Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 10 July 2025 Thursday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 <*{{{>< + ><}}}*> Matthew 10:7-15
Photo by author, August 2024.
“Come closer to me,” he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:4-5)
Dear God our Father:
give me that magnanimity
of Joseph to his brothers,
give me that same kind of
attitude of being better
than bitter with life's many
trials and difficulties caused
by others especially those closest
to us; what a tremendous grace
for Joseph after all those years of
pains of being sold and lost in a far-away
country, he remained faithful to you
and you gifted him the wisdom
to save not just a nation
but the whole region.
Photo by author, Alfonso, Cavite, 2024.
Teach us to be empty always to never carry so many baggages and luggages, so many wealth and extras in life journeys whether they be positive or negative because in life, it is always that attitude of emptiness for you and your plans that matters for us to fulfill your mission, everything else is incomparable to you as our most cherished gift and treasure; for those going through many trials these days especially when the days are dark and rainy, teach us to have fun and celebrate life with much love in you. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 08 July 2025 Tuesday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Genesis 32:23-33 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 9:32-38
Photo from wikipedia.org, “Jacob Wrestling with the Angel” by Leon Bonnat (French, d.1922).
Once again, you challenge us O Lord to get closer to you like the readings yesterday; but, this time much, much closer like in wrestling.
Jacob was left there alone. Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:25-27, 29).
How I love this scene,
God most powerful yet
so loving,
so engaging,
always inviting us to a wrestling
but nobody would dare
not because we are afraid of you
but more because of pride -
we do not want to lose,
we always want to be on top,
always in control
even with you,
O God;
remind us always,
Lord,
that every fight
we have in this life is
already assured of victory in you.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Like that Angel wrestling with Jacob, you finally wrestle with us in your Son Jesus Christ who became truly human like us; and like your Angel at Peniel, humans prevailed over you, Lord; your heart is always moved with pity, stirred to bow down to us from your immense love and mercy; we are all Jacob, Israel who prevailed over you not because we are stronger but because we believe and rely only on you, Lord.
Let us pick up your fight, Jesus; let us not be proud and be humble to wrestle with you because whether we win or lose our battles in life, we still prevail for after every fight and struggle, we are transformed into a better person in you, O most loving Jesus. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
Photo by author, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Sacred Heart Novitiate, March 2024.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 07 July 2025
Photo by author.
For the first time in 25 years since daddy’s passing, I did not deliver any homily during his death anniversary Mass in our home last June 17, 2025. My sisters readily agreed when I told them after the gospel proclamation “hindi na ako mag-homily at baka maiyak lang tayo.”
It was the second time we celebrated daddy’s death anniversary after mommy’s passing last May 7, 2024 but, it was only at that time when I truly felt the deeper realities of both parents being gone, of being “ulilang lubos”.
Perhaps that’s because we have been preoccupied for over two decades with mommy’s grief when dad passed away right on her 61st birthday before dawn of June 17, 2000. We were at a loss how to pacify her with such a surreal date for the two most loving couple we have known first hand. During my dad’s wake, we have to warn everybody not to mention anything about mom’s birthday.
From then on, mommy practically stopped celebrating her birthday even when she turned 70, 75, and 80 as we threw small gatherings at home for her siblings and friends but she would always remind us all not to forget it was also daddy’s death anniversary.
That is why I have always dreaded the days approaching June 17 because I felt sad for her. I thought after her death last year, it would be different because we would no longer see mommy sad on her birthday mourning dad’s death. I told myself, “hindi na malulungkot si mommy… hindi na rin kami malulungkot.”
But I was wrong.
Hindi na nga malungkot ang mommy ko ngayon pero ako naman ang malungkot – malungkot na malungkot. Noon ngang araw ng Linggo bago mag-June 17, naalala ko ang mommy at daddy bigla kaya naluha ako sa bahagi ng Ama Namin noong aming Misa sa Dambana.Wala na sila dito. Iyon una ko nadama, ulila na nga kami at saka pa lamang naisip ko magkasama na sila sa buhay na walang hanggan.
Indeed, the pains of losing our loved ones never decrease through time but actually increase. Those pains will remain until we are reunited with them in death and eternity.
