Seek the face of God

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 21 September 2025
Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Amos 8:4-7 ><}}}}*> 1 Timothy 2:1-8 ><}}}}*> Luke 16:1-13

Scene at a wedding inside the flooded Barasoain Church in Malolos City, 22 July 2025; photo by *Aaron Favila of Associated Press.*

Our readings today are so timely like today’s headlines of rampant corruption – actually looting – of tax payers money by DPWH officials in connivance with some lawmakers and contractors.

The scriptures are very challenging for us, especially the first reading from the Prophet Amos.

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! “When will the new moon be over,” you ask, “that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done! (Amos 8:4-7)

*Photo by author, Malagos Garden Resort, Davao City, 2018.*

The Prophet Amos is telling us something so true today that he had noticed in his own time almost 3000 years ago.

More than the growing economic disparity among the rich and the poor as well as the growing consumerism during his time still happening today, Amos is not promoting a political agenda nor advocating a revolt against the wealthy and powerful. Moreover, Amos is not like other demagogues encouraging the people to turn away from Money that has become the new god of so many in his time and today.

Amos is a prophet because he speaks in the name of God, denouncing what is inside the hearts of the greedy rich, of their perverse intentions that they keep hidden while observing religious rituals and celebrations – a hypocrisy so rampant even these days. But, with a new twist as it is happening inside the church, among us the clergy.

Workers of a new subcontractor of a flood control structure in Barangay Sipat in Plaridel, Bulacan, lay cement and steels on September 6, 2025 amidst the downpour of rain. Photo by Michael Varcas / The Philippine STAR

In the midst of these shameless flood control scams drowning us, let us take a closer look this Sunday where Amos is directing his strong preaching.

It is not merely to the abusive rich and powerful people but also to us inside the Church – we the priests and bishops and volunteers as Amos warns us how religious practices are easily used by everyone to cover one’s selfish motives especially those inside the church.

How sad that our own diocese is so late in denouncing the flood control scams when the DPWH office that orchestrated the shameful looting is right here in our province of Bulacan, under our pastoral care.

Residents of Hagonoy Bulacan walk their way to flooded portions of premise surrondings St. Anne Parish as they protest this was following exposes of flood control anomalies. The Bulacan has been under scrutiny for receiving multi million worth of flood control projects but still suffers severe flooding. (Photo by Michael Varcas)

Except for the National Shrine of St. Anne in Hagunoy that is worst hit by the floods, it came out way ahead with a call to action that culminated in a rally on their flooded streets this Saturday led by their Parish Priest, Fr. Rodel Ponce prophetically leading his flock in their town’s flooded streets. Another Amos in our midst the other day was Msgr. Dars V. Cabral who led an ecumenical prayer rally in Malolos City with a letter that is bolder than our statement against the corruption.

Why we find the preaching of Amos directed to us in the church are the many connections and links of the involved DPWH officials with so many priests who have asked them for donations in their parish projects, asking them to be the fiesta hermano and donors of funds for church construction which is all over social media.

Check every treasury office of any LGU in the province and city and surely one could find “receipts” or photos of local executives and politicians with priests and bishops on vacation in expensive resorts or dinner in five-star restaurants. And that’s not just once or twice with some of them acting exactly like the nepo babies in flaunting the “good life” in social media, oblivious to the many implications of their actions like the many poor people who are denied of a decent funeral Mass for their departed loved ones when we are always out with politicians and the rich.

Amos reminds us too in the church of our double standards when we are so quick in condemning corruption and sins of those in government and society but we are so slow, even protective of our own brothers involved in sex and financial scams. And just like in the news, we are willing to sacrifice our lay people to take all the beatings just for the sake of our brothers in cloth lest they be put to shame.

The most pathetic double standard we have in the church is when we patronize politicians friendly to our crusades like pro-life and anti-divorce but ostracize those on the other side of the fence.

What a shame! Are they not all tainted with graft and corruption, not to mention immoralities we are so quick to point out in the church? Why can’t we stop asking politicians for favors? Why can’t we be contented with what we have and what we can?

If there is one thing we in the church must stop right away is asking politicians for any favors because that give them the reason, no matter how askew and flimsy, to commit graft and corruption. When we in the church like priests and bishops keep on pleasing the rich and powerful we teach them the wrong notion that corruption is acceptable, that being rich is the key to be close to God through priests and bishops celebrating Mass and sacraments for them.

This is where the very essence of the preaching of Amos is still so relevant today for us: like the people of his time, we too have stopped seeking the face of God in our lives. Like the people of the time of Amos, what we focus is money, money, and more money, a Mammom or false god we unconsciously worship.

This Sunday, Amos and the Lord Jesus Christ remind us all especially in the church to seek the face of God always – not the face of Mammon that has become the god of many these days.

Let us live in simplicity by being content with what we have. No need to bother the governor or any politician as well as parishioners just for us to have a grand party or a spiritual renewal and retreat out-of-town.

Seek the face of God, not the face of Mammon. That’s the point of Jesus in his parable today of the shrewd steward: the Lord praised the attitude not the person. If we could just be as eager and passionate like him in seeking the face of God in the church, corruption in our government and society would be lessened. Our country would be more humane and decent because in the process, the poor and suffering would realize too that it is God too whom we must first seek, not the face of money.

This Sunday as we all prepare for the rallies in Luneta and EDSA, let us first seek the face of God, let us go to Mass first to pray for our leaders as St. Paul tells us in the second reading. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead!

*We have no claims for holiness or being pure and clean but we have tried as much as possible since our seminary days never to ask donations from politicians that they may construe it as a permission to steal.

