Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Memorial of Sts. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, 29 July 2026 1 John 4:7-16 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 11:19-27
“The Raising of Lazarus”, 1311 painting by Duccio de Buoninsegna. Photo from commons.wikimedia.org
Glory and praise to you, God our Father for sending us your Son Jesus Christ who continues to come to us in various ways: in nature, in the events that happen to us in our lives, both good and bad, most especially in persons like our siblings that this Memorial of Saints Mary, Martha and Lazarus reminds us; how lovely to remember how our Lord Jesus was described as very close with the blessed sisters and brother he frequently visited in their home at Bethany.
We pray for all brothers and sisters now living apart from each other due to work and marriage, raising a family of their own; may they never forget each other as siblings, "magkakapatid" with invisible bonds that transcend their physical separations; keep them mindful of one another, checking on each others needs and well-being, becoming your very presence in each other especially when there is sickness and death: Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21).
Like the blessed siblings of Sts. Mary, Martha and Lazarus, keep every brother and sister open to your coming and visits, Lord Jesus, that are always in disguise; make our hearts like theirs filled with warmth and hospitality, understanding and forgiveness for each other so that you may stay and reign in our hearts, revealing the face of God with one another; most of all, Lord Jesus, like the three holy sisters and brother, may we share your gift of kindness of being a kin to everyone in you, with you, through you. Amen.
An icon of Jesus visiting his friends, the siblings Sts. Lazarus, Mary and Martha from crossroadsinitiative.com.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 28 July 2026 Jeremiah 14:17-22 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 13:36-43
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Your words today are so tender, so loving, most merciful of all:
Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not (Jeremiah 14:17-18).
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Many times it is so easy for us your people to complain about you being far and distant even nowhere when we are deep into sufferings not realizing you are the first to be so deeply hurt with our plight and woes; many times because of our bloated egos and self-centeredness, we could not feel your being one with our hurts and pains in life that usually are caused by our own sins and stubbornness as Jeremiah lamented, "We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you" (Jeremiah 14:20).
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
And despite all our sins, you remain with us, loving us, forgiving us, blessing us for you alone can give life, can promise a better tomorrow, because you alone is our hope when everything is dark and dried.
Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O Lord, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things (Jeremiah 14:22).
Keep us radiant in our hopes in you, Jesus when everything seems to be ruined and lost, when weeds seem to have taken over the wheat; you always have the last say in everything when all we can shout is a firm Amen!
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 26 July 2026 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 ><}}}*> Romans 8:28-30 ><}}}*> Matthew 13:44-52
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 20 July 2026.
We now come to the final installment of the last three parables by Jesus that began two Sundays ago that speak of the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, its unfolding and demands from us his disciples.
There are a total of seven parables in Matthew 13 known as discourse in parables which started with the parable of the sower until last Sunday where Jesus repeatedly told his listeners that included us today that “whoever has ears ought to hear”; now at its final installment, Jesus asks us after explaining everything, “Do you understand all these things?”
“Do you understand all these things?” They answered “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from the storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:51-52).
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 20 July 2026.
From the French word parabolein for “along the road/path”, parables are stories taken from daily life that offer us deep, profound lessons and realities especially about God and his loving presence among us, of the coming of his kingdom in Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, most of us dismiss them because they are so plain and simple. Or ordinary, not realizing that the deepest truths in life actually come from the simplest aspects of daily living. That is why Jesus kept reminding everyone to always listen, not just hear.
Listening is more intentional, deliberate and conscious, leading to understanding which is an internalization of the lessons and message said. Our Filipino translation shows this so well: to listen is makinig while to hear is madinig or marinig.
Makinig demands attention while dinig is passive, indicating more of the surface level of sounds and words, not really minding the meaning and context. That is why, listening is more reliable, more certain than hearing that has no intention of understanding at all what is meant by being said.
Photo by author, “St. Joseph Protector of the Child Jesus”, 20 March 2024.
Listening leads to knowing and understanding the what, where, when, how and why of events and things of the story or lessons. When there is understanding, relationship happens because more than the facts and details we listen to, we encounter persons. Pope Leo XIV beautifully said this in his first Lenten Message in February that “listening is the first sign of our willingness to enter into a relationship.”