There are pains in life meant to remain, that cannot be removed like a hole or a scar in our hearts not to burden nor hurt us but to uplift us actually. These wounds keep us in persevering in love to keep our relationships alive with those left behind after the deaths of our loved ones like parents or children. These wounds enable our hearts to sing of faith, hope and love in God all merciful who would one day unite us all together as one family after our days on this earth. These pains make us see the very thin line separating us from eternity, telling us that life goes on among us even after death. They open our eyes to see beyond, to have visions of the future.
Photo by author, my mom’s kitty bank, 10.5 inches to the tip of ears.
While these things were running through me during our family dinner that night, my brother presented to me mommy’s “kitty bank” which is older than I am, 61 years old. It is one of her most cherished possessions she truly took great care as far as I can remember.
I have been thinking about it recently if it were still around though I never had any interest with it when growing up as a child except that I enjoyed counting the rare coins inside mostly dating back to the American occupation with the usual designs of the US flag and an eagle.
That evening on dad’s 25th death anniversary that could have been mom’s 86th birthday if she were still alive today, I felt a very strong attraction with that “kitty bank” whose face seemed to be speaking to me.
Photo by author, my mom’s kitty bank, circa 1964.
As I held it closer to see its many fissures and tapes following the wear and tear of over 60 years, I saw mommy again, of how she loved us and life so much, especially cats, dogs and fish, and most of all, plants- being a certified tita herself. Our house may be small but mommy lovingly took care of her pets and plants, always talking with them even after having a stroke.
Like the cat with its nine lives, death is never the end but the prelude to new life or, more lives hereafter.
And that is the nobility and giftedness of every mother – even after they are gone, they continue to bring forth and nurture life. God bless everyone… and the cats.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles, 29 June 2025 Acts 12:1-11 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-19
St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome.
We enter today the 13th week in Ordinary Time with a fourth celebration on a Sunday of another Solemnity, that of Saints Peter and Paul, the two pillars of the Church Jesus Christ established over 2000 years ago.
Sts. Peter and Paul were men of diverse backgrounds with Peter the fisherman, impulsive and so human while Paul the Pharisee was an intellectual converted by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Both were flawed as persons yet so loved and called by the Lord – Peter as first leader of his church and Paul as its first missionary to the Gentiles. Their Solemnity reminds us of Christ’s call for us to build his Body, his Church here on earth.
While this celebration is about the two great apostles of Jesus, our readings direct us to God’s goodness and grace in his actions on behalf of the church founded by Christ. Its focus is on God, not ourselves.
Statues of Sts. Peter & Paul, st. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; photos from opusdei.org
Being an apostle of Jesus is not about doing great things or being so good but more of encountering and keeping faith in Christ our Lord. By recognizing ourselves as the church – the Body of Christ as we have reflected last Sunday, all of our actions are indeed God’s actions on behalf of the church because it is through us that the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is continued and completed in this age.
What is essential is we constantly enter into a conversation with Jesus in prayer not only to tell him things but most especially for us to realize how he sees us!
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).
Photo by author at Caesarea, Israel, May 2017.
What really happened at Caesarea Philippi was a close encounter of the apostles with Jesus, especially Simon whom would he called as Peter on that day on.
Very often in most reflections and commentaries, we are told to answer the question of Jesus like Peter in our most personal way not based from what we have read or heard: “who do you say I am?”
Of course, what else can we say but imitate Peter’s answer that seems to be the most correct answer.
But, is it really the best answer? Not really.
Paul later in his many writings will declare similar answers but far more better like when he said “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil.1:21).
Jesus is telling us something else in this scene, as if asking us too, would you want to know “who do I say you are?” What the Lord is actually telling us in this scene is the fact that he knows us so well inasmuch as he knows himself perfectly because he is God. In fact, he had said there was no need for him to have human testimony as the Christ (Jn. 2:25; 5:34).
Photo by author, Sea of Galilee, Israel, May 2019.
What I see more at Caesarea Philippi is Jesus Christ’s omniscience as God who knows everything – even that early he already knew Peter would deny him thrice, that Judas Iscariot would betray him, so on and so forth.