Baha sa simbahan, nakabibinging katahimikan

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-12 ng Setyembre 2025

*Larawan kuha ni G. Aaron Favila ng Associated Press, Barasoain Church, Malolos City, 22 Hulyo 2025.*

Hindi ko malaman kung ako
ay matutuwa o maluluha
sa mga larawang nalathala
noong panahon ng pagbaha
sa aming lalawigan ng Bulacan;
kamangha-mangha 
aming pananampalataya
nagpapatuloy mga pagdiriwang
ng sakramento lalo na ang kasal
kahit lumusong sa baha
nagsisimba at paring nagmimisa
parang eksena sa pelikula
pagmamahalan 
ng mga magsing-ibig
pananalig kailanma'y 
hindi padadaig
sa buhos ng ulan
bumaha man.

Nang sumabog
na parang dam
mga balita ng scam
ng flood control program
sa lalawigan ng Bulacan,
galit at pagkainis
aming naramdaman
itong mga pagbaha pala 
ay kagagawan ng kasakiman 
ng mga halimaw sa kagawaran
kakutsaba sa kasamaan mga 
pulitiko at contractor 
habang mga mamamayan
walang mapuntahan
sa araw-araw na lamang
malapit nang maging aquaman
kalulusong sa baha
alipunga hindi na nawala.

Isang bagay 
ang aking pinagtatakhan
noon pa man
siya ko nang katanungan:
ano ang pahayag
nitong ating simbahan
sa malaswa at malawak 
na sistema ng nakawan 
na nasentro sa Bulacan
lalo't higit
unang naapektuhan 
maraming mga simbahan?
Nasaan ating tinig
at pagtindig 
laban sa katiwaliang ito
na matay mang isipin 
kay hirap ilarawan
maski paniwalaan!

Mayroon bang kinalaman
nakabibinging katahimikan 
pag-Hermano 
at pag-Hermana
ng mga nasa pulitika
dahil sila ang mapera
handang gumasta
sa mga kapistahan
dahil kanilang pakiramdam
banal na kalooban ng Diyos
kanilang sinusundan
kaya naman sila ay pinagpapala
at pinayayaman
sa patuloy na donasyon
sa simbahan
habang kapwa ay
ginugulangan
pinagsasamantalahan?

Masakit man sabihin
at mahirap aminin
itong mga ghost projects
at korapsiyong ating
kinasasadlakan 
ay atin din namang
kasalanan at kagagawan
sa patuloy na pagboto
sa mga bulok na kandidato
na sumasalaula
sa ating lipunan;
tumitindi ang kasamaang ito
sa tuwing mga politiko
at mga kawaning ganid
ang parating nilalapitan
upang hingan ng lahat ng 
pangangailangan sa simbahan
maski libreng tanghalian
na walang kinalaman
para sa ating kaligtasan!

Larawan mula sa Facebook post ni Dr. Tony Leachon, “*KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis”, 08 Agosto 2025.*

Paninindigan, hindi upuan

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-02 ng Setyembre 2025

Tayong mga Pinoy ay mayroong nakakatawang kaugalian ng pagkahumaling masyado sa ating upuan. O silya. O kung ibig ninyo ay salumpuwit sa malalim na salin sa ating wika.

Mula sa ating mga tahanan hanggang sa simbahan at silid-aralan, sa mga sasakyan, mayroon tayong mga paboritong upuan na atin nang inangkin na sariling puwesto, hindi puwedeng upuan ng iba. Sa jeep at bus, lahat gusto sa may estribo. Ganun din sa LRT/MRT. At maski sa eroplano kaya nakakahiya sa mga paliparan sa abroad ang mga kababayan natin na nag-uunahan kapag boarding time na gayong mayroon namang ticket ang bawat isa! Sa sinehan man ay ganoon din. Hindi mo malaman kung likas na tanga o maarte lang na ayaw sundin kinuhang number ng upuan kasi gusto pala ibang puwesto.

Likas marahil ito sa lahat ng tao bunsod ng sinasaad na kapangyarihanng bawat upuan na tinagurian ding luklukan o trono. Hindi man natin aminin, kapangyarihan ang dahilan bakit lahat sa atin ay ibig maupo malapit sa pintuan ng silid at ng sasakyan: hindi lamang para mabilis na makaalis kungdi upang wala ring makapigil na maliwanag na simpleng pagsasaad ng ating ambisyong maging boss na palaging nasusunod maski saan.

At siyempre, ang malalim at mabigat na dahilan ng ating pagkahumaling sa puwesto ng upuan ay ang kapangyarihan at katanyagang dala nito. Kung hindi ka man nasa kabisera na tinuturing siyang puno ng pagdiriwang, hangga’t maari ibig natin ay makadikit sa nakaluklok sa puwesto ng kapangyarihan. Kaya chairman ang pinuno ng ano mang samahan o komite, taglay ay pawang kapangyarihan. Pagmasdan gaano tiisin kanilang almoranas ng mga pulitiko at sabik sa puwesto basta manatiling naka-upo sa puwesto hindi sa paglilingkod kungdi para sa kapangyarihan at kayamanang kaakibat ng bawat posisyon. Suma total, sa upuan nararamdaman natin pagiging hari at reyna, pagiging panginoon at makapangyarihan. Wika nga sa Inggles ay “driver’s seat” – kung sino may hawak ng manibela siya masusunod kung saan pupunta.

Naalala ko lang… noong mga bata pa kami kapag sumasakay ng taxi, palaging sinasabi ng aming ama sa pagbibigay ng direksiyon sa drayber ay silya at mano. Silya kung liliko sa kaliwa dahil ang silya o upuan ng kutsero ay nasa kaliwang bahagi ng kalesa; liliko naman sa kanan kapag sinabing mano na Kastila sa “kamay” dahil hawak ng kanang kamay ng kutsero ang latigo o pamalo sa kabayo para lumakad o tumakbo at huminto. Kaya noon pa man maski sa kalesa, ang silya ay nagpapahiwatig na ng kapangyarihan!

