budhi. Kaya nga, sakali mang pakiramdam natin tayo ay nagagambala o naiistorbo ng mga may-sakit sa kanilang pangangailangan, nawa ating ituring ang mga pagkakataong iyon ay mismong ang Panginoong Hesus nag-aanyaya sa atin ng Kanyang pagpapala na Siya ay maranasan at maka-ugnayan. Amen.

Mary, an overflowing of God’s grace

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes & World Day of Sick,
11 February 2026
Isaiah 66:10-14     ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>     John 2:1-11

*Photo by Architect Philip Santiago, Lourdes, France, October 2025.*

Praise and glory to you O God, 
our loving and merciful Father 
who has given us a wonderful 
and most kind Mother in Mary
the Blessed Virgin through 
Jesus Christ your Son.

From the beginning 
since Jesus Christ began his ministry 
to our present time, 
the Blessed Virgin Mary 
has always been with Jesus 
showing us your great signs 
of presence, 
of generosity, 
and of life 
first anticipated 
at the wedding feast at Cana.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water” (John 2:1-5, 7).

How wonderful 
to recall and meditate
 on this first miracle of Jesus
of turning water into wine
 at the wedding feast at Cana
 through the intercession
 of his Mother,
 the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Through Mary,
 your abundant blessings,
 O God, have continued
to overflow upon us
 even after she is now
with you and Jesus
 as Queen
of heaven and earth.

How true were your words
 to the Prophet Isaiah
 that you shall send Israel a mother
 who shall comfort us,
 a mother in whom you shall
 spread prosperity and blessings
 (Isaiah 66:10-14).

How lovely that 
more than 1800 years after Cana,
another miracle happened anew
using the same element of water
through Mary in Lourdes, France;
how amazing in both Cana
and Lourdes, Jesus asserted
water as the primordial element
 of life and symbol of humanity;
most amazing Lord Jesus
that since that miracle at Cana,
your life continues to overflow
upon us through Mary your
Mother and our Mother too
in Lourdes, France.

Like the servers at Cana,
Mary told the young St. Bernadette
at Lourdes to dig on earth 
so water may burst forth as spring, 
like life coming out of the womb of the earth; 
until now, that spring has been 
the source of many healings 
and other miracles 
among generations of peoples 
from all walks of life and nations;
these waters of Lourdes
remain as symbols 
of fruitfulness and of healing, 
of maternity in Mary 
who cares most to us 
and the sick  
in Jesus our Savior.

Give us the grace, 
dear Jesus
the gifts of purity 
and cleanliness 
in our hearts 
so that we may become 
like Mary at Cana and Lourdes,
a vessel of your healing 
and compassion 
especially for the sick 
of the world.

Grant us, 
dear Jesus,
the gift of listening
and docility like the servers
in Cana and 
St. Bernadette in Lourdes 
to always "do whatever
you tell us."
Amen.

Be gentle to be in the banquet

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 28 September 2025
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Amos 6:1, 4-7 ><}}}}*> 1 Timothy 6:11-16 ><}}}}*> Luke 16:19-31

*Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 25 September 2025.*

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness (1Timothy 6:11).

How lovely and so apt these days are the qualities Paul required through Timothy every man and woman of God must have. Of the six qualities Paul had cited, I like most “gentleness” which Jesus also asked us to have, “learn from me, for I am meek and gentle ( or humble) of heart” (Mt. 11:29).

From the Greek word prauteis, gentleness implies consideration, meekness, humility, calmness and strength amid adversities and difficulties. True power is expressed kindly and gently, not with harshness. Parents and teachers know this so well as children learn discipline better when authority and power are expressed gently than harshly.

Lately we have been sliding towards this kind of arrogance in our anger and frustrations following the wholesale corruption in Congress. Everybody feels the weight and pains of the ghost flood control projects but cursing and wishing death upon the corrupt officials are off bounds because that make us just like Duterte and his followers whose mouths spew expletives and death to their detractors.

Our readings are so timely this Sunday again, calling us to be gentle with one another because eternal life begins in the here and now of our earthly existence. How we live today determines our entrance or not into the eternal banquet of the Lord.

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuosly each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side” (Luke 16:19-23).

Our readings continue to pursue that thorny issue of money, of how we use and manage it for God’s greater glory in the service of others not for our shameful selfish interests.