Jesus knows everything about us but he chose to love and believe in us that despite and in spite of everything he knew that could go wrong with us later in life, of how we would fall into sin over and over, STILL – he calls us, he sends us on a mission because he believes in us, he loves us.
Many times in life, we forget the truth about the saints who are just like us, ordinary people with many weaknesses and flaws, imperfections and even idiosyncrasies. What made them stand out and did all those great feats for the Lord was because they were able to see themselves the way Jesus sees them.
That’s the very core of the story at Caesarea Philippi – Jesus made the apostles felt especially Peter how valuable they were, how they were all loved, of how Jesus saw them as his ambassadors later when he returns to the Father.
Bass relief of St. Peter at the Malolos Cathedral, 2019.
Jesus had no need of knowing what people were saying about him because he knew himself so well aside from the fact he surely knew what they were saying about him. Actually, the answers the apostles gave him were for them to know and think about why people wrongly perceived Jesus.
Most of all, Jesus had no need to know what everyone of us is saying about who he is because, again, he knows himself perfectly. Whatever answer others would have given about him would have been surely appreciated and praised by Jesus. What matters most for everyone to realize is the fact that despite Christ’s foreknowledge of Peter’s fall and weaknesses, he still dared to call him to head his church. The same holds true with everyone of us. Jesus wants us to continue building his Body, his church here on earth, to make Jesus more present in us in this world so dark and lost searching for meaning except in Christ.
The same thing is true with Paul when Jesus called him on the road to Damascus to persecute the first Christians. Jesus knew everything Paul was doing; most of all, Jesus knew that even when converted, Paul would still be stubborn and insistent, would eventually quarrel with other disciples like Peter, Barnabas and John Mark but still, Jesus called him and even set him aside for a special mission to the Gentiles.
Bass relief of St. Paul at Malolos Cathedral 2019.
Again in his experiences, Paul saw how Jesus loved and trusted him that even he were the worst of all the apostles of the Lord, he was given such great task of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth at that time. That is why in our second reading we find Paul giving up his whole life in the service of Jesus after experiencing Christ’s tremendous love for him.
Like Peter and Paul, we are all gifted with the same faith in Christ Jesus who challenges us to accept the same mission to continue in this modern time of proclaiming his gospel of love and mercy, of building up his Body the church so that there would be a more humane and just society here on earth as Vatican II envisioned (Lumen Gentium).
Many times when God works in us and through us, we could not believe it as happening like Peter when set free from prison by an angel at night. There are times we are resigned with our situations, of being deserving of the many hardships and sufferings without realizing that there are more bad things we deserve to suffer in this life but Jesus spared us because he believes in us that he sends us to some more missions for him.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for still calling me, sending me to a mission despite my many flaws and imperfections; thank you for trusting me, believing me; let me see myself the way you see me as someone worth loving and trusting. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe, Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 9, 26 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Huling araw ng ating pagsisiyam sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus. Pinangakuan kahapon ng Diyos si Abram na magiging ama ng lahat ng bansa, na magiging kasing dami ng mga bituin sa langit kung gabi ang kanyang mga anak subalit matanda na siya ay wala pa rin silang anak ni Sarai.
Nag-magandang loob si Sarai at sinabi kay Abram na tabihan ang alipin niyang si Agar upang magkaanak sa kanya. Hindi nga nagtagal ay nagdalantao si Agar mula kay Abram at dito nagbago ihip ng hangin. Nagmalaki at hinamak ni Agar ang kanyang amo na si Sarai kaya’t nagalit siya at nagsumbong kay Abram.
Tulad ng sino mang mister, walang nagawa si Abram sa pagkagalit ni Sarai kaya sinoli niya sa kanya ang alipin niyang si Sarai. Gumanti at pinahirapan ni Sarai ang kanyang aliping si Agar na noon ay nagdadalang-tao ng anak ni Abram hanggang sa maglayas.
Pinagmalupitan ni Sarai si Agar, kaya ito ay tumakas. Sinalubong siya ng anghel ni Yahweh sa tabi ng isang bukal na nasa ilang. Tinanong siya, “Agar, alipin ni Sarai, saan ka nanggaling at saan ka pupunta?” “Tumakas po ako sa aking panginoon,” sagot niya. “Magbalik ka at pailalim sa kanyang kapangyarihan,” wika ng anghel. At idinugtong pa: “Ang mga anak mo ay pararamihin, At sa karamiha’y di kayang bilangin” (Genesis 16:6b-10).
