The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle, 24 August 2022
Revelation 21:9-14 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> John 1:45-51
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Spirituality Center, Novaliches, QC, 2018.
Everywhere we find
layers of everything:
layers of clothing,
layers of skin,
layers of meaning;
thank you, dear God
our Father in inviting me
today as we celebrate
the feast of St. Bartholomew
to examine the different
"layers" of my faith and
knowledge of you in
Jesus Christ.
First is the layer of my
self-knowledge: how true
am I with myself? How free
am I in being myself, in
expressing freely my thoughts
and feelings?
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”
John 1:45-47
Dear Jesus,
grant me that kind of
sincerity and honesty
of Nathanael/St. Bartholomew:
you were not disgusted with his words
for they were very true;
most of all, you even praised
him for being a true Israelite
without any guile!
What a revelation of the true
layer of St. Bartholomew
bared for everyone to see
unlike us in many occasions when
we hide our identity in many layers
often not true, so unreal of who
we are; teach us to come and see
you in your deepest layer, Jesus,
so we may be at home too with
who we really are.
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
John 1:48-49
Grant me also the grace,
Lord Jesus like Nathanael/
St. Bartholomew to perceive deeply
your true identity as "Son of God"
and "king of Israel"; two different layers
of your person that can only be perceived
by a deep faith, to see you who you really are,
the Son of God, and also the fulfillment
of our aspirations here in this life,
in this world as our Christ the King!
How interesting,
O God that St. Bartholomew
died a martyr after being skinned
alive and crucified upside down
like St. Peter; it must have
been his most glorious achievement
that after being skinned alive,
his persecutors must have seen
and realized too his faith was not that
skin-deep after all, that layers upon layers
of skin, they have found only you, Jesus
deeply ingrained in his very person.
Amen.
St. Bartholomew depicted by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel holding in one hand a large knife said to have been used in skinning him alive with his own skin held by his other hand. Photo from Pinterest.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Rose of Lima, Virgin, 23 August 2022
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14-17 ><]]]'> + ><]]]'> + ><]]]'> Matthew 23:23-26
Photo by Dr. Mylene A. Santos, MD, near Lamon Bay, Polilio, Quezon, 15 August 2022.
Praise and glory to you,
God our loving Father!
You know very well what
our needs are especially
in these busy days when
many of us are into
"panic modes": stress and
anxieties are peaking again
as classes begin with almost
everyone overwhelmed with
the many tasks to fulfill amid
all the crowd and traffic,
chaos and noise outside and
within us like the early Christians
of Thessalonica so bothered with
Christ's Second Coming.
Teach us, dear Father,
to slow down, to trust in you,
and most especially, remove
our focus on little things that
are not essential like the Pharisees
and scribes.
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: Judgment and mercy and fidelity. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!”
Matthew 23:23, 24
Like St. Paul and
St. Rose of Lima, through
our witnessing of faith in you,
through our examples of deep
prayer life and loving service
to others, may we "encourage
hearts and strengthen them in
every good deed and word"
(2 Thess.2:17).
May we be aware of your
presence in Jesus Christ in
every here and now, to chill
and relax, not to overstretch
ourselves trying to cover the
whole world or even universe!
Let us learn to focus on what
is before us at the present
moment which is to live out
Christ's gospel, day in and day out,
for the rest will take care of itself.
Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of the Queenship of Mary, 22 August 2022
Isaiah 9:1-6 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> Luke 1:39-47
Photo by author,Makati skyline at sunset from Antipolo City, 13 August 2022.
It is a very busy Monday
for everyone, O God,
our loving Father:
it is the first day of school
for most students,
another first day of work
with all the traffic and woes
of life slowly going back
to normal.
And I really wonder,
what could surprise us today,
Lord, like Mary when your
angel announced to her the
coming of Jesus Christ by
being his mother?
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:29
“Coronation of the Virgin” by Diego Velazquez (ca.1635/1636) from en.wikipedia.org.
