The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Third Week of Easter, 18 April 2024 Acts 8:26-40 <*{{{{>< + <*{{{>< + ><}}}*> + ><}}}}*> John 6:35-40
Praise and thanksgiving to You, God our most loving Father in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Eternal Priest for Your gift of being a priest this past 26 years! It is pure mercy and love from You, dear God that we were called to serve Your people, to be Your presence despite our sinfulness and so many flaws and weaknesses.
As we celebrate today our 26th ordination to the priesthood, one thing I ask of You in Jesus: like the Apostle Philip, let me "get up" always to follow You wherever You send me.
The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” (Acts 8:26)
There were so many times I have fallen due to sins, disappointments and disillusions, sickness and exhaustion, sadness and loneliness, griefs and hurts, shame and embarrassments, humiliations and failures, betrayals and infidelities; many times You knew it, O Lord, how I felt better laying face down on earth and dirt, about to give up when You would go down too just to tell me to "get up", "raising" me up to keep on following You even at the desert route that was so difficult.
Thank You for always believing in me, Jesus, for always being patient with me, for always trusting me; O dearest Jesus, You have given me with so much and I have given You so little; let me give more of myself, most of all, more of Your love and mercy and kindness to those around me. Amen.
From left, Fr. Romi, Fr. Arnel, Fr. Len, Bp. Dennis, Fr. Ed, and me after our Mass on the occasion of our silver anniversary last year. Not in photo was Fr. Joshua who was sick at that time.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 17 April 2024 Acts 8:1-8 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 6:35-40
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 19 March 2024.
There broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Acts 8:1-2
Your words today, dear Jesus are very solemn that despite the "severe persecution" of the church that scattered Your followers, the Apostles remained while "devout men" buried St. Stephen while lamenting aloud.
Only the Evangelist Luke used the word devout in the Scriptures: first in his gospel to describe Simeon who waited for Your coming at the Presentation and thrice in the Acts in describing Jews attending the Pentecost (2:5), in burying St. Stephen (8:2), and in calling Ananias "a devout observer of the law" whom You have instructed to pray over and heal Saul after You appeared to him on the way to Damascus.
Photo by Ms. Anne Ramos, 22 March 2020.
Fill us with joy, Lord, no matter how difficult life may be for us like those devout men who buried St. Stephen because we can never meet You, Jesus, in our complaints and whines, fears and apprehensions of the difficulties that abound around us; more than being faithful to You, a devout person O Lord is one who does not only believe in You but one who makes You present, one who makes Your coming a reality in every here and now.
Teach us to believe in You, Lord Jesus, that You are the "bread of life"; teach us, Jesus, to act on our faith in You openly and with courage, not ashamed of the consequences because to be devout is to care and respect for each other as Your indwelling. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Third Week of Easter, 16 April 2024 Acts 7:51-8:1 <*((((>< + <*(((>< + ><)))*> + ><))))*> John 6:22-29
Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera, November 2020.
Lord Jesus, teach me to bend my knees before You starting today; let me bring back those vanishing gestures of kneeling and genuflection almost unknown these days among the people; we live in a clapping culture where we give so much emphasis on what our hands can do that only end up in manipulating everything and everyone, especially when we clap senselessly or ridiculously so often especially in our liturgical celebrations.
My dearest Jesus, teach me to exercise my powerful muscles of the legs and knees, to bend and kneel more often, to get low to the ground to remember my origins, to be humble before You, my Lord and my God.
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60
Photo by Mr. Red Santiago, January 2020.
Help me realize, dear Jesus, that it is in being humble before you like a child, kneeling before You when we truly find You, when You truly answer our prayers; very often, we come to You without looking at You, seeing only what You can give like those in the crowd who asked You to give them bread from heaven without realizing You are the bread Yourself whom we must receive. Because they have forgotten to kneel and bow low before in order to find You. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Third Week of Easter, 15 April 2024 Acts 6:8-15 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 6:22-29
Lord Jesus, it is said that our eyes are the windows of our soul; by merely looking into our eyes, we reveal what's inside us - fear and courage, doubts and certainties, questions and answers, anxieties and joys, hatred and love and hopes.