*Larawan kuha ni Sarah-Claude Lu00e9vesque St-Louis sa Pexels.com*

Hindi masama ang kapangyarihan kung ito ay ginagamit sa kabutihan. Alalahanin tayo bilang tao ay binahaginan ng Diyos ng kanyang kapangyarihan upang malinang ang daigdig at matulungan ating kapwa.

Kaya nang pumarito si Jesus, palagi niyang nililiwanag ang aspektong ito ng ating buhay, ang wastong pag-gamit sa ating kapangyarihan na pakikibahagi lamang sa otoridad ng Diyos.

Doon sa kanyang Huling Hapunan ipinakita ni Jesus ang tunay na kahulugan ng ating “seating position” nang siya ay tumindig at hinubad ang kanyang panlabas na damit upang hugasan mga paa ng kanyang mga alagad. Ang gawaing iyon ay para lamang sa mga alipin ngunit ginampanan ni Jesus upang makintal sa ating mga isipan at kamalayan na ang buhay ay wala sa ating upuan kungdi nasa paninindigan.

*Larawan mula sa commons.wikipedia.org, painting ng paghuhugas ng mga paa ng alagad ni Jesus doon sa Monreale Cathed, Isla ng Sicily.*

Para kay Jesus, hindi mahalaga kung saan ka nakaupo, kung ano ang iyong posisyon at kapangyarihan. Ang pinakamahalaga sa Panginoon ay kung saan tayo nakatindig o nakatayo, kung tayo ba ay maninindigan katulad niya para sa kabutihan, katotohanan at katarungan.

Bisperas ng Paskuwa. Alam ni Jesus na dumating na ang panahon ng kanyang paglisan sa sanlibutang ito upang bumalik sa Ama. Kaya’t nang sila’y naghahapunan, tumindig si Jesus, naghubad ng kanyang panlabas na kasuutan, at nagbigkis ng tuwalya. Pagkatapos, nagbuhos siya ng tubig sa palanggana, at sinimulang hugasan ang paa ng mga alagad at punasan ng tuwalyang nakabigkis sa kanya.

Nang mahugasan na ni Jesus ang kanilang mga paa, siya’y nagsuot ng damit at nagbalik sa hapag. “Nauunawaan ba ninyo ang ginawa ko sa inyo?” tanong niya sa kanila. “Tinatawag nin yo akong Guro at Panginoon, at tama kayo, sapagkat ako nga. Kung akong Panginoon ninyo at Guro ay naghugas ng inyong mga paa, dapat din kayong maghugasan ng paa. Binigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa at ito’y dapat ninyong tularan” (Juan 13:1, 4-5, 12-15).

Para kay Jesus, ano mang posisyon o katungkalan ay para sa mapagmahal na paglilingkod sa kapwa (loving service to others). Kaya naman tinagurian ding “Maundy Thrusday” ang Huwebes Santo – mula sa salitang Latin na kautusan o mandatum – dahil noong gabing iyon nang ibigay ni Jesus ang kanyang utos ng pagmamahalan sa kanyang mga alagad. Ang sino mang tunay na nagmamahal tulad ni Jesus ay palaging nakatindig at naninindigan para sa minamahal. Walang tunay na nagmamahal nang naka-upo lamang, pa sitting pretty wika nga.

Larawan ng mga upuan sa loob ng Senado, marahil malambot at komportable habang karamihan ng mga kababayan natin nagtitiis sa matigas at marahil lumang upuan nila sa bahay. Kuha ni Avito Dalan ng Philippine News Agency, Mayo 2025.

Ito ang trahedya natin sa Pilipinas. Napakaraming nakaluklok sa iba’t-ibang upuan ng kapangyarihan ngunit hanggang ngayon ay kulelat pa rin tayo bilang bansa dahil wala namang tunay na naninindigan at nagmamahal sa bayan.

Pagmamahal sa sarili ang namamayani sa halos lahat. Kaya naman ang puwesto ay hindi sa paglilingkod kungdi sa pangsariling kapakanan ng mga nakaupo na palaging panig sa mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan. Pawang pakitang-tao lamang mga pagtulong sa maliliit at mahihirap ng maraming nakaupo saan mang puwesto maging mga dating nasa media na nang matikman tamis ng pulitika, lumabas kanilang tunay na kulay.

Palaging katabi ng upuan ay pera kaya naman sa halos lahat ng mga sala ng mga hukom mula Korte Suprema hanggang sa mga munisipyo, maraming kaso inuupuan na tanging katarungang mithi ng mga inapi hindi pa makamtan. Gayon din sa mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan. Puro pasarap sa puwesto mga bossing, naghihintay lamang ng lagay at pabuya kaya kulang at kulang pa rin mga buwis na pinapataw sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan.

At siyempre, hindi magpapahuli ang mga nasa rurok ng luklukan ng kapangyarihan – ang Malacanang at ang Kongreso na alam naman ng lahat ang matagal nang siste ng talamak na korapsiyon.

Ano pa ang ating aasahan kung nakapasok na sa sistema ng pamamahala ang mga mandarambong at sinungaling na pulitiko sa palasyo, kongreso at senado, kapitolyo at munisipyo pati na rin mga munting barangay hall? Sa gara at lambot marahil ng kanilang mga upuan, wala nang upisyal ang ibig tumindig at maninindigan liban sa iilan para sa katotohanan, kaayusan, katarungan at higit sa lahat, para sa bawat mamamayan.

