Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in Fifth Week of Easter, 20 May 2025 Acts 14:19-28 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 14:27-31
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
Come, Lord Jesus! Come and let me search peace in you, not in the world that is uncertain and always dependent, transactional in nature; you know it, Lord, how often like your disciples at the Last Supper, I look for peace in the world, in things and in what people say and approve that peace remains elusive; you know very well too, Jesus, my fears and anxieties that I give into the peace of the world that is quick and easier; give me courage, Jesus, to look for peace in you here in my heart, to trust in you, not afraid to love totally even to get hurt because it is the path to your peace.
Like Paul and Barnabas after being stoned and rejected by their fellow Jews, they never backed out from preaching your good news, Lord; instead, so true to your words at the Last Supper not to let our hearts troubled or afraid, they asserted, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
Grant us, O Lord, the same faith and courage and trust in you in order to finally find your lasting peace. Amen.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II' Monday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 19 May 2025 Acts 14:5-18 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 14:21-26
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
Your words today, O Lord are very amusing: in the first reading we have the people at Lystra insisted on making Paul and Bernabas as "gods" after they have healed a crippled man from birth while in the gospel we felt you personally speaking to us too along with your disciples at the Last Supper of how in our love for you and with each other that we become divine like you.
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:22-24).
How lovely, dear Jesus are your words: you never left us, you continue to speak to us in the Holy Spirit you sent to enlighten our minds and our hearts so we may continue to love you in one another; more than a feeling as most people believe these days, love is a response to a loving, meaningful relationship in you; love is our deeper connection with you and with each other; without love, we are mere humans, not persons, without relationships, most of all, without meaning and direction in life.
Let us love, love, and love more, Jesus so we may find and recognize you in ourselves and in others, especially the weakest and poorest among us. Amen.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Fifth Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 18 May 2025 Acts 14:21-27 ><}}}}*> Revelation 21:1-5 ><}}}}*> John 13:31-33, 34-35
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
Easter is a reality, an event and experience always new and fresh. And relevant. I refuse to describe it as “ever new” because it is not changing nor evolving; it is “new” as it is “unfolding” like God or a loved one’s person revealed daily.
In his coming to us, Jesus brought God most real and closest to us humans more than ever, enabling us to experience in him a newness in life, so refreshing and relevant always. That is why we heard the word “new” five times in our readings today, four in the Book of Revelation and once in the Gospel.
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and new earth. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:1, 2, 5).
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:31, 34-35).
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
New heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem, new commandment. With Jesus making all things new.
“New” as a word connotes something fresh and recent, presupposing two conditions: either as something non-existent before that is introduced and made only now or, something already existing before but found and discovered only recently.
As such, anything “new” is actually a supernatural reality, a gift from God waiting to be discovered by anyone with faith, hope and love. It is in God through Jesus Christ’s Resurrection that we actually experience the true meaning of what is “new”.
First, as something not existing before like John’s vision of “new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem” in the Book of Revelation. John had been clear at the onset of his writing of his final book which is to report to us the things that will happen in the future. And we all hope that indeed, someday there will be a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem in the future. How it would look like, we really don’t know but deep in our hearts we hope for that especially in this time of too much crying, pain and death everywhere.
Of course, it sounds too good to be true but for us disciples of Christ, it is something we have to work for and not just pray for. What a joy to hear the new Pope, Leo XIV mentioning in his first public address asking for the release of all hostages in Gaza as well as for peace in Ukraine. We really hope our new Pope will continue with his more direct and firm assertions of Jesus and his teachings than be like the previous Pope who tried accommodating non-Christian religions and beliefs because peace comes only in Christ.
Though John’s vision of new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem refers to the end of time where “there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain” (Rev. 21:4), it is something we can experience now if we let Jesus reign in us so he may wipe away the tears in our eyes caused by our continued hardness of the hearts.
A new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem can only happen when we allow Jesus Christ to reign in our hearts more than ever so that the former heaven, former earth and sea pass away. That is why the Prophet Isaiah called the Christ as the Emmanuel, God-is-with-us, precisely the vision saw by John in Revelation, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3).
