Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-12 ng Setyembre 2025
Larawan kuha ni G. Aaron Favila ng Associated Press, Barasoain Church, Malolos City, 22 Hulyo 2025.
Hindi ko malaman kung ako ay matutuwa o maluluha sa mga larawang nalathala noong panahon ng pagbaha sa aming lalawigan ng Bulacan; kamangha-mangha aming pananampalataya nagpapatuloy mga pagdiriwang ng sakramento lalo na ang kasal kahit lumusong sa baha nagsisimba at paring nagmimisa parang eksena sa pelikula pagmamahalan ng mga magsing-ibig pananalig kailanma'y hindi padadaig sa buhos ng ulan bumaha man.
Nang sumabog na parang dam mga balita ng scam ng flood control program sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, galit at pagkainis aming naramdaman itong mga pagbaha pala ay kagagawan ng kasakiman ng mga halimaw sa kagawaran kakutsaba sa kasamaan mga pulitiko at contractor habang mga mamamayan walang mapuntahan sa araw-araw na lamang malapit nang maging aquaman kalulusong sa baha alipunga hindi na nawala.
Larawan kuha ni G. Aaron Favila ng Associated Press, Barasoain Church, Malolos City, 22 Hulyo 2025.
Isang bagay
ang aking pinagtatakhan
noon pa man
siya ko nang katanungan:
ano ang pahayag
nitong ating simbahan
sa malaswa at malawak
na sistema ng nakawan
na nasentro sa Bulacan
lalo't higit
unang naapektuhan
maraming mga simbahan?
Nasaan ating tinig
at pagtindig
laban sa katiwaliang ito
na matay mang isipin
kay hirap ilarawan
maski paniwalaan!
Mayroon bang kinalaman nakabibinging katahimikan pag-Hermano at pag-Hermana ng mga nasa pulitika dahil sila ang mapera handang gumasta sa mga kapistahan dahil kanilang pakiramdam banal na kalooban ng Diyos kanilang sinusundan kaya naman sila ay pinagpapala at pinayayaman sa patuloy na donasyon sa simbahan habang kapwa ay ginugulangan pinagsasamantalahan?
Masakit man sabihin at mahirap aminin itong mga ghost projects at korapsiyong ating kinasasadlakan ay atin din namang kasalanan at kagagawan sa patuloy na pagboto sa mga bulok na kandidato na sumasalaula sa ating lipunan; tumitindi ang kasamaang ito sa tuwing mga politiko at mga kawaning ganid ang parating nilalapitan upang hingan ng lahat ng pangangailangan sa simbahan maski libreng tanghalian na walang kinalaman para sa ating kaligtasan!
Larawan mula sa Facebook post ni Dr. Tony Leachon, “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis”, 08 Agosto 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 28 August 2025 Thursday, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo by author, St. Paul Center for Renewal, Alfonso, Cavite, 20 August 2025.
Praise and glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ as you continue to touch us, comfort us, and inspire us with the words of St. Paul to the Thessalonians; yesterday he addressed them like a father encouraging them his children in faith; today he referred to them as "brothers and sisters" to "increase and abound in love".
Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. (1Thessalonians 3:11-13)
What a beautiful lesson about our relationships as a community of your believers and followers, of how we must regard one another as children with love and care of a parent, respect and goodwill as brothers and sisters!
Most of all, of wishing everyone to "increase and abound in love for one another"!
This is something we rarely hear these days, wishing others to increase and abound in love for one another; all we hear are prayers and wishes for more material blessings not realizing the superiority of love above all gifts; to pray to increase and abound in love is the noblest prayer we can offer for anyone because it means to be holy, to be closest to God, to be like Christ; to increase and abound in love is exactly what St. Augustine, our saint today, preached, "Love and do what you will."
Like St. Augustine, let our love increase and abound so that we do nothing to displease you Lord and our neighbors; increase and abound us in love, Jesus so we may be transformed in you. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo by author, St. Paul Center for Renewal, Alfonso, Cavite, 20 August 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 27 August 2025 Wednesday, Memorial of St. Monica, Married Woman 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Matthew 23:27-32
Image of St. Monica from grunge.com
Praise and glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ for another set of beautiful words from your great Apostle Paul of being like a "father", a parent to the Thessalonians like St. Monica whose feast we celebrate today in her diligence and patience to her son St. Augustine whose feast comes tomorrow.
As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory (1Thessalonians 2:11-12).