Your words today make me examine what is in our eyes when we look?
All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him (Stephen) and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6:15
Lord Jesus, so many times troubles happen among us just because of the way we look at each other, or simply, the way we look at things when we take ordinary ones so seriously and look at the more important ones as so simple and ordinary; worst, O Lord, is when we keep on "looking" for You without looking at Your essence but merely looking at what You have and whatever You can give.
Teach us, dear Jesus, to focus our eyes into looking at Your lovely gaze filled with love and mercy, compassion and and kindness, the look of the eyes who truly care and see beyond what's on the surface. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 14 April 2024
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
We go punk this Sunday with the 1984 hit Ghost in You by the British band Psychedelic Furs more known to our generation with the song Pretty in Pink that was eventually made into a movie though not necessarily an interpretation of the music itself.
Ghost in You was written by the Psychedelic Furs’ lead vocalist Richard Butler, their second single from their fourth studio album Mirror Moves released in 1984. It is another poignant love song about someone most probably gone yet still so loved. The music and lyrics are very mysterious that we feel it perfectly captures our reflection this third Sunday Easter on the meaning of Christ’s Resurrection which is getting real as opposed with how young people today use the word “ghost” and “ghosting” which is to leave behind or drop like a hot potato. Our Filipino expression say it so well: to be ghosted is “iwanan sa ere” or to be left hanging.
In our gospel this Sunday, Luke tells us how the disciple thought Jesus was a ghost when He appeared to them anew after Easter; Jesus read their minds and clarified He was not a ghost but truly alive with flesh and bones.
The Filipino expression says it all completely, iniwan sa ere which is worst than the English expression “dropped like a hot potato”. To be ghosted is to be betrayed, to be taken for granted, to be discarded like a thing. It is utter lack of respect to another person. Worst, it is lack of life full of pessimism and indifference to life itself.
In Ghost in You, Butler tells us how he seemed to have been ghosted by his beloved for reasons not so clear. And we go with him, in his pains and deep longing to be loved in return by his beloved.
A man in my shoes runs a light And all the papers lied tonight But falling over you Is the news of the day Angels fall like rain And love is all of heaven away Inside you the time moves
And she don’t fade The ghost in you She don’t fade Inside you the time moves And she don’t fade
Notice how the lover declares his deep love that is so pure, “all of heaven away” that remains within him through time like a ghost “And she don’t fade/ The ghost in you/ She don’t fade”.
About ten years ago, we used to pass by a billboard somewhere in the Banaue-C3 area in Quezon City that says “True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and only a few have seen.” It is quote from French moralist Francoise de la Rochefoucauld (163-1680).
Very true!
Like our reflection this Sunday, Easter calls us to be real, not like ghosts. The Psychedelic Furs’ Ghost in You is great music because we all go through it some times even many times. Easter tells us to get real and move on with life.
Jesus Christ is not a ghost. Had never and would never ever ghost us because He is faithful, truly alive and truly present with us especially in our darkest and emptiest moments in life. Many times, we do not see nor recognize Him because we are so focused at how we were ghosted especially by loved ones.
Here’s one of our favorite music in the 1980’s worth listening to today to see how far we have gone real, especially in our love. Or, have we remained ghosted?
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Third Sunday in Easter-B, 14 April 2024 Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 ><}}}}*> 1 John 2:1-5 ><}}}}*> Luke 24:35-48
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, 27 March 2024 at Katmon Nature Sanctuary & Beach Resort, Infanta, Quezon.
More than ten years ago, there used to be a billboard at the C3-Banaue area in Quezon City that said, “True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and only a few have seen.”