On this memorial of the
Queenship of Mary,
let us rejoice and be grateful
to you for the grace of being
favored to be up and going this day
no matter how busy we may be;
let us be surprised by the
tremendous blessings you
shower upon us like Mary
when deep in our hearts we know
we are nothing before you;
surprise us, Lord, of your
presence, of your life, of your love,
most of all, of your trust;
enable us to say yes to your call
for us to serve you today,
to bring light in this dark world,
to share Jesus Christ like Mary
who is our "Prince of Peace and
Wonder-Counselor" (Is.9:5).
O most blessed Virgin Mary,
help us to welcome Jesus Christ
daily in our lives in order for us to
share him with everyone like you;
as the first of the human race in rank
before God's presence and as the
Mother of Christ our King, you are
given the title of Queen not only as an
honor but an example of discipleship in
your Son Jesus. Amen.
O, Mary Queen of heaven,
Pray for us!
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-21 ng Agosto, 2022
Larawan mula sa inquirer.net, 21 Agosto 2021.
Agosto 21, 2022.
Ganito rin noong Agosto 21, 1983.
May kakaibang pakiramdam.
Mayroong nangyayari.
Mayroong nangyari.
At mayroong mangyayari.
Pero, sayang.
Matatagalan na yata na
mayroon pang muling mangyari
na gayong uri ng kabayanihang
limutin ang sarili para sa bayan;
sayang, bakit natin pinabayaan
rurok ng kasaysayan
upang muling ilugmok sa kadiliman?
Gayon nga yata ating kapalaran,
tulad ng ugoy ng duyan itong kasaysayan;
hindi ko maiwasan maramdamam
ni Simoun sa El Filibusterismo
na hindi ko na nga yata maabutan
pagbubukang-liwayway ng Inang Bayan
kaya sa mga nalalabing panahon
nitong kadiliman, maging munting liwanag
upang aking mabuksan mga mata at
kamalayan ng kabataan sa katotohanan;
higit sa lahat,
huwag nang asahan mga karamihan
tularan si Ninoy
talikuran sariling kapakanan
para sa bayan.
At magbakasakaling mayroong
muling matauhan
sa awa at biyaya
ng Diyos na siyang hantungan
ng lahat ng kasaysayan.
“Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang mga bagay na ito upang makahati kayo sa kagalakan ko at malubos ang inyuong kagalakan. Ito ang aking utos: mag-ibigan kayo gaya ng pag-ibig ko sa inyo. Walang pag-ibig na hihigit pa sa pag-ibig ng isang taong nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay para sa kanyang mga kaibigan.”
Ang Panginoong Jesus noong Huling Hapunan, Juan 15:11-13
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle-C, 21 August 2022
Isaiah 66:18-21 ><}}}*> Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 ><}}}*> Luke 13:22-30
Photo by author, the little entrance door to the Basilica of Nativity in Bethlehem, May 2019.
Our gospel this Sunday brought me back to my sweet memories of the three pilgrimages I have made to the Holy Land, especially the small entrance door to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
According to stories, pilgrims used to bring inside the big church their camels and horses to celebrate Masses and pray. Naturally, the animals would make the church stink and dirty but the monks were so kind they did not want to hurt the feelings of pilgrims if they were told to leave their animals outside; so, they devised a clever solution by making the entrance door so small and so low to keep the pilgrims’ animals outside that even people have to bow or bend to enter the church.
This eventually gave the literal and figurative meanings of bending low, of being humble to meet Jesus at his birthplace, and in daily life!
Photo by author, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem, May 2017.
Over in Jerusalem, there is the bigger Church of the Holy Sepulcher that houses the site of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection. There are no little doors and entrances except the narrow passageways inside going up to the Calvary where you could touch and venerate the very site of the Crucifixion.
Remember when Jesus promised the “good thief” on Good Friday that “today you shall be with me in paradise”?
That means the gate to heaven is not up there but right here on earth which is so narrow which we enter whenever we are with Jesus suffering and dying to ourselves.
In all those three occasions I went to the Holy Land, first as a pilgrim in 2005 and then as chaplain of pilgrims in 2017 and 2019, I have learned to brave the huge crowds and be patient to wait for my turn to kiss those holy sites as a sign of veneration. I just told myself and the pilgrims with me that we did not go that far to back out from the crowd and sweat and everything.
