Tag: festivals

Celebrating God

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 01 August 2025
Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37     <*(((>< + ><)))*>     Matthew 13:54-58
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, 2018.
Thank you, dear Father
for the past seven months
as we welcome August on our
final five months of the year;
forgive us that we keep watch
of the changing of seasons 
without seeing or even 
remembering you present;
you have set the changing seasons
through rains and sunshine,
snows and darkness in some places,
falling of leaves and spring everywhere
as reminders of your loving presence
among us as you had instructed
Moses of the different festivals to
remember you in the Book of Leviticus.
Photo by Fr. Gerry Pascual, the Swiss Alps, August 2019.
More sad dear Father
is when your Son Jesus Christ
came to live among us
so we can truly experience you,
the more we have turned away
from you;
until now that incident
in Nazareth continues in many
places in the world
most esepcially right in our hearts.

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him (Matthew 13:54-57).

Lord Jesus Christ,
forgive me when sometimes
I make it difficult, even
challenging to believe in you;
please be patient with me.
Help me in my unbelief
especially when you are
so near
so real
so true
to celebrate you always.
Amen.
Photo from Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday, Angel of Peace Chapel, RISE Tower, OLFU-Valenzuela City, 27 November 2024.

All festivals without the Lord?

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
First Friday, Wk. XVII, Yr. I, 02 August 2019
Leviticus 23: 1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37 >< )))*> Matthew 13:54-58

Thank you very much, O Lord, for punctuating our days with your various festivals to remind us of your coming, of your presence, and your blessings upon us.

But please forgive us when so often, we are so focused with your festivals especially the rituals and the dates but always forget YOU!

So often, we forget to see your coming in your Son Jesus Christ to us not only during the festivals but most of all in the most ordinary days and events of our lives.

Like the people of Capernaum during his time, we rarely see Jesus, recognize Jesus and worst, refuse to believe in Jesus whenever he comes to us – “his native place” – our very selves as well as our places of work and study, even in our prayers.

Please open our eyes and our hearts, O God, to see you in the abundant blessings we always receive, no matter how little or great these may be.

Most of all, may we see you on the face of those next to us every time we look at your blessings and festivals for charity and justice are the best expressions of our celebrations in your honor through Christ. Amen.