That is why we find Paul’s admonition to Timothy and to us today as men and women of God to be gentle in the midst of too much materialism. In the preceding verses Paul warned Timothy of the dangers of false teachings and the love of riches which he concluded with an exhortation to rely more on God than in wealth in verse 17. It is a timely reminder from over 2000 years ago against this growing trend among us spawned by social media of people flaunting their wealth as if finding their own value as a person in possessions than in their very selves.

Gentleness like Jesus is first of all finding our being’s sacredness. It is an expression of our being loving and charitable because we are children of one loving God we relate with as a Father.

How tragic we no longer see each other’s worth as a person, as an image and likeness of God as we seek more the face of money than the face of God in every person. Pera pera na lang lahat – even in the church, sad to say. Every consideration boils down to money like leadership in church activities or hermanidad in fiestas being reserved for the rich and famous who are always the politicians to whom many priests and bishops have become beholden, consciously or unconsciously. We have too much collections and envelopes that further drive away the poor from celebrating our Sunday Eucharist which is essentially a foretaste of the Lord’s banquet in heaven.

Amos continues his tirades against the priests of the temple of his time with their hypocrisies of hiding selfish motives in religious celebrations and practices that sadly continue to this day among us in the church.

Thus says the Lord the God of hosts: “Woe to the complacent of Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!” (Amos 6:1, 4, 6).

That “eating lambs from the flock” and “calves from the stall” are the animals reserved for offering in the temple their priests have taken for themselves while “drinking from bowls” and “anointing with the best oils” harp on our rituals we have taken as our own like commercialization of Masses and sacraments. It is the color of money perfectly described by the purple clothing of the rich man in the parable that pervades us in the church that people no longer see and experience God as they have become so cautious asking about the price or the fees that come with every service we give.

Gentleness like Christ is using our power and authority at the service of the poor and disadvantaged, ensuring our Eucharistic banquet is a reflection of the eternal banquet in heaven where everyone is welcomed.

How sad this parable is repeated daily in the church that is why Jesus directed it to the Pharisees, one of the ruling class in the Jewish society at that time associated with temple worship and religion. Though Jesus did not say at all if the rich man is a good person or not, it is very clear that he lacked gentleness in his flamboyance, wearing purple clothes as if screaming to be noticed by everyone as a somebody while everybody is a nobody.

Maybe we should add “nepo Fathers” to the list of nepo babies and nepo wives who flaunt their wealth, looking more like showbiz kids than priests, feeling superstars who are more like entertainers than preachers who relish the tag “influencer” than remain hidden doing the work of Christ. They refuse wearing the proper liturgical vestments due to our tropical climate but would not mind at all wearing signature clothes with their perfumes leaving traces in their favorite stomping grounds like malls and cafes during offs.

Where is our gentleness or concern and consideration for the majority of our people who are poor further pushed out of our churches literally and figuratively speaking simply because we do not smell and look like them our flock of sheep as Pope Francis reminded us early in his pontificate?

Gentleness of Jesus is solidarity with the people, especially the poor and suffering who experience being uplifted or empowered in his mere presence so filled with warmth and love.

People understand us priests for being strict even stern-looking but what they find so difficult is when pastors are detached from them, always out of the parish for so many reasons, when priests are selective in their company even having cliques. How sad when priests are unapproachable and indifferent like the rich man who was oblivious to the presence of Lazarus at his door, who never gave him any attention at all while still on earth when in fact, they knew each other as mentioned in the parable after they have both died. Kakilala naman pala niya si Lazaro pero doon na lang sa kabilang buhay siya kinausap at pinansin kung kailan huli na ang lahat.

Pope Francis used to describe the church as a hospital where the sick in body and soul come to find solace and comfort in the presence of God. But, instead of hospitality, many times it is hostility that people experience in our parish when they are held hostage by our many rules and regulations that they never feel welcomed at all. Some get scolded that instead of their burdens being eased, they are traumatized by the priests or the office staff and volunteers.

If we could be a little more gentle with every Lazarus, perhaps we could be truly rich as we find God in everyone in our doors that lead to our banquet table, whether here on earth or in the afterlife.

Let me end with this parable within me these past five years as a chaplain in the hospital.

Have you ever noticed how the rich with all their wealth and resources are often afflicted with rare diseases without any cure and medication at all while so many poor people without money at all could not avail of the many procedures and medications available for their illness?