As we have seen two Sundays ago, no locked doors can prevent Jesus from breaking through to get to us, for us to experience his loving presence. Most of all like last Sunday, we must learn to entrust ourselves confidently to Jesus our Good Shepherd because only he knows us his sheep so well. That confidence in him in making all things new happens when we love like him.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 17 March 2025.
"I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).
What is new in Jesus Christ’s commandment of loving? Answer: it is a love rooted in God the Father to whom Jesus is totally one with, totally entrusting himself even up to dying on the Cross.
It is a love that has long existed before since the very beginning but only discovered and found recently in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became human like us in everything except sin. It is new because it ever refreshes anyone who loves like Christ. Most of all, it is new because it is most relevant at all times.
Any love not rooted in God will surely pass and fail. Though other religions and movements preach love, only Jesus tells us to love like him who is rooted in the Father who is love himself. See that Christ’s command to love like him is not only new but also radical at the same time as it brings us to the very root of love, God: “God is love… In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us (first)” (1 Jn.4: 8,10). According to Pope Benedict XVI, “God is love” is the most unique declaration on God not found in other religions except Christianity.
It is a love already existing before and discovered only by the Apostles in their experience of Jesus Christ. That is why in the first reading Paul and Barnabas told the disciples in Antioch to persevere in faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). How sad it is a truth we have all known and proven all along but we continue to disregard even avoid, taking shortcuts in everything that often end in failures.
It is said that the more constricted the pupa (chrysalis) of a larva or caterpillar, the better are its chances of transforming into a more colorful butterfly.
The same is true with us humans. Life that is so easy and laid back when everything is provided for without any sweat at all always leads to emptiness and nothingness. Very often, the most fulfilled people – not necessarily successful which is very relative – are those who have gone through a lot of sufferings and hardships in life. They are mostly the men and women of passion for learning, willing to sacrifice a lot even their very selves for the sake of a truth and a love they are so convinced. Actually, what they have found and discovered have always been there hidden for ages even millions of years but due to their intense love, they found something so new that eventually revolutionized our lives and the world for better or for worse.
This Sunday, Jesus offers us to make our lives new and better, definitely more beautiful but not necessarily pain free. Are we willing to love like him to discover something new today or this week?
"Lord Jesus Christ, let us love like you so we may be transformed to someone new and eventually change the world to something new and better in you. Amen."
Photo by author, Cabo da Roca Villas, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.
Lord My Chef Sunday Music, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 11 May 2025
Photo by author, Hidden Valley Spring Resort, Calauan, Laguna, February 2025.
It is the Good Shepherd Sunday and also the eve of local elections in our country. Clearly God is speaking to us today of the need to vote wisely by choosing candidates who can be like good shepherds who will lead our nation to greener pastures.
What a tragedy that despite our being a predominantly Christian nation not only in Asia but in the whole world, we have continued to lag in growth and development because we have consistently put into office corrupt and inept officials.
That is why this Sunday we have chosen Simply Red’s 1989 cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ original hit in 1972, If You Don’t Know Me by Now. It is a love song of a man’s lament of how his beloved has failed to “know” him so well that they quarrel so often.
Sing the song everybody, c'mon If you don't know me by now (Moldova!) You will never never never know me, ooh
Now all the things that we've been through You should understand me like I understand you Now girl I know the difference between right and wrong I ain't gonna do nothing to upset our happy home
Oh, don't get so excited When I come home a little late at night You know, we only act like children When we argue, fuss and fight
Are we not like that in the Philippines? We cannot move forward as we keep on quarreling because we put the wrong people in government. We never think of the greater majority and of the future generations. Worst, we refuse to accept what we know! We know the candidate as corrupt and shallow yet many still vote for them. We know that the candidates are just popular as actors and actresses without any background at all in governance yet many still elect them into office doing nothing except to entertain.
In a deeper sense, it is in knowing that we are able to love most like Jesus Christ in today’s gospel when he declared “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (Jn.10:27-28). For the Jews, knowing another person is more of the heart than of the mind; knowing another person is having a relationship not just being aware of one’s name and address.
