Real power empowers

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 04 February 2024
Job 7:1-4, 6-7 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 ><}}}}*> Mark 1:29-39

*Photo by The Good Brigade/Digital Vision/Getty Images via cnn.com.*

There’s another “war” happening that had actually started a long time ago but only now recognized by the powerful US Senate in Washington DC when they summoned last week the owners of big tech companies to a hearing on the harmful effects of social media.

It is a war that at first seemed to have been neglected or even unrecognized when parents and experts have long been complaining about the ill effects of social media. Finally, authorities are doing something about it.

*“Great power comes with great responsibilities.”- Spiderman.* *Photo from peakpx.com.*

Though the issues at hand are very contentious because of the many benefits too of social media, the US Senate hearings are a big step in demanding more social responsibilities from tech owners who have become so powerful with their products’ wide reach and influence.

Of course, much responsibilities are also in the hands of parents and users of social media but one thing has always been clear these past 20 years when experts and ordinary folks have been raising the red flag on social media being so impersonal in nature where persons are often considered as objects than subjects to be loved and respected.

Our ability to communicate is a sharing in the power of God, a sharing in his authority meant to foster union among peoples as persons. Despite the efficiency of social media, it cannot and must not replace the human person in every communication. This we have seen last Sunday when people were “astonished” and “amazed” one sabbath as Jesus spoke with authority in their synagogue in Capernaum. From there, Jesus moved into the home of Simon Peter, staying for a while in Capernaum before moving on to other locations to continue his ministry of teaching and healing.

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
Mark 1:29-31

Photo by author, ruins of the neighborhood around the synagogue of Capernaum where Jesus used to preach; underneath the Church are believed to be the ruins of the home of Simon Peter where Jesus healed his mother-in-law.

It was still the day of sabbath and we could feel the great joy and pride of the four disciples with Jesus that they “immediately told him” about Simon’s mother-in-law who “lay sick with a fever.”

Notice Mark’s detailed report on the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law by Jesus: He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. In this continuation of a slice in the life of Jesus last Sunday, Mark is presenting us again another important aspect of Christ’s authority and power that is personal which empowers others.

To empower means to raise up a person from one’s lowliness in order to restore his/her well-being. To empower means to make a person whole again as he/she discovers and experiences anew his/her giftedness in God and as a person.

Now, imagine this in the light of the powers of social media made possible by the internet through various devices: Jesus could have healed anybody who was sick within a 100 or 200 meter radius from the synagogue of Capernaum with his great powers being the Son of God. He could have just sent off signals like a router to heal more sick people instead of making them flock to the home of Simon Peter. Even today, perhaps, we could just come to the church, stay in a specific spot like the confessional to get connected to Jesus and voila – get healed!

But, Jesus never did that kind of healing and would never do it. Recall how Jesus would always approach and touch, speak and meet the sick before healing them. When a woman was healed of her hemorrhages after touching his clothes while they were in a crowd, Jesus stopped and searched for her to have a personal relationship. Unlike the internet, Jesus came in order to personally connect with us and connect us with the Father in the most personal manner.

In every healing by Jesus, there is always something deeper than restoration of one’s health which is salvation, a personal encounter with the Christ who leads us to fulfillment as persons. In every healing of body, there is the forgiveness of sins in one’s soul and being. Healing is more wholistic in nature than being being relieved of headache or any discomfort. Many times, our sickness can leave us deformed, disabled and even invalid without any cure at all yet deep inside us we still experience freedom and joy. That is healing because we are assured of being loved and cared for by another person and most of all by Jesus, personally.

So unlike the powers of any human or professional nor even by the social media so much around us that may be indeed so strong and efficient with its great speed but could never uplift us or restore our well-being. For sometime, they can offer us with relief but the deep longings and emptiness within us lingers on. Why? St. Augustine expressed it perfectly when he wrote in his Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

This Sunday, Mark is telling us that Jesus comes to us daily right in our hearts where our home is, always “approaching us, grasping our hands, helping us up” from all our burdens and pains, sufferings and miseries. Are we present to meet Jesus? Do we “immediately” tell him our problems like Simon Peter when his mother-in-law had fever?

The only essential and vital connection we must keep and maintain in this life is our personal connection with God in Jesus Christ who exemplified this well at the end of this Sunday’s gospel when “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mk. 1:35).