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 Mayo 2025.
Maraming pagkakataon sa buhay katulad tayo ni Sarai: sa pagmamagandang loob natin, madalas napapasama pa tayo. Inaabuso ng ilan kabutihang loob natin. Kasi rin naman, madalas tayo pabigla-bigla sa pagdedesiyon lalo na kung pinanginigbabawan tayo ng kapangyarihan na sa una tingin natin ginagamit natin sa kabutihan ngunit di alintana masamang epekto sa ilan.
Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, naroon pa rin kabutihan ng Diyos. Mabuti na lang na hindi natin siya katulad dahil ang gawi natin kapag sumablay plano natin ay magsisihan.
Patas ang Diyos sa lahat. Kasi mapagmahal siya. Sa halip na sisihin tayo na dahil tayo naman palagi may kagagawan ng problema natin, humahanap siya palagi ng solusyon. Nakita ng Diyos na nakawawa si Agar bagama’t inabuso niya kagandahang loob ni Sarai. Wala siyang kapangyarihan, napakahina bilang alipin. At pagkatapos ay nagdadalantao. Kaya sa kanyang lungkot at hirap ay naglayas at nakita kanyang sariling nag-iisa, nawawala at takot na takot doon sa ilang. Parang tayo.
Ngunit hinanap pa rin siya – at tayo – ng Diyos upang pagpalain.
Tingnan kabutihan ng Diyos: hinahanap tayo at pinagpapala maski hindi tayo mabuti sa harap niya. Bagkus, higit pa nga niyang hinahanap at tila pinahahalagahan ang mga nawawala o naliligaw.
Ang ganda ng tanong ng anghel kay Agar na siya ring tanong sa atin ngayon, “Saan ka nanggaling at saan ka pupunta?”
Pagkaraan ng siyam na araw nating nobenaryo sa Sacred Heart, tingnan natin sarili nating paglalakbay sa pananampalataya, ating pinanggalingan at pinagdaanan sa buhay. Naroon ba Diyos sa oras ng ating paghihirap at pagsubok?
Tayo ba ay papalapit o papalayo sa Diyos sa ating buhay ngayon?
Pagmasdan pagkilala ng Diyos sa paghihirap ni Agar. Batid ng Diyos kanyang mga sugat. Sa sariling buhay natin marami ding pagkakataon nagpahayag ng habag at awa ang Diyos sa ating mga hirap na pinagdaraanan.
Ang pinaka-magandang bahagi nito ay ang pagbabalik ni Agar kay Sarai. Ang kanyang pagtitiwala sa Diyos na nangakong mula sa kanyang magiging anak kay Abram ay magmumula ang isa ring malaking lahi. Pati pangalan ng kanyang magiging anak ay Diyos ang nagbigay, Ishmael na ibig sabihin ay “nakikinig ang Diyos.”
Larawan mula sa Pinterest.com.
Ngayong bisperas ng Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, walang duda nakikinig ang Diyos sa ating mga poanawagan at dalangin, tangis at panaghoy sa maraming sakit at hirap. Subalit, tayo ba ay nakikinig naman sa kanya?
Mismong si Jesus nagsabi hindi lahat ng tumatawag sa kanya ng “Panginoon, Panginoon” ay maliligtas dahil kung taliwas naman ang ating buhay sa ating pananampalataya. Kaya ngayong araw, balikan natin ating pinanggalingan upang maging maliwanag kung tayo nga ay malinaw pa rin sa patutunguhan, ang Diyos.
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sacred Heart Novena Day 4, 21 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.
Siguro napakanta kayo sa pamagat ng ating pagninilay ngayong araw na buhat sa 1992 hit ng yumaong si Bodjie Dasig at ng kanyang Law of Gravity na Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko (ginawa din itong pelikula noong 1994 starring Dina Bonnevie, Alice Dixson at Rustom Padilla).