Knowing and loving work hand in hand: only Jesus can love us immensely despite his knowing of our flaws and weaknesses and sins. Though it is difficult for us humans to imitate, the most we can do is first of all within ourselves to have that self-knowledge that leads us to accept who we really are to become a better person. Anyone who truly loves God and the country will always choose the best candidate for any office after an effort of knowing everything about them. To hear and follow the Good Shepherd means we choose the best, we reject the worst who are often the most sinful.
Candidates who truly love the country, on the other hand, will never pursue an office if they know in themselves they are not capable of the job ahead. It is something they must learn to accept despite their popularity or desire to be in any position.
Like what the song says, nobody’s perfect but if we work hard to know the other person including ourselves, things can get better for more understanding and acceptance. And love.
We all got our own funny moods I've got mine, I'll bet you woman, you got yours too You better trust in me, like I trust in you As long as we'll be together, it should be so easy to do
Just get yourself together Or we might as well say goodbye What good is a love affair When you can't see eye to eye? Oh If you don't know me by now (if you don't know me, baby) You will never, never, never know me (no you won't) ooh No you won't, no you won't, no you won't If you don't know me by now (twenty long years, we've been together) You will never, never, never know me ooh (oh) If you don't know me by now You will never, never, never know me (no you won't) ooh
We love the original but we find Simply Red Mick Hucknall’s version so moving, especially the live one from Sydney Opera House in 2010. Enjoy.
From Youtube.com
*Please, know your candidates tomorrow and vote wisely. Together let us build a better tomorrow for all of us despite our flaws and weaknesses.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Fourth Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 11 May 2025 Acts 13:14, 43-52 ><}}}}*> Revelation 7:9, 14-17 ><}}}}*> John 10:27-30
The new Pope, Leo XIV, appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, 09 May 2025; photo from vaticannews.va
What a lovely fourth Sunday in Easter also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” when we are blessed with a new Pope – Leo XIV – who will shepherd us into this modern time. Truly, Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd knows us so well that he did not make us wait long in having a new Pope in this troubled time.
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).
“I know them.” How lovely are these words of Jesus to us, his “sheep” especially for those going through a lot of trials and difficulties, for those feeling lost and empty, for those about to give up on life.
Let us dwell on his words “I know them”.
For the Jews and in the Bible, knowing is more of the heart than of the mind. Knowing a person is not just knowing one’s name but most of all of being in a personal relationship, an affinity with the person.
In declaring “I know them”, Jesus affirms how he personally regards each one as somebody dear to him, somebody close to him. We are all a somebody, a someone to Jesus whom he personally loves and cares for.
This we have seen among the people we have met in Lent like the apostles Peter, James and John during the transfiguration, the prodigal son, the woman caught in adultery. Or during the Holy Week like Judas who betrayed the Lord, Peter who denied Jesus thrice, Dimas the thief, the centurion who believed in him after his death on the Cross, John and the Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross. They were all in their most difficult situations in life yet Jesus knew them so well that he assured them of his loving presence, lifting them up to move on with life.
Recall also the people we met this Easter Season like Mary Magdalene and companions early in the morning later followed by Peter and the beloved disciple who all found the tomb empty, the disciples at the upper room with locked doors that evening of Easter, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Thomas Didymus, the disciples led by Peter at breakfast with Jesus at the shore of Lake Tiberias. In their most joyous moments in life amid the darkness and emptiness, the doubts and unbelief or blindness following Easter, they were accompanied and joined by the Risen Lord to ensure and assure them that indeed he is alive and will always be with them.
In the same manner, think also of those moments in your own life of darkness and emptiness, whether negatively or positively, for better or for worse… who remained standing by your side?
Jesus. Only Jesus. And always Jesus. Because he knows us so well.
Jesus is truly the Good Shepherd who knows us so well even in these modern times where there are more vehicles and traffic, more disruptions to life yet he continues to shepherd us like the many shepherds still in many countries in Europe and the Middle East.
And that makes this passage most touching and refreshing because though times may have changed, Jesus has remained personally committed with each one of us. He keeps on looking for us, searching us, following us. Loving us most of all. But, are we present in Jesus?