Last Friday we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation where Simeon and Anna showed us too how they remained personally connected with God in their daily prayers and fasting at the temple so that when Joseph and Mary came with the Child Jesus, both were led by the Holy Spirit to meet them. Imagine the crowd at the temple at that time plus Simeon and Anna being both old with the usual woes but were both never distracted in their focus on God and his promise of salvation in Christ before dying.

*Photo by Vigie Ongleo in Virginia, USA, 02 February 2024.*

There will always be suffering in life as the first reading reminds us. Like Job, we go through many setbacks in life, making us wonder all the more at the mystery – and scandal – of human sufferings, of how it could befall us if we have a powerful and loving God. St. Paul meanwhile tells us in the second reading how imperfect our world is when we sometimes have to make sacrifices to keep the unity of our family and community.

Both Job and St. Paul in their sufferings and sacrifices remained connected with God, bore everything in silence to become “all things to all men” (omnia omnibus) by sharing God’s power and authority in their weaknesses even in death that have empowered countless men and women through the ages including us in our own time.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ,
our true healer of all sickness
in body, heart, mind and soul:
keep us connected in you
especially in moments of trials
and difficulties so that we may
be filled with your personal powers
as we too empower others
when they are weakest.
Amen.

A blessed weekend to everyone!

Praying to see Christ, the true light

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 02 February 2024
Malachi 3:1-4 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Luke 2:22-40

*Presentation in the Temple painting by Fra Angelico from fineartamerica.com.*

On this most joyous feast
of the Lord's Presentation in
the Temple, we pray, dear Father
for the same grace you gave 
your servant Simeon to see each day
the coming of your Son Jesus Christ,
the true light of the world,
the only light to guide our lives.

Grant us the grace, O God,
to persevere in our prayer life
like Simeon and Anna who spent 
much of their days at the temple,
praying and fasting that they became
attuned with your Holy Spirit.

How amazing that despite
the many couples coming to the temple
on that day, Simeon and Anna
recognized Jesus in the arms of Mary
with Joseph; many times in life,
we are so distracted with so many
other people we look up to,
we believe in so much
thinking them to be the light who will
guide us in this life;
there are times we look at new ideas
and novel thoughts and ways so bright
that we easily follow them as light
to dispel the many darkness in our life;
and there are times, O God, we simply lose
hope looking for your light,
waiting for your Son Jesus
that we leave your side to 
make our own light
because of many distractions
like failures and disappointments
within us.

Let us be focused in Jesus
only like Simeon and Anna for he
surely comes each day amid the hustle
and bustle of life's daily grinds;
do not let us be discouraged
by the many difficulties and
trials that come our way daily
for Jesus comes when we least
expect him, in instances we never
expect like Mary and Joseph 
despite having the Savior with them
still complied with the dictates of
the Law; most of all, Jesus came at
the old age of Simeon and Anna
when it was more easier to just
give up from waiting.

May we be able to pray every night
despite the darkness around us,
Simeon's Canticle:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32

Lord Jesus,
let us see you
so that we can make others
see you too in us
and through us.
Amen.

*Photo by author, surise at Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 2023.*

Authority & clergy

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 01 February 2024

*Photo by author, pilgrims at ruins of Capernaum synagogue where Jesus taught.*

Our gospel last Sunday (Jan. 28) of Jesus going to the synagogue in Capernaum on a sabbath day was so rich that a day was not enough to reflect its meanings. It was so engaging that we too were “astonished” and “amazed” at the “authority” of Jesus!

And how it clearly spoke a lot about our exercise of authority as priests today.

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes... In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit… Jesus rebuked him… And the unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud voice came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-22, 23, 25, 26-28

See how Jesus showed us authority is primarily spiritual in nature, a sharing in God’s power rooted in our worship, in our liturgy. Christ’s authority was first noticed in the context of a sabbath worship in the synagogue, a beautiful reminder from the Lord himself for us his priests to be always in communion with God like him in our prayer life, both as an individual and a member of the community. How we priests celebrate the Mass reflects our prayer life, our spirituality that people would surely feel. Or miss.

That is why the Eucharist is the summit of Christian life – people are edified and blessed wherever the Mass is celebrated with great dignity by priests who vowed to give their total selves for Christ and his flock. It is in the sacrifice of the Mass we priests first pour our total selves to God and his people that it is always a major event we prepare for – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is for this reason we priests need to be back in our rectory not later than 10pm every day because we need to prepare for the following day’s Mass. Explain to the people, to our friends and families we do not have to stay late every night in coffee joints or restaurants. Once in a while, maybe but not frequently.