It is a parable in this life that begs us to be gentle, even extra gentle many times to ease each other’s sufferings with the rich sharing their material wealth and the poor sharing their gift of self in the face of death. Amen. Have a gentle week ahead everyone. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).

Touching, healing in Jesus

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 03 September 2025
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of Church
Colossians 1:1-8 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:38-44

*A surge in number of patients with leptospirosis after the series of flooding in Metro Manila, August 2025.*

Lord Jesus,
I am angry like
most people in my country;
so angry with the rampant
corruption long been going on;
so angry why we have allowed
it to continue and worsened
that people are getting sick,
classes and work disrupted
by the floods because 
no flood control project was 
ever delivered despite being 
paid for by the government;
as I prayed,
I feel nothing had changed
since your time until now
still with so many people
seeking healing and comfort
from you.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them (Luke 4:40, 42).

Yes, dear Jesus,
the corruption and injustices
happening today are so sickening
but do not let these deviate my 
focus in you
whom I must follow always; 
use my hands as extension
of your healing hands,
of your comforting touch
to the sick and needy,
that I may restore them
to you,
in you;
you never remained in one place,
Jesus as you kept moving 
to bring hope and healing
to so many others forgotten
by their family and the society;
enlighten my mind
and my heart, Jesus
with your Holy Spirit
to imitate you
in going to a deserted place
to remain one in the Father
and most especially to find you
among the suffering
that the corrupt disregard.
Amen.

*Photo from “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis” by Dr. Tony Leachon on Facebook, 08 August 2025.*

Yes, God is one of us, among us.

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Week I in Ordinary Time, Year I, 15 January 2025
Hebrews 4:12-16 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 2:13-17

*Photo by author, Northern Blossom Farm, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.*

therefore, he (Jesus) had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested (Hebrews 2:17-18).

How lovely are your words today,
dearest Jesus!
They are so true!
While others are still wondering,
asking "what if God is one of us",
we have always believed
and have experienced 
God truly one of us,
among us,
and within us
in you, 
Jesus Christ.

How sad that many of us humans
are more inclined to believe
in things and persons bigger than
than ourselves,
not realizing our greatness 
in being small that even you,
O Son of God,
chose to be like us,
little and vulnerable
so that we can be like you,
divine and eternal.

Teach us to see more of your
person, of your being one of us,
dearest Jesus, 
for us to experience your 
authority and power;
like Simon and Andrew,
teach us to have that intimacy
with you Lord that,
"immediately" they told you about
Simon's mother-in-law being sick;
most of all, let me be one with
my own brothers and sisters 
like you, Jesus,
"approaching them,
grasping them,
and helping them 
rise up when they are 
down"
(Mark 1:31)
Amen.

*Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law, a mosaic in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Monreale, Sicily, from christianiconography.info.*

Jerusalem, O Jerusalem!

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Twenty-Sixth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 03 October 2023
Zechariah 8:20-23 <*(((>< + ><)))*> Luke 9:51-56

*The old city of Jerusalem with the Golden Dome Mosque seen from the inside of the Church Dominus Flevit (the Lord Cried); photo by author, May 2017.*

Today O Dear God
our loving Father,
I pray for those going
through many difficulties
and sufferings in life;
those travelling the road
to Jerusalem,
even inside Jerusalem
already, one with Jesus
without them knowing 
carrying their Cross
to the Calvary.

When the days for Jesus being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51

Open our eyes,
open our hearts, 
dear Father to recognize
Jesus our companion 
to Jerusalem,
in Jerusalem;
help us to be "resolute"
like Christ in going to
Jerusalem to face 
Passion and Death
to eventually realize our
Resurrection in him
 too!

I pray, dear God,
for those giving up,
have given up to
continue the journey
to Jerusalem:  those
who have been living
all these years with
dialysis or chemotherapy,
those with never-ending
rehabilitation due to stroke
and other accidents,
those living daily with
medications and motivations
to fight depression,
to resist suicide;
those nursing so much pains
and hurts within not only 
due to physical trauma but
especially emotional and
spiritual traumas;
Lord, I pray also for their
caregivers, their family
and loved ones so 
often pushed to the limits
physically, emotionally,
and spiritually; console and
comfort them with the warmth
of the Holy Spirit, strengthen them
and assure them of your love;
tap their shoulders and whisper
to them they are doing well.

