Stewards of God’s mysteries

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 04 September 2026
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 5:33-39
Photo by a friend from Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
Your words remain,
Lord Jesus through St. Paul
from the other day calling us
"God's co-worker"
(1 Corinthian 3:9)
and now as
"stewards of the mysteries
of God"
(1 Corinthian 4:1).
Keep me reliable and
conscientious of these tasks
not primarily as a work
but a commitment to your call
for us to be faithful;
like St. Paul and your
apostles, Lord,
we have many critics that
many times we run into
misunderstanding and
opposition; if their points
are valid, keep us humble
to change our ways and if
our consciences are clear in
doing your work,
all the more you keep us
humble for only you
can truly and fairly judge us;
keep us grounded in you
always, Jesus,
doing our best,
putting on new wines
into new wineskins!
Amen.
Photo by a friend from Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.

Praying for our critics

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Twenty-second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 02 September 2022
1 Corinthians 4:1-5     ><]]]]'> +++ <'[[[[><     Luke 5:33-39
Photo by author, Pater Noster Church outside Jerusalem, May 2019.
Dearest Lord Jesus Christ:
today I pray for my critics,
the well-meaning among them
who truly think of my growth
and maturity in you as your servant
and steward; likewise, I pray for 
all the other critics who have
nothing else to do but criticize
me.

Praise and glory to you, Lord Jesus
that in the end, it is you who shall judge
me and everybody else, not our critics;
like Paul in today's first reading, I admit
my many shortcomings to you and your
people as your servant and steward; 
grant me the grace to be more trustworthy
by being more loving and understanding,
kind and caring, merciful and forgiving
but at the same time firm with what is
true and good in you.
People will always have something to say
about me and everyone, some may be
true, some may be false and even fake
but like the admonition of Paul, let no one
among us pass judgment on anyone;
keep us open, Jesus, to the leading of
the Holy Spirit; make us always like 
the new wine skins always flexible,
adjusting to new situations, to every
possibilities of your presence and coming.
Amen.