In this time of great trial and crisis in our country when we are literally deep in floods of evil and sin, a deluge of apocalyptic proportion that have submerged all three branches of government - the executive, legislative and judiciary that have severely dampened and loosened the morals of our society, teach us Jesus to be like the mother of St. Augustine, the ever patient and prayerful St. Monica to exhort and encourage everyone to still walk in a manner worthy of God who calls us to be fair and just, tenacious with our faith and hope in you and your gospel minus the trappings of the Pharisees and scribes of your time who were like "whitewashed tombs who appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth" (Matthew 23:27); may the prayers of St. Monica with her tears cleanse us of everything wrong in our selves. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 26 August 2025 Tuesday in the Twenty-first Week of Ordinary Time, Year I 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 23:23-26
Thang you very much, dear Jesus for the gift of St. Paul your Apostle: yesterday we heard how he encouraged the church at Thessalonica, of how impressed he was with their deep conviction of faith; today he described his approach to starting the church at Thessalonica: so candidly speaking how he did it while still remaining tender and gentle to them, so sure he had taken the right course of action.
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not without effect. Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle. Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, or did it work through deception. But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts (1Thessalonians 2:1-4).
As I pray, Lord Jesus on these words of St. Paul, I cannot stop wondering our many excuses and "side trips" today as your apostles; how did St. Paul unwind or recreate in his time compared to our many forms of rest and recreation; so many of us cannot move on with life and ministry from whatever experiences we have had in our previous assignments unlike St. Paul who simply kept the lessons learned from his past experiences at Philippi; most of all, I could feel the intense love of St. Paul to you, Lord Jesus and his ministry with his deep personal relationship in you in prayers so unlike us today with so many excuses in not praying at all.
What I love most is St. Paul's tenderness and gentleness to his church with his tenacious hold on you Jesus.
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursling mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, as dearly beloved had you become to us (1Thessalonians 2:7-8).
Dearest Jesus, may your word be always alive and active in me flowing in my tender and gentle service to your flock so unlike the Pharisees you have condemned again in today's gospel for being blind guides of the people. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 25 August 2025 Monday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year I 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 23:13-22
Photo from The Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday at the Chapel of Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 27 November 2024.
Today I wonder, God our Father, what if Paul your Apostle or Jesus Christ your Son were to visit our church today, what would they find out? Would Paul be proud of us like the Thessalonians of his time?
We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen… In every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything (1Thessalonians 1:2-4, 8).
Oh how I envy the Thessalonians that Paul along with Silvanus and Timothy were so proud of their "faith and labor of love and endurance in hope"; most of all, of their "conviction" that he had no need to say anything, as in, "walang masabi". So beautiful! How I wish Paul could say the same things today to our parish, to our community of believers with their vibrant faith, hope and love.
What I dread, O Father is when Jesus comes and begins speaking the same way to us his priests and bishops:
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter (Matthew 23:13).
Shame on us, Lord Jesus, your priests and bishops! If you were here today, you would surely say the same things to us: many of us your priests do not pray at all that many have forgotten to pray properly and celebrate liturgy meaningfully; many would rather go on vacation and recreation than celebrate Mass and sacraments for your people; yes, Lord Jesus, "woe to us" your servants for many of us have no plans of going to heaven at all with the kind of Eucharist we celebrate that people have lost faith in you and your church. Forgive us, Jesus, your priests for being blind fools, following the limelight of the world than your path of the Cross; lead us back to you, Jesus, so that your flock may be enlivened again in their faith, hope and love like the Thessalonians of your great Apostle Paul. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo from The Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday at the Chapel of Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 27 November 2024.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul Monday, Memorial of the First Martyrs of Rome, 30 June 2025 Genesis 18:16-33 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 8:18-22
Photo by author, Cabo Da Roca, Pundaqit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
*Apostle, from "apostolein", to be sent forth; Disciple, from "discipulous", to follow.
A day after celebrating the Solemnity of your Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, you gave us today Jesus the memorial of the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church who were killed during the reign of Nero in 64 A.D.; many of them were literally used as torches and lamps when their mutilated bodies were burned to light the city of Rome.
How inspiring, dear Jesus to hear their story of witnessing their faith in you at that time; grant us the same courage today to always follow you, Jesus, to follow your footsteps by doing your work and most specially, in carrying your Cross; let us seek sanctity regardless of our social status, age or skills.
Let us imitate Abraham in the first reading who walked with God, his visitors at Mamre; like Abraham walking with you, following you, Lord, let us work more for the conversion of others not their judgment; in following you, Jesus, let us think more of how to save followers lost in their directions in life; instead of leaving them behind on their own in their evil ways, may we appeal to God for their conversion.