Now we see the intention of Jesus in teaching in parables which is to have a personal relationship with us his listeners and disciples. Moreover, the very act of listening leading to understanding is a process of formation and transformation which is the bigger picture of Jesus teaching in parables – that we may be transformed in him especially when he asked today, “Do you understand all these things?”
Again, its Filipino translation reveals its true meaning and inner dynamics, Nauunawaan ba ninyo ang mga ito? To understand is maunawaan, from the root word una or first in order.
More than knowing, to understand or maunawaan is to realize which is the first of all others because that is the most essential, the most important. “To understand all these things” is not a question of human intelligence that is often short and lacking, and unreliable. “To understand all these things” is a spiritual intelligence, of the humble and lowly, the child-like whom Jesus praised the other week in our weekday gospel (15th week, Wednesday, 15 July 2026, Mt.11:25-27).
Jesus asks us this Sunday “do you understand all these things” to stress that the kingdom of heaven which is actually the person of Christ himself is a treasure beyond price like that treasure found by a man in the field or that precious pearl a trader had found that we are willing to renounce everything to have and possess him!
Understanding the parables of Jesus is finding “God first” before anything or anybody else. In the first reading, we find why King Solomon is the wisest person of all because when asked by God for any gift, he asked for “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong” (1Kings 3:9) which delighted God so much. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom indeed!
God is the first One we must always desire, think and search in life. Without God, we only come in vicious circles of addictions and emptiness and meaninglessness. It is no surprise at all that the most corrupt and vicious people are also the ones who disregard God, who live as if there is no eternity. Without God, we are reduced to mere creatures meant to just eat and survive. Nothing else. That is why some people do not mind at all looking stupid (mukhang tanga at tunay na tanga), without any self respect because only matter matters for them like money (mukhang pera) and things like power or popularity.
With God, we find meaning and direction in everything in life as St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Photo by author, flower of a Balibago Tree, Anvaya Cove Resort, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
“All things”… including trials and tribulations for they make us stronger and better persons. When we look back to our past, we see there are more things we have to be thankful to God than be sorry and have regrets. Many times, our past failures and sufferings and tears have become our gateway to our victory and comfort and joy.
Understanding the parables of Jesus and of life in general is actually a movement into getting closer to Christ, of being “every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from the storeroom both the new and the old” (Mt. 13:52).
Here we find the coming into full circle of Christ’s discourse in parables: from listening to understanding which is a process of communion and oneness with the Master, Jesus whose very Person is the kingdom of heaven.
Looking back to these past three Sundays of listening and understanding the various parables of Jesus, we find a remarkable stage in his teachings that bring us closest to him, leading us for the next route of his itinerary which is actually an inner journey into our hearts where he alone dwells. Amen. A blessed week ahead of listening and understanding Jesus among the people we meet and happenings we experience.
*Happy Feast Day to all Lolos and Lolas for today is the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of Jesus Christ.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 24 July 2026 Jeremiah 3:14-17 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 13:18-23
Photo by author, Balibago Tree flower, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Help us return to you, Lord, your rebellious children; let us take this opportunity of grace to be forgiven to start anew and to walk no longer in hardhearted wickedness (cf. Jeremiah 3:14, 17).
It is our heart that is always the problem, not your word like the seeds you scatter daily into our hearts, Jesus; many times, our heart are a mix of all kinds of soil - the path, the rocky ground, that among the thorns, and the rich soil; many times we are the problem when we are hardhearted; Lord Jesus, continue to be patient with us, watering us cultivating us so that eventually your words may grow and bear fruit in us.
In this age of instants when even plants are instantly made to bloom and bear fruits, may we never forget that being fruitful is what you desire most than being productive; like any good soil, a seed can only grow into a fruitful plant, whether a crop or a tree when there is openness to the cultivator; three things I ask you, dear Lord as your soil: patiently cultivate me to open my heart in welcoming you into my life; soften me as your soil, Lord, that I may always be open and welcoming to everyone you sent to change the world, and secondly, let me grow deeply and surely in you Jesus so that I may be fruitful not just successful; being fruitful is the more of what we have become while successful is more of what we have done and achieved. Amen.
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 23 July 2026 Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 13:10-17
Scars on the foothills of Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park in Sibuyan Island, Romblon caused by an alleged mining without permit perpetrated by a company owned by a political dynasty; from Facebook post of Atty. Wilfredo Garrido, 22 July 2026.
