Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Ezekiel 28:1-10 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 19:23-30
Photo from tidycasa.com, KonMari Method of Decluttering.
How wonderful for the second straight day your words, O Lord, are still about "losing", about the radical question of what I still lack in this life to have fulfillment!
We still have a long way to go to really learn how to lose, how to let go of so many things even persons so we may finally realize what we still lack.
Foremost of this is losing, letting go of our pride.
The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea. Will you then say, “I am a god!” when you face your murderers? No, you are a man, not a god, handed over to those who will slay you (Ezekiel 28:1-2, 7-9).
Like the king of Tyre, many times our ego gets bloated by our success and achievements that we believe so much in ourselves as if we are gods; many times when we are on top of everything because of our talents and abilities, even of our goodness, we forget you, God and think we are the Lord.
Such was the sinister pride in Peter when he dared to tell you Jesus, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?" (Matthew 19:27); remind us always, Jesus, that no matter goodness we have done, it was still purely from your grace, and not really ours alone.
Truly, Lord Jesus Christ, "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle that for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24); help us, therefore, to be poo in you, Lord Jesus; help us to give up whatever we still keep in us that we believe we have given up like any iota of pride. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 17 August 2026 Ezekiel 24:15-23 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 19:16-22
Photo by author, Malagos Garden Resort, Davao City, August 2018.
Your words today, O Lord are so touching that reaches deep down my inmost being; both readings speak about losing: Ezekiel's wife died while the young man in the gospel asked "what do I still lack?"
Both readings are so timely for us these days when we have so much of every thing except of you, O Lord; we rarely ask "what do I still lack" in its truest sense - of learning to let go of what we have in order to have the most essential.
Often, we think of having what we still lack in order to have more of every thing; but you teach us today, Jesus, what we really lack is you through others; what we really lack are the poor and the sick, those who have less in life; what we really lack still is life eternal, of having you O Lord as basis and foundation of our relationships.
In this time when rains continue to pour for the third straight week, the more we are concerned of what material things we still lack and forget about the warmth and smiles of others so disadvantaged due to floods and lack of work; teach us, Jesus, to be like Ezekiel in the first reading to see and realize that the most painful loss in this life is not losing a loved one nor wealth and things but in losing our souls to sin and evil. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr, 14 August 2026
O God our loving Father, help us to always remember - our origins and beginnings, our past especially the people who had cared and nurtured us, our parents and siblings, relatives and friends, those who gave us the breaks and sparks to begin our great journeys in life, the people who stood by when we were down and nobody believed us: dear God, remind us always of the basic fact, of the principle and foundation of our being: that we came from you and shall return to you.
Forgive us, Lord God, in forgetting you always, in forgetting others, in forgetting we are nothing without you; touch us, nudge us if needed whenever we forget you and our lowly beginnings; let us not be amazed by our feats and abilities.
But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord God (Ezekiel 16:15, 60-63).
Photo of Auschwitz from internet.
As we celebrate today the Memorial of your most faithful servant St. Maximilian Kolbe who offered himself not just once for a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz for he had dedicated himself to you entirely before World War II began, may we remember the lessons that led to the Holocaust; like St. Maximilian Kolbe may we continue to remember your covenant in Jesus Christ by making a stand against injustice and immorality, in defending life especially at its weakest points, and most of all, in remembering the equal dignity of every person created in your image and likeness; like what Jesus told the Pharisees, let us go back to Paradise, let us return to you, O God, as our Lord and Master alone, not ourselves, nor our pride and convenience, nor anyone nor their flimsy, modern thoughts and ideas; like St. Maximilian Kolbe, may we have the courage to always stand forward for what is true and good and holy. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 13 August 2026 Memorial of Sts. Pontian (Pope) & Hippolytus (Priest), Martyrs Ezekiel 12:1-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:21-19:1
Photo from forbes.com.
Set my eyes on you, Lord God, that I may see you present always in and around my life, whether at work or at home, in school or in office, in the park, or wherever; set my eyes on you, Lord God, that I may see you always and be reminded that all this has been made possible by you because you love me; set my eyes on you, Lord God that I may realize you are holding me, that everything that happens in the world, among us are in the palm of your hand.
The word of the Lord came to me:: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house (Ezekiel 12:1-2).
