Our sins, our relationships

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
The Seven Last Words, 01 April 2023

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

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Luke 23:33-34

Such is “the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of Christ’s love for us all” (Eph. 3:18-19) that right upon His crucifixion, Jesus begged God for our forgiveness. And that was not only for those who nailed Him on the cross on that Good Friday but also for us today who continue to crucify Him whenever we destroy our relationships.

In the Jewish thought, “to know” is not just of the mind but of the heart because to know is to have or enter into a relationship with others. Hence, Jesus begged first for our forgiveness when crucified because if there is something we must “know” above all is the fact that we are brothers and sisters in Him, one family in God our Father.

Every time there is a breakdown in our relationships, when we destroy our ties with one another, that is when we sin and know not what we do. And crucify Jesus anew.

We sin and know not what we do when we hurt those dearest to us – our mom and dad, sisters and brothers, relatives and friends – when we speak harsh words to them, calling them names, denigrating their persons as things.

We sin and know not what we do when we betray the trust of those with whom we promised to love forever, keep their secrets and protect them like your husband or wife, your children, your BFF, your student, your ward.

We sin and know not what we do when we lose hope in persons around us, choosing to do them evil because we thought they could no longer change for better, that they could never learn and overcome life’s pains and tragedies, that they could no longer get well from an illness or, sadly, because they are old and dying.

We sin and know not what we do when we cheat on those true to us, when we hide from those open to us, when we back stab those who believe and support us.

We sin and know not what we do when we abuse and use those people we are supposed to serve and protect, when we regard persons as objects to be possessed even if we do not know them personally.

Is there anyone whom you might have hurt in words or in deeds which you might not be aware of?

Who are the people who cause you pains and sufferings, who do not know what they are doing?

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry in crucifying You again,
when I know not what I am doing
like hurting the people You give and send me
to experience your love and mercy,
your trust and confidence
your kindness and fidelity;
I pray also for those who make me
suffer physically and emotionally,
those who do not know what they are doing;
help us build again 
our many broken relationships;
make us humble and true;
let us believe in Your love
expressed by our family and friends
and by everyone who cares for us.
Amen.

Photo above is a sculpture called *“Love”* by Ukrainian artist Alexander Milov he created in 2015 showing two adults after a disagreement sitting with their back to each other while their inner child in both of them wanting to connect. A beautiful expression of how we are all interconnected and related as brothers and sisters. This Holy Week, let us mend and heal our broken relationships, let the inner child within us come out and simply say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you” and most especially, “I love you”. Photo from reddit.com. See also our blog, https://lordmychef.com/2023/01/14/the-human-child-mystery-of-gods-love/.

Lent is trusting God

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 31 March 2023
Jeremiah 20:10-13   >>> +++ <<<   John 10:31-42

*Photo by author, 20 March 2023, Sacred heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City.*

God our loving Father,
I am a sinner;
forgive me for always turning 
my back from You,
for refusing to love
like Jesus Your Son;
but, despite my being a sinner,
You know very well how I love you,
You know everything about me,
how I strive repeatedly
because I trust in You.
I believe in You!
Like the psalmist,
I sing this day,
"I love you, O Lord,
my strength...
In my distress I called
upon the Lord
and cried out to my God;
from his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him
reached his ears"
(Psalm 18:2, 7).

Like Your prophet Jeremiah,
I could hear people, 
even those closest to me, 
denouncing my efforts to be
just and loving,
living Your precepts;
I could hear their whispering,
"on watch for any misstep of mine"
(Jeremiah 20:10).

Worst, 
like Jesus Christ,
some have tried harming me
with their words and deeds!
Sometimes, I feel so low,
so sad how good would be
rewarded with evil by some.
But I trust in You, 
dearest Father;
let me witness
Your love and mercy,
justice and kindness
despite my sinfulness
and weaknesses.
Be my strength and
my surety.
Amen.

Our venial sins

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 30 March 2023
Genesis 17:3-9   >>> +++ <<<.  John 8:51-59

Your words today,
dear God our Father
remind me of my venial sins,
the most common sins I take for granted
because they are "small", too little and 
not fatal like mortal sins.
Unfortunately, there is something sinister
with venial sins being the most common of sins,
repetitious to the point we get discouraged
and even depressed of the need for
conversion,
to break free from
our cycle of venial sins.

"For what?"
"Para que?"
"Ganun din naman, uulit din!"

Abraham was already 99 years old
when You, O God, formalized with him
Your covenant to become the father of all nations; 
how good he was not discouraged 
to the point of being depressed, 
giving up Your plans, Father,
waiting for Isaac's birth
because he was very old,
perhaps even sinful.

Merciful Father,
forgive me when I act like
the people who tried stoning Jesus 
when He said "before Abraham came to be, 
I AM" (John 8:58); don't let me get to that
point that whatever You say would mean nothing
to me because of my repetitious venial sins;
do not let me be discouraged, God,
because discouragement indicates
I trust more myself than You, O Lord.
Amen.

