1 John 5:5-13 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 5:12-16
Flowers at our Altar, Epiphany Sunday 2020. Photo by author.
Dearest Jesus Christ:
Today we pray for those losing hope in life, for those about to give up living because they are saddled with so many problems and sufferings.
And most especially with sins and guilt feelings as carryover of the troublesome 2019.
We pray for those who cannot move on with their lives due to so many heartaches and losses and wrongs last year that they see themselves so dirty like the leper in the gospel today, refusing to aspire to become better, refusing to dream again of good things in you.
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:12
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean…
Forgive us Lord when sometimes we seem so hopeless.
“Kung ibig ninyo… kung ano po ang gusto ninyo… bahala na po kayo.”
Flowers at our Altar, Epiphany 2020. Photo by author.
Help us remember St. John’s reminder in the first reading that you, O sweet Jesus, is our life because you are the only one to whom “there are three who testify, the Spirit, the water, and the Blood”(1 Jn. 5:7-8) that refer respectively to your divine nature, human nature, and death on the cross.
You are the only one, Lord Jesus, who has overcome death because you are indeed Life itself!
Thank you very much for always willing the best for us and may we reclaim your wonderful gift of life to us daily. Amen.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-09 ng Enero 2020
Hindi pa tapos ang Pasko ngunit iyo na bang napagtanto ano hanap o nais mo sa bagong taong ito?
Tayong lahat ay katulad ng mga Pantas o Mago na naghanap sa Kristo nang sumilang ito noong Pasko.
At iyon ang tunay na karunungan hanapin sa kaitaasan ang kalaliman nitong buhay na sa Diyos lamang matatagpuan.
Mula sa Silangan tinuturing silang puno ng karunungan kalangitan ay palaging tinitingnan ng mga palatandaan sa buhay nagpapayaman.
Kaya kung mga Pantas tutularan tatlong bagay ating kailangan upang tala ay masundan at si Kristo ay matagpuan:
Una'y huwag matakot sa mga kadiliman ng buhay sapagkat mga bituin ay maningning kapag kalangita'y balot sa dilim.
Sa bawat kadiliman ng buhay may pagkakataong binibigay upang makapagdasal at magnilay makagamay direksiyon ng patutunguhan.
Sa pananalangin dinadalisay puso at kalooban upang sarili maialay kapalit ng minimithing makakamit magpapayaman sa katauhan.
Ganito ang takbo nitong ating buhay ano man iyong gusto at hanap hindi basta nakakamit dapat magsumakit.
Ngayon pa lamang sa epipanya ng Panginoon landas ng kanyang kalbaryo at krus agad nang matatagpuan sa siya ring landas na sinundan ng mga Pantas ng Silangan!
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul, 09 January 2020
Thursday after Epiphany, Traslacion of Black Nazarene at Quiapo
1 John 4:19-5:4 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 4:14-22
Photo from MyPilipinas.com
Praise and glory to you, O Lord Jesus Christ! Every year on this date as we continue to celebrate Christmastime, you bless us with a unique Epiphany at the Traslacion of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo, Manila.
Many cannot understand the immense power of your image as the “Nazarene” as the gospel today tells us how you came home to Nazareth, your origin.
More than indicating to us your origin at Nazareth, the only place in the New Testament never mentioned in the Old Testament, your being called a Nazarene according to Matthew and Isaiah reveals to us your very essence as the “nezer” or the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Is.11:1), the new beginning of life here on earth with your coming as our Saviour from sins. You O Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise in the Old, of the coming of the Emmanuel born by a Virgin.
The millions of people who flock to your annual Traslacion can never be wrong, Lord, in having experienced your manifestation or epiphany with them when they were so burdened with so much sufferings in life.
A debilitating disease maybe or serious sickness of loved ones.
Utter darkness and despair before hopeless situations.
Or a crushing defeat and failure in life.
