Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 15 September 2025
Monday, Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
Hebrews 5:7-9     <*{{{{><  +  ><}}}}*>     Luke 2:33-35

A blessed Monday indeed,
Lord Jesus Christ as we
celebrate your Blessed Mother
as Our Lady of Sorrows.

The alternative gospel
for today's celebration is 
so striking with the account
of Luke of your Presentation at
the Temple:

The child’s father and mother were amazed at was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted” (Luke 2:33-34).

Why were your parents,
Joseph, especially Mary your Mother
were amazed at the words
of the Prophet Simeon?

I really wonder
how they looked like, Jesus:
to be amazed
is more than being
surprised with the enormity
of reality before one;
to be amazed is to be awed,
to be seized by that reverential
fear Joseph and Mary felt when
your coming was announced to them;
to be amazed is more of the
heart than of the mind,
a feeling that overwhelms one's
whole being with something
so profound,
so wonderful,
most of all,
so real.

Yes, Jesus:
being amazed is
beyond incredible,
simply breathtaking
because of your very presence,
of your reality.
Amaze me,
Lord Jesus.
Keep amazing me,
Jesus so that like
your parents Joseph
 and especially Mary
the more I shall know you,
love you,
and follow you
even to the Cross.

“and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).

O dearest Jesus,
being sorrowful 
is also of the heart
like being amazed
and both are related:
the more we are amazed
with the reality of your love
for us, 
the more we are sorrowful
not only with your passion and death
but most of all of our sinfulness
because to sin is a refusal to love,
a refusal to recognize the truth
and reality of your immense love
for us, Jesus;
when people no longer
feel sorrow with all
the sins and senseless
killings happening today,
when people glorify
sin and evil,
when the young feel proud
more with wealth and fame
than the human person,
when people are so consumed
with things of the world
than be amazed 
with the wonder of human life,
the warmth of each person,
and the joy of being loved
and being loving...
that is when we are 
no longer amazed with 
you, Jesus,
our way,
our truth and 
our life.

Immerse us in your words,
Jesus like Mary your Mother;
like her, 
let us act on your words
to keep us amazed
with your love and mercy,
Lord Jesus
so we may be
sorrowful with our sins
and most of all,
be resolved in 
returning to you, 
remaining in you
like Mary your Mother
and our Mother too.
Amen.