May we not be like the two hesitant disciples in today's gospel: though willing to follow you, Jesus, one was impulsive and the other was cautious; give us courage to do a sincere reality check today of our discipleship in you: help us bring back the joy and zeal of following you, Jesus when we started to heed your call of discipleship; let us dare again to leave the sides to walk at the middle of the road following you Jesus even to the Cross; help us bring back that desire to go near you, Jesus, to always seek you and follow you by forgetting our selves; and like Abraham, let us be gracious always to one another as your followers. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church photo from ucatholic.com.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga & Companions, 03 June 2025 Acts 20:17-27 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 17:1-11
Photo by author, St. Paul Retreat House, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 January 2025.
Dear Jesus, help us your disciples in this modern age to be like St. Paul who never "shrinked" in boldly standing for your gospel values; how lovely in today's first reading that St. Paul twice mentioned he never "shrink" from telling and proclaiming God's plan for everyone.
“and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes… for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God” (Acts 20:20, 27).
How lovely that on this day too we celebrate the memorial of Uganda's first martyrs led by St. Charles Lwanga and companions never shrink before their king to engage in homosexual and other pervert sexual acts; they stood firm in your teachings of the sanctity of the human body as temple of your spirit.
How true are your words, Lord Jesus at the end of your great discourse and prayer for your disciples at the Last Supper that indeed, "Father, the hour has come" (John 17:1): the hour has come when people are so proud with their wrong sense of "pride" in rejecting your gift of sexuality and human body; how sad that these days, our country despite being the only Christian nation in this part of Asia is now the "trans" capital in the region; for the longest time too, our country has been one of the top users of online pornography; and worst of all, we have the most irreconcilable situation of being a nation deeply religious yet with a government so corrupt that we have always lagged in development as a country where much of its human resources have to work abroad to earn decently.
The hour has come, Jesus, that we too make a stand for what is true and just, that we do not shrink in doing and teaching your gospel values; grant us the courage as well as clarity of mind and magnanimity of spirit and heart in not shrinking for you in the face of so-called modernity and wokism. Amen.
St. Charles Lwanga and companion martyrs of Uganda, Pray for us!
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-29 ng Mayo 2025
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholantica Retreat House, Tagaytay City, Agosto 2024.
Ito ay pagsang-ayon sa ginawang pagninilay kamakalawa ni P. Ritz Darwin Resuello ukol sa nalalapit naming lipatan ng mga pari. Malaman ang kanyang mga sinulat. At nakatutuwa ang kanyang pamagat na mayroong halong salya at padyak: GUMUGULONG LANG BA ANG ROLETA? ISANG PAGNINILAY SA NALALAPIT NA LIPATAN.
At iyon nga ang punto de vista nitong ating pagninilay din: gumugulong lang ba ang roleta sa lipatan ng mga pari?
Nakakatawa. Kasi totoo lalo nitong mga lumipas na panahon. Kung minsan nga parang hindi lang roleta kungdi tila bolang kristal na rin ang ginagamit sa lipatan.
Larawan kuha ng may akda noong Misa ng Krisma, 2025.
Hindi natin kinukuwestiyon ang pagpapasiya ng Obispo na siyang may final say ngunit gaya ng nilahad ni P. Ritz, napakinggan ba ng “may pag-galang at pag-unawa ang tunay na pangangailangang pastoral” ng parokya?
a. Pakikinig nang may paggalang at pag-unawa sa tunay na pangangailangang pastoral ng parokya: Mahalaga pong lumikha ng malugod na kapaligiran para sa lahat ng boses, lalo na sa mga direktang naapektuhan ng lipatan na ito – ang mga pari, at higit sa lahat, ang mga parokyano. Ang mga hinaing, ang mga natatanging katangian ng isang komunidad, at ang kanilang kasalukuyang pastoral na sitwasyon ay lubhang mahalaga. Ang espirituwal na kapakanan ay manatili nawang pangunahing priyoridad. Gaya ng idiniin ni Papa Francisco, ang diyalogong ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pagdinig kundi tungkol sa pagpapatibay ng isang tunay na pagpapalitan ng mga ideya kung saan tayo ay natututo nang sama-sama at kung saan ang bawat atas ay malinaw na tumutugon sa kung ano ang tunay na kinakailangan sa parokya (P. Ritz, aka Heinrich Atmung sa FB post, 27 mayo 2025, 8:30 ng umaga).