Notice the four verbs in this short gospel we have today: ascribed to Jesus are the verbs “know” and “give” while to us the sheep, “hear” and “follow” where problems always happen. Do we “follow” what we “hear”? “To hear” is to recognize the authority and importance of the speaker’s words; it is to enter into a communion with him, to put oneself in his guidance, to “follow” him as his disciple.
Jesus speaks to us daily but nobody cares because right after waking up, most of us today look for our cellphone than pray! We are more interested with the “likes” and “followers” we have garnered from our previous posts. We are more enthralled with the seductive voices and images of social media that feed on our ego and senses, giving us false feelings of security and acceptance. We would rather be consumers than disciples who are called to sacrifice like the shepherd.
Photo of a sheep’s fleece by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 2022.
Though life has become more affluent these days, it has ironically become more empty and lost without direction because we just keep on having and possessing, consuming and ingesting everything the world offers that leave us guilty and empty because we cannot experience any sense of fulfillment and meaning.
How ironic that amid this pandemic of “obesity”, we fill ourselves mostly with trash and poison, literally and figuratively speaking that we feel so lost more than ever with so much time wasted and sadly, life and relationships thrown away. Everything has become more of the mind than of the heart with persons being commodified as things, everything seen in monetary terms, so utilitarian in nature.
Only Jesus “knows” us so well that is why only he “gives eternal life” as Peter exclaimed in this Saturday gospel in the third week of Easter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and we are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn.6:68-69).
Unlike anybody, Jesus is the Son of God sent to gather us, to save us and to bring us closer to the Father so that no one among us shall perish. That is the plan of God fulfilled by Christ which we must continue like the apostles as we have heard in the first reading when Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel of Jesus to the gentiles.
This Sunday, Jesus our Good Shepherd assures us, wherever we may be – in darkness and emptiness, or under the dark clouds of a thunderstorm, under a thatched roof of misery – that he knows us so well. He loves us.
Feel the warmth of Christ’s loving heart this Sunday by being present with your loved ones, the people you know so well like Jesus. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you are our Good Shepherd and we are your sheep; only you know us so well, only you can give us eternal life, only you can keep us safe not to be snatched by anyone like the corrupt and shallow candidates running for office again this election; give us the wisdom, courage and faith to follow you and stand by you like those elders in white garments seen by John in his vision of heaven in the second reading; let us vote wisely, let us not waste that power you shared with us. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Third Week of Easter, 09 May 2025 Acts 9:1-20 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 6:52-59
Photo by author, statue of St. Paul the Apostle, St. Paul Retreat Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 January 2025.
Lord Jesus Christ, you are alive and always around us, present in each one of us that whatever we do to each one we also do unto you as you called on Paul before his conversion, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4)
Enlighten our minds and our hearts, Lord Jesus for we are many times more than a Saul than a Paul; let us admit the times we "persecute" you in others like Saul when we speak ill of them especially in social media; though we may not be exactly like Saul with a sword and army of men, many times we "breathe with murderous threats" against others who are not like us in color and creed and outlook in life; with your grace of light Jesus, remove our blindness to the many forms of persecutions we undertake against one another especially in your name that until now we are so divided, "quarreling among ourselves" like those Jews in Capernaum.
Give us the courage, Jesus, to confront and change our behavior and attitudes that "persecute" others; help us to go back to you in our hearts to be converted and transformed in your Resurrected Body as better disciples despite the wounds we may have that are due to persecutions too have suffered; let the cycle of persecution stop in us so we may start a series of transformation in ourselves, in our homes, and in our community. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Paul Retreat Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 January 2025.
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.
Lord My Chef Breakfast Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 07 May 2025 Acts 8:1-8 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 6:35-40
Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Eats Breakfast with Disciples” from http://www.jofullheart.com.
Dearest Jesus, teach us today to be truly a "devout" person: a "devout" disciple, a "devout" Christian a "devout" believer in you like those "Devout men (who) buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him" (Acts 8:2).