How sad when priests refuse to celebrate especially daily Masses in their parish or when they would pass on their “ordinary” Mass in order to be on TV or where there would be more exposures. Every Mass is special as we must have all realized during the long COVID lockdowns, but, alas! – there were some priests who shamelessly went on vacation mode too during that period when daily Masses were most needed.

Are people still astonished and amazed with our authority as priests in the way we celebrate the Holy Mass especially on Sundays these days?

Many Catholics are getting confused at the many deviations from our liturgical norms that the Mass has become a variety show in some instances, worst like a carnival with the priest as a showman than a presider of the celebration.

What a pity when our Sunday Mass is devoid of the holy and sacred when priests have made it so cheap and so low – crass – in hopes of reaching more people, touching their emotions believing they would experience God in that way.

We priests should be clear first of all of our roles as priests and along this line too to see our congregation as companions in faith and ministry not as an audience who need to be entertained.

People come to Mass on Sundays to experience God above all and they expect only one thing from us priests – that we are men of God or the “other Christ” (alter Christus) who would lead them to God. Priests need not assume (consciously or unconsciously) the roles of matinee idols nor comedians nor singers nor political commentators nor politicians when at the altar of sacrifice. As a presider of the Mass, we link God with the people and the people with God and with one another. It is not the venue to make marriage proposals! It is after that when couples go to the altar where we as priests officiate their wedding.

Lately I have seen so many articles about the difficulties and hazards in the priesthood during the recent Simbang Gabi season. Fine. Nobody said it would be easy. We know that since our seminary days. But, should we be the ones posting those articles? For what? For excuses to our lapses?

It is so pabebe, so paawa. And so pathetic of us priests begging for understanding and comfort from people. If we truly pray, explaining to the people how demanding and exhausting our duties are the least of our concerns as priests. It is even shameful for us to post those articles when people see us on Facebook gracing all the social events in the community – from birthday parties to debuts – while rubbing elbows with the rich and famous in the most exclusive resorts and posh hotels.

Speaking of parties…sometimes I feel we have so many social gatherings as priests. Why the need for a Christmas party when we are all tired (meron bang hindi?) and most all, we are so needed in the parish with all the weddings during the season? Of course, we need to unwind together as priests but let us face the truth how our spiritual and pastoral gatherings as priests are always empty compared with our social gatherings when everyone is so eager and so raring to go, even extend. Very often, the priests who keep on harping about the need for us to unwind and relax are also the laziest in the parish and ministry. (Frown or be mad, then it is true.)

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Presentation at the temple of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also the day we devote in prayers for those in the consecrated life of which we priests are also very much a part of.

See again the scene and setting of the event which is the temple where Jesus would later be found after being lost for three days. What a beautiful reminder to us priests of our authority and life centered in the Eucharist, at the Altar of the Sacrifice of the Mass inside our church. Luke narrated how Simeon sang upon finding Jesus Christ:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32

*“Simeon’s Moment” ni American illustrator Ron DiCianni mula sa http://www.tapestryproductions.com*.

Luke said how Simeon along with Anna the Prophetess spent their lives praying and fasting a lot in the temple while awaiting the coming of the Christ. Their prayer lives made them so attuned with the Holy Spirit that of the many couples coming there at that time they were able to recognize Joseph and Mary as having the promised Christ.

Simeon said he saw the light of salvation, Jesus Christ. What do we see in our parish, in our church, in our celebrations? Is it the light of salvation in Christ or lights, camera, action!?

Going back to our gospel last Sunday when Jesus went to preach and heal in the synagogue at Capernaum on a sabbath, we are reminded that our authority as priests like that of Simeon in the Presentation is always a reflection of God’s presence. It is never of domination nor manipulation that we find it so easy to declare in the parish whatever we want as the plan of God. Secondly, true authority is a sharing in God’s power of love and compassion that liberates the people, giving them a sense of true freedom to love and serve God in the parish or anywhere (https://lordmychef.com/2024/01/27/authority-is-when-we-claim-god-whom-we-proclaim/).

May we keep in mind our authority is a gift from God, a sharing in his power for us to make him present and felt in our loving service to everyone, especially the sick and the weak, the poor and the marginalized. Amen.