Kailan kaya darating ang panahon na matupad ang sinabi ng Panginoong Jesus na ang “nagpapakataas ay ibaba, at ang nagpapakababa ay itataas” (Lk. 14:11)?

Marahil kapag tumugon na rin tayong lahat sa kanyang panawagang manindigan sa pagtayo mula sa ating komportableng upuan ng kawalan ng pakialam sa lipunan, hindi nasusuhulan lalo na kung halalan. Marahil kapag tumugon na rin ang sambayanan sa panawagan ni Jesus na gumising at tumindig sa paanan ng kanyang Krus upang kasama niya tayong masaktan, masugatan, at mawalan ng lahat para sa tunay na pagpapanibago.

Hangga’t pinipili natin ang masarap na upuan ng kawalang-pakialam sa mga kasamaang umiiral, darating ang panahon hindi na rin tayo makatatayo upang manindigan dahil sa pagkabaon at hindi na tayo makaahon pa sa gulo at pagkawasak sa ating lipunan. Huwag natin iyang payagang mangyari kaya’t makiisa sa mga talakayan at higit sa lahat manalangin para sa paninindigan at kabutihan. Amen.

Panaghoy kay San Juan Bautista

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-29 ng Agosto 2025

“The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist”, tinuturing na obra maestra ng batikang pintor na si Caravaggio noong 1608 na ngayon ay nasa Co-Cathedral ni San Juan sa Valetta, Malta; mula sa commons.wikimedia.org.

Araw-araw nauulit sa ating Kristiyanong bansa ang karumal-dumal na krimen ng pagbitay kay San Juan Bautista lalo na sa larangan ng parumi ng parumi at talamak na sistema ng korapsiyon sa ating pamahalaan.

Kaya minabuti ko na isitas buong tagpo ng Ebanghelyo ng kanyang Pagpapakasakit na ginugunita natin sa Simbahan sa araw na ito.

Basahin at namnamin, managhoy at tumangis ngunit pagkaraan ay bumangon upang labanan malungkot na kinasasadlakan nating lahat ngayon;katotohanan ni Kristo ating panindigan tulad ni San Juan Bautista laban sa mga makabagong Herodes, Herodias at Salome ng ating panahon.

Noong panahong iyon, si Herodes ang nagpahuli, nagpagapos at nagpabilanggo kay Juan dahil kay Herodias. Ang babaing ito’y asawa ni Felipe na kapatid ni Herodes ngunit kinakasama niya. Laging sinasabi sa kanya ni Juan, “Hindi matuwid na kunin ninyo ang asawa ng inyong kapatid.” Kaya’t si Herodias ay nagkimkim ng galit kay Juan. Hinangad niyang ipapatay ito, ngunit hindi niya magawa, sapagkat natatakot si Herodes kay Juan. Alam niyang ito’y taong matuwid at banal, kaya’t ipinagsasanggalang niya. Gustong-gusto niyang makinig kay Juan, bagamat labis siyang nababagabag sa mga sinasabi nito.

Sa wakas ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Herodias nang anyayahan ni Herodes sa kanyang kaarawan ang kanyang mga kagawad, mga pinuno ng hukbo, at ang mga pangunahing mamamayan ng Galilea. Pumasok ang anak na babae ni Herodias at nagsayaw. Labis na nasiyahan si Herodes at ang mga panauhin, kaya’t sinabi ng hari sa dalaga, “Hingin mo sa akin ang anumang ibig mo at ibibigay ko sa iyo.” At naisumpa pa niyang ibibigay kahit ang kalahati ng kanyang kaharian kung ito ang hihilingin. Lumabas ang dalaga at tinanong ang kanyang ina, “Ano ang hihingin ko?” “Ang ulo ni Juan Bautista,” sagot ng ina. Dali-daling nagbalik ang dalaga sa kinaroroonan ng hari. “Ang ibig ko po’y ibigay ninyo sa akin ngayon din, sa isang pinggan, ang ulo ni Juan Bautista,” sabi niya. Labis na nalungkot ang hari, ngunit dahil sa kanyang sumpa na narinig ng kanyang mga panauhin, hindi niya matanggihan ang dalaga. Kaagad niyang iniutos sa isang bantay na dalhin sa kanya ang ulo ni Juan. Sumunod ang bantay at pinugutan si Juan sa bilangguan, inilagay ang ulo sa isang pinggan, at ibinigay sa dalaga. Ibinigay naman iyon ng dalaga sa kanyang ina. Nang mabalitaan ito ng mga alagad ni Juan, kinuha nila ang kanyang bangkay at inilibing (Marcos 6:17-29).

*“Salome with the Head of John the Baptist” isa pang painting ni Caravaggio noong 1607-1610 na ngayon ay nasa National Gallery sa London; mula sa commons.wikimedia.org.*

Hindi ba dapat nating tangisan 
itong nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran
na akusasyon noon laban kay San Juan 
ay pagsasabi ng katotohanan? 
Hanggang ngayon
kung sino nagsasabi ng totoo
siya pang napapasama at nakukulong
habang mga gumagawa ng
kasamaan at kabuktutan
hinahangaan,
niluluklok pa sa kapangyarihan
kaya mga Herodes 
lalo pang dumarami
tumatapang, ayaw nang patinag
kapit tuko sa puwesto
pamilya ginawang dinastiya.

Kay laking kabaligtaran
noong sina Eba at Adan
Diyos ay talikuran sa kasalanan,
nagtago sa kahihiyan
katawan tinakpan 
ng dahong maselan;
pero ngayon,
buwaya man mapapahiya
kapal ng mga senador at congressman
kung magmaang-maangan 
pinagsamang Herodes at Pilato
takot na takot sa katotohanan
akala pagkakasala ay mapaparam
kung mga kamay ay hugasan
gayong kadalasa'y magkatiklop
sa pananalangin
at kung Ama Namin ang awitin
silang mga Herodes nakahawak
kamay sa mga panauhin
bilang hermano, hermana
ng pista, magkukuratsa
kunwa'y mapasaya ang parokya
lalo na ang kura 
pati obispo nila!