Usiginanga… kantahin nga natin:
Sana dalawa ang puso ko Hindi na sana nalilito kung sino sa inyo Sana dalawa ang puso ko Hindi na sana kailangan pang pumili sa inyo
Maraming naging bersiyon ang kantang iyon kasi nga bukod sa maganda ang tono, e talaga namang paborito ng maraming “nalilito” sa pag-ibig kungdi sa kungdi sa buhay mismo.
Subalit ang mabuting balita ngayong ikaapat na araw ng ating Nobenaryo sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ay batid mismo ito ng Panginoon – ang ating kalituhan sa buhay na kanyang tinatalakay sa ebanghelyo ngayon.
“Walang makapagilingkod nang sabay sa dalawang panginoon sapagkat kapopootan niya ang isa at iibigin ang ikalawa, paglilingkuran nang tapat ang isa at hahamakin ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo makapaglilingkod ng sabay sa Diyos at sa kayamanan” (Mateo 6:24).
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred heart Novitiate, Marso 2024.
Ginamit na kataga sa English translation ng bahaging ito ng ebanghelyo ang orihinal na kataga na “mammon” – You cannot serve both God and mammon.
Kung tutuusin sabi ng mga dalubhasa sa bibliya, walang tiyak na translation ang “mammon” at naging pakahulugan na lang ang kayamanan at pera o salapi. Ayon sa kanila, malawak at kumplikado ang sinasaad ng “mammon” katulad ng ano mang labis (excess) at imbalance o kawalan ng balanse sa mga bagay-bagay na nagdudulot ng pagkakasakit at kawalan ng katarungan.
Alalaong-baga, ang “mammon” gaya ng ano mang labis at sobra ay nakakasama at nakakasira sa ating pagkatao. Maaring ituring ang pagkain at inumin o kahit anong bagay na mabuti ngunit sumasama kung sumosobra. Ang “mammon” ay ano mang bagay na nakaka-addict na ayaw na nating bitiwan hanggang sa malunod o malulong na tayo at malimutan natin ating sarili pati mga kapwa natin.
Totoo naman na kailangan natin ang pera upang makapag-aral, magkaroon ng damit at ng makakain ngunit kapag ito at iba pang mga bagay maging mga tao na ang ating pinapanginoon, ang mga ito ay nagiging mammon. At kung magkagayon, mas malamang na hindi malayo na tayo ay nagkakasala o namumuhay sa kasalanan. Kaya kailangang matukoy natin ang ating mga “mammon” bago maging huli ang lahat at masira na ating buhay sa kasalanan.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred heart Novitiate, Marso 2024.
Gayon din naman, hindi pa rin sapat na matukoy lamang natin ang iba’t ibang “mammon” at mga kalabisan sa buhay natin. Mahalaga ring makita ang sitwasyon ng buhay ngayon na kung saan ang Diyos ay binabale-wala at ang mga turo ng Simbahan maging ano mang kabutihan ay pinagtatawanan.
Ito pinakamahirap sa ating panahon ngayon na namumuhay tayo sa gitna ng maraming makabagong teknolohiya na nagbubunsod ng mga kakaibang kamalayan at kaisipan kung saan ang lahat ay sinusukat na lamang sa pera at kapakinabangan. Hindi lamang nangingibabaw ang mga materyal na bagay at lahat ng uri ng “mammon” kungdi wala na rin ang Diyos sa usapan.
Tawag dito sa Ingles ay “dissonance” o mawala sa tono tulad ng sa musika. Hindi ba ganito ang buhay nating ngayon, wala sa tono?
Sa ating pagsisikap na mamuhay ayon sa ebanghelyo, lumago sa espirituwalidad at maging banal gaya ng panawagan ni Jesus sa ating lahat, kitang-kita at damang-dama natin na napaka-hirap nito. Palaging nakasalungat ating mga pahalagahan o values sa pinahahalagahan at patakaran ng mundo na ang gusto palagi ay maging mayaman at makapangyarihan, maging sikat at kilala, maging malaya sa maling paraan kayat ang panawagan ng marami ay diborsiyo at abortion, pati na rin same sex marriage.
13th Day Devotion sa Our Lady of Fatima University CAS Chapel, Agosto 2023.
