40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Fourth Week in Lent, 03 April 2025 Exodus 32:7-14 + + + + + John 5:31-47
Image from chabad.org
Forgive us, O God our most merciful Father for being so stiff-necked like your people in the wilderness; forgive us for easily forgetting you and your wondrous deeds in saving us; forgive us, Father in turning away from you so quickly, when something else - our golden calf - became an object of desire that felt greater than our desire for you; many times, we are so attracted and easily rejoiced in the lights of others not realizing of the more convincing light of your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank you, dear Father, for your great mercy and abounding forgiveness to our many and repeated sinfulness; teach us also to be like Moses interceding for others to relent in their anger especially these days when so many road rages are happening, with each one trying to assert one's power and superiority that leads to senseless killing and lost of life all because of adoration for our many a golden calf. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent, 31 March 2022
Exodus 32:7-14 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> John 5:31-47
Image from chabad.org
Forgive us, O God our Father
for being so quick to forget you,
quick to turn away from you,
quick to create our own god,
our golden calf that suits our
belief on who you must be,
not on who you really are.
Forgive us, O God our Father,
in always making our own gods
when we refuse to wait for you,
when we are in a hurry, and most
specially when we avoid pains and
sufferings.
Forgive us, O God our Father,
for being thankless, for being
ungrateful to all your blessings
that come our way without us
even recognizing these for we are
so focused with our selves.
Teach us to be like Moses before you,
a prefiguration of Christ, mediating
for others, aware of your countless
gifts and most especially of your
immense love and mercy that we may
point and lead people to you alone.
Amen.
40 Shades of Lent, Thursday, Week IV, 26 March 2020
Exodus 32:7-14 ><)))*> +++ <*(((>< John 5:31-47
Illustration from Chabad.org.
Like you, O God in the first reading today, we are all angry. We are so mad with our so-called leaders and officials in government. We are angry at their arrogance and total disregard of others especially in this time of global crisis due to COVID-19.
Like you, O God, we also seeth with anger when you at Sinai saw how the Israelites created a golden calf to worship, after you have brought them out from Egypt. We admit our sinfulness and guilt before you in having our own we golden calves like power, money, and fame among many others.
But what we are so mad, O God, is how these leaders and officials in government – whether elected or appointed – have made themselves the golden calves to be served and worshipped by everyone.
They are the golden calves themselves who have brought shame and dishonor to our nation.
They do exactly what your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ had taught us that whoever wants to be great must be the least and servant of all.
But they are certainly not. They have shamelessly acted foolish and selfish since this pandemic started.
Forgive us, too, merciful Father, for our many sins, for being deluded by these many other golden calves in our midst, in the government.
The words of your Son Jesus Christ today are so true:
“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.”
John 5:41-43
Like you, O God, we are angry at them, at how things are going on.
But like you, O God, let us relent in wishing ill for these misguided leaders whom your misguided people have put in power too.
Like you, O God, let us temper with mercy and charity our feelings and emotions against them.
Most of all, make us truly wiser in the next elections! Amen.
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