God our loving Father, we pray so hard for our country the Philippines that has become so much like your country of Israel at the time of the Prophet Jeremiah: we have not only destroyed one another as brothers and sisters with our rampant corruption in government but at the same time desecrated our paradise in this part of earth with environmental destruction.
Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the souce of living waters; they have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).
From Iskolar ng Bayan FB post, 22 July 2026.
What is happening in our country like in other parts of the world is our complete violation of your first commandment, Father - of having strange gods, of worshipping the Baals of money and power and influence through technologies that at the start were meant to bring us together but have actually torn and set us farther apart; hence, even your wonderful gift of nature supposed to provide us with our needs in life is raped and molested without any respect for life at all by the greedy investors backed by rapacious politicians.
Open our eyes, open our hearts and strengthen our souls to fight these evils, Lord Jesus that we may see in the simple parables of ordinary and usual like our local folks and the nature around us as signs of your grace and love for us demanding us to care for them too because they are all yours not mine to have nor abuse; we pray for politicians and investors alike to see more life and persons not just money and profits in their endeavors. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, 22 July 2026 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18
“Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene”, painting in 1835 by Russian painter Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov now hanging at the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg; from en.wikipedia.org.
"I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18)
What a joy must have been for St. Mary Magdalene to proclaim to the Apostles your rising, your appearance to her, Lord Jesus.
Most joyous of all, Lord is how you have called her by name, "Mary!"
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken by Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus (John 20:1, 11-14).
Many times Lord Jesus I feel like St. Mary Magdalene on that very early morning of Easter: feeling lost or distant from you who seem to be missing or taken away from me; but so often, like St. Mary Magdalene, we fail to recognize you with our eyes because we picture you so differently to who you really are.
Many times our sight fails that is why most often, you call us by name; unfortunately in this age of social media and so many other distractions in life, we fail to hear nor even listen to your voice because we are afraid of silence as we are so afraid of the truth - that you love us so much that is why you have forgiven our sins.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her (John 20:16-18).
“Noli me tangere” (touch me not) fresco in the Lower Basilica of St. Francis Assisi Church in Italy painted by Giotto de Bondone in the 13th century from commons.wikimedia.org.
Everyday you come to us, Jesus, calling us by name like Mary Magdalene - someone you personally know, with all of our sins and most kept secrets in our hearts, in our past.
If we could just be patient like St. Mary Magdalene in picking the pieces of our lives, of converting daily, of transcending the scars of sins of our past, then we shall hear and joyously listen to your voice spoken in a whisper, so sweet, so reassuring of your real presence, most of all filled with tenderness because you love us immensely, Jesus.
If we could just listen to your voice, Jesus, then like St. Mary Magdalene, we can proclaim too with joyful enthusiasm to other disciples "I have seen the Lord!" spreading you love and good news of salvation. Amen.
From Facebook, April 2021: “There is an urgency to announce the Joy, the joy of the Risen Lord!”
Lord My Chef SundayRecipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 19 July 2026 Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 ><))))*> Romans 8:26-27 ><))))*> Matthew 13:24-43
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Before reflecting on the second set of parables by Jesus this Sunday, let us take a brief stop at the very short second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans; it is so lovely and we cannot resist reflecting on the word “groaning” by the great Apostle.
Last Sunday, St. Paul said “We know all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now… we also groan within ourselves as we await for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22,23). And then this Sunday, he spoke again of “groaning”:
Brothers and sister: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27).
To groan or to sigh according to Mr. Webster is a deep, prolonged sound made involuntarily in response to pain, grief or frustration. We have a very picturesque translation of those words in Filipino which is magbuntung-hininga that many of our old folks frowned upon because it is a sign of surrendering, of giving up.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Is it bad? Not at all. Even Jesus sighed at the disbelief among the Jews with him (Mk.8:12). To groan, to sigh is to be fully human and even Christian if we go by the line of thought of St. Paul last week and this Sunday.
Groaning for him is the most profound spiritual response to brokenness. That is why I love our Filipino word magbuntung-hininga that evokes an image of digging deep inside – halukayin – for breath to breathe and forge on in life. It is like gulping a handful of air to breathe before taking a plunge or meeting head on a difficult situation in life. It is actually a kind of spirituality, an expression of holiness of surrendering everything to God, of letting go and letting God.