Noong ako ay nasa ICSB Malolos, dumating ang ilang panauhin namin na mga lingkod layko ng parokya sa UP-Diliman na pawang mga propesor sa naturang pamantasan.
Hindi tungkol sa agham at edukasyon aming naging paksa sa hapunan kungdi ang kanilang tanong: paano ba kami tinuturing at tinitingnan ng mga pari sa pagbibigay ng aming mga pastol?
Pakiramdam nila kasi na tila hindi tiningnang mabuti kanilang katayuan sa buhay bilang mananampalataya nang bigyan ng pastol na palaging naroon sa mga rally kesa nasa parokya. Bagama’t anila maraming nagrarally sa UP, hindi nila kailangan ng isa pang ralliyistang pari kungdi isang nananatili doon upang kanilang masangguni sa maraming bagay sa buhay nila ng pagtuturo at pakikisalamuha sa mga mag-aaral na mayroong natatanging pangangailangang espiritwal.
Nadarama nga ba naming mga pari ang pintig ng mga tao sa parokya? Hindi tuloy nila maiwasang magtanong bakit tila sila ginagawang “tapunan” sila ng mga paring may problema.
Iba na ang mga tao ngayon. Mulat at handang makipag-usap at suriin hindi lang mga homilya kungdi mga desisyon ng kanilang pari. They deserve nothing less, ika nga dahil nga naman sa tagal ng pag-aaral at paghubog ng mga pari bago maordenahan, pagkatapos ay puro pagpalakpak at telenovela lang kuwento sa Misa? Hinubog ang mga pari upang maging mahuhusay at masisipag sa paglilingkod kaya kawalan ng katarungan na ipapasan sa mga tao lalo na kung ituring silang maliit na parokya na puwede nang pagtiyagaan mga pari na may problema sa iba’t-ibang aspekto tulad ng pananalapi, pag-uugali, at seksuwalidad.
Kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2025.
Nasaan ang diwa ng sinodo o sama-samang paglalakbay kung saan ay nakikinig ang lahat ng panig lalo’t higit ang mga nag-aasign ng pari? Maraming parokya nasisira dahil hindi isinaalang-alang kapakanan ng mga mananampalataya kasi nga naman yung mahusay nilang kura pinalitan ng tamad at walang pakialam o makasarili. Lahat ng pagsisikap ng naunang pari ay pilit binubura at winawasak ng sumunod na kapalit dahil sarili ang inuuna at hindi ang mga kawan. At mayroong pari na hindi maka-move on, hindi maiwanan dating parokya dahil pakiwari sa sarili ay Mesiyas!
Problema ito sa buong Simbahan maski sa ibang bansa dahil marahil sa isang pinag-uugatan: ang pagturing sa mga parokya bilang maliit o malaki, mayaman o mahirap. Hindi totoong may pangit na parokya; nasa uri ng pari iyon. Mayroong mga munting pamayanan na napapayabong ng ibang pari na tingin ng iba ay imposible.
Panahon na upang alisin sa talasalitaan ng mga pari ang label na maliit at malaki o mahirap at mayamang parokya dahil bawat pamayanan ay katipunan ng mga alagad ni Kristo. Higit sa lahat, bawat parokya ay pinanahanan ng Espiritu Santo bilang Katawan ni Kristo na dapat palaging pahalagahan ano man ang katayuan. Kung tutuusin batay sa turo ng Panginoong Jesus, iyon ngang hirap na parokya at tila pinagtampuhan ng panahon ang dapat bigyang halaga ng mga pari gaya ng mga nasa kabundukan at liblib na pook. Hindi ko malilimutan ang salita noon sa amin sa seminaryo ng dating naming Obispo na Arsobispo Emerito ng Naga, ang Lubhang kagalang-galang Rolando Tria-Tirona, “those who have less in life should have more of God.”
Ito ang sinasaad ng katagang sinodo, ang katagang palasak na ngayon ngunit hindi pa rin maramdaman dahil wala namang nakikinig at nagbibigay halaga sa bawat isa.
Kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2025.
Usiginga… kailan nanaig kalooban ng mga kawan kesa sa kura? O ng karamihan ng mga pari kesa sa Obispo at iilan niyang upisyal?
Totoong walang demokrasya sa Simbahan sa larangan ng chain of command dahil ito ay isang hierarchy, na mayroong hanay ng mga upisyal sa pamumuno ng Santo Papa katuwang mga Obispo na kinakatawan ng mga Kura sa bawat Parokya.