Indeed, Lord God, we have not only become callous and numb but sadly blind too to you and your very presence in us and among us; we only have sights without vision; we refuse to look at the truth and realities of life and prefer to look through prisms of our own making; we have been so conceited like that servant pardoned for his debts in today's parable but unforgiving to his fellow debtor. give me the courage to confront myself like Saints Pontian and Hippolytus who both contradicted each other but in the end shed off their own pride to totally embrace and see your real truth in your Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 12 August 2026 Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-19, 22 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:15-20
Photo by author, Tam-Awan Village, Baguio City, January 2019.
"If your brother sins against you...."
I feel you speaking to me directly today, Lord Jesus; you know so well how often my brothers and sisters sin against me; let's not included those times I am the one who sinned against them but why is it, Lord, it is different when a brother or a sister sins against me?
There is the deep hurt because he is a brother or a sister - there is a relationship, a bond, a trust that is broken; sometimes unintentionally that they seemed to have not minded at all, or overlooked that makes it more painful actually; but, how shall I approach him or her?
So often it becomes the source of more problems because, simply, they would claim they have no intentions of hurting us or never thought what they did to us or say to us was wrong; and when we approach them, they do not seems to care at all.
With so much platforms in expressing our thoughts and feelings, the more we have become detached from each other, the more we are fragmented, the more our relationships are strained.
Give us the courage and wisdom, and tact as well to speak with a brother or sister who sins against us; more than restoring our ties, may you dwell anew dear Jesus amid us so that more than seeing each other, may we see you and share you to create a sacred ground between us because, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Amen.
Photo by author, Sonnen Berg Mountain View, Davao City, August 2018.
Isang linggo na akong masayang nagpapaulan sa aking araw-araw na walking dito sa amin.
Natutuwa ako dahil kay dami kong naaalala masasayang karanasan ng paliligo sa ulan noong bata pa kami tulad ng pagtatampisaw sa tubig, pagtapat sa mga alulod ng lahat ng mga bahay at ngumanganga ng nakatingala sa langit para inumin ang ulan.
Mula sa Instagram.
Isa sa mga sumagi sa aking alaala na paksa ng usapan naming magpipinsan tuwing umuulan at tirik din ang araw ay kung totoo nga na mayroon daw kinakasal na tikbalang – isang uri ng halimaw na parang tao kung maglakad ngunit mukha at anyong kabayo.
Ngayong matanda na ako, napag-isipan ko na totoo nga ito at hindi lang basta kalokohan. Nabatid ko na lamang iyan ngayong tag-ulan nang ilang ulit na umulan habang mainit ang sikat ng araw.
Unang tikbalang na tingin kong kinakasal kapag umuulan habang umaaraw ang mga local officials natin gaya ng mga mayor, tapos ang mga senador, kongresista, at mga upisyal ng DPWH. Yung mga sangkot sa ghost project flood scam noong isang taon.
Halimaw ang mga iyon.
Siyempre, sigurado mayroon ding mga tikbalang sa iba pang mga sangay at ahensiya ng pamahalaan na nagpapasasa sa kaban ng bayan habang hindi alintana hirap at pagdurusa ng mga mamamayan lalo na kapag umuulan.
Kundangan naman kasi, marami sa ating mamamayan mahilig mag-alaga at makipagkaibigan sa mga tikbalang, yung mga nakikinabang na negosyante at contractor.
Higit sa lahat, mga mamamayan mismo na bumoboto sa mga corrupt na upisyal.
Sila ang mga kabiyak – asawa – ng mga tikbalang na iyan. Partner in crime. Eka nga, it takes two to tango. Marami sila. Asawa at bisita. Ang iba ninong at ninang.
Nakakasawa nang manood ng mga reels at posts ng mga binaha at pa-shout out shout out pa kay mayor. Puro hinagpis sa social media kesyo palala ng palala na raw ang baha sa kanilang lugar, walang ginagawa mga mayor.
Ang tanong ay, ano nangyari bakit kada eleksiyon binoboto nila mga bulok na yan? Taun-taon pala silang pinahihirapan tuwing tag-ulan tapos minsan sa anim na taon tuwing eleksiyon nakakalimutan kawalanghiyaan at kawalang-silbi ng mga iyan?
Kasalan sa binaha na Simbahan ng Barasoain, kuha ni G. Aaron Favila ng Associated Press, 22 Hulyo 2025.
Walang kinakasal na mag-isa. Tayong mga mamamayan ang asawa, ang kabiyak ng mga tikbalang!
Karamihan din kasi sa atin ay tikbalang. Takot mag-isip, takot manindigan sa tama at katotohanan. At ang hirap sa atin, palaging humahanap ng ibang masisisi maliban sa sarili.