Whenever friends ask me for the best time to go to the Holy Land amid the threats of wars and violence, I just tell them that the best time is when they are ready, reminding them that ever since Jesus ascended into heaven, that region has always been a major trouble spot in the world. Remember, no matter how large are the crowds, so small are the gates, how tiring are the days, God’s grace is lavishly bestowed upon everyone who makes the efforts to pray and make that pilgrimage at the birthplace of our faith.
It is never a question of how many can be accommodated to the Holy Land – or heaven for that matter – but, it is more of the question of how willing is everyone to strive and persevere to walk on the very same grounds Jesus and his apostles and those ahead of them walked on.
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
Luke 13:22-24
Photo by author, altar of the Church of the Crucifixion; at the back is the encased site of the Crucifixion, May 2017.
See how Jesus redirected that man’s attention to focusing more on discipleship, telling him to “strive to enter through the narrow gate”. It is most probable that man was a disciple who has been following Jesus whom he called “Lord”. He must have been following Jesus for sometime.
Very often, what happens in our relationships
can happen in our discipleship
when you thought you were so in love
when in fact it was just an infatuation.
And that is sometimes the problem with us disciples of Jesus: we get focused with the novelties and trivia of faith, with devotions and practices that we forget the more important and essential of living out our discipleship in Jesus! Instead of wondering about how many will be saved, Jesus is telling us this Sunday to just keep striving to be like him, a true disciple who perseveres in being good, in being more loving and kind, more merciful and forgiving like him.
Very often, what happens in our relationships can happen in our discipleship when you thought you were so in love when in fact it was just an infatuation. Faith and discipleship are just skin-deep, more of an attraction and feeling like infatuation when our concerns are just the mere rites and rituals and other religious fascinations; true discipleship is like true love that is more about commitment, of being faithful and true in works not just words.
The man must be in his early stage of discipleship where we find a tinge of pride and entitlement as if he must have felt only a few of them would be saved. Nah! It is a classic case of “humility with a hook”.
Photo by author, altar of the Parish of San Pedro Calungsod, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo city, 12 August 2022.
Take off all those pretensions, forget all those trivia and nitty-gritty things of our faith; like the Nike commercial, “just do it” whatever is right and good in the name of Jesus. Keep in mind that no one has ever become a saint because of what they knew, but because of how their lives were conformed with Jesus Christ.
The first reading reminds us of how God had envisioned since the beginning to come to gather all nations in his name (Is. 66:18) that was fulfilled in Christ’s coming.
Recall how when before Jesus identified himself as the “good shepherd”, he first called himself as the “gate” through whom all sheep pass through so that whoever enters through him will be saved and whoever does not go through him is a thief (Jn. 10:7-11). These images of Jesus as the gate and good shepherd from the fourth gospel directly match these teachings today found in Luke’s gospel.
Keep in mind that
no one has ever become a saint because of what they knew,
but because of how their lives were conformed with Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, in the light of the beautiful passage from the Letter to the Hebrews this Sunday, we are assured of inclusion into heaven because we all belong to God who is our Father. What the author of the letter meant in likening God to a father who disciplines his son because of love is precisely the very intimate relationship God has with us like a father to his children. We all belong to God our Father and in the end, we shall all come home to him in heaven. Everyone. Unless you do not want to come.
Photo by author, Parish of San Pedro Calungsod, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo city, 12 August 2022.
The grace of this Sunday is the assurance anew given to us by Jesus that we rejoice not because of the powers nor knowledge we have as disciples but “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Lk.10:20, 14th Sunday, 03 July 2022).
Let no doubts dishearten you of not making it to heaven; we are all saved by Jesus, assured of a “passport” to enter heaven. Let us all work for that “visa” into heaven by being true to our name as disciples of Jesus who strive to enter through the narrow gate who is Christ himself.
Entering Jesus our narrow gate back home in heaven means being one in him and with him in loving service to others, in being kind and merciful, and most of all, of having him alone as our wealth and treasure. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. John Eudes & St. Ezechiel Moreno, Priests, 19 August 2022
Ezekiel 37:1-14 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 22:34-40
Photo by Mr. Jay Javier in Taal, Batangas, 15 February 2014.
