devout

Lord My Chef Breakfast Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 07 May 2025
Acts 8:1-8     ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>     John 6:35-40

*Painting by Frenchman James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), “Jesus Eats Breakfast with Disciples” from http://www.jofullheart.com.*

Dearest Jesus,
teach us today to be
truly a "devout" person:
a "devout" disciple,
a "devout" Christian
a "devout" believer in you
like those "Devout men (who)
buried Stephen and made a loud
lament over him" (Acts 8:2).

How interesting, O Lord
that only St. Luke used the word
"devout" in the whole Bible 
to describe some persons in
four instances: in describing Simeon
as a "devout" Jew who praised God
upon seeing the child Jesus at his
presentation at the temple; 
the "devout" Jews from all over the world
who came to worship in Jerusalem on
Pentecost day; the "devout" men who
buried Stephen in the first reading
today; and lastly, Ananias as a "devout"
man who sought Saul after his conversion
to bring him to the early Church.

You know so well, dear Jesus
how we as a nation is said to be
"devout" Christians but lagging behind
in every aspect of development:
where is our being devout in 
electing into office corrupt candidates?
where is our being devout in
fulfilling our duties and responsibilities
when bridges fall and bollards fail
that kill people especially children?
where is our being devout in
being reckless on the streets
and dirt roads, demeaning total
strangers and local inhabitants?

Oh Jesus, we are doomed by our
own hypocrisies when our being devout
is self-serving when we merely open  
our eyes for things seen outside like
the many devotions and practices
we have filled with pomp and pageantry
because we look more into ourselves than
into seeing Christ in other persons 
must love and respect and care;
what a tragedy that the persecutions 
still going on against Christians are
perpetrated by supposed to be your
devout disciples, devout Christians
who do not care at all in their daily
dealings that could result in deaths
and injuries of so many people 
including children like in the recent
series of road accidents, not to mention
vulgarities and obscenities spewed in the
countless road rages.

Teach us Lord
that a true devout believer
in you is one who always 
seeks you among the least
among our brethren,
one who seeks your Body 
in somebody
to be loved 
and upheld 
as a brother and a sister
so that our being devout
to your Body and Blood
in the Eucharist
becomes a reality
in our dealing with
one another.
Amen.

Your words today,
dear Jesus are very solemn
that despite the "severe persecution"
of the church that scattered Your
followers, the Apostles remained
while "devout men"
buried St. Stephen
while lamenting aloud.

Only the Evangelist Luke
used the word devout in the
Scriptures: first in his gospel
to describe Simeon who waited
for Your coming at the Presentation
and thrice in the Acts in describing
Jews attending the Pentecost (2:5),
in burying St. Stephen (8:2), and
in calling Ananias "a devout observer
of the law" whom You have instructed
to pray over and heal Saul after You
appeared to him on the way to
Damascus.

Fill us with joy, Lord,
no matter how difficult
life may be for us
like those devout men
who buried St. Stephen
because we can never
meet You,
Jesus,
in our complaints and whines,
fears and apprehensions
of the difficulties
that abound around us;
more than being faithful to You,
a devout person O Lord
is one who does not only believe in You
but one who makes You present,
one who makes Your coming
a reality
in every here and now.

Teach us to believe
in You, Lord Jesus,
that You are the "bread of life";
teach us, Jesus,
to act on our faith in You
openly and with courage,
not ashamed of the
consequences
because to be devout
is to care and respect
for each other
as Your indwelling.
Amen.

Tag: devout

Easter is being devout in Jesus, the Bread of Life

Praying to be a devout Christian