You were there, Lord Jesus the Nazarene helping us all with our heavy crosses in life.
Help us to continue to love you, to love your Cross, and most of all, to love our neighbors so we may truly imitate you as Jesus the Nazarene by keeping your laws. Indeed, all these devotions are nothing without love that always entails pains and sufferings.
For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
1 John 5:3-4
Help us, Lord Jesus, to carry our Cross and follow you always faithfully and lovingly. Amen.
Nuestro Señor Padre Jesus Nazareno, have mercy on us!
Wednesday after Epiphany of the Lord, 08 January 2019
1 John 4:11-18 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Mark 6:45-52
Flowers at our Altar, 05 January 2020. Photo by author.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
1 John 4:16-18
How true are the words and reflection of your beloved disciple, Lord Jesus Christ! Indeed, when there is fear, that is when we refuse to love or at least fail to love.
When we are afraid of losing honor and losing possessions, when we are afraid of being disadvantaged and being out of the limelight, when we are afraid of being forgotten and unrecognized… those are the moments we fail to love because we cannot let go of our self, of our ego.
Teach us, Jesus, to take into our hearts your manifestations of your presence and power, of your love and concern for us so that our fears of being forsaken may be lessened.
Give us the grace to face our fears especially in moments of darkness and trials when we act like your disciples who cannot recognize your coming by walking on water at the middle of a storm at the sea.
Refresh our memories, Jesus, to recall those many moments you have come to our rescue to save us from so many problems and situations in the past so we may now completely trust you and give you our very selves in loving service.
Help us to let go and let God by dying to ourselves. Amen.
Tuesday After Epiphany of the Lord, 07 January 2020
1 John 4:7-10 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Mark 6:34-44
Baby Jesus near our ambo, Christmas 2019. Photo by author.
Praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord Jesus Christ in coming to us, in becoming human like us that we have experienced and realized deeply all about love.
Christmas itself can be spelled as L-O-V-E.
It is your birthday yet you were the one who gave us yourself as both “the gift and the giver” according to the great Karl Rahner, SJ. Most of all, even it is your birthday we celebrate, we are still the ones receiving gifts at Christmas!
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent us his son as expiation for our sins.
1 John 4:7-10
In our gospel today, Lord Jesus, you have shown us that your being “love” is your very person because love is being with others, a gift of presence, of staying and remaining with the people.
Love, dear Jesus, is exactly what you did in the feeding of the more than 5000 people in the wilderness when you blessed, broke and gave the little bread you have with the people.
At our sacristy, December 2019.
Love, dear Jesus, is exactly what you did in the feeding of the more than 5000 people in the wilderness when you divided the two pieces of fish to be shared with the crowd there in the wilderness.
And still, Lord Jesus, after feeding them, love is still being the one to pick up the pieces of leftovers to be kept by the 12 among themselves.
You are love, dearest Jesus because your very person is love, a giving of self to others.
1 John 3:22-4:6 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
A blessed Monday morning, dear Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you for the gift of this first day of work and school after a very long Christmas vacation – even if many of us did not spend time with you nor even remembered you on your birthday.
Bless us this first week of work and study in this new year of 2020.
Guide us in testing every spirit that try to lead us in the choices and decisions we make, the course of actions we take.
So many times, we have always been misled away from you, Lord, especially when we are lured into taking shortcuts in many aspects of life.
Most of all, very often we choose to be blind and deaf, speaking no more when the world denies your presence, your teachings, your truth. There are times we get carried away into believing that you have left us, that you are not involved in our affairs in the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist who, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world.
1 John 4:2-3
Let us always seek your light, Lord Jesus for you alone are the true light of the world.
Let us lead our lives in such a way that proves, that witnesses to your abiding love and presence among us especially in times of darkness.
Enlighten us Lord, our Light to be your light to guide others to you. Amen.
And welcome to our first Sunday Music this 2020 as we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ, the third major celebration of Christmastime after the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) and Mary Mother of God (January 01).