*“Salomé with the Head of John the Baptist” isa pa ring painting ni Caravaggio noong 1606-1607 na ngayon ay nasa Royal Palace ng Madrid; mula sa commons.wikipedia.org.*

Nakaka-iyak
nakaka-inis
nakaka-galit
sa gitna ng maraming hirap
at sakit, 
may mga Herodias
pumapayag maging kabit
sariling pagkatao winawaglit
sinasaalang-alang sa kinang 
ng pera nahahalina
pakiwari'y gumaganda
ngunit di maikaila sa mga mata
kimkim nila ay galit
sa nagsasabi ng totoo
pilit nagpapa-interview
akala lahat ay maloloko!

O Diyos ko,
kalusin mo na ang salop
bago pa dumami 
at manganak
ng mga Salome bawat
Herodes at Herodias;
labis ang kalapastanganan
pinamamayagpag kayamanang
nakaw at panlilinlang pinagmulan;
walang pakundangan sa
gastos at pagmamayabang
hari-harian sa social media
pabebe lang ang nalalaman
nitong mga Salome 
kung tawagi'y "nepo babies"
ngunit ano mang wika 
kanilang gamitin
lilitaw pa rin pinagtatakpan
nilang kababawan kailanman
di kayang bigyang katuwiran
ng mga luho at karangyaan
na pawang ka-cheapan
kahit bihisan ng ginto,
pusali pa rin ang katauhan!

Hindi mauubus
mga Herodes at Herodias 
at mga Salome 
hangga't mayroon sa kanila
ay tatangkilik na mga hunghang 
na walang alam 
at tanging pinahahalagahan
kanilang mga tiyan
at sariling kaluguran;
kaya hayaan nating muling
umalingawngaw sa ilang
panawagan at sigaw ni
Juan Bautista: tayo ay gumising
sa ating pagkakahimbing
panindigan ang katotohanan 
kay Kristo lamang makakamtan!

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Baguio City, Agosto 2023.*

Advent is freedom from enemies

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Simbang Gabi-9 Homily, 24 December 2024
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Luke 1:67-79

Finally! This may be the word and expression today, the 24^th of December. Finally, a lot of you would be bragging about having completed the nine-day novena to Christmas. Finally, it would be Christmas day. And finally, we could sleep longer.

But then, finally what?

When Zechariah’s tongue was loosened after naming his son John in fulfillment of the angel’s instruction to him, it was not the word “finally” that came from his mouth but “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!”(Lk.1:68). After being mute for nine months, Zechariah’s silence became praise with gratitude and wonder giving him the voice to speak again.

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hand of all who hate us, He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of enemies, free to worship him without fear (Luke 1:67-74).

*Photo by author, birthplace of St. John the Baptist underneath the church dedicated to him in Judah.*

We have reflected last Thursday that Advent and Christmas is a journey that begin in the church, in the celebration of the Mass as Luke opened his Christmas story with the annunciation of John’s birth to Zechariah during their Yom Kippur at the Jerusalem Temple.

Luke’s artistry and mastery in weaving stories brought us right into every scene leading into Christmas – from Jerusalem to Nazareth then to the hill country of Judah in the home of Zechariah until John’s birth where our scene remains today. Tonight and tomorrow, he will be leading us along with Matthew and John to Bethlehem for the birth of the Lord.

But this journeys Luke recounted to us were not only about places but most of all an inner journey into our hearts. As we all know, the destination does not really matter but the journey, the trip. It is most true with our Simbang Gabi too – it is not about completing the nine-day novena that matters most but what have we become!

After tonight and tomorrow’s Masses, our churches would be empty again, only to be filled up on Ash Wednesday, and then Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday. How tragic that on Easter which is “the Mother of all feasts in the Church”, people are miserably absent because they are out in the beach and resort enjoying summer. In fact, more people come to Christmas (Pasko ng Pagsilang) than with Easter (Pasko ng Pagkabuhay) when it is actually the very foundation of our faith.

*With our students after Simbang Tanghali last year at the Medicine Lobby of Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City.*

So, what have we become after these nine days of waking up early or staying up late at night, praying, listening and reflecting on the word of God, sharing our material blessings in the collections and gift-giving if we stop going to Mass the whole coming new year?

American Trappist monk Thomas Merton wrote that seeking God is not like searching for a “thing” or a lost object because God is more than an intellectual pursuit or a contemplative illumination of the mind. Merton explained that God reveals Himself to us in our hearts through our communion and fellowships in the Church.

We come to church to celebrate the Mass and pray with the whole community to express our communion with one another in Jesus Christ. It is in this communal aspect of prayer we become holy, when we are transformed and as Zechariah prophesied, we are “set free” by Jesus Christ who is the main focus of his Benedictus.

Who are those enemies Zechariah mentioned twice in his Benedictus? Who are those enemies we have to be set free for God and free to love?

*Photo by author, Church of St. John the Baptist, Israel, May 2019.*

Again, look at this minute detail Luke used in composing Zechariah’s Benedictus when he spoke twice of the word “enemies”: first of “saving us from our enemies, from the hand of all who hate us” (Lk.1:71) and then, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham “to set us free from the hand of enemies, free to worship him without fear” (Lk.1:74).

Surely, those “enemies” were not just the Romans and other pagans around Israel at that time nor the Pharisees and scribes, the priests and Sadducees of the temple who had hands in Christ’s death for they are now gone. The gospel accounts were written in the past but remain true and relevant at all time in history, especially now more than ever in our own time.

