Tag: cowardice

Let me not be ashamed of you, Lord

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, 26 January 2026
2 Timothy 1:1-8     <*{{{{><  +  ><}}}}*>     Mark 3:22-30
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.
Let me not be ashamed 
of witnessing,
of testifying for you,
Lord Jesus Christ;
let me not be ashamed
of you, Jesus
in this time when things of God
and of virtues and holiness
are looked down upon
as old fashioned,
so conservative,
fill me with your 
"grace, mercy, and peace",
Lord like what St. Paul prayed
for his disciple Timothy.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord…(2 Timothy 1:6-8).

As I prayed 
St. Paul's letter to Timothy,
I felt as if those very words
were spoken too to me
by you, Jesus - thank you so much,
Lord!
I feel shy but so encouraged
too because indeed
everything we have is a pure
grace from you, Jesus;
even our calling is a gift
you have freely given us,
Jesus; that is why,
grant me the courage
not to be ashamed to proclaim
your truth always; grant me the
courage not to be ashamed 
to witness your love and mercy
and justice with others
especially those with less
in life.
Amen.
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 23 January 2026.

Praying for courage

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops, 26 January 2023
2 Timothy 1:1-8   ><]]]'> + <'[[[>< = ><]]]'> + <'[[[><   Luke 10:1-9
Photo by author, 23 January 2023, at OLFU-Quezon City, Hilltop Mansion Heights.
Dearest Lord Jesus Christ,
grant us courage,
vanish our cowardice
to fill us with "power and love
and self-control" (cf. 2Tim.1:6).
If courage is having that
strength coming from the heart,
cowardice is losing one's heart,
of not having the heart to stand
and fight for what is true and good;
more tragic than physical cowardice
of being afraid of heights or the dark
are intellectual, emotional, and
spiritual cowardice.
In this age when everything
has become relative in the name of
pluralism and "respect" for everyone,
many Christians are afflicted with
spiritual cowardice,
so afraid to uphold your teachings
and examples, Lord, that in the process
have succumbed too to intellectual
cowardice, so afraid in discussing and
dissecting the many issues being raised
against our stand for life and decency,
truth and sanity.
Pray for us, 
Saints Timothy and Titus,
"to stir into flame the gift of God"
we have received in Baptism
so that we may "not be ashamed 
of our testimony" to Jesus
"but bear our share in the hardship
for the Gospel with the strength that 
comes from God" (1Tim.1:6, 8).
Amen.