I pray dear Father
for those grieving,
those still grappling with
the loss of a loved one;
those suddenly thrown into 
emptiness within and without
with the death of a wife or
husband, a mother or a father,
a brother or a sister;
Jesus Christ knew so well the
deep hurt and emptiness every
death creates; accompany them
in the eerie silence and darkness
of suddenly not seeing
nor hearing, not embracing
nor serving a beloved departed.

God, 
life is a journey;
thank you in giving us Jesus
our companion; like
the two disciples going
back to Emmaus in
sadness and disappointments,
ignite our hearts anew with
Christ's loving presence,
to go to you, to seek you
right in our hearts,
our little Jerusalem
until we come to you in heaven,
the new Jerusalem.
Amen.

*Facade of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where one finds inside another church enclosing the very site of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ; photo by author, Jerusalem, May 2017.*

Healing our community

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of San Roque, Healer, 16 August 2023
Deuteronomy 34:1-12 ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Matthew 18:15-20

*Photo by author, view of Israel from Mt. Nebo in Jordan, May 2019.*

God our loving Father,
today we thank you for the gift
of another popular saint among us,
San Roque or St. Rock of France;
he was like Moses, Joshua,
and our Lord Jesus Christ
who primarily worked for the
"healing" of our community,
of your chosen people.

Invoked in time of pestilence
like in the recent pandemic,
San Roque cared and cured many 
sick people infected during a plague
in Italy in the 14th century;
when he caught the disease himself,
he hid in the woods to die so that
others may not be infected through him;
but, in your divine providence, O Lord,
you sent him a dog that licked his wounds
and brought him bread until he was saved 
by its owner until he could finally get home 
to settle the disputes among his relatives 
when an uncle usurped his position
and inheritance from his late father,
the former governor of Montpellier.

Today you remind us, O Lord,
to always care for the unity of
our community that includes our
family, our church, our school even our
office where you call us to gather as one;
like Moses who spent all his life
keeping your chosen people united in you,
may we also work for the common good 
of our designated community.

What a beautiful sight to behold of Moses
seeing the Promised Land from Jordan!
More than our home here on earth,
give us a glimpse of your heavenly
dwelling, dear God, by continuing
your works of leading our community
close to you like Joshua who succeeded Moses.

Teach us to forgive and correct
those who sin and err with humility
and sole concern of being good
and holy like you, O God,
never to put others into shame
nor to look as better than others;
in the name of Jesus Christ your Son,
help us to work for our unity so that
"whenever two or three of us are
gathered in his name, he may truly be
in our midst" (Mt.18:20), 
reflected and mirrored in our community
as we live in justice and mercy,
love and kindness
and holiness.
Amen.

*Photo by author, view of Israel from Mt. Nebo, Jordan, May 2019.*

We enter Paradise in the Cross

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
The Seven Last Words, 02 April 2023

*Photo by author, Chapel of the Holy Family, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City, 2014.*

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42

Every time we feel good, whenever we see something so beautiful, whenever we are with those we love, we describe the feelings as “like paradise” or “heaven”. For us, paradise is all bliss. No sickness, no problems, no sufferings, nothing bad, nothing dark, nothing unpleasant. It is all good. In fact, perfect.

And that is why heaven or paradise is! From the ancient Persian word paradiso, it referred to the innermost room in the palace where only the most trusted ministers of the King were allowed to enter along with his immediate family, From that came the idea that paradise must be so beautiful that the Greek translators of the Bible used it to refer to heaven as God’s dwelling. After all, our God is the only One who is perfect and supreme than any king in the world.

Recall that when Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from Paradise that was henceforth closed until that Good Friday when Jesus promised Paradise – of all people – to a former thief!

Yes, Paradise is for every sinner ready to beg forgiveness, ready to claim Jesus Christ as our Savior!

And that is just one of the surprising things about Paradise or Heaven according to Jesus on that Good Friday.

See that Jesus never promised “Paradise” when He was freely going around Galilee, preaching and healing the people, when He was dining with sinners and tax collectors, when He was very well and strong.

Jesus promised Paradise when he was dying there on the Cross, not when He was strong and free!

See also how He said the words to Dimas, “today you will be with me in Paradise”.

Jesus promised Paradise at that very moment they were on the Cross, hanging and dying. Not later when they died nor on Sunday when He resurrected from the dead.

Jesus promised Paradise at that very moment they were suffering and dying, in extreme, excruciating pains never imagined by anyone, presumably with all the fears, negative thoughts and feelings that went with it.