Are we the “enemies” within who think only of our selves even in our religious and spirituality, manipulating God, controlling God?

A friend asked me last week if their priest was right in saying that the Simbang Gabi is the most effective means to obtain special favors from God. I emphatically told her “no”, adding that their priest’s claim is misleading. We cannot dictate God. God blesses everyone, including sinners who do not even go to Mass. We do not need to multiply our prayers as Jesus warned us because God know’s very well our needs before we pray. Then, why pray at all?

We pray and most especially celebrate the Mass especially on Sundays to know what God wants from us because we love God. Period. And that love for God must flow in our loving service and kindness with others. If gaining favors is the main reason we go to Mass or even pray, then, we are the “enemies” who prevent ourselves to freely worship God!

Mr. Paterno Esmaquel of Rappler rightly said it in his Sunday column:

“We are a society obsessed with achievement and success, command and control… Even we who try to complete the Simbang Gabi can plead guilty. During the Simbang Gabi, for example, we are tempted to focus on achieving all the nine days and succeeding for another year. By fulfilling this tradition, we can then ask God (or “command” God, like a genie) to grant our wishes. We can therefore wield greater control over life that is otherwise unpredictable (https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/the-wide-shot-missed-simbang-gabi-found-christmas-grace/).

And who are feeding all these misleading and erroneous thoughts on the people? We your priests and bishops!

How sad as we have mentioned last week when many priests have totally lost any sense at all of the sacred in the celebration of the Mass. Some of them not only come unprepared for the celebration without any homily, even so untidy and shabbily dressed and worst of all, make fun of almost everything and everyone that the Mass has become a cheap variety show. Online Masses continue not for evangelization for “shameful profits” in the Sacrament through “likes” and “followers” that some priests are now more concerned in finding ways to be trending and viral instead of how to effectively evangelize the people with our good liturgical celebrations flowing into our witnessing of life.

Yes, we priests and bishops are the enemies right here in the church when we align more with the rich and powerful, when we have no qualms asking/receiving gifts and favors from politicians and still, would want to collect more money and donations from people with our endless envelops that have totally alienated the poor from the church. The poor are the ones who suffer most, paying for the corruption of the politicians who help the clergy in their projects for the poor. Poor Jesus Christ!

Perhaps, on this last day of our novena to Christmas, let us all force ourselves – especially us priests and bishops – to go into silence to identify, to weed out those enemies within and outside us that prevent us from welcoming Jesus Christ in our hearts.

Let us pray to God that He may set us free from these enemies within us, around us so we can be like John the Baptist who will “go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation.” Amen. See you tonight or tomorrow, Christmas in the Holy Mass!

*Photo by author, Dumaguete City Cathedral, November 2024.*

My screen this quarantine

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 17 August 2021

We are almost done with the first week of our third lockdown with nine more days before it is either extended or modified depending on what jumbled letter combinations come out from the magic roulette in the Palace. Either way, hail to all couch potatoes for longer weeks in front of that magic screen!

Thanks for the gift of Netflix in keeping our sanity in this pandemic. And more thanks again Netflix in streaming more television shows lately especially coming from the Philippines.

Forget My Amanda that should have been called My Cars or My Abs or My Hair…

One series you should not miss before the end of this Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is Bagman starring Arjo Atayde.

First released in 2019 as an original series in iWantTFC, Bagman is so unique as a Filipino series because of its fast-paced tempo of less than 30 minutes per episode without the usual Pinoy director’s penchance for intense close up shots on faces of the characters with nothing expected to happen at all.

Everything in the production is superb, especially cinematography and musical scoring as well location sets that are characteristically the hallmarks of every ABS-CBN film undertaking. In fact, Bagman is one perfect reason that ABS-CBN should get back its franchise to operate for helping elevate television and film in the country.

Unlike other socio-political movies where we already know how low and evil is politics in the country, Bagman challenges us for a more personal response in ending this vicious circle of corruption and decadence in our culture and life as a nation.

Kudos to its creators Philip Kind, Lino Cayetano and Shugo Praico who directed the two-season series we hope would still have a final sequel. Their great attention to details with subliminal meanings on the roles and manners of different characters make the viewers “experience” – not just watch – the series done in first-person storytelling with narrations by Atayde himself as a former barber becoming a bagman of the governor. Each episode opens with a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction based on realities we have heard and read.

At its best, Bagman can be described as “totoong-totoo” – very true with its great storyline with characters played out so well by every actor like a thespian, beginning with Atayde and his co-stars that included the resurrected former sex-goddess Ms. Rosanna Roces and former Bagets Ms. Yayo Aguida.

Personally striking for me as a former smoker and police reporter is Atayde puffing his cigarettes clipped between his middle and ring finger.

So classic, tsong!

They must really have a superb study for Atayde and even everyone, like Mr. Joel Saracho who played a supporting role in a few episodes as a former cobbler turned “assistant” of the evil congressman played by Romnick Sarmenta. A writer himself and a veteran to many great productions on stage and the movies, Saracho brought his usual finesse in the few scenes he was included with great impact.

Bagman teems with many scenes focused on marginalized people forced to make that desperate “kapit sa patalim” due to poverty and exploitation by crooks who come from both the rich and poor alike. Here lies the beauty of the series in teaching everyone without pontificating the need to always choose the right path in life, to be careful of getting stuck into a situation one can no longer get out and cost one’s life or loved ones, or both.

One unforgettable scene for me is that episode focused on Atayde’s father-in-law played by Rolando Inocencio as a Political Science professor telling his class the story how three congressmen died and were held at the gates of heaven by St. Peter for interview. The first two were sent to hell for their sins but the third lawmaker made into heaven after “bribing” St. Peter!

