Jesus amid strong winds

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 05 August 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome
Numbers 12:1-13 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

*Image of painting from pemptousia.com.*

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:26-31)

Lord Jesus Christ,
bless me
and keep me focused
on you alone
when strong winds 
blow on my path
especially when I have 
to make important "crossings"
in my life
for me to grow and
mature as a person
and your disciple.

Many times I doubt
and lack the faith in you
even I have experienced
your miracles and salvation
so many times;
I feel afraid
and forget you are there
with me in the darkness of
every crossing in this life,
failing to recognize you,
thinking you are a ghost.

One of the ghosts
I am so afraid of is
the ghost within me,
the strong winds within me
that sway me away from you
and the path of your Cross
life self-doubts;
another ghost I am so afraid
is what others say about me
like that instance in the first
reading when Aaron and Miriam
spoke ill of your servant Moses.

O dear Jesus,
let me be firm in you,
hold on tight to you,
and just look at you
when winds are too strong
and it is so difficult to
get across,
to cross the street
or the sea.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City (lordmychef@gmail.com).

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA7 News, Batanes, September 2018.*

Accompany me, Lord

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 11 July 2025
Friday, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 <*{{{>< + ><}}}*> Matthew 10:16-23

*Photo by Alex Dos Santos on Pexels.com*

For those still moving places,
changing careers, 
pursuing new love, hobbies
and interests;
for those in their senior years
embarking on new journeys
in life,
for those who have finally
decided to leave their
"comfort zones" to dare
live life authentically,
let us learn from
Jacob, aka, Israel:

Israel set out with all that was his. When he arrived at Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. There God, speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called, “Jacob! Jacob!” He answered, “Here I am.” Then he said: “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation. Not only will I go down with you; I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes.” (Genesis 46:1-4)

Thank you, dear God
our loving Father in calling us
and sending us still to missions
despite our age
and unworthiness;
just be patient with us.
Accompany us in this
new journey we take in life;
be our companion.

Thank you, dear God
our loving Father in believing
in us,
in trusting us
after all these years of
hiding and running away from you;
keep us faithful
to your call and direction.

Thank you, dear God
most of all for Jesus,
in sending him to us
who commissioned us to be
like "sheep in the midst of wolves";
enlighten our minds
and our hearts
with your Holy Spirit
so we may be "shrewd as serpents
and simple as doves"
(Matthew 10:16)
in this world that values
youth and technology,
forgetting persons to be loved
and cared
and cherished
like you.

Like St. Benedict who in his
old age continued to follow you
in new directions in his life
and ministry,
give us the courage
to do the same
for your greater glory.
Amen.

St. Benedict,
Pray for us.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – MAY 08: Faithful in St. Peter’s Square participate in the first blessing of Pope Leo XIV immediately after the white smoke on May 08, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. White smoke was seen over the Vatican early this evening as the Conclave of Cardinals took just two days to elect Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo (Leone) XIV, as the 267th Supreme Pontiff after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. (Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

Lent is the Cross of Christ

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 06 March 2025
Deuteronomy 30:15-20  +  Luke 9:22-25

Why always the Cross,
Lord Jesus Christ?
Many times
I grapple not only
with myself but especially
with others at how to explain,
what to tell them
the need for your Cross
when all in our lives
has always been the cross.
Even the simple act of choosing,
of deciding
is a cross.

And yet,
we still foolishly
choose
death in the process
by avoiding your Cross,
Lord.

Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom” (Deuteronomy 30:15).

In this Season of Lent,
let me appreciate anew
the beauty and majesty,
nobility and divinity 
of your Cross,
Jesus;
always looming in our lives
is your Cross
because that is where
you are always found,
that is where you stay
most of the time
to heal us,
to forgive us,
to save us.
There is always
the Cross in our lives
because it is the direction
to life,
to fulfillment,
to fruitfulness
in you, Jesus
who was the first
to suffer and die
on the Cross
for us
so we can have life.
Let us carry our Cross
to make that crossing
into life in you.
Amen.

Following Jesus, touching Jesus

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 04 February 2025
Hebrews 12:1-4 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 5:21-43

*Photo by author, sunrise at the Sea (Lake) of Galilee, the Holy Land, 18 May 2019.*

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea (Mark 5:21).

Lord Jesus Christ:

How lovely to hear 
this story of your frequent crossing
of the sea to the other side
to reach out to more people
hungry and thirsty
for your words that comfort
and forgive, ease one's burdens
and most especially 
for your healing touch.

You always come to us,
Jesus, reaching out to us
when all we have to do is follow
you and as much as possible,
be near you to touch you
like that sick woman 
who touched your
clothe after Jairus
had begged you to come
to touch his sick and dying
daughter.

That's all we have to do:
follow you,
be near you,
and touch you;
but, of the large
crowd there like today,
only one dared to touch you;
only one father 
had the courage to ask you
to come and lay your hands
on his daughter.

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD in France, 2023.*

Give me Jesus
the courage to come to you,
to get near you
and touch you
with faith
and desire to meet you,
to speak to you,
to be with you;
take away my fears
of leaving the safety
of the sidewalks,
of walking the main street
that leads to your Cross
when in fact,
it was you who have
paid the price for me
by dying on the Cross.

Let the words
of the author of the Letter
to the Hebrews sink in me,
"In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding
 blood" (12:4)
because I am
 always afraid,
always hesitant
in following you,
in touching you.

Touch me, Jesus
so I may cross the sea
with you despite the storm
and giant waves;
touch me, Jesus
so I may cross the street
and walk beside you
in your arduous journey;
touch me, Jesus
so I may stand with you
at your Cross.
Amen.

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.*

That crossing again…

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 04 July 2024
Amos 7:10-17 <*((((><< + >><))))*> Matthew 9:1-8

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima, GMA-7 News in Batanes, 2018.*

Oh how I love the gospel
this week, Lord Jesus Christ,
showing how often 
You have crossed the vast lake
of Galilee to reach everyone;
You continue to do so these days,
helping us cross the turbulent seas
and chaotic streets of life that are
so stressful, 
so heavy with burdens,
always with various forms of sufferings;
without You, we could have not 
made it this far.
Thank You, Lord Jesus!

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News in Batanes, 2018.*

Help us, Jesus,
do the same as You send us daily
to help others cross this life to
safety and security in You,
to fullness and light in You;
like the Prophet Amos,
let us dare to cross and leave
our comfort zone to speak your words
across other territories,
especially those hostile to You
and your values of love and justice,
kindness and mercy;
give us the courage to speak up
for those silenced and weak due to
poverty and sickness;
let us be your mouthpiece
and presence especially when 
everyone feels contented with
mediocrity and sin.

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, ‘Go prophecy to my people Israel'” (Amos 7:14-15).

Let your words, O Lord,
refresh my soul for they are perfect
while your decrees are trustworthy,
giving wisdom to those who simply
obey You; let me not be distracted
by what others say as I dare to cross
to your side of life and truth,
justice and mercy for others.
Amen.