Our sins of omission

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 29 March 2023
Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95   > +++ <   John 8:31-42

*Photo by author, sunrise at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 22 March 2023.*

Listening to your words today,
O God our Father,
prompted me to examine
my sins of omission;
they are the least easily
noticed of my sins
because they are what
I have failed to do.
Even if we confess it daily
at the start of the Mass,
I rarely recall my sins of omission.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you set up.”
Daniel 3:16-17

Forgive me, O God,
in the many times I never
had the same courage of the
three young men in standing by
my faith in You,
in choosing to do what is right
and good even if it would mean
suffering and discomfort for me;
many times, it is during these
moments when I commit  
my sins of omission:
when I become less
charitable with others 
in my dealings with them,
when I fail to meet the
requirements of love 
in exercising my different duties.

Forgive me, O God,
in the many times I 
failed to stand up
for You, 
for others,
for what is right 
and just due to pressures
and worst,
out of personal favors
I get or simply,
when I am afraid
to do what is right.

In Jesus' name, 
dear Father,
help me to be truthful,
to always seek and stand
by the truth so I may be
free from bondage to sin,
free from fears in order to be
free to know myself better
and most especially 
to follow Jesus
by remaining 
in his word.

Grant me the grace,
Lord, to discover sins 
I am not aware of
so that I may have the grace
to know myself better
to serve you in others.
Amen.

The problem with adultery

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 27 March 2023
Daniel 13:41-62   >>> +++ <<<   John 8:1-11

*Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com*

Thank you, 
God our merciful Father
for the gift of Lent,
for the chance for us to
slow down and examine
our sinfulness, not just our sins
but the mechanics of our
sinning as exemplified today
in our two readings. 
Once again,
we have our favorite sin
at the spotlight, adultery;
it is our favorite not
because it is what we are so fond
of committing but something we relish
in accusing women of committing
without examining our very selves.

In the first reading, Susana was wrongly
accused of adultery by two liars
while in the gospel, a woman was caught
committing adultery, truly guilty of the sin;
in the first reading, a young boy named 
Daniel dared to examine Susana's accusers
and eventually saved her from death after 
proving the two elders of perjury while
in the gospel, Jesus Christ saved the
adulterous woman from being stoned
by standing by her side.

The problem with adultery,
merciful Father, 
is how we forget
our role in making it
happen at all!
And the worst part,
is when we do nothing
to defend women, both those
wrongly accused and guilty of;
teach me to be like Daniel
and Jesus Christ,
standing for women,
defending women,
caring for women,
making peace with women.

The problem with adultery
happens when a few good men
would not stand for what is true
and just and human before others
out of shame or courtesy or favors;
the problem with adultery
is when men and women
think of themselves as less of a sinner,
feeling entitled to accuse and judge
others, rightly or wrongly,
and forget to love more,
to be more merciful,
yet firm and truthful.

Bless us on this final
stretch before entering
the Holy Week
to be more aware
of our sinfulness,
especially of our sins
of omission that happen
when we join the mob
in accusing others of 
wrongdoing,
not just adultery.  
Amen.

Lent is for setting things right

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent, 07 March 2023
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20   >>> +++ <<<   Matthew 23:1-12

*Photo by author, sunrise at the Pacific from the coast of Infanta, Quezon, 04 March 2023.*

In this blessed
Season of Lent,
I pray to you, 
dear God our Father,
to help me set things 
right in my self,
in my life;
help me set things right
by "washing myself clean, 
putting away my misdeeds,
ceasing from doing evil
and learning to do good
by making justice my aim,
redressing those I have wronged,
hearing the plea of the orphans,
and defending the powerless 
among us" (Isaiah 1:16-17).

Let me set things right,
O Lord, by walking my talk,
by practicing what I preach,
by being humble without any 
desires to be known nor admired,
nor be served by putting too much
burdens on others without my 
lifting of my finger, seeking 
places of honor and being 
greeted by everyone (Mt. 23:1-7);
forgive me for those times
I thought that you are like me
when I recite your statutes and
profess your covenant with mouth
yet hate discipline (Ps. 50:16-17).

Let me set things right,
O Lord, in my life
my keeping in mind
YOU alone is our Master
and Teacher, that there
is no other Father but
God alone in heaven
(Mt. 12:7-10).

Let me set things right,
O Lord, in my life
by letting go of my
bitterness and unforgiveness,
of my painful and dark past;
help me set things right
in finally fulfilling that 
promise I made to change
in myself, in finally making 
peace with that person I detest,
in going back to you in
Christ Jesus.
Amen.

Lent is being shamefaced

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Second Week of Lent, 06 March 2023
Daniel 9:4-10   >< +++ >< +++ ><   Luke 6:36-38

*Photo by author, sunrise at Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon, 04 March 2023.*

O God, on this first
working day in the second week
of Lent, I imitate Daniel's prayer
and confession of sins in the first 
reading:

“We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants… we are shamefaced even to this day.”
Daniel 9:5-6, 7

It has been a long time,
dear Father, when I have been
bold and true enough to admit,
to confess before you that indeed,
I have SINNED, been WICKED...
I have REBELLED and DEPARTED
from your commandments...
I have NOT OBEYED...
and now SHAMEFACED.
Dear God,
for so long, I have followed
the trend of this world,
of this life,
of "diluting" my sinfulness and
culpability, of always looking for
somebody else or something to blame
for my sins and evil deed, of moving
the lines of morality so as to feel 
less guilty, less sinful, not really bad
when in fact, it is when we are most evil,
when I am so far from you
and shamefaced.