The whole class burst into laughter while Inocencio lamented in a very fatherly manner how deeply ingrained is corruption among us Filipinos until the bell rang and his class dismissed. In a later episode, Inocencio would ask their hostage-taker (Karl Medina) claiming to be his former student how did the third congressman get into heaven to check if he was indeed in his class at the university.

Medina would not give any reply at all to Inocencio who would again lament how every student of his would surely know the answer because he tells the same story in every class he handled. For me as a priest, the scenes that followed reverberated with voices, asking us teachers and educators what have we really done in forming the minds of the young in our schools and parishes when corruption is even getting worst?

Bagman is a timely reminder for us in this time of pandemic of rectifying the excesses of our “old normal way of life” that is so unfair and unjust that many clamor to bring back in the face of the “new normal” that is still far from what is just and true.

One downside for me with Bagman is the excessive use of foul language, one of the worst “new normal” introduced to our society four years before COVID-19 came. The series could have been more effective and compelling minus those p*@#&^_!

See it for yourself. Enjoy and reflect the series.

More power to the people behind Bagman!

Ang Mahal na Birheng Maria at corona virus

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-26 ng Nobyembre 2020

Larawan kuha ni Arch. Philip Santiago, Lourdes, France, 2016.

Sana'y inyong ipagpaumanhin
at ako ma'y patawarin
ng Mahal na Ina natin
sa aking sasabihin
na noon pa man 
hindi ko inililihim:
Ano itong pagkahumaling
ng marami sa mga kapatid natin
sa pagkokorona sa Birheng Maria?
Mayroon pa bang hihigit
sa kanyang koronasyon 
sa langit?

Hindi kaya ito kalabisan
kaartehan 
o inggitan ng iilan
na ang tanging sandigan
ng debosyon kay Maria
ay panglabas lamang
upang hilig ay mapagbigyan
kahit walang kabuluhan
at katuturan
habang sambayanan
nanonood lamang
sa isang palabas na walang laman?

Pasiklaban, pabonggahan
tanging mga katangian nitong pagkokorona 
hindi birong halaga ginagasta
sa gitna ng isang pandemya
tila baga nawala na rin
panglasa at pang-amoy
nahawahan na rin
ng corona virus
debosyon sa masintahing Ina
di nila alintana
sila-sila lang nasa eksena
wala naman ang balana.

Sana'y tigilan na
itong pagkokorona
ng Birheng Maria
na lumalaganap tulad ng virus
dahil natitiyak ko
hindi rin siya masaya
sa gayong parangal sa kanya;
malamang ipapaalala
din niya tulad ni Hesus
propesiya ni Oseas:
"habag ang nais ko
hindi mga susunuging hain."

Ang higit na nakakabahala
sa ginagawa nilang pagkokorona
sa Birheng Maria bilang Reyna
wala na ring pinagkaiba
sa mga monarkiya
lalo na sa Europa
na sadyang pang-aliw
na lamang sa mga turista
walang kahulugan ni
katuturan sa takbo ng buhay
maliban sa lumipas na kasaysayan
at yaman ng kanilang kalinangan.

Hindi ba ang korona
ng Birheng Maria
 ay ang putong niyang
katapatan at kababaang-loob
sa harap ng Diyos,
buod ng kanyang Magnificat?
Siya na ating Reyna
kayamanan at korona
ay mga dukha
at mahihina,
ningning at kinang
wala sa ginto at ano mang brilyante!

Balikan, higit sa lahat pagnilayan,
pagpapakita ng Birheng Maria
sa makabagong panahon
doon sa Lourdes, Fatima at Banneux
dama kanyang pagka-Reyna
dahil kaisa niya mga bata at dukha;
higit sa lahat, si Maria
ang tinutularan, pilit inaalam
kanyang larawan
hindi tulad ng kinagagawian
kanya-kanyang larawan
malayo sa katotohanan at kabanalan!

Ang hamon ng Birheng Maria
siya ang ating makatulad
hindi siya manika o sagala 
na inaayusan dahil sa sariling kagustuhan!
Larawan niya ay karukhaan at kababaang-loob
hindi kapalaluan na pinaglalaruan;
huwag nating ipilit ang sa atin
korona ni Maria ay sirain
at maging koronang tinik
sakit at hapis ang kapalit;
koronang putik na ang dungis sa atin babahid
o corona virus sadyang wala na si Hesus!

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Our Lady of the Poor ng Banneux, Belgium sa retreat house ng Boys Town sa Cavite, 2007.

Pitumpung alagad… nino?

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-15 ng Hulyo 2020

Sa gitna nitong mga balita
sa garapal at walang kahihiyang
ginawa ng pitumpung mambabatas
na nagkait ng prangkisa sa Kapamilya
aking naalala sa Banal na Bibliya
kuwento ni San Lucas na ebanghelista
nang ang Panginoong Hesus humirang noon 
pitumpung alagad o pitumput-dalawa 
na sinugo Niya ng dala-dalawa 
sa bawat pook at bayan na patutunguhan Niya.

Sinabi Niya sa kanila
"Sagana ang aanihin, ngunit kakaunti
ang mga manggagawa... Humayo kayo!
Sinusugo ko kayong parang mga kordero
sa gitna ng mga asong-gubat.
Huwag na kayong magdala ng lukbutan,
supot, o panyapak.  Huwag na kayong titigil
sa daan upang makipagbatian kaninuman.
Pagpasok ninyo sa alinmang bahay,
batiin ninyo ng kapayapaan;
Manatili kayo sa inyong tinutuluyan, 
huwag kayong magpalipat-lipat ng bahay.
Pagalingin ang mga may karamdaman
sa bawat bayan na inyong pupuntahan 
mga taumbayan ay sabihang nalalapit na 
ang paghahari ng Diyos sa tanan."

