The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 18 July 2023
Exodus 2:1-15   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 11:20-24

It is still too early,
God our loving Father,
but your words today smell 
so Christmassy,
reminding us of Jesus Christ's 
coming in the story of Moses
being drawn from water
by the Pharaoh's daughter:

On opening it, she looked, and lo, there was a baby boy, crying! She was moved with pity for him and said, “It is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

Exodus 2:6

Yes, dear God,
your Son came as an infant,
a baby, the most wondrous sight
to behold in this life who can
soften the most hardened heart
because every child reminds us
of you, O Lord, our life;
every child calls us to be
loving and kind because
every baby reminds us of our
credential as your image and likeness,
dear God.

Forgive us, Father,
when we close our eyes and our hearts
and dare ask others of their
credentials, like Moses who was asked
"Who has appointed you ruler
and judge over us?" (Ex.2:14);
or, Jesus who lamented at how
his own folks refused to recognize him
as the Christ despite his wondrous 
words and works,
"Woe to you, Chorazin! 
Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done 
in your midst had been done
in Tyre and Sidon 
they would long ago have repented
in sackcloth and ashes"
(Mt.11:21).

But most of all, 
loving Father,
enable us to live up 
to our credentials as your
beloved children,
forgiven and blessed
to make you known and
present in this world that has
turned away from you,
from some people who think
more of themselves in having
earned their credentials
and hence, be so entitled in the world.

Help us to keep our lines,
our boundaries intact,
of what is sacred and holy,
of what is essential
and true that you are 
our Father.
Amen.