I googled the saying and found it was from French moralist Francoise de la Rochefoucauld (1613-1680). Nonetheless, we remembered that billboard because in our gospel today, we have heard how the Apostles thought upon seeing the Risen Lord that He was a ghost!
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones and you can see I have.”
Luke 24:36-39
“The Road to Emmaus” painting by American Daniel Bonnell from fineartamerica.com.
This is the last Sunday we shall hear a story of the Risen Lord’s appearance to His disciples; beginning next Sunday, our gospels will be the accounts of Jesus Christ’s discourses at their Last Supper.
It is not really important to count how many times the Risen Lord had appeared to His disciples who in the first place never bothered themselves with it. John explained it last Sunday why only a few of these were written so that we may believe and have life in Him (Jn.20:31). There are two things we find always in these few Resurrection stories that convince us the Lord is risen.
First, there is always the intensity we feel in the Resurrection stories we have. Even though there is no account of how it happened, we could feel in the whole New Testament that it actually happened. It is historical but beyond the physical and ordinary. So real yet surreal. That is why initially, there is the incredulity not only among the disciples but even among us at this time. As we say in Filipino, “hindi makapaniwala” as opposed to “hindi maniwala” because Jesus Christ’s Resurrection opened new possibilities in our human existence that only faith in Him can explain though not fully. It is when all we can say in Filipino is “a…basta!”
From this intensity of His Resurrection, there is always that movement to gather together as a community of the risen Lord’s disciples. Easter is always in the context and setting of a community. See how Jesus would always tell or lead His disciples to gather together as a community, always appearing to them when there are at least two of them gathered like Clopas and companion on the way to Emmaus on the evening of Easter. And we see its effect – once they recognized Jesus at His breaking of bread, they both hurried back to Jerusalem to join the other disciples to share the good news!
That’s the beauty and mystery of Easter. It is so intense, so true we can feel and experience, always leading us to gather together as a community, as a family. It is never selfish nor personal. Do we have the same intensity today as individuals and as a community especially in our Sunday Masses?
From Facebook, 04 April 2021: “There is an urgency to announce the Joy, the joy of the Risen Lord.”
Today’s gospel scene is the continuation of that Emmaus story. While Clopas and companion were telling the disciples their experience, Jesus suddenly came into their room and again, they were startled and terrified.
But Luke added that one word “ghost” that was used twice in this scene: first in v.37, “But they were starteld and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost” and in v. 39 when Jesus read His disciples’ minds, telling them to “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”
Sorry for the long introduction as I wish to direct our attention to that word ghost.
When we were growing up, there was a cartoon show on TV called “Casper the friendly ghost.” In Filipino, we always refer to ghost as multo, something scary because like the aswang, they look terrible and would always harm people. That is why the Church later on changed the name Holy Ghost to Holy Spirit because of the very negative connotation of the word ghost.
These days, the young people are using again the word ghost, turning it into a verb form that means so negative: ghosting as in “iniwan sa ere”. At first, I thought to be ghosted is the equivalent of what we used to say “na-Indian” when a date or someone stood you up in a meeting or coming together.
But ghosting is more than just not appearing nor coming to a meeting or get together. It is almost like betrayal or infidelity. Precisely what the youth say, to be left hanging on air not knowing at all what is next. Very disappointing. Most of all, painful as it hurts us deeply when ghosted. The Filipino expression says it all completely, iniwan sa ere which is worst than the English expression “dropped like a hot potato”. To be ghosted is to be betrayed, to be taken for granted, to be discarded like a thing. It is utter lack of respect to another person. Worst, it is lack of life fulln of pessimism and indifference to life itself.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, 18 March 2024.
Jesus Christ is not a ghost. Had never and would never ever ghost us because He is faithful, truly alive and truly present with us especially in our darkest and emptiest moments in life. Many times, we do not see nor recognize Him because we are so focused at how we were ghosted especially by loved ones.