Endings are beginnings

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 01 February 2024
1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 6:7-13

*Photo by author, Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 12 July 2023.*

Praise and glory
to you God our loving Father!
Thank you for January,
thank you very much for February;
as we start this second month
of the year, you remind us 
how in life every ending is also
a beginning.

When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: ”I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn.”
1 Kings 2:1-3

Give us the grace of
ageing gracefully, Father,
like your servant David;
give us the courage
and sincerity to accept,
to embrace when we are 
"going the way of all flesh";
yes, we all wish a life of joy
and happiness with less pains
and difficulties but as we forge on
life, we have experienced,
we have realized,
and proven so many times
that hardships and hurts
are inevitable parts of this life,
even separations and death
that David perfectly called
as way of the flesh.

Joy and fulfillment
happen when we embrace
these shadows and darkness 
for it is in those spaces
where lights are most visible
and life is most meaningful;
give us, Lord Jesus,
the courage to let go,
to leave our extra baggages
behind in order to travel light
in this life proclaiming your 
good news;
make us realize that true wealth 
is in having less of the material
and more of the spiritual;
most of all, every ending
is also a beginning,
hence, the need for us
to prepare those next to us.
Amen.

When God feels for us

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest, 31 January 2024
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:1-6

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD in Tanza, Navotas, Metro Manila, 17 December 2020.*

Your words today are very
intriguing, Lord;
both the first reading 
and gospel spoke of our 
pride and lack of trust in you
but, in both instances,
you were there,
the most merciful Lord,
"regretted the calamity"
imposed upon Jerusalem
while feeling "amazed for their
lack of faith".

But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, “Enough now! Stay your hand.”
2 Samuel 24:16

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mark 6:4-6

How interesting that you,
O God, was presented to us like
humans with all emotions and feelings
but in the face of human 
hardness and disobedience,
you took the softer side of us humans:
you regretted sending pestilence
on Israel in punishment of David's
pride while your Son Jesus himself
only felt being "amazed" at the lack of faith
of the people in the synagogue;
if you have really acted as humans,
you have gone worst
in punishing David
and insulting the people
in Capernaum.

And that is how you deal with us
always in the face of our sinfulness:
you remain on our side,
choosing to be merciful than vengeful,
compassionate and understanding
than angry or mad,
simply be amazed at our incredulity
probably with a few chuckles
than insulting us,
nor lambasting us.
None of those human negativities
on your playing like us humans,
O God.

Most of all,
in the midst of our sins
and indifference, that is when
you raise and send us holy men
like St. John Bosco
who until now through his
Salesian priests and brothers
continue to make you present
in a world that loves to turn against you, God;
bless the Salesians all over the world
who form young people
into your image and likeness,
who witness to us
your most noble qualities
O God when you choose
to feel for us
at our worst selves.
Amen.

St. John Bosco,
pray for us!

Gladden our souls, Lord…

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 30 January 2024
2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3 ><}}}}*> + <*{{{{>< Mark 5:21-43

*Photo by author, 19 January 2024, Our Lady of Fatima University-Sta. Rosa, Laguna Campus.*

Today, O God,
I join the psalmist
in his prayer to you:
"Incline your ear, O Lord;
answer me, for I am afflicted and poor.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul"
(Psalm 86:1, 3-4).

Gladden our hearts,
gladden our souls, Father
 in Jesus Christ
your Son;
many mothers
are now grieving
over their lost sons or
daughters to sickness
and accidents;
like David in the first reading,
it does not matter what kind of
a son or a daughter
one's children
may have been;
their death is always
a terrible loss,
a most unfair and unkind
one when parents should
have gone first
ahead of children.

You alone,
Lord Jesus Christ,
can comfort and gladden
our souls amid our many
griefs and miseries;
you alone, Jesus,
can stop our internal bleeding
for the many pains and hurts
within us we silently
endure like that woman in today's gospel
afflicted with hemorrhages
for 12 years;
raise us up, Jesus,
from the pits of
our agonies and slow deaths,
bring back to life
those losing zest of living
because of betrayals and
infidelities,
those in countless despair
of failures and frustrations.

Dear Jesus,
we pray for those who hide
all their pains and sufferings
as they forge on daily in life,
keeping the faith in you as they
try to make ends meet and
most especially struggling
to fulfill their promises of life
and brighter future
 for their loved ones
gladly awaiting their
coming home.
Amen.

