Tag: jesus christ

Possessed by Christ

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 02 July 2023
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16 ><}}}}*> Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 ><}}}}*> Matthew 10:37-42
Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University-Quezon City with the La Mesa Dam Forest Reserve at the back, 01 July 2023.

Jesus continues to instruct the Twelve with important lessons on discipleship as he sent them on their first mission the other week. Last Sunday he taught them – including us today – to face all fears not to be fearless of anything or anyone but to fear only God.

Today, Jesus cautions us not to be unduly influenced by people especially those closest to us in fulfilling our mission in him. Very often, intimidation and influence can be used to adversely affect our ministry that eventually veer us away from our Lord Jesus Christ in the process. Hence, his encouragement too for us to persevere through those influences as we follow him.

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:37-39
James J. Tissot, ‘The Exhortation to the Apostles’ (1886-94) from Getty Images.

Being a Christian is being possessed by Christ. That is why he told us last week to “be not afraid of those who kill the body but not the soul” so that we fear only him our Lord Jesus Christ in the sense that we lose all meaning in life without him.

To be possessed by Jesus Christ is to have a life centered in him, detached from undue influences including from our family and friends especially us priests and religious. When priests focus more with self and family or with other people instead of Jesus Christ, everything crumbles – pati sutana nalaglag na! That is when priesthood becomes a career and a means for social mobility and livelihood with money as the priest’s new “lord and master”.

Priesthood is Jesus Christ, the Caller, not the call as I have always insisted to seminarians I teach and direct. Problems happen when the Caller is dislodged from the top spot and focus shifts on the call or priesthood when priests literally and figuratively throw their weight around when we hear the notorious lines “matutulog ang pari, pagod and pari, unawain ang pari”.

Photo by Ka Ruben, National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, August 2022.

Discipleship in general of which the priesthood is just a part is indeed a very difficult life. Nobody said it would be easy as the opening instructions of Jesus to the Twelve clearly stated, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

Jesus is not asking us to disregard our family and friends. What Jesus is telling us is actually a warning against too much expectations that our family and friends would love and embrace him too inasmuch as we have given ourselves to him. Not true at all, sad to say.

There are times that those closest to us are the ones who could not accept Jesus Christ’s call of discipleship. There are times that the most difficult people to be catechized and evangelized are those dearest to us.

Many of us must have felt in many instances how our family or friends are the ones who reject the ways of Jesus, the values of Christ. In this highly competitive world so exaggerated by the social media when everyone feels so entitled and deserving for everything, people have become so impersonal in dealing with each other, forgetting the basic courtesies in life, especially respect and kindness. Many are blinded by fame and wealth forgetting God and the people around them.

Photo by Mr. Mon Macatangga, 12 May 2023.

This Sunday, Jesus is teaching us to always have him as the basis and foundation of our relationships. Remember the gospel two Sundays ago when upon seeing the crowds Jesus was “moved with pity because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd” that he taught us to pray for more workers in the harvest (Mt.9:36-37). The problems in the world can never be solved by money and any material thing but only by another person, by someone with the heart and face of Christ filled with his warmth and his loving presence, someone not afraid to love, not afraid to get hurt, not influenced by fads and trends or by what others say.

Everything in this life, in our ministry and in our discipleship has to be seen in the light of Jesus Christ. Things become cloudy or dull and shady when Jesus is absent that can greatly affect, for better or for worse, our relationships with one another. This we see in the first reading about the hospitality offered by that Shumenite woman to Elisha the prophet whom she recognized as a man of God. Elisha clearly saw the woman’s basis of hospitality – God – that he never abused it. In fact, we find a trace of humor when Elisha had to ask his servant what their graceful hostess most needed to reward her hospitality. Sometimes like Elisha in our being so focused in serving the Lord, we become so ignorant of the most obvious with those closest to us; imagine Elisha asking his servant what to reward the Shumenite woman, his seeming oblivious to the fact she and husband were childless! Eventually, Elisha would grant the couple the gift of a son whom he would later bring back to life.

At my 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood with friends from UST’s the Varsitarian, 18 April 2023.