God, help me recover
this being shamefaced;
help us all for we have no more
shame at all that we cover up
our sins and evil; worst, O Lord,
our lack of shame for our sins
prevent us to a large degree
in being merciful like you
and tragically pushes us to
being so judgmental of others
sinfulness.

This Lent, O God,
let us recover our sense
of shame; let us be shamefaced
in Jesus Christ your Son.
Amen.

Opening to God

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Scholastica, Virgin, 10 February 2023
Genesis 3:1-8 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 7:31-37

God our Father,
today your words teach us
what is to be truly opened,
when openness leads us to sin
and when the same openness leads
us to grace.

But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.” …Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Genesis 3:4-5, 7

Keep us open to you always, Lord;
let us not dare open our eyes to things
we cannot completely see nor
comprehend;
keep us at home with the truth that
there are many things that seem only to be
apparently good and better not seen at all
because our eyes cannot completely see
and embrace the whole reality;
let us not dare to open things that
would only close us, 
shut us out from you.

then he (Jesus) looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”). And immediately the man’s ear’s were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.
Mark 7:34-35

Like that deaf man
with a speech impediment
healed in the gospel today,
open us, O God our Father
in your Son Jesus Christ by
setting us aside from the noise
of the world, touching our senses,
and opening ourselves 
to your loving presence
and to your very person
so we may experience too
your healing comfort
and consolation;
give us the courage 
to open up to you,
like St. Scholastica
to bare our souls
and give our lives to you
in Christ Jesus who had come
to open for us anew the heavens
and finally be one in you
and with you.
Amen.

Breaking free from our prisons

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Blaise, Bishop & Martyr, 03 February 2023
Hebrews 13:1-8 ><000'> + <'000>< = ><000'> + <'000>< Mark 6:14-29

*Photo by author, La Mesa Dam Eco-Park,*
*01 February 2023.*

Praise and glory to you,
O God our loving Father
in giving us your Son
Jesus Christ always with us
for indeed as the first reading
perfectly said it today, "Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday,
today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

Keep us aware with your
presence in our lives, Jesus,
whether we are in good times
or bad; "let our brotherly love
continue, without neglecting 
hospitality, for through some
have unknowingly entertained
angels" (Heb. 13:1-2).

Set us free from the prisons
we ourselves have made and
locked us in - the prisons of
ego and pride when we delight
in the thought of holding others
imprisoned to insist on our own
thoughts and whims like Herod
in the gospel and the Romans in
the story of St. Blaise whose 
memorial we celebrate today.

Many times, O Lord, what really
happens is that the more we 
keep others in prison with our 
pride and insistence of self,
dominations and manipulations,
of vengeance and revenge as we
believe we punish them with our
being unforgiving and unmerciful,
the more we imprison ourselves,
the more we are shutout from the 
world, the more we are alone 
in the darkness of evil.

You have come, Jesus,
to show us the beauty of life
by living in your light and truth,
love and mercy; set us free from
the sins and pride that obstruct us,
that hold us from being truly free
and faithful to you through others.
Amen.

St. Blaise,
pray for us and heal us
of our ailments in the 
throat so that our hearts
and minds may always be
bridged in Christ.  Amen.

Life’s many crossovers

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 30 January 2023
Hebrews 11:32-40 ><0000'> + ><0000'> + ><0000'> Mark 5:1-20

*Photo by author, sunrise at Bgy. Igulot, Bocaue, Bulacan, 29 January 2023*.

Thank you dear Jesus
for this Monday;
another "crossing over"
from Sunday rest yesterday
to working days beginning
today.

Today's gospel speaks
so beautifully of life's many
crossovers with you leading us,
joining us, coming to us to heal us,
to cleanse us, to forgive us:

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain.
Mark 5:1-3

Many times, O Lord,
we have been bound by chains
of sins and shackles of vices
we have found comfort with;
like that man, some of us have
been living in tombs among
the dead and zombies;
but worst, dear Jesus,
were the people who drove you
away after you have cleansed
that man of his evil spirits,
giving more importance to the herd of
swine that perished than to the one
possessed person freed from evil.

Lord Jesus,
life is a series of crossing overs
from darkness to light,
from ignorance to wisdom,
from slavery to freedom,
from sin to grace;
let us not be afraid to cross
over to the other side to follow you,
to cross with you in faith;
let us lead others into crossing
over through the nights of life into
the day filled with your grace and
challenges; most of all, let us cross 
over life with firm faith in you,
persevering even if we do not receive
"what had been promised" because
"God had foreseen 
something better for us" (Heb.11:39-40).
Amen.