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, an orange-bellied flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) somewhere in the Visayas, December 2023.*

Facing evil

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 29 January 2024
2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 5:1-20

*An illustration of the healing of the Gerasenes demoniac from Pinterest.*

On this final week of January
as we approach in two weeks the
Season of Lent,
you teach us today,
dear Father with many 
lessons about "facing" evil;
at first, I felt evil is always
"confronted", something we always
fight head on but from the 
two readings today, 
your words tell me O Lord
there are times we just have 
to stand firm against evil without
necessarily fighting it out right away
but not condoning it either.

But the king replied: ”What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the Lord has told him to curse David; who then will dare say to, ‘Why are you doing this'” Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: ”If my own son, who came forth from loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite to do! Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and mae it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day.”
2 Samuel 16:10-12

Give me, O God, the same
patience of David to accept the
evils happening to me as I am guilty
of so many evils too;
like David, let me be mindful always
of my own evil ways and sins that
definitely will haunt me,
will chase me,
and will charge me later
in recompense for my own
sins too.
There are times, Lord,
that I must accept 
how I deserve some evil to befall me
as a result of my own sinfulness
like David.

If ever the evils that come to me
are undeserved,
keep my cool and patience,
as well as goodwill
like Jesus Christ your Son
and our Lord;
after healing the Gerasenes demoniac,
he was driven out from the town
by the people;
many times,
people do not understand
anything at all when evils
befall us and others;
maintain my peace
within me, Lord,
that I may not react against
my accusers like you
especially when they all get it wrong;
let me tower over everyone else
with firm faith in you,
dignity in silence,
and clear conscience
when people wrongly
 accuse me of deeds
I am not guilty of
for you alone is my
salvation.
Amen.

Authority is when we claim God whom we proclaim

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 28 January 2024
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 ><}}}}*> 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 ><}}}}*> Mark 1:21-28

The gospel makes us wonder anew this Sunday on the mystery of Jesus, on what was with his person and speech. Remember how we wondered the other Sunday on what he had told Andrew and his companion who “went and see” Jesus at his dwelling at “four in the afternoon” (Jn. 1:39) that they realized he was indeed the Messiah, the Christ.

Reading further in that portion of the fourth gospel, we find how Andrew and companion brought two others to Jesus, Simon Peter and Nathanael to become disciples too. This Sunday as we return to Mark’s gospel, the evangelist tells us the start of Jesus Christ’s public ministry on a sabbath in the synagogue of Capernaum with his first four “fishers of men”:

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
Mark 1:21-22

*Photo by author of ruins of parts of the synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus taught, May 2017.*

Every time we hear the word “authority” especially among us Filipinos, it often evokes the sense of power, of superiority over persons and things. In Tagalog, we translate it as “power” or kapangyarihan, kakayanan mapangyari ano mang bagay.

But, Jesus is now telling us something deeper about true authority. People compared his kind of authority with their scribes, men of power and authority in their time along with the priests and Pharisees who were considered experts in scriptures being learned men, highly regarded and feared. Their authority flowed only from their position and name, from the outside and not from within.

Jesus shows us today that real authority flows from within, from a person’s inner self, from one’s heart, not from designations nor positions. True authority is felt even without the titles nor any forms of externalities. True authority comes from people who “walk their talk” so to speak.

*Photo by author, tourists and pilgrims at the ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus taught, May 2017.*

People of true authority “actualize” their words and their thoughts, making them a “reality” that everyone not just notices but even feels their authority. True authority creates a certain sense of aura, of positive vibes (arrive or “dating”) and a lot of mysteries that even in just reading Mark’s account of Jesus in the synagogue, we too could feel it and be astonished with the people there 2000 years ago!

What is most amazing here is that Mark did not tell us what Jesus spoke of nor what he taught nor even described how he spoke. What was so unheard of from Jesus that people and even us today are astonished with his words?

Keep in mind how Mark narrated this scene in the context of the synagogue on a sabbath – a beautiful reminder to us of Jesus continuing the Jewish tradition that had come into fulfillment in him. Recall also that at the start of Mark’s gospel After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: ”This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk.1:14-15).

*Photo by author in May 2019 of a signage at the entrance of the ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus taught more than 2000 years ago*.

In the synagogue, Jesus continued this preaching. He claimed what he proclaimed for he is in fact – his very person – is the kingdom of God who had come as we reflected last Sunday.