Your Prophet Ezechiel's vision
was perfect and continues even to
these days, God our loving Father:
many times we feel like bones left in
the graveyard, all dried up, and lifeless
because of our sinfulness.
Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:12-14
Thank you, dear God,
in sending us your Son Jesus
who breathed on us your promised
Spirit who brought us back to life;
thank you, dear God,
in giving us saints like Ezekiel Moreno
and John Eudes who both shared us
your Son Jesus Christ in their lives of
service and holiness;
thank you, dear God,
most of all for the gift of love,
the life-giving Spirit of everyone,
your very being that is why there is
life.
How sad, O God,
that in this world that has
become so affluent, so advanced
in technologies, many people remain
lifeless like dry bones buried in their
casket of self-pity, self-centeredness,
impenitence, selfishness, and self-
righteousness refusing to experience
your love and the love of others that
they cannot love too.
Indeed, love is your only commandment
because love is the very principle of life
that whoever refuses to love dies
and whoever loves, lives.
Amen.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 18 August 2022
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Spirituality Center, Novaliches, QC, 2018.
Intimacy with God and with others is a journey that is often long and difficult, painstaking but so wonderful. It is a process with highs and lows but something that could come out as a precious gift we must keep and nurture.
Mr. Webster defines intimacy as “close familiarity or friendship” or simply, “closeness”.
But being close does not necessarily mean intimacy. True closeness in intimacy means finding and sharing a “sacred space” with someone that is built on mutual trust and sincerity where we bare our true selves to offer it to the other person. It is in this sacred space where intimacy grows as we become “engaging” with the other person, even with God, like in bantering.
There is one beautiful incident in the gospel I always love relating with the topic of intimacy, the story of the Canaanite woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter.
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
Matthew 15:21-23
Photo by author, Caesarea in Israel, May 2017.
Here we find the first difficulty with intimacy which happens often in the most unexpected situations like Jesus going to a foreign territory where we are not most comfortable or most at home, where we are so uncertain with everything and everyone.
Is it not that is when we grow intimate with others and with God, when we were in the most desolate situations, when we were weakest when suddenly somebody came to strengthen us in our journey?
It was not a simple walk in the park though because it was as if like adding salt to our injuries when at our lowest point in our lives we were asked to even go lower, bare our vulnerabilities further until we were stripped naked of our pretensions and defenses, standing naked and true.
"That is intimacy, of still believing, of being sincere, of still being beautiful and good in the worst situations with one's self with the other person. It is a sacred space where anyone can come and be welcomed, be affirmed, or simply be safe for a moment while the storm is passing through you."
Photo by Dr. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2021.
Notice how Jesus tested the Canaanite woman to see how engaging she could be in their conversation, of how willing was she to get closer to him and be intimate to gain his healing.
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Matthew 15:25-28
I like this part; it was more of the woman bantering with Jesus than bargaining. Try situating yourself there as if the woman was already feeling close with Jesus, engaging him in their conversation when he used the colloquial expression “dog” used by Jews at that time to refer to Gentiles or pagans. Of course, there was no any racial or malicious intent on the part of Jesus in using that common expression of his time; in some translations, he used the word “puppies”.
And that is where intimacy kicked in: when the Canaanite woman told him how dogs – or puppies – eat just the scraps from the master’s table. Here is a woman baring everything to Jesus, taking off all her defenses totally accepting the realities of life, of them outside the own circle of Jesus who was a Jew but still believing in him and in herself that she is worthy of attention, of healing for her daughter.
Photo by author, sunrise at Lake Tiberias, Israel, May 2017.
That is intimacy, of still believing, of being sincere, of still being beautiful and good in the worst situations with one’s self with the other person. It is a sacred space where anyone can come and be welcomed, be affirmed, or simply be safe for a moment while the storm is passing through you. This is very true for those who had undergone surgery when you were there on the narrow operating table, naked and everything, just praying and hoping everything would go well, without any complications later. That is why I admired doctors more than ever because after a surgery and you visit them for follow up consultations, it is as if he had not seen the worst in you, still friendly and casual. Most of all, trying so hard to keep you well and healthy!