Katulad ng isang matandang ginang na kabatian ko kasi tuwing umaga sa aking paglalakad nadaraanan ko siya sa harapan ng kanyang apartment.
Noong Huwebes ng umaga sa gitna ng ulan habang ako ay naglalakad, sabi niya sa akin bakit daw ako nag-eexercise pa umuulan na?
Kumaway lang ako sa kanya at hindi na sumagot kasi nagdidilig siya noon ng halaman gamit ang lagadera.
Kawalan naman ng galang kung sinagot ko siya ng bakit po kayo nagdidilig ng halaman e umuulan?
Kulang sa pagninilay at pag-iisip? Mas malamang.
Ganyan tayo mga Pinoy, mema. Memasabi lang kadalasan na hindi pinag-iisipan.
Pero maganda at nakatutuwa sinasabi sa isang post sa Facebook buhat sa news report na nabawasan na pagbaha sa Marikina dahil sa mahusay na flood control projects doon ng lokal na pamahalaan pagkaraan ng tatlong taon.
Marami nang lungsod at bansa nagpatunay na maaring maibsan pinsala ng baha kung sadyang pag-aaralan at tunay na hahanapan ng lunas ng mga matitinong tao na may malasakit sa kapwa. At takot sa Diyos. Mangyayari lamang iyan kung boboto tayo ng mga upisyal ng pamahalaan na mayroong malasakit sa paglilingkod. Hindi suwapang. Hindi tikbalang.
Sa kabila ng mga makabagong teknolohiya, parang nabobobo mga tao ngayon: noong bata kami basta signal number 2 ang bagyo, automatic wala nang klase sa elementary at high school.
Bakit gayon na lamang ang pag-asa at pagtutok lalo ng mga magulang sa LGU kung may pasok o wala?
Sapantaha ko diyan ay mas grade conscious ngayon mga magulang kesa mga anak nila na tuwang tuwa naman tuwing suspendido ang klase.
Pakiwari ko tuwing umuulan, maraming tao natatakot maninindigan na pati pagpasok sa paaralan ay inaasa sa mga kinauukulan. Kaya ang gulo ng buhay ngayon!
Noong Martes wala palang klase pero pumasok ako;kinabukasan wala ulit pasok kaya nagpaulan ako at naisip ko magkapareho ang LGU at carwash: kapag nag-announce ng walang pasok mga mayor dahil sa masamang panahon, kadalasan umaaraw, maganda ang panahon. Magpa-carwash ka, pagkaaalis na pagkaalis mo, papatak ang ulan!
Sa tuwing umuulan doon nasusubok ating pananampalataya sa Diyos at kapwa, nahahasa ating kakayanang magpasya ng wasto sa pamamagitan ng masusing pag-iisip at pagninilay ng mga bagay bagay. Higit sa lahat, sa tag-ulan lumalabas likas nating kabutihan. O kawalan nito. Walang pakialam sa iba. Kung saan-saan tinatapon mga basura. Palaging iba may kasalan liban sa sarili.
Hanga ako doon sa mga nagpapacarwash maski umuulan. Wala silang pakialam sa lagay ng panahon kungdi sa lagay ng kanilang sasakyan!
Iyon ang dapat: tingnan natin at suriin ating sarili hindi lagay ng panahon o ibang tao labas sa atin. Siguradong babagyo at uulan na kasabay nito ang mga pagbaha. Bakit tila nagugulat at nagugulantang pa tayo kapag nangyari na mga ito? Pagmasdan: kung gaano katagal sina mayor sa puwesto, ganoon katagal na rin ang baha. Kailangan pa bang i-memorise yan? Parang basura yan – babalik sa atin!
Kuha ng may-akda, Huwebes Santo, umuulan habang umaaraw sa Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan, 09 Abril 2020.
Balikan natin yung kasabihang mayroong kinakasal na tikbalang tuwing sabay na umuulan at sumisikat ang araw. Natukoy natin mga tikbalang, sino kanilang kabiyak o asawa, pati ninong at ninang hanggang sa mga bisita.
Heto ngayon: hindi ba kapag may kasalan, palagi mayroong pari?
Sino ang tumatayong pari kapag may kinakasal na tikbalang?
E di mga pari din. Mga kasama at kapatid naming pari. Ilan lang naman sila.
Noong isang taon ko pa ito gustong sabihin pero sinasaalang-alang ko aking pagkapari at mga kapatid sa kaparian. Pero, kailangang sabihin.