People felt God in him as he spoke, very similar with the experience of the chosen people in the wilderness with Moses in the first reading. There in the synagogue on that sabbath day, Mark presents to us how Jesus is indeed the “Word who became flesh” that people felt God in him because he claimed what he proclaimed. As the first reading from Deuteronomy reminds today, the surest criterion for recognizing a prophet is being a spokesperson of God like Moses now fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

We all share in this prophetic ministry of Christ when we were baptized but, are we rooted in God’s words that we speak only God’s words like Jesus?

Can we claim what we proclaim that after celebrating the Sunday Mass, people experience Christ’s authority within us when we go home and go back to work and school because we actualize, we make God real in ourselves in our words and deeds?

How sad that we – especially us your priests – speak more of our selves and of the world, making the Mass a videoke and a variety show rolled into one that God is hardly felt by the people except be entertained.

*Photo from https://santoninodecebubasilica.org/chronicles/viva-pit-senor-viva-senor-santo-nino/*

The second time Mark mentioned the people being amazed with Jesus in his speaking with authority in the synagogue on that sabbath day was when he exorcised a man with an unclean spirit.

In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit… Jesus rebuked him and… And the unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud voice came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:23, 25, 26-28

The surest sign of God speaking through us or anyone is when healing and repentance happen just like in the synagogue on that sabbath day. Notice how Mark recorded the words of the people about Jesus, “A new teaching with authority.”

In John’s gospel during the Last Supper we heard Jesus telling his disciples about his new command or teaching too which is to “love one another as I have loved you” (13:34).

True authority is about love and healing, kindness and compassion, mercy and forgiveness. Definitely not about subjugation nor manipulation nor use of force as we always experience from those with authority who display their powers and literally throw their weight around even amid heavy traffic with their security escorts blaring with sirens.

People were amazed at Jesus in healing the man with unclean spirit and called it a new teaching with authority because they felt God present among them because there was healing and exorcism which only God can do.

Most of all, the people in the synagogue felt God with them because Jesus was one of them unlike the scribes and other people of authority who were above them, detached from them.

The same thing is most true with us these days. Whatever authority we have is to help and comfort people, not to scare them nor burden them. We are most moved by people in authority – whether at home or in school, at work or in the community and in the church – when they are kind and approachable, caring and understanding.

*Photo by author at the shore of the Lake of Galilee in Capernaum, Israel, May 2017.*

Jesus teaches us today that true authority is making God present in us by offering comfort and consolation to those suffering like the poor and the weak who merely survive as they try to make ends meet daily.

True authority is being prophetic, making God and his words our very own, becoming ourselves his presence and his healing hands with our loving service to everyone, offering hope and inspiration to those down in sins and miseries.

True authority leads to salvation and liberation from sins. This begins with our communion in God through Jesus Christ in our personal and communal prayers, especially the Sunday Mass.

We are all blessed with the same kind of authority of Jesus Christ. Let us claim it by being free from all anxieties in this life (second reading) by joining Jesus in his journeys like the four disciples with him in the synagogue in Capernaum. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead.

Tending the garden of the Lord

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of Sts. Timothy & Titus, Bishops, 26 January 2024
Titus 1:1-8 <*(((>< + ><)))*> + <*(((>< + ><)))*> Luke 10:1-9

*Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte in Atok, Benguet 2022.*

How lovely to celebrate
a day after the Feast of the
Conversion of St. Paul the Memorial
of his two co-workers in you, O Lord
Jesus Christ: St. Timothy
and St. Titus.

First of all, a reminder to us all
that your work, Lord, 
never stops after us; 
it is our responsibility to ensure
those after us shall continue your work
of witnessing the Gospel,
making you present in the world,
and tending your beautiful
garden of the faithful.
After all, we are like St. Titus,
"a child in common faith" of 
our parents,
teachers and catechists,
pastors,
brothers and sisters,
friends
and everyone who made you Jesus
known to us in word and in deed.

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.
Titus 1:5

We praise and thank you,
dear Jesus for the trust 
in calling us to be your co-workers;
remind us always to never forget
the vineyard.
the garden,
the flock,
the Church
is not ours but yours;
we are mere stewards
like St. Paul and his co-workers
St. Titus and St. Timothy.

Inspire us dear Jesus
to imitate St. Titus who worked
to reconcile the people of Crete
with their founder St. Paul;
let us be bridges of peoples,
promoting peace and unity,
not creating cults around us
consciously or unconsciously
like many of your pastors
these days.

Let us keep in mind
like St. Titus and St. Timothy
that we we simply do your work
in the way you want it be done.
Amen.