In the first reading, we heard Peter’s second discourse on Pentecost Sunday about the Resurrection of Jesus as the summit of everything that was written in the Old Testament, the fulfillment of salvation history. But at the same time, he was telling the people of how they have ghosted the Lord “whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he decided to release him” (Acts 3:13).
Peter was not accusing the people then or anyone today for being accomplices in Jesus Christ’s death because he himself denied the Lord thrice, remember? Peter ghosted Jesus too but repented. And that was his point to everyone including us today of how may times we too have ghosted Jesus when we sin against each other, when we betray our loved ones, when we are remiss in our duties and responsibilities, when we are unfaithful that people fail to experience the Risen Lord coming to them.
Peter is asking us this Sunday to look into ourselves at how we continue to ghost each other that we contribute to the vicious circle of violence happening in the world that often starts right in our family and community, even in the Church.
That is why the beloved disciple asks us in the second reading “to keep his commandments so that we may not commit sin” by rejecting the lusts of the flesh not only in the sexual sense but in all of our selfish interests. Most of all, to imitate Jesus Christ by living like Him full of love and kindness, always understanding and forgiving and caring especially of the weak and marginalized.
Photo by author, 09 April 2024.
The Resurrection remains a mystery. It is a call for us to be real with flesh and bones not like a ghost. Easter is an invitation to live our lives as Easter people, full of joy and hope in Christ even when the chips are down.
Being real as opposed to ghosting means proclaiming Jesus Christ with our very own witnessing of His loving presence and service to others with our very lives.
Being real as opposed to ghosting is avoiding “back burning” those dearest to us.
Being real as opposed to ghosting is not “bread crumbing”, of being mediocre that we do only the bare minimum.
Easter is Jesus faithfully present with us especially in the most trying and difficult moments of our lives because He assures us nothing can keep us nor hostage us in whatever darkness or emptiness we are in.
Not being able to see someone does not mean that someone does not exist. Many times in life, it is after our loved ones are gone – permanently or temporarily – when we actually experience them closest. That’s because of the Resurrection of Jesus!
Let’s get real by praying:
Lord Jesus Christ, open my mind and my heart to Your words; let me develop that prayer life You have always been inviting me to get into a relationship with You; let me find You in my wounds so I may find Your glory too; let me find You in my many hurts and scars in my heart so I may find and share Your healing and comfort with those still in the darkness of Good Friday or silence of Holy Saturday; dearest Jesus, fill me with life and joy so that people may see You in me alive and not like a ghost. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Second Week of Easter, 12 April 2024 Acts 5:34-42 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 6:1-15
Photo by author, 09 April 2024.
What an amusing incident again in our readings today, Lord Jesus, when You teach me when to continue and when to stop; how to find God's will and to keep doing Your work among us:
A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles be put outside for a short time, and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men… For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
Acts 5:34-35, 38-39
Lord Jesus, teach me to distance myself sometimes from the heat of issues and arguments, even of personalities like when Gamaliel ordered the Apostles be put outside for a short time; many times it helps a lot in freeing my mind and my heart from my many ideas and biases that prevent me from distinguishing endeavor or activity of human origin and those from God that cannot be stopped at all.
Most of all, Lord Jesus, keep me close to You, let me seek You only and always, even if I have to go inside your circle just to be involved like Andrew the brother of Peter when he joined Your conversation with Philip on where to find food for the people; any thing coming from God surely has You, Jesus at its center and essence; You know exactly what to do, Lord, whenever we are facing difficult situations but still just the same the suggestion by Gamaliel, we need to separate sometimes to determine the Father's will that so often we presume be what we think, what we believe, and what we must do.
Let us not forget finding you Jesus in every activity and endeavor because that is when people are not only fed but also nourished and fulfilled. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Second Week of Easter, 11 April 2024 Acts 5:27-33 ><))))*> + <*(((((>< John 3:31-36
Photo by author, Bolinao, Pangasinan, April 2022.
Once again, O Lord, Your words are very amusing today: "For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit" (John 3:34).