To be possessed by Christ means to be “dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus” as St. Paul explained in our second reading today (Rom.6:11). For some it may sound foolish but that is the reality and mystery of life we have been reflecting since the resumption of Ordinary Time last month. It is what we call as Christian paradox when in our sharing in Christ’s paschal mystery of his suffering and death, that is also when we find and experience our resurrection and life.

Last Monday, a very dear friend died, Sr. Gina of the Religious of Good Shepherd. We met in 1984 when I joined UST’s the Varsitarian where she was an outgoing staff member. She was the one who proclaimed the first reading at my celebration of my 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood last April 18.

Photo by author, Chapel of the RGS Mother House in Quezon City, 29 June 2023.

When I first invited her to my anniversary, she declined due to a big retreat of priests at their spirituality center in Tagaytay; within a few hours, she texted me back and told me she would fix her schedule so she could come to my anniversary celebration. She later texted me twice to insist she had to be present at my silver anniversary.

Unknown to us all, her cancer had recurred and metastasized last November which we learned only June 28 when the RGS Sisters issued a health bulletin about her condition. Sr. Gina had decided to stop all medications to wait for the inevitable at their mother house in Quezon City two weeks earlier. June 29 she texted me to inform me of her condition. I was so happy to chat a few lines with her, asking her if I could visit her this week.

She never replied.

When I learned her condition the other Wednesday night, I cried as I realized the very reason why she insisted on coming to my anniversary in April: to remind me we are possessed by Jesus, only Jesus, always Jesus. Please pray for her beautiful soul. Thank you and God bless!

Sharing the good news

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of the First Martyrs of Rome, 30 June 2023
Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22   ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[><   Matthew 8:1-4
Photo by author, sunrise at Bolinao, Pangasinan 18 April 2022.
Today we close the month of June,
the first half of 2023.
Praise and glory to you,
God our loving Father
for past six months,
grateful for the next 
six months coming
to finally close the year.

And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately.

Matthew 8:2-3
Dear Father,
you will only good things
for us like to that leper
that is why you sent us 
your Son Jesus Christ;
both Jesus and the leper knew
his cleansing was very possible;
Jesus made no fanfare except
in asking the leper 
to fulfill the requirements
of the Law as the leper
simply believed him.

Lord, we are 
a "walking good news",
ourselves a blessing,
a grace from you;
there is no need for us
in trying so hard
in touching another person,
in making a difference in
this world so sick and so stressed;
many times we just have 
to smile and be extra nice
to someone, be kind and forgiving.

Let us share your good news
in the way we live, at least
not like the first martyrs 
of Rome
who were burned 
as living torches 
at evening banquets;
let us share your good news
like Abraham who walked 
in your presence blamelessly
by trusting you,
obeying you,
loving you.
Amen.

Finding Jesus in two unlikely partners

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2023
Acts 12:1-11 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-19
The lithography of Sts. Peter and Paul in Missale Romanum by unknown artist with initials F.M.S (19. cent.) printed by Typis Friderici Pustet. (Renáta Sedmáková | us.fotolia.com)
Praise and glory to you,
Lord Jesus Christ
for this Solemnity of your
two great Apostles,
Sts. Peter and Paul
whom you have both 
chosen to be the solid rock
on which your Church is built,
remaining forever her 
protectors and guides;
to them Rome owes her greatness
when you, O Lord, led them to
sanctify that capital of the 
ancient Empire
with their martyrdom 
to become the center of
the Christian world
until now.
In their great efforts
of fulfilling your mission,
there emerged a most unique
even unlikely partnership
in making you known,
O Lord, teaching us
that important lesson 
that discipleship is always
being together with others
being sent on a mission,
never alone nor simply a case 
of "me and Jesus"  
as we would always
insist.

Teach us, dear Jesus,
to be like Sts. Peter and Paul
focused only in you to overcome
our many differences in the Church; 
help us to set aside 
our biases and prejudices
to always find you 
as the very essence 
of our discipleship;
may we learn to
respect each other
by finding you in
each co-worker
and with everyone
we serve and meet.

May our lives
mirror your true person,
Lord Jesus, 
so that people are not
misled to who 
you really are.
How inspiring 
that both Sts. Peter and Paul 
were imprisoned for preaching
your name and yet, 
no bars nor chains not
even death held them captives
in spreading your good news;  
in fact, some of the finest 
parts of the New Testament
were composed when both
Apostles were in prison;
what a grace for us today 
their many letters 
still sound 
so true and relevant,
providing us compass
in charting our ways
in a world so divided
and so sick with
individualism, relativism,
and materialism. 