And that is precisely when we enter Paradise with Jesus, too.

When we are suffering from our sickness and disabilities especially over a long period of time, when we are deep in pains in our heart for all the hurts inflicted by a loved one, when we are old and bed-ridden awaiting the final moment of death, when we are in agony for the loss of a loved one, when deep in trials and disappointments, or whenever we are so weak and dying literally or figuratively speaking.

That is when we slowly enter Paradise.

In a world where the most prescribed medicine is the pain reliever, where everything is invented to minimize even eradicate difficulties and hardships, Jesus is reminding us that we enter Paradise when we are with Him suffering there on the Cross.

That is the value and meaning of the Cross we always evade these days. It is not all suffering but also a foretaste of eternal bliss, of perfect joy and happiness because it is during our darkest moments in life that we get a glimpse of Christ’s eternal light, when we are transformed and made stronger and better as persons soon enough to be worthy to enter the most exclusive circle of all – Paradise – to dwell in the Lord with His angels and Saints.

Let us pray for those going through many sufferings these days, including ourselves.

Lord Jesus Christ,
before all these pains and trials
came to my life, 
You were there FIRST for me on the Cross;
You were there FIRST for me to suffer and die
on the Cross.
 Let me stay with you on Your Cross
so I may enter Paradise with You,
right now,
right here.
Amen.

One of the most beautiful front page photos I have seen in many years. Taken in August 2021 when we were in the midst of a surge in COVID-19 cases, the photo evokes Paradise, “right here, right now” while people were suffering in Jesus, with Jesus and through Jesus. Photo from inquirer.net.

Deaths in Lent

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 27 February 2023

Lent is my favorite season in our Church calendar: partly because of my melancholic tendencies and mostly, its closeness with the realities of life, of its daily “passovers” and exodus that eventually lead to Easter. That is why for me, life is a daily lent.

This became truest to me yesterday afternoon, the First Sunday of Lent when one of our elderly priests, Msgr. Vicente “Teng” Manlapig died past 3:00 PM at the Fatima University Medical Center in Valenzuela City where I serve as chaplain.

I am still in the process of gathering the many insights and realizations I have had these past three weeks when Mons. Teng was confined with the final five days in the ICU. What is so remarkable for me which dawned upon me yesterday is the fact that Mons. Teng is the second priest I had taken cared and died in the season of Lent. The first was the late Msgr. Macario Manahan in March 16, 2014, the Second Sunday of Lent at that time.

Yes, another monsignor I took care and died in the season of Lent. I was then assigned in San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista Parish in Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan when Mons Macario retired in an apartment with his adopted family in the next barrio to my parish. Like Mons. Teng, I gave him daily communion and anointing of the sick during his final stretch of about two or three weeks before death. The only difference is that Mons. Macario passed away in my presence that Sunday afternoon; I visited Mons. Teng Sunday morning before he expired in the afternoon.

I have been wondering what must be God’s message for me in making me directly involved with two elderly priests dying in the season of Lent.

It seems to me for now that Lent is the best time for us priests to die because it leads to Easter. It would be a great extra bonus perhaps for us priests to die on Easter Sunday like the Jesuit Father Teilhard de Chardin or on Divine Mercy Sunday of the Easter Octave like the great St. John Paul II or at New Year’s eve like Pope Benedict XVI recently.

In my 24 years in priesthood, I have found our life, and death, follow a certain pattern. That is another topic I intend to develop further but for the moment, here is God showing me a pattern in priestly deaths in Lent which is the season characterized by prayer, fasting, alms-giving and penance.

Thursday night, Mons. Teng he asked to me listen to his “story” which turned out to be a confession, his final one. And what a tremendous grace from God for it was a triumph against his final temptations by the devil. How wonderful that he died yesterday, the First Sunday of Lent when the gospel from Matthew was the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. The hospital ICU is the modern wilderness of temptations where there is the macabre atmosphere of gloom and dead-seriousness, cold and lifeless with just the eerie beeps and whirring or humming of various machines accompanying patients in separate cubicles along with doctors and nurses garbed in overalls and masks like in those movie scenes of invasion by aliens or zombies.

I must confess that after witnessing another death of a senior priest this season of Lent with my ministry this past year being in the hospital, I actually feel more afraid than ever of getting old, of getting sick.