From the Greek word epiphanes meaning manifestation, today’s celebration reminds us of God’s great love for everyone. Jesus came for us all, to give us life and fulfillment.
Jesus is the true and only star “wise men” always seek.
Our Sunday Music featured today is from U2’s “Joshua Tree” album released in 1987 and inspired by gospel music.
However, lead singer Bono admits it is not about faith but rather more about doubts.
I have climbed the highest mountains I have run through the fields Only to be with you Only to be with you
I have run I have crawled I have scaled these city walls These city walls Only to be with you
But I still haven’t found What I’m looking for But I still haven’t found What I’m looking for
We are all looking or searching for something deeper, more profound, larger and bigger than ourselves and whatever we have. It is a given, a grace in everyone.
When we were younger, we search for more ordinary and mundane things like fame and wealth. But as we mature in life, we start looking for deeper and bigger realities of life like meaning, peace and serenity, joy and fulfillment.
Whatever it may be, it is always God, our semper major (always greater), the ultimate in everything.
St. Augustine perfectly expressed it in his Confessiones, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
U2’s hit “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was like an anthem for us young college graduates of the mid-80’s, searching for meaning in life. The music video is very interesting as it was set in Las Vegas to remind us that whatever we are truly searching in life can never be found in money and material things.
Though the song speaks of God in the line “kingdom come”, in the end, it is not really us who find God – it is the other way around: it is always God who finds us! After all, this life we live here on earth is planned and designed in heaven.
God always tries to invite us to follow his ways, to find him so he can direct us to our fulfillment, for us to find whatever we are looking for.
Here are three lessons we can learn from the magi who eventually found what they were looking for, “the newborn king of the Jews”, Jesus Christ:
First is to welcome darkness and troubles in life. Discontentment and problems are always a prelude to spiritual growth. When the magi arrived in Jerusalem searching for the child Jesus, King Herod and the whole city were deeply troubled; but, it led to their knowing where Jesus was born! Like in the story of creation found in Genesis, out of chaos comes order. We learn and find more lessons in life in adversarial situations than in our comfort zones.
Second is to always pray the Sacred Scriptures. Herod consulted the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem to ask them what the prophets have told about where the Messiah would be born. Ironically, they found the answer in Prophet Malachi’s book which is Bethlehem yet, they never followed it! Prayer opens us to be humble to learn the lessons of the darkness and troubles happening in us.
Third lesson from the magi is: what are you willing to give up and offer to find whatever you are looking for? There are no shortcuts in life and definitely, no one is born entitled in this world. We have to earn and work for everything because essentially, that is the path that Jesus is telling us in life: whoever loses his life shall gain it and whoever keeps his life will lose it.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe of the Epiphany of the Lord, 05 January 2020
Isaiah 60:1-6 ><}}}*> Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 ><}}}*> Matthew 2:1-12
From Google.
A very blessed Merry Christmas to you, my dear reader and follower! As I have been insisting to you since January first, we are still in the Christmas Season as we celebrate today the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
It is the third major celebration of Christmastime after the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) and Mary Mother of God (January 01).
In some parts of the country especially the countrysides, they regard Epiphany in equal standing with Christmas, calling it “Three Kings Sunday” known as “Pasko ng Magsasaka” (Christmas of Farmers).
So, please, do not cut the Christmas Season short and stop greeting others with a happy new year.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:1-3
From Google.
Jesus Christ is our one and only true Star
Epiphany is from the Greek word epiphanes that means revelation or manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ to the whole world symbolized by the “magi” or wise men from the East.
While there are many sources that confirm to us both in history and tradition that the magi were from Persia (Iran) who have truly paid homage to the Infant Jesus, evidence pointing to the reality of the star of Bethlehem are still scarce but slowly developing.