St. Paul spoke of three kinds of groaning: the first two we heard last Sunday, creation groaning and believers groaning as we have cited earlier. Creation groaning means the world is subject to decay while Christians groan inwardly, bearing all pains and hardships in clear hopes of redemption in Christ.
This Sunday, St. Paul spoke anew of “inexpressible groaning”, of sighing because it is too deep for words that the Holy Spirit within us is doing all the expressions of our deepest feelings. It is the one fact of life we often forget when in deep trials and tribulations: that the Holy Spirit is already within us in all our weaknesses. Actually, we do not have to come before God with perfect words, clear thoughts or settled hearts when praying because he knows everything we are going through. Simply be still for God is with us.
And this my friends is the very meaning of Jesus Christ’s second set of parables this Sunday, the weeds among the wheat.
Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well… His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn” (Matthew 13:24-26, 28-30).
We live in an imperfect world, of weeds growing among the wheat. There will always be diseases and sickness, failures and death along with scammers and criminals, liars and idiots, suckers and ungrateful and traitors among us. Add to these all the other woes we have in life like that ongoing war in the Middle East that have kicked up gas prices so high like drones and missiles. Hayyyy…!
And we ask, where is God?
How could God allow all these things to happen like when a poor, hardworking motorcycle taxi rider in Caloocan City trying to make ends meet died after being stabbed with an ice pick then robbed by his passenger still at large?
We wonder as a nation how long do we have to bear all the stupidities and idiosyncrasies of those corrupt, evil people in government even in the church when the majority of us have to suffer at the consequences of their excesses and abuses?
The author of the Book of Wisdom reflected on these realities thousands of years ago and had asked the same questions we ask today. He invites us to prayerfully reflect God’s goodness and kindness:
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins (Wisdom 12:18-19).
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 21 January 2026.
Despite the weeds – the evil men and women who seem to always prevail – the author of Wisdom in his reflections reminds us to be like God, “the just must be kind.”
It is a very tall order, even difficult but we have to give it a chance because we have seen and proven that many times our human response to the evils and injustices happening end up becoming more brutal like the wars happening right now. Many times, human solutions actually create bigger problems.
That is why all three readings this Sunday tell us to be patient, to dive deeper in prayer where the Holy Spirit enlightens us clearly.
Photo from inquirer.net, Pandacan Church fire, 11 July 2020.
We have seen and experienced in recent years that indeed, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20) like with those two good men in the NBI testifying at the impeachment of the Vice-President or of that most decent lawyer from Cebu, Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan smashing all the lies and grandstanding of her lawyers. Every day we experience grace after grace of deliverance from all dangers through people including strangers who have helped us kindly.
That is why we have to go back to this Sunday’s second reading where St. Paul reminds us that even when we cannot say what is happening within us, the Holy Spirit is praying in us and for us. There are more things happening in us that we have to be thankful with than be sorry or complain about.
Let go of all those negative feelings and thoughts; life is already difficult, don’t make it harder. Instead, may we come to Jesus and learn from him to be patient like God who “gave us good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins” (Wis.12:19).
Let us cultivate our hearts – the field where the seeds are sown that despite the weeds they shall still bear fruit with good works and peace for everyone.
Our classes in the University have begun recently; every time I celebrate Mass with our students, I always remind them these things which I hope may help you too: study hard, work harder, pray hardest.May you have a Holy Spirit-filled week ahead. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 17 July 2026 Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; 38:10-12, 16 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 12:1-8
Photo by author, sunrise at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, 19 November 2018.
God our loving Father, I thank you for this wonderful Friday and most of all, for your moving words from King Hezekiah, the very same words in our hearts especially for those like me who have reached senior year, or may be going through many difficulties in life that make us all realize our mortality and finiteness.
Father, we are all afraid of death, of dying, of the pain of getting sick, of the process so hurtful in all aspects; but, like King Hezekiah in the first reading, what really makes us worry with death is the unfinished work you have given us, the sadness of what shall happen to those we shall leave behind not because we believe so much in ourselves but more because we know we have not finished your work; forgive us for those moments we have procrastinated your work, for those times we balked and dilly dallied to your commands, or to those times we refused to follow you; hear our pleas like your faithful King Hezekiah knocking at heaven’s door:
Once I said: “In the noontime of life I must depart! To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned for the rest of my years… Like a swallow I utter shrill cries; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak, gazing heavenward: O Lord, I am in straits; be my surety” (Isaiah 38:10, 14).