Help us, dear Jesus,
to break free from
the many prisons
that hold us from freely 
witnessing your loving service 
for others like Sts. Peter
and Paul; set us free, Lord, 
from the chains that hold us
and make us fearful
of standing by our faith 
and of your teachings
in this time of total disrespect
for life; most of all, free us, O Lord,
like St. Peter from our prison cells
of indifference in the face of 
continued erosion of 
marriage and family 
as envisioned by God
since creation.
Dear Jesus, 
make us realize
that every present moment
is the time of our departure;
may we live fully at your service
by keeping the faith in you
like Sts. Peter and Paul.
Amen.

Believing is the beginning

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr, 28 June 2023
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18   ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>   Matthew 7:15-20
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City, 20 March 2023.
Thank you very much, 
God our loving Father
for the grace of believing,
the beginning of everything
like what Abram experienced
in the first reading today,
"Abram put his faith in the Lord,
who credited it to him as an act
of righteousness" (Gen.15:6).
Only you, O Lord, 
would know 
what was going inside 
the mind and heart 
of Abram at that time
when he instantly believed and
trusted in your promise despite
his many questions and clarifications;
later on, St. Paul and St. James
including the author of the Letter
to the Hebrews would cite this
beautiful account of Abram's 
humble submission to you,
O God, as a model of faith
and believing in you.
Perhaps, Lord, the problem
with us is that we believe in
everything,
in everyone:
we profess to believe in
you, O God, 
the Father almighty
and yet we also believe
in luck,
in occults,
and in so many other things
and persons and yes,
powers and spirits;
we believe in you 
but do not
trust you completely;
many times we believe
in what or who would
accommodates us,
pleases us,
and go for us.
Teach us, dear Jesus,
like Abram and St. Irenaeus
who offered his life by standing
on what he truly believed in you;
keep us simple, Jesus,
in looking at the fruits
as the unmistakable proof
of believing in you.
Amen.

Praying to be generous

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop & Doctor of Church, 27 June 2023
Genesis 13:2, 5-18   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> ><]]]]'>   Matthew 7:6, 12-14
Photo by author, the narrow door into the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, the Holy Land, 2019.
Lord Jesus Christ,
teach us to be generous
by choosing to enter 
through the narrow gate
that leads to life (Mt. 7:13);
let us realize that generosity
is choosing which is more
difficult, which is less,
forgetting one's self
in order to give others better
chances,
better choices,
better portions.
Like Abraham
in today's first reading,
generosity is being able
to give the best freely
when we completely trust
God's generosity;
God promised to bless
Abraham more abundantly
not only with wealth but 
most of all of being the father
of all nations with descendants 
more than the dust of earth
after Lot had chosen 
the plains of Jordan with
its abundant water
not realizing the wicked
inhabitants of Sodom. 
Above all,
generosity is thinking more 
of persons than objects
like when Abraham felt the
need for him and Lot to part
ways lest their slaves
quarrel.
Remind us, dear Jesus,
to be always generous
not only with our goods
but most of all with 
persons because 
we can only find you
and fulfillment
in others we 
consider as 
brothers and sisters
in you.
Amen.

We journey in stages

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, 26 June 2023
Genesis 12:1-9   ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>   Matthew 7:1-5
Photo by author, Sonnen Berg, Davao City, August 2018.
Another month soon to close,
another month soon to open
at the end of this week;
thank you very much, God
our loving Father for the wonderful
journey in life.
Continue to call us,
continue to lead us
to new directions,
to new challenges
to new stages in life
to newer selves.
Like Abraham,
teach us to leave 
our comfort zones,
teach us to trust in you,
teach us to realize we are
never too old to move out
and grow; most of all, 
teach us to chill,
to slow down, to stop rushing
and worrying in life.
Make us move in "stages", Lord,
like Abraham for you are the
first to know who we are,
where we are,
and how we are.