Subalit, hindi ito nangangahulugang diktadura ang Simbahan. Kung tutuusin nga ay sa Simbahan dapat matagpuan ang tunay na diwa ng kalayaan na kung saan ay masinsinang tinatalakay ng lahat ang higit na makabubuti sa karamihan batay sa kalooban ng Diyos. Ito ang dahilan kaya nagpatawag ng sinodo ang yumaong Santo Papa Francisco.
Dito makikita din natin ang isang malinaw na problema ng Simbahan na hindi namin matanggap – na kaming mga pari mismo ang problema ng Simbahan. At sa Simbahan. Ngunit saka na natin iyan pag-usapan at balikan ang pagninilay ni P. Ritz na ating pinagtitibay. Wika niya muli sa kanyang FB post noong Mayo 27:
b. Pagyakap sa maagap na pastoral na karunungan: Mahalaga pong isaalang-alang kung paano nakatutulong ang bawat “assignment” sa paglago ng isang pari sa ministeryo at nagpapayaman ng kaniyang mga karanasan, laging naghahanap ng balanse sa pagitan ng mga pangangailangan ng mga parokya at ng paglago ng indibidwal na mga pari.
Mula sa cbcpnews.com.
Matalik na kalakip ng diwa ng sinodo ang kapatiran ng mga pari. Ngunit kapansin-pansin tuwing lipatan ang problema ng aming mga tampuhan at mga reklamo sa assignment. Totoo namang mayroong mga pari na namimili at mareklamo sa assignment ngunit hindi sila ang problema sa lahat ng pagkakataon tuwing may lipatan.
Ang problema ay ang sistema at patakaran – o kawalan ng mga ito.
Masakit sabihin ngunit aking pangangahasan sa pagkakataong ito na sa dalawamput-pitong taon ko sa pagiging pari, mas maayos ang lipatan at mga assignment noon kesa ngayon. Problema na rin naman noon din ngunit mas malala ngayon ang pananaw ng hindi pagiging patas o unfair sa pagpili ng mga assignment.
Hindi matatapos ang mga reklamo at hinaing sa bawat lipatan hanggat hindi naiibsan ang pananaw na ito. Hindi po salapi ang problema ng mga pari. Hindi rin naman babae o mga pogi. Ito palagi ang problema at daing natin – ang hindi patas sa maraming aspekto at pagkakataon.
Dito pumapasok ang maruming kahulugan ng “politika” sa Simbahan tulad ng barkadahan at favoritism. Mayroong napaparusahan, mayroong pinalalampas. Mayroong pinag-iinitan at mayroong kinukunsinti. Ang malungkot, mayroong mga pinangingilagan kaya pinagbibigyan lahat ng kagustuhan. Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan sapul!
Gayon pa man, on a positive note, dito makikita ang mabuti at malalim na kapatiran ng mga pari kung saan mayroong ilang maninindigan upang kausapin ang lahat kung kinakailangan alang-alang sa ilang bagay na nakakaligtaan o ayaw tingnan ng ilan sa mga kapatid naming naka-kahon na hindi makaahon sa kabila ng kanilang pag-amin at pag-ako ng kanilang pagkakasala at pagkakamali. Problema ng stigma.
Tanging hiling lang naman ng mga pari ay kausapin sila upang mapakinggan kanilang kalagayan at kalooban sa pagbibigay ng assignment. Ito yung pinupunto ni P. Ritz sa kanyang pitak. Sadya bang nasuring mabuti ang lahat ng paraan upang mapalago ang sino mang pari sa kanyang destino? Wala namang pari na likas na masuwayin kungdi ang ibig rin ay sariling ikapapanuto. Sa kabutihang-palad, mas marami pa rin ang mga paring masunurin at nagpapahalaga ng pangako ng obedience kaya sana ay naroon palagi ang fairness.
Hindi mawawala mga inggitan at siraan sa lipatan ngunit huwag mawawala ang “sense of fairness” dahil dito nakasalalay mabuting samahan at ugnayan. Susunod at susunod pa rin mga pari sa lipatan alang-alang sa obedience at faith in God ngunit palaging uusok ang isyu ng lipatan parang isang takore ng kumukulong tubig. Pakinggan natin ang sipol ng kumukulong tubig sa takore, yung tinatawag sa Inggles na tempest in teapot. Diyan pumapasok ang ikatlong punto ni P. Ritz:
c. Pagpapatibay ng malinaw at mapagmalasakit na komunikasyon: Kung posible po, ang pagbibigay ng napapanahon at “transparent” na impormasyon tungkol sa lipatan ay maaaring makapagpapagaan ng mga alalahanin at makapagpadali ng mas maayos na pagsasaayos para sa lahat – ang mga pari, kawani ng parokya, at ang mga mananampalataya. Ang isang maikli ngunit napag-isipang paliwanag ay maaaring lubos na makapagpatibay ng tiwala sa loob ng ating pamilya sa diyosesis.