Isang taon makalipas pumutok ang ghost project scam sa mga flood controls na ang epicenter ay lalawigan ng Bulakan, mismong sa lungsod ng Malolos, hindi maikakaila Katoliko karamihan ng mga tikbalang.
At mga paring Katoliko nagkakasal sa kanila. Mayroon din ilang mga pastor at ministro nagkakasal sa mga tikbalang tuwing umuulan habang umaaraw. May ibang sekta nga nag-aalaga talaga ng mga tikbalang.
Larawan mula sa Facebook post ni Dr. Tony Leachon, “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis”, 08 Agosto 2025.
Ilan ang mga pari na humingi ng donasyon sa mga corrupt na upisyales para sa kung anu anong mga pagawain sa simbahan? Hindi ba iyan ay malinaw na pakikipag-kaibigan at kung tutuusin pakikipag-sabwatan sa mga tikbalang?
Ilang parokya pulitiko pinageermano sa kanilang pista kahit hindi taga-roon sa kanila dahil lang sa konting halaga?
Katulad ng malawakang pagbaha, hindi nating kailangang tumingin sa malayo. Lalo na kaming mga pari at lingkod sa simbahan. Kasama kami at kung tutuusin napakalaki at napakabigat ng pananagutan namin lalo sa Diyos na kasama kami sa kasal ng mga tikbalang na iyan.
Gayon pa man, mas marami pa rin sa aming mga pari ang tunay na lumalaban, naninindigan sa katarungan at katotohanan na hindi kailanman nagpauto sa mga tikbalang at kanilang mga galamay sa simbahan.
Sa susunod na umuulan kasabay na sikat ang araw, subukan nating magpaulan at hayaang dumampi sa ating bumbunan, sa ating mukha ang patak ng ulan upang mapaalalahanang mayroong Diyos na higit na makapangyarihan dapat nating sundin at paglingkuran lamang. Hindi mga tikbalang.
At sinabi niya sa kanila, “Kung gayon, ibigay ninyo sa Cesar ang sa Cesar, at sa Diyos ang sa Diyos” (Mateo 22:21).
Sa kahuli-hulihan, ano man ang panahon, higit pa rin palagi ang Panginoong Diyos sa lahat na siyang tanging pinagmumulan ng lahat ng ating kinakailangan at pagpapala. Ito palagi dapat naming panindigang mga pari, umulan man nang umaaraw. Amen.
Larawan kuha ni Michael Varcas ng Philippine Star sa Hagunoy, Bulacan sa isinagawang rally ng mga taga-Parokya ni Sta. Ana sa pangunguna ng kanilang Kura Paroko P. Rodel Ponce laban sa flood control scam noong Setyembre 2025.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, 10 August 2026 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 12:24-26
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be a cheerful giver: teach me to be like St. Lawrence your deacon and martyr we honor today who gave himself totally and cheerfully to you because he felt strongly the overflowing abundance of your grace and blessings to him; many times we are reluctant to give our time, treasures, and talents because we feel always lacking; open our very selves to find you and your blessings within so that we freely give and share whatever we have to continue serving in your name; most of all, teach me to give more of myself like a grain of wheat that dies and produces much fruit in you. Amen.
St. Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon, pray for us!
“Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, Deacon” by Hipolito de Rioja (16th c.) from commons.wikimedia.org
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 09 August 2026 1Kings 19:9, 11-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 9:1-5 ><}}}}*> Matthew 14:22-33
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Way back in 2017 on my second pilgrimage in the Holy Land with friends from GMA News, our early morning boat ride was postponed to midmorning due to strong winds in the Lake of Galilee that locals said could be so dangerous.
And that’s how life could really be a lot often in the most poetic sense.
In this journey in life, we not only walk the earth and climb hills and mountains but also have to cross rivers and lakes and seas many times. This is exactly what we do every Sunday when we journey in faith in Jesus, with Jesus just like the disciples at that time.
This year Matthew leads us in this journey. He tells us a totally different scene and setting in giving us a glimpse of the very person of Jesus Christ this Sunday.
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2019.
After the miraculous feeding of more than five-thousand people from five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish last week, Jesus ordered his disciples to go ahead of him on a boat to the other side of the lake as he dismissed the crowds; by evening, Jesus was left alone atop the mountain praying while his disciples encountered rough seas a few miles offshore. During the fourth watch of the night, that is, about 3AM, Jesus came to his disciples walking on water.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out of fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Turly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:26-33).
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
How was our journey of faith this past year? Have our trust in God grown or changed?
It is really difficult to measure our faith, of how deep it has become because most often, we still feel fragile and uncertain, afraid and so unsure.