How interesting, O Lord that only St. Luke used the word "devout" in the whole Bible to describe some persons in four instances: in describing Simeon as a "devout" Jew who praised God upon seeing the child Jesus at his presentation at the temple; the "devout" Jews from all over the world who came to worship in Jerusalem on Pentecost day; the "devout" men who buried Stephen in the first reading today; and lastly, Ananias as a "devout" man who sought Saul after his conversion to bring him to the early Church.
You know so well, dear Jesus how we as a nation is said to be "devout" Christians but lagging behind in every aspect of development: where is our being devout in electing into office corrupt candidates? where is our being devout in fulfilling our duties and responsibilities when bridges fall and bollards fail that kill people especially children? where is our being devout in being reckless on the streets and dirt roads, demeaning total strangers and local inhabitants?
Oh Jesus, we are doomed by our own hypocrisies when our being devout is self-serving when we merely open our eyes for things seen outside like the many devotions and practices we have filled with pomp and pageantry because we look more into ourselves than into seeing Christ in other persons must love and respect and care; what a tragedy that the persecutions still going on against Christians are perpetrated by supposed to be your devout disciples, devout Christians who do not care at all in their daily dealings that could result in deaths and injuries of so many people including children like in the recent series of road accidents, not to mention vulgarities and obscenities spewed in the countless road rages.
Teach us Lord that a true devout believer in you is one who always seeks you among the least among our brethren, one who seeks your Body in somebody to be loved and upheld as a brother and a sister so that our being devout to your Body and Blood in the Eucharist becomes a reality in our dealing with one another. Amen.
Lord My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Third Week of Easter, 06 May 2025 Acts 7:51-8:1 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 6:30-35
Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Appears to His Disciples At the Shore of Tiberias” from http://www.dominicanajournal.org.
Dearest Lord Jesus Christ: What's happening in the world? What's happening in our lives? Do we know where we are going? We are so lost: road rage everywhere even in the dirt road; innocent lives have been lost - two children in fact - were killed in accidents that have been easily prevented; and a lot more of our many waywardness everywhere! We are like the elders of Israel addressed by St. Stephen in Jerusalem: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors" (Acts 7:51).
Let us come to you, Jesus; Let us return to you, Jesus; Let us stop seeking signs that you are the Christ whom we must follow and receive; to come to you Jesus is to bond ourselves to you and to your gospel values of life and truth, of justice and love that means we do not cheat in our jobs and responsibilities where others rely on us; to come to you Jesus is immersing ourselves in your words, in your teachings to assimilate your Way into our ways wherein we follow our conscience not our whims or words of media especially of politicians who rob most the poor and helpless among us; to come to you Jesus is accept our Cross and sufferings like St. Stephen to be able to see a glimpse of heaven. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Third Sunday in Easter, Cycle C, 04 May 2025 Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 ><}}}}*> Revelation 5:11-14 ><}}}}*> John 21:1-14
Breakfast came from two words, break + fast when monks in the early days of Christianity used to “break” their “fast” the night before and that is why it is rightly considered as the most important meal of each day.
But the author of the fourth gospel found something deeper in the word “breakfast” that he mentioned it twice in our gospel today. It is another detail only him had noticed like in last Sunday’s “locked doors”. Everyday, Jesus invites us to “breakfast” with him to experience the joy of Easter.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:12-15).
Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Eats Breakfast with Disciples” from http://www.jofullheart.com.
Many times we take breakfast for granted and most often, like me later in life do we realize its importance with the onset of many sickness and diseases. Remember that saying, “eat like king at breakfast, like an ordinary man at lunch and like a pauper or beggar at supper”? That’s very true because breakfast is supposed to give us the boost needed to make headway through the brand new day.
What a beautiful gesture by Jesus when he appeared the third time to his disciples early morning just in time for breakfast. Every day Jesus invites us to breakfast with him, to be filled with him spiritually through prayers and meditations, most especially the Holy Eucharist. That is why it is always best to pray and celebrate Mass first thing in the morning when Jesus fills our soul with his Spirit and then our body with his gifts of food at breakfast. Christ invites us to breakfast everyday before he “breaks” to us some important matters on our selves and relationships with him and with others.
Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 27 December 2024.