The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

Genesis 12:1,9
Let us follow Jesus,
"the way and the truth
and the life" in this journey
in life in whatever stages
we may be;
may we stop judging
so we may not be judged
and simply enjoy this
journey in life
in whatever stage
we may be.
Amen.
*Since last night after praying for today's readings, I was struck by that passage of Abram journeyed by "stages" that instantly reminded me of David Benoit's 1982 album and single, "Stages".  Blessed Monday!
From YouTube.com.

Facing our fears

The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 25 June 2023
Jeremiah 20:10-13 ><]]]]'> Romans 5:12-15 ><]]]]'> Matthew 10:26-33
Photo from https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/19/europe/titanic-shipwreck-vessel-missing-intl/index.html.

The recent news this week of the implosion of the submersible “Titan” with the death of its five passengers trying to reach the Titanic wreckage at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean had elicited a lot of different reactions from various people around the globe.

While I wonder what’s really behind this obsession by some whites with the Titanic, they made me imagine the kind of courage those five men have to dare journey into the bottom of the sea on board their craft despite its highly questionable worth in safety and reliability. At least as I prayed over this Sunday’s gospel, OceanGate’s “Titan” passengers made me examine and contemplate my courage and fears in life both as a person and as a priest.

How much am I willing to risk in pursuing God, in serving his flock? Will I be able to give my life wholly like those five passengers in trying to see the wreckage of the Titanic that sank in 1912?

Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. So do not be afraid…

Matthew 10:26-28, 31
James J. Tissot, ‘The Exhortation to the Apostles’ (1886-94) from Getty Images.

Jesus chose his twelve Apostles last Sunday to proclaim his good news of salvation to “the lost house of Israel” after seeing them “tired and troubled, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt.9:36).

As he sent them to their first mission, Jesus gave them some important instructions which the gospel tells us today and next Sunday. And leading the list of those instructions is the need to take courage when he told them to “fear no one” and twice to “do not be afraid”.

But first, let us clarify that courage is not the same with bravery that often refers to being able to do great feats like those extreme sports we see in social media. Most often, bravery is closely associated with skills like bungee jumping, sky diving, and skateboarding. Courage is different. It is from the Latin word cor or corazon in Spanish, the heart. To fear no one and be not afraid are expressions of courage, of drawing strength from one’s inner core – the heart – where God dwells. To draw strength from the heart which is the core of every person means to give one’s total self, more difficult than just risking a part of ourselves like an arm or a leg that is often the case with bravery.

Secondly, when Christ told his Apostles that included us today to fear no one and do not be afraid, he was not only instructing us to have courage but most of all showing us too the contrast of fear of human beings and the world with the fear of God.

Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, 19 May 2023.

What do I mean?

Courage is not everything. True courage is still having fears – of being afraid of God, of not being able to follow him, not being able to stand by him, of turning away from him in sin as St. Paul reminded us in the second reading. There will always be fears within us but with courage, we face all fears because we realize in our own weaknesses and shortcomings, there is the power and love of God who values us so much than sparrows and knows the number of our hair (vv.29-31).

Most beautiful example is the Prophet Jeremiah who revealed in his book his weaknesses like his being inadequate in himself due to his being timid and hypersensitive. Read the preceding verses before our first reading today to see how Jeremiah could not resist God who had duped/seduced him that he chose to remain faithful despite the great pains and sufferings he had to face as God’s prophet (Jer. 20:7ff). More than the fears of men who were actually his compatriots bent on hurting him, there was still that greater fear of turning away from God who gives him so much strength to overcome his trials in life. Here we find true courage in Jeremiah when amid his great fears for his life, his trust in God becomes a song of praise:

“O Lord of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!”

Jeremiah 20:12-13
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD in San Antonio, Zambales, 05 June 2023.

What matters most in this life above all is God. Every pursuit we make, no matter how great are the dangers may be, may we have the courage to examine ourselves, our motives: is it for God or for myself? This is the essence of discipleship.

If what we pursue is for God, it would surely bring joy and fulfillment to people though it would entail sufferings and hardships, even death for us. By all means, go for it like Jeremiah and St. Paul and all the saints including the men and women of science and letters who toiled so hard amid great dangers and obstacles to serve God and people.