Though it is still important to establish the factual basis on the existence of the star of Bethlehem, we who believe in Jesus Christ need to focus more on the theology behind this detail from Matthew’s Christmas story which refers to the Lord himself.
We all search for a “star”, something great and noble in life.
It is a given, a gift that every person is capable of rising above one’s self for something lofty and greater than himself/herself.
Too often, we pursue stars that are so common and ordinary – perhaps low and dull ones – like wealth and fame. Eventually we mature that we follow bigger and more luminous stars that are higher and found deeper in space so to speak like wisdom and peace within.
But no matter what we search in life, whatever star we follow, the saints and our faith teach us how we all desire and long only for the one and only true star of all, Jesus Christ.
St. Benedicta dela Cruz (Edith Stein) said that “anyone who seeks the truth eventually finds God” while the great St. Augustine eloquently wrote in his Confessiones, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI beautifully said it in one of his books:
“The key point is this: the wise men from the east are a new beginning. They represent the journeying of humanity toward Christ. They initiate a procession that continues throughout history. Not only do they represent the people who have found the way to Christ: they represent the inner aspiration of the human spirit, the dynamism of religions and human reason toward him.”
Jesus of Nazareth, The Infancy Narratives (page 97)
Old Jerusalem, May 2017. Photo by author.
Lessons of the Magi
Last January first, we reflected how we must make that conscious decision to empty ourselves of our pride to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we can bring Jesus into the world today like Mary the Mother of God.
Today on this Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we are invited to imitate the magi, to be wise men too in continuing the beautiful Christmas story by always seeking, following and submitting ourselves to Jesus Christ, our only true star in life.
There are three important lessons we can learn from the magi in being truly wise to seek and follow Jesus:
First, welcome darkness and chaos in life. The most life-changing and enriching moments we have are also the most adversarial ones. Remember the “AQ” or adversarial quotient experts are now proposing as true indicators of success in life?
More than success is fulfillment which we desire most when we are in desolation, when we are in the middle of a storm and trial in life, when we are in darkness.
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and the thick clouds cover the peoples; but pon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory.
Isaiah 60:1-2
In the gospel, we have heard how “King Herod was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Mt.2:3) upon hearing from the magi the birth of “the newborn king of the Jews” signified by the star they saw from the East.
Troubles and chaos are great motivators for us to seek better things like meaning in life!
Pilgrims entering through the narrow door of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, May 2019. Photo by author.
Second, dark moments in life are are an invitation to pray more, especially in meditating the Sacred Scriptures, the word of God.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, Herod inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet…
Matthew 2:4-5
The bible is the word of God and when we pray it, it is God himself who speaks to us directly. It is not enough to read and study the Sacred Scriptures like the scribes and chief priests summoned by King Herod.
They knew the book but refused to recognize the Author, God himself.
The scribes and chief priests got it right that the Christ was born in Bethlehem but were not wise enough to join the magi in paying homage to him.
Prayer is a call to communion with God that requires humility and total surrender of self which leads us to lesson number three in following Jesus our true star in life.
From Google.
Third and last but not least lesson from the magi is what are you willing to give in order to follow the Star, Jesus Christ?
The magi from the East were rightly called wise men because they knew very well the most important things in life, the most essential. They did not merely leave the comforts of their home and country to follow the star of Bethlehem.
They were willing to give up so many things just to find Jesus Christ!
This 2020, many of us are having new year’s resolutions, so many plans and dreams and aspirations in life.
It is always good to reach for the stars but we must always keep our feet on the ground as Casey Kasem would always say at the end of his American Top 40 program during the 80’s.
And keeping those feet on the ground is working hard for our dreams with a lot of sacrifices. Keeping feet on the ground is doing all the hard work and avoiding shortcuts.
The magi did not mind going into Jerusalem, asking around amid dangers of suspicions from the powerful, just to find Jesus Christ. Most of all, they have brought gifts with them, precious commodities of that time to signify their sincerity in finding and following Jesus.