It seems to me for now 
that Lent is the best time for us priests 
to die because it leads to Easter.

I cannot say I am ready. No. The more I see myself afraid and so unprepared. It would be a big lie no fool would ever believe to claim I am ready to get sick and die. And even if I felt so tired and sleepy watching over Mons. Teng these past weeks, I could not pray in silence to God and ask him that he spare me those sufferings. Yes, the sense of entitlement crossed my mind many times like the thought “siguro naman, pwede na ako ma exempt, Lord” but no! I could not ask God. I feel so ashamed. It felt so bad on the taste-buds. Whenever such thoughts crossed my mind, there was always something or someone inside me preventing me from asking God for that privilege. Or grace? Because our suffering in sickness is precisely the very gift and grace of being one with Jesus Christ in the wilderness, fighting the devil’s temptations.

The gospel said it so well yesterday that after Jesus triumphed over his temptations, “the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him” (Mt.4:11). See that it was Thursday when I heard Mons. Teng’s final confession, Friday night was the last time he received the viaticum because Saturday morning he could no longer speak, could not eat that I had to consent into the insertion of an NGT for his feeding Saturday night until he slowly deteriorated Sunday morning after I had anointed him again with oil and died around the hour of the great Mercy of God at 3PM.

The same thing is true with Mons. Macario. For about two weeks, I would rush to his apartment mostly at night and midnight to anoint him, pray for him, and give him the viaticum. Once I even celebrated Mass for a peaceful death around midnight when we thought he was about to expire which eventually came a few days after he had met and presumably reconciled with a family member. It was the Second Sunday of Lent, March 16, 2014 when he died. The gospel was the Transfiguration of Jesus. If there is anyone who would truly experience the Cross of Christ on the way to transfiguration, it is surely us, his priests.

A few years ago a friend commented to me that he thought priests were exempted from sickness and other sufferings. He could not believe that we priests get cancer, suffer stroke and other debilitating sickness. In fact, I told him that suffering is our life. One of the priests with tremendous impact on me was our formator in high school seminary, Rev. Fr. Leopoldo Nazareno we called “Fr. Naz” who spent maybe 40 years of his life with Parkinson’s disease that was so rare at that time in the 80’s.

Am I afraid of getting sick, of dying? Yes. Very much! But, what can I do? Like Jesus in the the garden of Gethsemane, even if I pray that God would take away this cup, it is still his will not mine.

Maybe for a good reason, to suffer unto death is the ultimate gift of priesthood. Even in old age for us priests, there is still the essence of victimhood, of offering. It is when out deathbed becomes our eucharistic table and altar where we finally offer ourselves to God in union with Jesus our Eternal High Priest, no longer the bread and wine because we could not celebrate the Mass nor even receive Holy Communion. It would be very sad for a priest to die not a martyr, a witness of Christ on the Cross, loved and forgiven like the “good thief”.

That is what I have seen in these two deaths of priests in the season of Lent: the immense and immeasurable mercy and love of God for us all, especially us priests. Yes, we are sinners, even more miserable than others. But, still loved and forgiven by God. May we strive more to be holy priests, thinking more of the people than ourselves. Pray for us your priests, and help us fix our eyes unto God more clearly through you, the people, the sheep of his flock. May we your priests find that life is a daily Lent, a daily passover, a daily carrying of the Cross and Crucifixion in Christ that leads to Easter. Amen.

Stop hiding from God

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Saturday, Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, World Day of the Sick, 11 February 2023
Genesis 3:9-24 ><000'> + ><000'> + ><000'> Mark 8:1-10

*Photo by Arch. Philip Santiago in Lourdes, France, 2018.*

The Lord God called to Adam and asked him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9

Praise and glory to you,
O God our loving Father!
Until now, you never stop from
calling us,
asking us
like Adam after the Fall,
"Where are you?"

On this Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
which is also the World Day of the Sick
we come to you,
presenting ourselves before you,
sinful and sorrowful,
weak and very sick,
hurt and aching inside,
lost and searching for meaning
in this life.

Have mercy on us,
dear God our Father;
your Son Jesus Christ
came to look for us
to bring us closer to you
by giving us his very self as
food and drink
in this journey of life.

Make us stop from
hiding from you,
from running away from you;
let us stop
to be with you,
to be healed,
to be consoled,
and most of all,
to be restored in you
in Christ Jesus
with Mary our Mother,
the Immaculate Conception.
Amen.