It is the same idea behind “breakfast meetings” or even “luncheon meetings” where the hosts feed us with good food and drinks before baring to us their plans that need our participation. Remember that after the second appearance of Jesus to his disciples, nothing was clear yet to them except that he had risen. The disciples must still be feeling guilty with their actions and attitudes after the arrest and death of Jesus. They must be “nagkakahiyaan” – there was a strong presence of shame within each one on how they have abandoned Jesus after his arrest except the beloved disciple who stood at the Cross until the burial.
How lovely is the Lord’s gesture in appearing this time early in the morning to invite them to a breakfast including us today! Like every host, Jesus wants us to be relaxed and at home, comfortable and at ease with him, assuring us of his love and friendship despite our sins and shortcomings in the past. This is particularly evident with Peter and maybe Thomas who doubted the Lord’s resurrection last week and now back with the others fishing.
Jesus is very much aware of breakfast as a great mood-setter. On that day at the shore of Tiberias until today, Jesus starts each day with us with all his warmth and love, telling us it is a new day with new opportunities because tomorrow is gone so let us start anew. Sadly, many of us forget Jesus present with us every morning when we wake up. Like the disciples, we rarely recognize him as we first look for our cellphone upon waking up, counting the likes and reactions to our previous posts. Others refuse to rise and face the day while others feel grouchy raising hell every morning.
Open your eyes like the beloved disciple. When we see and think of Jesus first thing in the morning, then we see the abundant blessings around us like that great catch of fish by the disciples despite the empty night or day before. Every time we wake up despite the presence of our many problems still unsolved or unresolved, it is already a game won over that we are still alive! Rejoice in the gift of life. That is Easter happening daily. Give in to Jesus Christ’s invitation to breakfast by first communing in him in prayer and praise.
Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Appears to His Disciples At the Shore of Tiberias” from http://www.dominicanajournal.org.
Now we go deeper into the meaning of “breakfast” which is from the prefix break + fast, the breaking of the fast the night before. What are the other fastings we need to break everyday like the disciples?
There is a beautiful commercial of local medicines that says “huwag mahihiyang magtanong” (don’t be shy to ask). Today Jesus is telling us not to be ashamed to get near him, to speak to him, to be with him. It is a new day. Break all your “fasting” of getting close to him because you are too shy of your sins and failures. It is a new day. Recall those countless times in the past when you have disappointed Jesus and your loved ones a lot but he gave you a chance to rise again. Notice how the beloved disciple recognized Jesus when he recalled too their first meeting with the same situation, a fruitless night before followed by bountiful catch after Jesus instructed them to cast their nets into the deep!
How many times had Jesus given us with all the chances in life to be better, to start anew despite our sins and failures? Many times we cannot recognize Jesus despite his nearness with us like the disciples that morning at Tiberias because we box him as somebody like us who keeps tabs of our wrongdoings, that he might not like us anymore. Unlike us, Jesus is full of mercy with a very poor memory of our past sins and wrongdoings.
Notice that after breakfast, Jesus called Peter by his original name “Simon, son of John”. This is remarkable because not only with Peter, Jesus sees each one of us in our true self as a beloved child of God, so loved, so precious. Like Peter, he invites us everyday to breakaway from our sins and biases against him for he truly loves us, always ready to forgive us and most of all, never changes his mind and heart in his plans for us.
It is only after we have expressed our love to him like Peter that Jesus invites us to more than a breakfast which is to come follow him!
Before we can follow Jesus, we must first love him by breaking away from sins and vices and everything evil. And that starts with having Jesus every morning for breakfast. That is what Luke is telling us in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, of how the disciples chose to follow Jesus than obey the Sanhedrin who wanted them to stop preaching about Jesus. Saying yes to Jesus Christ’s invitation to breakfast and to break away from sins and evil is the solid “Amen” of the elders saw by John in his vision of heaven in the second reading. Like them, let us pray:
Dearest Jesus, thank you for the invitation every morning, first thing of each day to be with you not only to breakfast but to break my series of sins and vices; let me love you more so I may follow you closely everyday. Amen.
lordmychef.com 