Mula sa vaticannews.va.
Ang Simbahan ay komunikasyon. Kaya naman sa mga dokumento nito lalo mula nang Vatican II, sinasaad na sa Simbahan dapat masaksihan ang pinakamainam at pinakamataas na antas ng pagtatalastasan.
Ngunit taliwas palagi. Maraming pagkakataon sa mga pari kulang ang komunikasyon. Ni walang formal communication sa mga lipatan. Mayroong mga pari na atat nang lumipat na akala mo ay makikipagpalit lang ng tsinelas! Juice colored…! Kaluluwa ang pinag-uusapan habang ang antas ng aming usapan ay parang paglipat lang ng bahay kung saan ang pananaw ng ilan ay mag-impake lang ng mga gamit at damit. Kapirasong text o sulat hindi pa magawa kung hindi kayang tawagan o personal na kausapin sa mga balakin.
Kaya nga babalik tayo sa tanong ng mga tao: ano nga ba turing natin sa kanila tuwing maglilipatan kasi ang sagot dito ay siyang sagot sa tanong ano nga ba turingan naming mga pari sa isa’t isa? Hangga’t walang maayos na sagot sa mga katanungang ito, mananatili ang pananaw at paghahalintulad sa roleta na gamit sa perya ang lipatan. O bolang kristal ng mga manghuhula.
Sa diwa ng sinodo at kapatiran bilang sama-samang naglalakabay na Simbahan, patuloy tayong manalangin para sa mga pastol at kawan. At huwag din mag atubiling makilahok sa mga talakayan at usapan na ang tanging mithiin ay hanapin at sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos upang higit Siyang mapaglingkuran at masalamin dito sa lupang ibabaw. Salamuch po.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, Marso 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 26 May 2025 Acts 16:11-15 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> John 15:26-16:4
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).
Thank you, dear Jesus in sending us the Holy Spirit as our Advocate who empowers us to speak also of the truth he tells us; most of all, to abide with you and your gospel truth.
Remind us, Lord Jesus that being an advocate for you, witnessing your gospel need not be dramatic at all like that chance meeting of Paul with some women at a river in Philippi where he spoke about you and your good news of salvation; forgive us, Jesus when in this age of instant and widespread communications, we balk and even feel ashamed of speaking about you and your teachings, even ashamed of proudly making the sign of the Cross.
Forgive us, Jesus when we are inhibited for many reasons from speaking about our faith in you, when even the powers of the Advocate we doubt.
Give us a joyful heart like that of St. Philip Neri always opened to your loving presence most especially in prayerful moments in you. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Third Week of Easter, 08 May 2025 Acts 8:26-40 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 6:44-51
God our loving Father, our Cardinals have started their election process for the successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ your Son here on Earth; send them your Holy Spirit to enlighten their minds and their hearts to seek and follow your will in Christ Jesus.
Help them choose a good shepherd who is also a good teacher like your Son Jesus Christ imitated so well by the deacon Philip with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him (Acts 8:27-28, 30-31).
Your Servant, himself a former Pope too St. Paul VI wrote us in December 1975 "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, #41); send us true and good, teachers who are witnesses of the Gospel; give us more teachers like Philip who taught clearly of the essential truth in this life which is about Jesus the Christ.
Next week we shall choose our new leaders to govern us; take away our blindness as teachers ourselves that we may elect into office who are also good teachers who stand for what is true and just, not corrupt and liars; send us more teachers who will awaken in us your Divine Presence to bring out in everyone each one's own giftedness as a person.
At the same time, we pray for our professional teachers from the public school who will work at the polling places next week; give them strength not only in body but also in mind, heart, and soul to keep our elections clean and honest, not to be swayed by corrupt candidates who poison the society and keep people away from Christ and one another.
Let us not forget, Lord Jesus that as we share in your prophetic mission, we are all teachers like you; keep our hearts and minds open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to go wherever we are needed most for your greater glory. Amen.
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