But, if our pursuit is for money or fame or position – for one’s self – it could bring only a little and fleeting joy, perhaps make a noise in the world or social media for a little while but we end up sorely losing everything, feeling disgusted and more fearful than ever in losing God.

May the Lord grant us the courage to be always true to him and his call. Amen. Have blessed week as you welcome July!

Speaking our hearts out

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Memorial of Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More, Martyrs, 22 June 2023
2 Corinthians 11:1-11   <'[[[>< <'[[[>< + ><]]]'> ><]]]'>   Matthew 6:7-15
Photo by author, sunset over the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela district, January 2023.
Glory and praise to you,
God our almighty and loving Father
for the gift of two great saints,
John Fisher and Thomas More
whose memorial we celebrate today
after giving their lives in defending
the gospel of Jesus Christ
before the powerful king of England
in 1535.
Like St. Paul in today's first reading,
St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More
spoke their hearts out to everyone,
opposing King Henry VIII's divorce
and call to break away from Rome;
for standing for what is true and good
like the sanctity of marriage 
and primacy of Rome,
they were both beheaded.
What a beautiful example for us
to emulate today when so many of us
professing to be Catholics yet 
have turned their backs from
the Church and especially from the Gospel,
choosing to be oblivious 
to you dwelling in our hearts;
like St. Paul, they have taught us
that standing firm on our faith 
is the best expression of our love
not only for God but for everyone;
help us realize that when we allow
ourselves to follow modern trends 
that are contrary to the life and teachings 
of Jesus our Lord,
that is when we do not love at all
because that is when we allow evil and sin
to spread its errors and destruction
of persons and life in general.

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Forgive us, dear God,
when we would call you "Father"
but could not stand for what is
true and just, good and holy
there in our hearts;
forgive us, dear God,
when we would call you "Father"
but would keep on holding to our
anger and bitterness, 
refusing to forgive
from our hearts;
forgive us, dear God,
when we would call you "Father"
but would always push the lines
and limits in our hearts
until we fall into temptations and sin.

Forgive us Father,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
St. John Fisher
and 
St. Thomas More,
pray for us!

Praying and thanking, truly

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious, 21 June 2023
2 Corinthians 9:6-11   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte at Atok, Benguet, 01 September 2019.
Lord Jesus Christ,
let me realize everything
is purely your grace
so that I may learn to
pray and thank you 
truly and sincerely;
it is only when we recognize 
this fundamental truth
that whatever we have
is a grace from you, O Lord,
that we learn 
to truly pray 
and 
give you thanks.

Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:8, 11
We can only be true
to you in our prayers, 
Jesus, when we acknowledge 
all your grace in us;
that is when we stop
showing off our kindness
and holiness, we stop
wasting time and efforts
on superficialities and 
outside appearance
because you are in us
and you are more than
enough for us.

In the same manner,
we can only be truly
grateful when we 
accept and own and
recognize the many 
grace you have 
showered us;
that is when we 
become a cheerful giver
because the best act
of thanksgiving
is in sharing our gifts,
your grace
with others.

After all, the word grace
is "charis" in Greek from
which also came the word
eucharist or thanksgiving
which is "eu-charis-tia".

What a tremendous grace
indeed to love and serve you,
Lord Jesus Christ when we
witness your loving service
to others, sharing and giving
only you,
always you.
Amen.

True wealth

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 20 June 2023
2 Corinthians 8:1-9   ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'>   Matthew 5:43-48
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan, January 2023.
How deep are your mysteries,
O Lord Jesus Christ,
so irresistibly true
but at the same time daring
and challenging for us
who are focused 
on what we have
without realizing
everything 
comes from you.
Many times, dear Lord,
we are like the Corinthians
rich in so many things
yet not convinced
we are so blessed
that we are also afraid 
of losing whatever we have; 
make us emulate the 
solicitude of the Macedonians 
in sharing their treasures 
with the needy churches
even if they were less affluent
than the Corinthians; 
make us realize that true wealth 
is freedom from our possessions,
of being free for sharing our gifts
and talents and treasures.
Help us realize, Jesus,
that true excellence in faith
is expressed in charity,
in oneness with those in need.

Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:7-9
Teach us to immerse ourselves
to your mystery of self-denial
and self-sacrifice, 
to your process of being
perfect like the Father
in heaven.
Amen.