The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of Sts. Pedro Bautista, Paul Miki & Companion Martyrs, 06 February 2024 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Mark 7:1-13
Photo by author, Jerusalem 2017.
Dear God our Father, thank you for being for us, thank you for being with us, thank you for being in us; you are our foundation, our root, and our very life. Everyday in nature you show us your beauty and majesty, but most of all, in all history, you have allowed us to express your might and power with our magnificent buildings of worship everywhere that like King Solomon, we pray and wonder:
“Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built! Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O Lord, my God, and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant, utter before you this day.”
1 Kings 8:27-28
Thank you dear God for the gift of missionaries who have come to build churches and schools and hospitals and towns that until now testify to your being with us; many of them have literally given their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ your Son like San Pedro Bautista who worked only for nine years in the Philippines but had transformed lives from Bulacan to Camarines Sur; he later joined the first Japanese martyr and Jesuit priest St. Paul Miki and other companions in Nagasaki when rulers there became suspicious of their missionary works that have won so many converts. May we remain faithful to you, O God, as our sole foundation in life even in death.
Forgive us, Father, when many times we confine you in our churches, in our beliefs and traditions becoming more focused with material foundations than your divine foundation like the Pharisees and scribes in the gospel today; let us continue to pursue learning in the light of Christ's teaching, sometimes relearning and unlearning things we have been used to by always going back to you O God as our sole foundation in this life. Amen.
Photo by author in Jerusalem’s via Dolorosa, 2017.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of St. Agatha, Virgin & Martyr, 05 February 2024 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:53-56
Photo by Mr. Boy Cabrido, kids playing “piko” outside patio of the National Shrine of St. Michael & the Archangels in San Miguel, Manila, 04 February 2024.
On this first working day of the week, we pray to you dear Father, may we share your loving presence we experienced at the Sunday Mass to everyone we shall meet today; like Jesus your Son, may we "approach, touch and raise" especially those who are down in trials and tribulations in life; dwell in our hearts, Lord, like when your clouds envelop the temple built by Solomon when they placed your Ark of the Covenant at the Holy of Holies.
When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord so that priests could no longer minister because of the cloud, since the Lord’s glory had filled the temple of the Lord.
1 Kings 8:10-11
Dwell on us your people, Lord; fill us with your grace of courage to witness your love and truth among peoples like St. Agatha who died remaining a virgin for your holy name after enduring so much pains from her torturers who cut off her breasts but with the intercession of St. Peter the Apostle, her wounds were healed, making her the patron saint of those with breast cancer; you know O Lord the pains and difficulties those with cancer go through; give them the strength to withstand the long process of treatments along with their loved ones; never let them lose hope in you through Jesus Christ who never gets tired "crossing the lake" to reach the sick; have mercy on those with all kinds of cancer, bless those who were healed and in remission, and please accept the souls of those who have died. Amen.
From en.wikipedia.org, painting of St. Agatha with her severed breasts that many thought to be loaves of bread that is why in some churches in Europe, breads are distributed during her memorial.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 04 February 2024
Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University-Laguna Campus in Sta. Rosa, 19 February 2024.
Our gospel this Sunday speaks a lot about the importance of person-to-person communication, of the healing wonders of the sense of touch and its deeper implications in our relationships when Jesus healed the mother-in-law of Simon Peter.
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
See how the evangelist narrated in details the healing by Jesus who “approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.” More than the actual touching and face-to-face or actual encounter, the scene speaks so well of deep personal relationships among us. That is why we have chosen Rupert Holmes’ 1976 single Touch and Go.
Nobody said that Life is always fair Sometimes it clips your wings While you’re in mid-air But there’s a thread Between your life and mine And when you’re losin’ hope This rope won’t unwind
REFRAIN: Hold on tight ‘Cause life is touch and go It’s sink and swim But never doubt If you’re out on a limb I’ll get the call To break your fall I’ll never leave you Even when life Is touch and go Or hit and run We’ll never break If we take it as one I’m here to stay, I pray you know I’ll never touch I’ll never touch and go
Someday you’ll find There’s nothin’ in the night That wasn’t there before You turned out the light Straight from your mind The monster ‘neath your bed The voices in the hall They’re all in your head
A gifted musician with a knack in story-telling, Holmes’ songs are always imbued with his deep insights about life he had gathered from ordinary experiences like his earlier hit Terminal (1974) and his two hit singles Escape (The Piña Colada Song) in 1979 and Him in 1980. These three are all dashed with humor that can tickle our bones but disturb our conscience too.
In Touch and Go, Holmes goes philosophical, sounding a bit like Job in today’s first reading of how life can sometimes be unfair that “Sometimes it clips your wings while you’re on mid-air” while assuring his beloved of his deep love and dedication that no matter what happens, he would always be there by her side to save her.
That is exactly what Jesus tells us in the gospel this Sunday, of how he would always approach us, grasp our hand and help us up when we are down. The question is, are we in touch with Jesus too? Or, we always go and leave him especially when things are doing great in our lives?
If us humans like Holmes can boldly assure our beloved of always being there, of being in touch and connected especially in times of trials and sufferings, all the more is Jesus Christ who had come to empower us by connecting us with God and one another always in loving service (https://lordmychef.com/2024/02/03/real-power-empowers/).
It is a Sunday. Don’t forget to celebrate Mass or go to your places of worship to get in touch with God and with others in your community. Here is Rupert Holmes to help you chill more on this cool February Sunday amidst life’s many “touch and go, sink and swim” situations.
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.
Photo from kimaldrich.com
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.”
From Pinterest.com
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.
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.
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?
From Facebook.
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.)
From crossroadinitiative.com.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
lordmychef.com 