"Intimacy is the reason why everyone says life is a journey."
To be intimate with Jesus is like continuing the journey with him in foreign territories like when a man and a woman get married not knowing what’s really in store for them or a young man getting ordained as priest or a lady taking religious vows without realizing the real weight of Christ’s cross to carry. Many times in life, we just forge on in life with our family and friends, and with God most especially, engaging him in conversations even debates to show him how convinced we are in ourselves, in our cause, in our prayers. We grow intimate only with someone who is willing to accept us.
Intimacy is the reason why everyone says life is a journey – you always have a companion, somebody you break bread with which is the literal meaning of “companion” from the Latin terms cum panis.
The most beautiful part of this journey in intimacy, whether with God or with another person is that as we become one in being intimate with the other, the more we become free, not constricted nor limited because the more we love, the more we trust each other that even when we are not together physically, we can still be intimate — because intimacy is actually a spiritual reality, a gift only God can give for those willing to take the difficult journey.
That is why, we priests remain celibate: our celibacy is the clearest sign of our intimacy not only with Jesus our Eternal Priest but also with you, our flock, the people of God which is the Church.
When parishioners give their pastors a good chance to pray and recreate to nurture their intimacy with Jesus, the more priests value their celibacy, the more they are true and faithful in serving the people, the Body of Christ, the Church.
Anyone who finds true intimacy finds true love who is God alone. That is the essence of our celibacy as priests. And that is why, priests and religious, as well as married couples and singles joyful in their state of life too who have found intimacy would never venture to look for other “loves” because they have already found God, our true intimacy. It would be madness to any priest to break his vow of celibacy or, even to married couples to go on extra-marital affairs when you already have God. Amen.
May you find and experience intimacy in your life journey.
Photo by Ka Ruben, National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Valenzuela City, 04 August 2022.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 18 August 2022
Ezekiel 36:23-28 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 22:1-14
Photo by author, Makati skyline at dusk from Antipolo, 13 August 2022.
Your words today, O God
are so reassuring,
so comforting and consoling:
"I will sprinkle clean water upon you
to cleanse you from all your impurities,
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
I will give you a new heart and place
a new spirit within you, taking from your
bodies your stony hearts and giving you
natural hearts" (Ezekiel 36:25-26).
As I dwell on your words,
including the psalms taken from
my favorite chapter 51 called
"miserere nobis" (have mercy on me),
your Holy Spirit prompted me,
even insisted me to ask, "where is my
new heart, Lord?"
Many of us wonder, Lord, where is my
new heart of flesh, the new spirit
within me you have promised?
Why do I not feel your clean water
cleansing me of my impurities?
Why do I still feel tired, sometimes
uninspired, even lost and alienated,
losing hope, getting cynical,
feeling so low?
Has the Lord taken back our new hearts
and new spirit within he had promised?
Of course not!
God has given us with new hearts,
new spirit within by cleansing us with
clean water to remove our impurities
in the Passion, Death and Resurrection
of Jesus Christ, his Son and our Savior.
In baptism, we have been cleansed
and we are continually cleansed of our
impurities in the sacraments we celebrate
like the Holy Eucharist.
And there lies the problem
when we do not feel our new hearts,
new spirit: when we refuse to join your
celebrations, O Lord, like in your parable.
Not only that: teach us too to rise to
your celebrations, dearest Lord;
let us change our inner selves in more
prayers and introspection and confession
of sins so that we may be transformed to
better persons as Christians; clothe us with
more commitment to our baptismal promises,
to live out in our lives and relationships
what we claim as we believe in.
And so, where is our new hearts,
O Lord?
It is right here in our very present moment
whenever we accept your invitation, your call
to turn away from sins, from selfishness, and
vested interests!
It is right here in our present moment when
we allow our new personhood in Christ
lead us to pray more, listen more, forgive
more, serve more, and witness his gospel
more. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, 17 August 2022
Ezekiel 34:1-11 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 20:1-16
God our loving Father,
what happened in Israel
during Ezekiel's time is happening
again, of "shepherds pasturing
themselves" (Ezekiel 34:2)!