St. Timothy
and St. Titus,
pray for us!

Pagbabalik-loob vs. pagbabago

Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Kapistahan ng Pagbabalik-loob ni San Pablo, Ika-25 ng Enero, 2024
Gawa ng mga Apostol 22:3-16 ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> Marcos 16:15-18

*Painting ng “The Conversion of St. Paul” ni Luca Giordano noong 1690 mula sa wikipedia.org.*

“Magbago ka na!” Iyan ang mga salitang madalas nating marinig at sinasabi sa mga tao na alam nating mayroong masamang pag-uugali at gawain. Madalas bitiwan mga salitang iyan tuwing Bagong Taon at mga Mahal na Araw.

Ngunit, maari nga ba talagang magbago ng pag-uugali o ng pagkatao ang sino man? Ibig bang sabihin yung dating iyakin magiging bungisngis o dating madaldal magiging tahimik? Iyon bang matapang kapag nagbago magiging duwag o dating palaban magiging walang kibo at imik?

Kung isasalin sa sariling wika natin ang salitang “conversion”, nagpapahiwatig ito ng pagbabago tulad ng na-convert sa ibang relihiyon o sa ibang anyo o gamit. Ngunit sa bawat pagbabago, mayroong higit na malalim na nababago na hindi namang ibig sabihin ay nag-iiba o naging different.

Kasi iyong sinasabing conversion ni San Pablo o ng sino pa mang tao ay hindi naman pagbabago ng pagkatao kung tutuusin; sa bawat conversion, hindi naman nababago ating pagkatao talaga kungdi ating puso na naroon sa ating kalooban.

Kaya tinatawag itong pagbabalik-loob, di lamang pagbabagong-buhay.

Binabalikan natin ang Diyos na nananahan sa puso natin, doon sa kalooban natin.

Higit na malalim at makahulugang isalin ang conversion sa katagang “pagbabalik-loob” dahil ang totoo naman ay bumabalik tayo sa Diyos na naroon sa loob ng ating sarili.

Dito ipinakikita rin na likas tayong mabuti sapagkat mula tayo sa Diyos na mismong Kabutihan. Kailangang pagsisihan mga kasalanan, talikuran at talikdan kasamaan na siyang mga balakid sa ano mang pagbabalik-loob at saka pa lamang mababago ating pamumuhay.

Katulad ni San Pablo, sino man sa atin na makatagpo sa liwanag ng Diyos, nagiging maliwanag ang lahat kayat atin nang hahangarin ang Diyos na lamang at kanyang kalooban. Nananatili ating katauhan at pag-uugali ngunit naiiba direksiyon at pokus.

Kapansin-pansin na bawat nagkakasala wika nga ay malayo ang loob sa Diyos na ibig sabihin ay “ayaw sa Diyos” gaya ng ating pakahulugan tuwing sinasabing “malayo ang loob”. Ang nagbabalik-loob ay lumalapit, nagbabalik-loob at pumapaloob sa Diyos.

*Pangangaral ni San Pablo sa Areopagus sa Athens (larawan mula sa wikipedia.org).*

Isang magandang paalala sa ating lahat itong Kapistahan ng Pagbabalik-loob ni San Pablo na hindi malayo at hindi rin mahirap maabot, bumalik sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ni Kristo Jesus. Maari itong mangyari sa gitna mismo ng ating sira at maruming sarili.

Hindi nabago pagkatao at pag-uugali ni San Pablo kung tutuusin: nanatili pa rin siyang masugid, matapang at masigasig. Nabago lamang ang direksiyon at pokus o tuon ng kanyang pag-uugali at pagkatao. At siya pa rin iyon. Inamin niya sa ating unang pagbasa ngayon na siya ay “isang Judio, ipinanganak sa Tarso ng Cilicia ngunit lumaki rin sa Jerusalem. Nag-aral kay Gamaliel at buong higpit na tinuruan sa Kautusuan ng mga ninuno at masugid na naglilingkod sa Diyos” (Gawa 22:3).

Nanatiling masugid sa Diyos si San Pablo ngunit naiba na ang batayan na dati ay sa mga Kautusan at tradisyon ngunit sa kanyang pagbabalik-loob, si Jesu-Kristo na ang batayan ng kanyang pananampalataya. Personal niyang naranasan si Jesus kaya gayon na lamang kanyang pagiging masugid na alagad. Sinasabing kung hindi siya nadakip at nakulong hanggang sa patayin marahil ay umabot siya sa Africa sa pagpapalaganap ng Mabuting Balita.