How about us today, in this age that is marked with so may people feeling entitled to everything in life?
This early in his Epiphany, Jesus is already showing us the path we have to follow, the way of the Cross, of forgetting one’s self, of setting aside our ego, of letting go and letting God.
Unless we are able to forget our ego, we can never imitate the magi in being wise “to depart for their country by another way” (Mt.2:12) to avoid King Herod.
That is the ultimate indication of being wise, that after finding Wisdom, we change our ways, our lives and live in Jesus Christ, the Holy One. Amen.
Merry Christmas!
From Desicomments.com. Last line should be “Lift our eyes”, not “Life”.
Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-03 ng Enero 2020
Ikalawa ng Enero
binati ko ng "Maligayang Pasko"
magandang kahera
ng paradahan sa Trinoma.
Ngumiti at bumati
sabi ng binibini, "Happy New Year!
Tapos na po ang Pasko"
kanyang nawika mula sa munti niyang bintana.
Nagpaliwanag ako
habang kanyang binibilang bayad ko.
"Miss, hindi pa tapos ang Pasko;
kaya may bagong taon kasi sinilang si Kristo!"
Bakit nga ba tayo ganito
turing sa Pasko isang petsa sa kalendaryo
kaya pagsapit na Enero a-primero
akala'y tapos na ito?
Sana'y ating mapagtanto
na isang kuwentong nagpapatuloy
sa pamumuhay nating mga Kristiyano
itong Pasko nang ang Diyos ay maging tao.
Kapag ang Pasko ay tinuring nating
isang bilang lamang ng mga araw at buwan
maski ilang libong taon pa iyan -
pagsusuma at pagtutuos lamang hahantungan.
Magkano napamaskuhan o
mayroon bang Christmas bonus diyan
mga katanungan pumapailanlang
pagsapit ng Kapaskuhan sa karamihan.
Diwa at kahulugan ng pagsilang
ni Hesus tiyak malilimutan
kapag sarili lamang ating tiningnan
kaya ating minamadali pati pagbati ng happy new year muli.
Hanaping muli si Kristo sa Pasko
at tiyak ating matatanto
di natatapos pagdiriwang na ito
na kailangan nating ihatid palagi si Kristo sa ating mundo!
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-03 ng Enero 2020
Belen sa Pambansang Dambana ng Birhen ng Carmel, Lungsod Quezon, 30 Disyembre 2019.
Ikalawa ng Enero binati ko ng “Maligayang Pasko” magandang kahera ng paradahan sa Trinoma.
Ngumiti at bumati sabi ng binibini, “Happy New Year! Tapos na po ang Pasko” kanyang nawika mula sa munti niyang bintana.
Nagpaliwanag ako habang binibilang niya aking bayad: “Miss hindi pa tapos ang Pasko; kaya may bagong taon sinilang kasi si Kristo.” Bakita nga ba tayo ganito turing sa Pasko isang petsa sa kalendaryo kaya pagsapit na Enero a-primero akala’y tapos na ito?
Sana’y ating mapagtanto na isang kuwentong nagpapatuloy sa pamumuhay nating mga Kristiyano itong Pasko nang ang Diyos ay maging tao.
Kapag ang Pasko ay tinuring nating isang bilang lamang ng mga araw at buwan maski ilang libong taon pa iyan – pagsusuma at pagtutuos lamang hahantungan. Magkano napamaskuhan o mayroon bang Christmas bonus diyan mga katanungan pumapailanlang pagsapit ng Kapaskuhan sa karamihan.
Diwa at kahulugan ng pagsilang ni Hesus tiyak malilimutan kapag sarili lamang ating tiningnan kaya ating minamadali pati pagbati ng happy new year muli.
Hanaping muli si Kristo sa Pasko at tiyak ating matatanto di natatapos pagdiriwang na ito na kailangan nating ihatid palagi si Kristo sa ating mundo!
lordmychef.com 