It sounds so funny yet so true, dear Jesus! We not only ration the Holy Spirit but we also ration every good gift You give us as if it would run out, as if You would stop blessing us, as if You are not God.
Forgive us, Lord, when we ration especially Your love to others, when we do not realize that love and life and every blessing You give are meant to be given and shared fully with others.
“We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
Acts 5:28
Dearest Jesus, fill us with courage like Your Apostles after Pentecost that we too may give all to fill the world with Your Good News of salvation in You, with You, and through You! Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter, 10 April 2024 Acts 5:17-26 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> John 3:16-21
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.
Acts 5:24
Your words, O Lord, from the first reading are very amusing: after discovering the jail securely locked with guards stationed outside but the apostles nowhere, they were the ones who felt at a "loss"; they who have imprisoned the Apostles were the ones LOST when they were supposed to control the situation.
How ironic so often in life when we feel to have been more in control of everything even people, when we feel we lord over everyone, that is when we feel more empty, and more at a loss.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
John 3:19
Photo by author, Jesuit Cemetery at the Sacred Heart Novitiate.
Forgive us, Lord Jesus in choosing darkness of sin, darkness of pride, darkness of bitterness and of unforgiving that is why many times we are at a loss in life especially when we profess to believe in You, when we claim to be Your disciples; let us go toward Your light of truth and justice, Your light of loving service, Your light of mercy and forgiveness so that in our very selves, people may truly experience "God so loved the world." Amen.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-09 ng Abril 2024
Caravaggio’s painting “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” (1602) from en.wikipedia.org.
Sa tuwing maririnig ko ang kuwento kay Santo Tomas Apostol ni Kristo, ako'y nanlulumo dahil batid ko hindi ayon turing natin sa kanya na "Doubting Thomas" gayong tanging tag-uri sa kanya ng Ebanghelista ay "Didymus" o "Kambal"; nag-alinlangan nga si Tomas sa balitang napakita si Jesus na muling nabuhay sa kanyang mga kasama nguni't kailanma'y di nabawasan kanyang paniniwala at pagtitiwala.
Malaking pagkakaiba ng hindi maniwala sa hindi makapaniwala na isang pag-aalinlangan bunsod ng kakaibang pakiramdam tulad ng pagkamangha o ng tuwang walang pagsidlan sa isang karanasang napaka-inam ngunit hindi maintindihan balot ng hiwaga at pagpapala gaya nang mabalitaan ni Tomas paanong nakapasok sa nakapinid na mga pintuan Panginoong Jesus na muling nabuhay.
Katulad ng kanyang mga kasamahan nonng kinagabihan ng Linggo ding iyon, wala ding pagsidlan tuwa at kagalakan ni Santo Tomas nang sa kanya inilarawan ipinakitang mga kamay ni Jesus taglay pa rin mga sugat natamo sa pagpapako sa Krus nagpapatunay na Siya nga ang Panginoong nagpakasakit at namatay noon, nabuhay muli ngayon!
Hindi ba
ganyan din tayo
sa gitna ng ating mga
pag-aalinlangan
bagama't damang dama
natin ang katotohanan
ng mga pagpapala at biyaya
hindi tayo makapaniwala
sa kadiliman ating natagpuan
liwanag ni Kristo habang sa
kawalan naroon Kanyang
kaganapan at kapunuan?
Sandigang ating pinananaligan
dasal na nausal ni Tomas na
banal pagkakita kay Jesus
na muling nabuhay,
"Panginoon ko
at Diyos ko!"
Huwag tayong matakot kung tayo ay mag-alinlangan at kung minsa'y hindi makapaniwala sa mga gawa ng Diyos na sadyang kahanga-hanga; sa mundong ito na ang pinanghahawakang kasabihan ay "to see is to believe", ang kabaligtaran nito ang siyang katotohanang ating mapapanaligan, "believe that you may see" dahil sa dilim at kawalan parati dumarating ang Panginoong Jesus natin!
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