Hindi rin nabawasan kanyang tapang; bagkus pa nga ay higit pa siyang tumapang. Lahat ng hirap tiniis niya at hinarap gaya ng pambubugbog sa kanila, ma-shipwreck sa isla, mabilanggo ng ilang ulit at ni minsan hindi umatras sa mga balitaktakan at paliwanagan sa mga Judio at maging kay San Pedro ay kanyang kayang salungatin at pagsabihan kung kinakailangan.

Gayon na lamang ang malasakit ni San Pablo sa Panginoong Jesu-Kristo at kanyang Mabuting Balita kaya naman sabay ang pagdiriwang ng kanilang Dakilang Kapistahan ni San Pedro tuwing ika-29 ng Hunyo dahil magkapantay kanilang kahalagahan sa pagpapatatag, pamumuno at pagpapalaganap ng pananampalataya at Simbahan.

*Ordinasyon sa pagka-diyakano sa Katedral sa Malolos, ika-12 ng Hunyo 2019.*

Alalaong-baga, katulad ni San Pablo, ano man ating pagkatao at pag-uugali siya pa ring mga dahilan kaya tayo tinatawag ng Panginoon upang maglingkod sa kanya; ililihis at ihihilig lamang niya mga ito ayon sa kanyang panukala at kalooban.

Kaming mga pari kapag inordenahan ay ganoon pa rin naman pagkatao at pag-uugali ngunit nababago direksiyon at tuon sa bagong estado ng buhay at misyon.

Gayun din ang mga mag-asawa. Lalabas at lalabas tunay na pagkatao at pag-uugali ngunit hindi iyon mga sagwil upang lumago at lumalim sila sa pagmamahalan at pagsasama bilang mag-asawa.

Wika nga sa Inggles, “God does not call the qualified; he qualifies the call.” Maraming pagkakataon tinatawag tayo ng Diyos maglingkod sa kanya di dahil sa tayo ay magagaling at mahusay; madalas nagugulat pa tayo na mismong ating kapintasan at kakulangan ang ginagamit ng Diyos para tayo maging mabisa sa pagtupad sa kanyang tawag.

Madalas at hindi naman maaalis na sumablay pa rin tayo at sumulpot paulit-ulit dating pag-uugali. Kaya naman isang proseso na nagpapatuloy, hindi natatapos ang pagbabalik-loob sa Diyos. Araw-araw tinatawagan tayong magbalik-loob.

*Larawan kuha ni G. Jim Marpa sa Dabaw, 15 Enero 2024.*

Gaya ni San Pablo nang siya ay ma-bad trip kay Juan Marcos na iniwan sila ni Bernabe sa una nilang pagmimisyon. Batay sa kasulatan, ibig pagbigayn pa ni San Bernabe na muling isama si Juan Marcos sa pangalawang pagmimisyon nila ngunit mariin ang pagtanggi at pagtutol ni San Pablo kaya’t sila ay naghiwalay ng landas bagamat nanatili silang mga alagad ni Kristo. Sa bandang huli naman ay nagkapatawaran sila.

Ganoon din tayo, hindi ba? Walang perfect. Ang mahalaga araw-araw nagbabalik-loob tayo sa Diyos dahil araw-araw lumiligwak din tayo sa ating maling pag-uugali at mahunang pagkatao.

Higit sa lahat, sa ating patuloy na pagbabalik-loob, doon lamang magiging maliwanag sa ating ang kalooban ng Diyos na palagi nating inaalam sapagkat batid nating ito ang pinakamabuti para sa atin. Ang kalooban ng Diyos ang magtuturo sa atin ng tamang landas na tatahakin upang ating buhay ay maging ganap at kasiya-siya.

Subalit kadalasan tayo ay nabibigo, naguguluhan kung ano ang kalooban ng Diyos dahil akala natin para itong tanong na isang pindot ay malalaman kaagad ang sagot tulad ng sa Google. Mahirap mabatid kalooban ng Diyos kung tayo ay malayo sa kanya dahil sa mga kasalanan. Kaya tulad ni San Pablo, idalangin natin sa Ama sa pamamagitan ni Jesu-Kristong Anak niya na magpatuloy tayo sa pagbabalik-loob upang manatili tayong nakapaloob sa Diyos. Amen. San Pablo, ipanalangin mo kami!