Send us shepherds, dear Father,
who have vision, who seek Jesus our
Good Shepherd and not just listen to one's self
or with what our "cordon sanitaires" say and
whisper to our ears no matter how pleasing
or assuring these may be (should we not be
more at home with being bothered than
pleased, Lord?);give us shepherds who would
come out of their comfort zones like
that landowner ensuring everyone is doing
something; send us shepherds with courage
to smash existing structures of dominance
and cliques within your Church, drive away
the gnostics among us who know only what
is good for one's self to let in a breath
of fresh air to enliven your flock.
Thank you in calling us
to shepherd your flock in
different capacities as priests,
parents, elder brothers and sisters,
superiors, teachers, leaders and
managers; but, shepherding is more
than "strengthening the weak,
healing the sick,
binding up the injured,
bringing back the strayed
and seeking the lost" (cf. Ez. 34:4-5):
all these efforts are meant
to enable every sheep "to work" -
that is, do something good,
something that would awaken
each one's worth and giftedness
as your beloved one like the master
of the vineyard in today's gospel:
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn… at nine o-clock… at noon… at three o’clock… and at about five o’clock to hire laborers for his vineyard.”
Matthew 20:1, 3, 5, 6
O dear Jesus,
forgive us your shepherds,
especially us your priests,
who have refused to go out
literally and figuratively speaking,
to look on your flock, to find every
sheep and give each one a chance to
"work" for you, to do something good
like serve others and harness their talents
you have given;
Oh, please forgive us your shepherds
when we feel so entitled knowing everything
and being capable of everything that we have
refused to stop "working" for you, when we
have refused to leave our "work" and made it
into an office than a ministry, replacing service
with power, simplicity with material comfort,
and yes though very sad, we have made your
vocation a privilege as we bask in our
positions and ranks, refusing to give others
the chance to work because we have ceased
shepherding, choosing to be herding or worst,
lording over others.
Amen.
Photo by Mr. Lorenzo Atienza, 12 June 2019, Malolos Cathedral.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Roch, Healer, 16 August 2022
Ezekiel 28:1-10 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 19:23-30
Photo by Dr. Mylene A. Santos, MD, near Lamon Bay, Polilio, Quezon, 15 August 2022.
"What about me?" and
"How about me?", are our two most
frequently asked questions to you, God
our loving Father and to everyone as well;
our Filipino expression is more "dramatic"
or "maarte" when we say "Paano naman ako?",
as if we are abused and
taken for granted when in fact,
like Simon Peter in today's gospel,
just feeling proud and entitled,
deserving to be rewarded or
making sure not to be forgotten
with the little sacrifices, charities and
services we have rendered to others.
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
Matthew 19:27
Forgive us, dearest Jesus,
when we count everything we
have given and shared without
realizing you have given more than
so much because whatever we give,
whether things or kindness, forgiveness
and love, they are all yours not ours
to brag or be proud of!
Many times we play like God
as the Father had told Ezekiel
in the first reading; many times
when everything is flowing and
going on so well in life, we claim
everything, every success as our
efforts and triumph; many times we
believe we are so intelligent and wise
that we know everything that
because of our wealth and power and
wisdom, our "hearts have grown haughty"
and have thought ourselves to "have the mind
of a god" (Ezekiel 28:5, 6).
Teach us, O Lord Jesus Christ,
to imitate St. Roch, who, upon contracting
disease while caring for the sick and the
dying, he never complained to you nor
anyone, preferring to go into the woods
to mend himself with his sickness,
trusting in your healing and care
that you provided through a dog that
brought his daily bread.
Indeed, as the psalmist proclaimed
today, it is you O Lord who deal death
and give life; make us realize first that you
alone is our God, our everything in life and in
death; and secondly, let our faith and trust in
you be firm that you will never abandon us nor
forsake us; and lastly, like St. Roch and all the
saints, following you is never easy but with you
everything is possible (Mt.19:26). Amen.
lordmychef.com 