Inyong tingnan sa Banal na Kasulatan
ito ay malalaman, matatagpuan sa Lucas 10:1-12
kahanga-hangang misyon ng pitumpung alagad
ng ating Panginoon noong unang panahon
hatid sa tao pag-asa at pag-ahon;
inyong tingnan ngayon mga pahayagan
pakinggan mga balita ng labis na kasamaan
kawalan ng kahihiyan ni pakundangan
nitong pitumpung nilalang 
turing sa sarili at mga kasamahan "kagalang-galang"?

Sila ma'y pinahayo, sinugo
ng pinapanginoon nilang Poncio Pilato
asal nila masahol pa sa asong-gubat
kaayusan at kapayapaan tinapakan
at niyurakan ng kanilang kapalaluan;
sa bawat halalan pangako paglilingkuran
nasasakupan agad namang tinatalikuran
palipat-lipat ng kakampihan kung saan makikinabang 
sa sama-samang pagsamsam sa kaban ng bayan;
kunwari'y mabuti ang kalooban 
kaban-kabang bigas pinamimigay
milyung-milyong kapalit naman ang dinudugas;
kunwari'y malasakit para sa may-sakit
pakilala sa lahat ay kuya na tila kapamilya
pati turo ng Diyos sinasalaula
manang mana sa kanyang ama.

Sa pagsusugo ni Hesus sa pitumpung alagad Niya
binigay din Kanyang babala 
Araw ng Paghuhukom malapit na;
kaya sana itong pitumpung kongresista 
pati na kanilang mga kasama
mabatid ang usapin ay hindi lang prangkisa
kungdi kanilang pagmamalabis;
huwag ninyong punuin ang salop
dahil ang Diyos Siyang kakalos
at baka sapitin ninyo ay kalunus-lunos.

Scoundrels are we?

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II

Monday, Week XI, Year II in Ordinary Time, 15 June 2020

***1 Kings 21:1-16* ><)))> ><)))> <(((>< <(((>< *Matthew 5:38-42***

Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News, stranded people staying at the underpass near the NAIA after waiting for so long to catch their flights back to their provinces since March.

So many times in life, O God our Father, we hear so many stories of injustice, of how our neighbors are treated so badly that we feel so disgusted at how it could happen at all.

Like all these stories of people stranded in Metro Manila, of the lowly income earners who have to walk for hours just to get to work because there are not enough public transport system allowed to operate.

Of those made to suffer the strict quarantine rules when police officials and politicians were allowed to get off the hook or, the arrest and incarceration of a poor, elderly jeepney driver who had joined a protest rally while the former First Lady who was convicted of corruption charges two years ago was spared of any jail term because of her age.

So much inequalities happening shamelessly, with much impunity by those in power, O Lord!

Exactly like the evil Queen Jezebel who instructed her people to find two scoundrels to testify against Naboth so she could take his vineyard so desired by her husband King Ahab.

Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death. When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you, because Naboth is nbot alive, but dead.” On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
1 Kings 21:13-16

Such stories are so revulsive, O God, not only of their nature but more because partly to be blamed is us — when we have refused to do anything good in fighting evil. Indeed, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Yes, O God, we are ashamed because we have unconsciously sided with the scoundrels when we chose to “see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing” of their lies, their harsh words and vulgarities, and their systematic killing sprees to solve the problems of the society.

We have misread the words of your Son Jesus Christ by becoming passive in the face of evil.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.”
Matthew 5:38-39, 41

Give us the wisdom and courage to turn our other cheek, to go the extra mile in asserting to evil doers that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ who must treat one another with respect and equal dignity as a person created in your image and likeness, God our Father.

Inspire us, O God, especially our leaders in the Church who have gone so timid and silent except for a very few on how we can be more prophetic in this time of crisis under an unfriendly government. Amen.

A view from Tagaytay by the author, October 2019.

Prayer for us in having a new bishop

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Installation of the Fifth Bishop of Malolos, 21 August 2019

Judges 9:6-15 ><)))> ><)))> ><)))> Matthew 20:1-16*

Main Altar, Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Malolos City. Photo by Lorenzo Atienza, June 2019.

On this joyous occasion of the installation of our fifth Bishop, the Most Rev. Dennis C. Villarojo, we praise and thank you O God for this wonderful gift of finally having a local Ordinary to lead us.

Thank you in hearing and granting our prayers for a new Bishop. And surely, you will be hearing and granting us all our prayers for him too!

But, lest we forget, I pray also to you, O God our Father, the prophetic request of a lay-woman you sent us during our clergy recollection last June: “Let us not corrupt our new bishop.”

It was the most shaking voice we have heard from you for a long time, Lord.

We were shocked, even jarred to our very core because it is so true.

It is a truth you have been telling us for so long not only in the Church but even in the society in general.

So often, we pin too much hopes and expectations, even demanding a lot from our leaders everywhere but we alway forget our important role of helping them fulfill their mission.

May we take into our hearts the parable of the trees by Gideon’s youngest son Jotham when your people were so eager of having their own king because the problem, O God, with corruption anywhere is not in the sinful ways being done by the corrupt but lies more on the corruptors who feel entitled that they must be given with special treatment by every leader they try to manipulate for their selfish ends.

Let us not be corruptors of any one like those in the gospel parable today of the first group of workers who looked so highly of themselves, expecting higher wages than the others and what was agreed upon, forgetting they are not the owner of the vineyard.

Bless our new Bishop and keep him strong in resisting the temptations and lure of fame and power and wealth in this so blessed vineyard of yours. Amen.