human unbelief

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

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.

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.

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.

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest, 31 January 2024
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Mark 6:1-6

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD in Tanza, Navotas, Metro Manila, 17 December 2020.*

Your words today are very
intriguing, Lord;
both the first reading 
and gospel spoke of our 
pride and lack of trust in you
but, in both instances,
you were there,
the most merciful Lord,
"regretted the calamity"
imposed upon Jerusalem
while feeling "amazed for their
lack of faith".

But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, “Enough now! Stay your hand.”
2 Samuel 24:16

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mark 6:4-6

How interesting that you,
O God, was presented to us like
humans with all emotions and feelings
but in the face of human 
hardness and disobedience,
you took the softer side of us humans:
you regretted sending pestilence
on Israel in punishment of David's
pride while your Son Jesus himself
only felt being "amazed" at the lack of faith
of the people in the synagogue;
if you have really acted as humans,
you have gone worst
in punishing David
and insulting the people
in Capernaum.

And that is how you deal with us
always in the face of our sinfulness:
you remain on our side,
choosing to be merciful than vengeful,
compassionate and understanding
than angry or mad,
simply be amazed at our incredulity
probably with a few chuckles
than insulting us,
nor lambasting us.
None of those human negativities
on your playing like us humans,
O God.

Most of all,
in the midst of our sins
and indifference, that is when
you raise and send us holy men
like St. John Bosco
who until now through his
Salesian priests and brothers
continue to make you present
in a world that loves to turn against you, God;
bless the Salesians all over the world
who form young people
into your image and likeness,
who witness to us
your most noble qualities
O God when you choose
to feel for us
at our worst selves.
Amen.

St. John Bosco,
pray for us!

Tag: human unbelief

Celebrating God

When God feels for us