Faith is standing up, not dancing

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, 08 June 2022
1 Kings 18:20-39   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 5:17-19
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, 2017.
God our loving Father,
as we rejoice into coming to
the halfway month of the year,
we are also wary that it is during 
this month of June when the days
move slowly, exactly just how 
life has been moving on for many
of us; there is the usual grind with
daily living's many woes made worst
by rising prices of goods and
commodities.
For some, it is indeed a new phase in
our journey with you but for many,
an occasion to dilly-dally in our faith,
to dance with the many false gods
of our time offering quick fixes to our
problems.
We have become like the Israelites
of Elijah's time.

Elijah appealed to all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” The people, however, did not answer him.

1 Kings 18:21
Forgive us, dear Father,
for not making a stand 
for you, with you and in you;
forgive us for dancing,
for straddling as we play safe,
avoiding any commitment as
we wish to please ourselves than
you and others;
forgive us for still searching
as if there is still any other true God 
besides you who would give in to 
all our whims and caprices.
Push us, inspire us in Christ Jesus
to move forward in life, finding new ways
of living out our faith to fulfillment
amid the changing times and situations
not for the sake of change but to make
you present, dear Lord, in our present
time when people turn away from you and
religion, and from each other.  
Amen.

Firm Faith, Firm Self

FirmTree
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Tuesday
17 July 2018, Week-15/Year-2 Ordinary Time
Isaiah 7:1-9///Matthew 11:20-24

            Thank you Lord for the reminder that “unless my faith is firm I shall not be firm!”(Is.7:9)

            So many times I forget this truth as I try to do everything to make myself strong physically, mentally and emotionally.  So many times I forget that everything is fleeting in this world especially my body, including my enemies.  So many times I forget that the path to real strength of my person is in having a firm faith in You because only You remain.

            Everything passes in this world; nations and peoples, cities and states rise and fall but not You, O Lord!  You never stop speaking your words of wisdom into the silence of my heart, calling me to trust in You, to have faith in You as You find ways in saving me from my many problems and miseries.  Give me the grace to repent and to harden not my heart when I hear Your voice in Christ Jesus.  Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022

*Photo by the author, Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, 06 July 2018.