Photo by Mr. Howie Severino, Taal Lake, Batangas, 13 November 2018.
O Lord our God most loving, our life and meaning who desires most mercy than sacrifice for you are the Lord of sabbath (Matthew 12:7-8), like King Hezekiah and Bob Dylan in this modern time we "knock at heaven's door" for those in great need at these very moment like the disciples of Jesus so hungry while crossing a field of grain on a sabbath and picked the heads of grain and ate them; heal those so sick not only in body but also in mind, heart and soul; ease their pains and sorrows; and should we reach the final end, welcome us into your heavenly kingdom; but still, as we hope against hope, heal us by turning back the clock of time for us to fulfill your assigned task and mission. Amen.
*While praying last night, we remembered Bob Dylan’s iconic “Knocking At Heaven’s Door” that he wrote as soundtrack of the 1973 film “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid”. It became a worldwide hit after its release and had been covered by other artists like Eric Clapton, Randy Crawford and Guns N’ Roses.
“Knocking At Heaven’s Door” is praying hard to God when at the point of death. Like Hezekiah in the first reading, it is the baring of one’s soul to God, begging for his mercy that if possible be allowed to live a little longer. In this song, we find the lyrics and music elegantly and nobly simple, so characteristic of Dylan’s songs that earned him awards outside the music circle like journalism’s Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2008 and the recent Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American music tradition” (wikipedia).
In our prayer last night, we realized as we age that we fear death and its other daily manifestations like separation and other lifestyle shifts because of being sorry for not having done much in life that if given another chance, we might after all finish our mission like King Hezekiah in the first reading today. Knocking at heaven’s door is one of life’s most powerful prayer as it always “moves” God in the sense he grants our prayers not because he changes his mind but because we have finally surrendered to him and his Divine Will. Likewise, it reminds us to be faithful to our calling always so that when God calls us to death, we can let go easily.
Bob Dylan captured this so well citing the final scene of the movie for which he composed “Knocking At Heaven’s Door” when the frontier lawman was about to die, he gave or “surrendered” to his wife – Mama – his badge and gun because he had finished his job.
[Intro] Ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh
[Verse 1] Mama, take this badge off of me I can’t use it anymore It’s getting dark, too dark to see I feel I’m knockin' on heaven’s door
[Chorus] Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
[Verse 2] Mama, put my guns in the ground I can’t shoot them anymore That long black cloud is coming down I feel I’m knockin' on heaven’s door
[Chorus] Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven’s door Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
A blessed weekend everyone. Handle life with prayer always.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 16 July 2026 Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 11:28-30
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Bgy. Tabe, Guiguinto, Bulacan, September 2025.
Your words today, O Lord Jesus, remind us of another side of God - your compassion and deep understanding of being human.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”(Matthew 11:28-30).
Do you really want me to come to you, Jesus? How amazing you our Lord and God, calling me, inviting me to come to you, to learn from you... because you believe in me? you trust me? that I am worthy and valuable?
In a world that gives so much premium on confidence and strength, you offer us today Jesus not only consolation but a completely different way of being like being gentle and loving, kind and understanding, caring and humble.
Like Mary as Our Mother of Mount Carmel, she had opened another side of heaven, of God not simply through her Scapular but most of all in imitating her spirituality in being close to Jesus nurtured in deep prayers simplicity and humility. Amen.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us!
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Bgy. Tabe, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 15 July 2020.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 15 July 2026 Memorial of St. Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor of the Church Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 11:25-27
Photo by author, National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, July 2010.
Loving Father in heaven, allow me to imitate your Son Jesus Christ's prayer and praise to you this day: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike" (Matthew 10:25).
Yesterday we prayed to you for gratitude and we are grateful today in your answering our prayer; today we pray for the gift of integration, of finding your Son our Lord Jesus Christ at the center of everything in our lives, of the need for us to be open like little children who value most our relationships than all other things.
Like St. Bonaventure may we have the gift of wisdom and the ability to integrate faith and reason in our lives, seeing more the face of the Father in everyone like Jesus who called us his followers as "little children"; yes, Father, integration is being whole, is being like children always open to learn from you, trusting you, following you; take away my pride, my belief in my powers and abilities that keep me closed like most smart Alecks that actually know nothing at all, filled only with flatulence that reek with foul smell especially when they speak. Amen.
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