Growing in faith is often not straightforward; many times we feel shaken, almost at a total loss when suddenly Jesus comes at the nick of time. This is most true when we experience death of a loved one or simply someone close to us.
Actually I have been going to many funerals lately: the death of a best friend last week that was followed by the demise of his mother-in-law a few hours after we have laid him to his final resting place. Last week, several friends and relatives have also died in my hometown but I had to beg off in offering Masses to most of them.
Our faith and trust in God are most tested in deaths. Many things run through our minds when we hear someone close had died: most common reaction is how quick was the shift when we have just saw each other or texted each other then suddenly, we hear death had come while we silently whisper within kailan lang magkausap/magkasama pa tayo…
Like the disciples at that time when their boat was being tossed by waves due to strong winds in the middle of the lake at night: they could not believe how a little while they left Jesus at the shore to cross the lake then suddenly, Jesus was coming toward them on water. It must be terrifying indeed!
“Christ Walking On Water” painting by Julius Servus von Klever (1880) from commons.wikipedia.org
Many times too we find ourselves in great difficulty believing – much more accepting – bad news like when we or somebody close to us is diagnosed with a serious illness, had separated from husband or wife, going through a depression or any mental issues, had an accident or lost everything in a fire.
The list is endless of similar situations when we feel like in a boat tossed by giant waves in the middle of the sea at midnight. Like the disciples in the boat, uncertainties and darkness blind us and drive us into fears that sometimes we fail to recognize Jesus already with us.
Just hold on to God amid all the dangers you face with all your worries and doubts, fears and uncertainties. Most of all, “take courage” as Jesus told the disciples in the boat as he approached them on water because he always comes quietly, often unexpectedly.
By the fact we are able to pray, we are able to celebrate Mass on a Sunday, we are able to cry to God, that is enough proof of his very presence in us giving us courage and strength to endure and move forward with whatever we have just like last week when Jesus asked us to give him whatever little we have. What is most important is we call to God, we believe in him no matter how imperfect it may be like Peter who said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you.”
Ano ba talaga? “Lord, if it is you” – we recognize Jesus our Lord but we can’t remove the “IF” because we are imperfect, divided between doubt and belief.
That’s normal.
There is always that gap in us, like the shore and the sea, doubt and belief that nonetheless keep us in the journey with Christ who asks us to step out in faith even in the high seas.
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
God does not rush or pressure us to complete faith in him but patiently invites us to grow in trust at our own pace. Even the great Prophet Elijah in the first reading had to wait patiently for God’s coming after fleeing to Mount Horeb to escape the murderous plots of Queen Jezebel against him.
Elijah surely was not aware of everything about God’s plan for him but he had the courage to follow him, to obey him to go to Horeb which is also Mount Sinai where God appeared to Moses. Of course, Elijah knew the scriptures very well, of how God spoke and appeared to Moses and the Israelites in “strong heavy winds and crushing rocks, in earthquake and fire” but found God nowhere. Elijah remained at the mouth of the cave in Horeb until “there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave” (1Kgs.19:12-13).
How lovely is this scene that shows us convincingly that God comes and speaks always in silence. Incidentally, it takes a lot of courage to be silent too.
Faith, like love, comes after an encounter with Jesus. The more we follow Jesus, the more we grow in faith in him as we meet him and most of all, listen to him despite our many imperfections. Just remain in him for he alone is our certainty and security. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, draw me deeply into a trusting relationship with you by following you more closely as I struggle with my many hesitations and doubts of your presence. Amen.
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II First Friday in August, Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II 07 August 2026 Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 16:24-28
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Thank you for this first Friday in August, Lord Jesus; your words remind us of our continuing journey in you and with you; many times, we go towards you but sometimes we go on so many detours because we think them as shortcuts, as better, most often but wrongly, much lighter.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses hisnlife for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25).
Christian journey is a continual turning of our hearts to you, Lord Jesus; problem is how we easily forget, how foolishly we insist like the people of Nineveh to live in power and wealth, in greed and violence, in selfishness; life and its fullness can only be found in you, Jesus; help us find our way back to you when we are lost, let us leave the sidewalks to join you on the road itself as we journey to the Cross so that along the way experience your life and joy and fulfillment. Amen.
Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like thine!
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. John Mary Vianney, Patron of Priests, 04 August 2026 Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14
Salamuch everyone for all your greetings since Sunday to us your priests. And this is my only response to your prayerful wishes: Salamuch also for enriching my priestly life and ministry!
It is so nice and heart-warming for me as a priest how our Patron, St. John Mary Vianney is now so widely-known among so many people these days that somehow changed their minds and hearts to understand us priests better, to love and support, most especially to pray always for us. Thanks largely to the efforts of Pope Benedict XVI who set the Year of Priests from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010 in celebration that year of Vianney’s 150th death anniversary with the theme “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests.”
St. John said it perfectly during his long years of lovingly serving not only the more than 200 people of his parish in Ars but also the more than 20,000 people who annually came to him for confession and spiritual direction, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.”
And what is the heart of Jesus?
A heart burning with love, a heart totally surrendered to God through others.
Easier said than done by us your priests these days.
Detail of a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France from godongphoto / Shutterstock.
While you deluge us with your greetings and prayers, may I also take this opportunity on our feast day as priests that you forgive us your priests for those moments we have been cold and even ruthless especially in our words to you.
Both of us, priests and laypeople are wounded by each other.
Both of us identify so well with the words of God through his Prophet Jeremiah in today’s first reading:
Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise; There is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished your cruelly; Why cry out over your wound? Your pain is without relief. Because of your guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you (Jeremiah 30:12-15).
Photo by a friend in Washington. 28 July 2026.
I am so touched by God’s words today, so appropriate for our celebration: incurable wound, grievous bruise. That is because I have experienced it too many times.
But, I must confess that it is most painful for me as a priest when I have hurt people especially with my words. Many times I have lost my cool; it is one of my many struggles in life. One thing I have realized as a priest that indeed it is most difficult in life to be silent; we always have something to say. Mema tayo palagi.
Believe me, as a priest, even if I have hurt just one person, it lingers with me my whole life. The sharp looks and everything, of how they were scared, I beg God for forgiveness daily as I wonder where are they now. Maniwala kayo, iniinda naming pari yung malaman naming maski isa sa inyo may sama ng loob o tampo sa amin.
Many times we priests speak so harsh, or “brutally frank”.
It is easy to claim what we say is true like Jesus in the gospel today when he told the Pharisees that “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one” (Mt. 15:11); the disciples then told Jesus how the Pharisees took offense with his declaration but he simply dismissed them.
It is easy to claim that “truth hurts” especially when we priests speak of the truth like Jesus Christ. Ganun lang ba yun?
From Facebook by Suzie Bell, 02 August 2026.
Last Sunday I shared in Facebook a post about by a certain Suzie Bell who rightfully asked, “Why has the pulpit become a place to persecute people?”
Sadly and tragically very true. It is a big no no, a mortal sin especially with our venerable mentor and professor in homiletics, the late Msgr. Sabino Vengco Jr. who insisted on us to never use the ambo in attacking or shaming people because precisely they have no way of defending themselves. Most of all, the pulpit is primarily for the word of God – words that heal, words that encourage, words that express love and kindness, words that forgive, words that liberate.
With the widespread popularity of priest vloggers, many times I feel so afraid that there are so many occasions that some of our preaching are libelous. Not just scandalous.
Worst of all, the abuse at the pulpit becomes most tragic and shameful of all when priests become entertainers, when priests become rage baiters forda views, forda following!
Writer and artist Lourd De Veyra told me sometime ago how he had noticed that churches have come to look more like a videoke bar with priests just singing or acting no longer preaching. E ano pa nga ba?
Same is very true when priests become political commentators at the pulpit. We can always be political without being partisan.
Unknown to us priests, when these happen, the deeper the cut and the wounds we inflict on the people because we deny them Jesus Christ.
Me culpa, me culpa, mea maxima culpa!
Forgive us your priests for causing you pains and wounds. Priesthood is victimhood in Christ. It is part of our “job-description” to be hurt with incurable wound, grievous bruise as God told Jeremiah. Hindi na bale kami masaktan kasi iyon ang buhay namin, ang magpasan at ipako sa krus. Huwag mga tao ang aming masaktan at mailayo kay Kristo.
Priesthood as lived out by St. John Mary Vianney is more of the Caller than the call, of becoming, of imitating Christ because priesthood is Jesus. Help us to be like Jesus, always Jesus, only Jesus. Again, to you dear people of God, salamuch for enriching my priestly life and ministry. Amen.
I have not been to France nor do I know French but while searching for images of St. John Marie Vianney, I found this from the French website, https://www.notrehistoireavecmarie.com/; it is perhaps the depiction of the new pastor speaking to the young Antoine whom he asked for directions to Ars.
lordmychef.com 