Subukan mong ituro o magsalita ukol sa katapatan sa pag-aasawa, ang kamalian ng pakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalake o babae, ang karapatan ng mga sanggol sa sinapupunan at ikaw ay pagtatawanan, lalaitin at kukutyain habang pinagsasabihan ng lahat ng pangalan mula kosnerbatibo o makaluma, Pariseo, at nagmamalinis.
Balikan ating mga pagbasa nitong lumipas na isang linggo na ang mga paksa ay salungat sa gawi ng kasalukuyang daigdig tulad ng pagmamahal sa kaaway, pagiging bukas-palad, at pagdarasal tuwina.
Sa mundo ngayon, ang binibigyang halaga palagi ay kaginhawahan, kung ano ang madali at kalugod-lugod. Ultimo ang pagtanda ay tinitingnang kapintasan at sakit na kinatatakutan kaya lahat ay gustong manatiling bata.
Noon pa man ay napansin na ito ni San Pablo ngunit para sa kanya, walang saysay ang ipagyabang ating husay at galing bagkus dapat nating ikatuwa ang mga sakit at pagtitiis na pinagdaraanan sa ngalan ng Panginoon.
ganito ang kanyang (Panginoon) sagot, “Ang tulong ko ko’y sapat sa lahat ng pangangailangan mo; lalong nahahayag ang aking kapangyarihan kung ikaw ay mahina.” Kaya’t buong galak na ipagmamapuri ko ang aking kahinaan upang palakasin ako ng kapangyarihan ni Cristo. Dahil kay Cristo, walang halaga sa akin kung ako ma’y mahina, kutyain, pahirapan, usigin, at magtiis. Sapagkat kung kailan ako mahina, saka naman ako malakas (2Corinto 12:9-10).
Mismong ang Panginoong Jesus ito rin ang naranasan noong siya ay pumarito sa lupa. Hanggang sa Krus hindi siya tinantanan ng diablo sa panunukso, pilit na hinahati kanyang puso at kalooban upang talikuran ang Ama sa langit kasama na tayong mga tao.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2025.
Subalit nanatiling matatag si Jesus. Ni minsan hindi niya naisip na sana dalawa ang kanyang puso sapagkat sa kanyang Kamahal-Mahalang Puso, iisa ang nanatiling tuon at laman.
Ngunit pagsumakitan ninyo nang higit sa lahat ang pagharian kayo ng Diyos at mamuhay nang ayon sa kanyang kalooban, at ipagkakaloob niya ang lahat ng kailangan ninyo (Mateo 6:33).
Nag-iisa lang ang ating puso dahil nag-iisa lamang tayo sa Puso ni Jesus. Bawat isa sa atin ay kanyang pinakamamahal.
Sa atin bang puso, si Jesus din ang ang pinaka-mamahal? O, nahahati na rin ang puso natin, namamangka sa dalawang ilog?
O Jesus na mayroong maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso, Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y matulad sa Puso Mo! Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 16 June 2025 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 5:38-42
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Your words today, O Lord Jesus Christ are very astonishing - from the writings of St. Paul to your teachings that literally go against the ways of the world; of course, you and your message have always been against the ways of the world but, how do we strike a balance in the present conditions happening today?
Jesus said to his disciples: “You ahve heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well” (Matthew 5:38-39).
You know very well, dear Jesus our situation: our country going into a great showdown with all the maneuverings of the evil forces in the Senate to cover up a crime, a serious case of corruption and abuse of authority while in the Middle East, Israel and Iran are in a very dangerous war that may spread in the whole region; O Jesus, we live in a world of "preemptive strikes" and "counterstrikes" and your words seem impossibly naive and optimistic? Is it really possible?
Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; now is the day of salvation (1 Corinthians 6:1-2).
Have mercy on me, dearest Christ Jesus in doubting the power of your words and of your teachings; have mercy on me, dearest Lord when I think in the ways of the world than in the ways of God; the balance I am seeking is found only in YOU: teach me to be generous like you, like St. Paul, always in communion with you through much endurance in afflictions, hardships, constraints and other sufferings (1 Cor. 6:4); let me be centered in you always Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit in "unfeigned love, truthful speech, and power of God; with weapons of righteousness through glory and dishonor, insult and praise"; grant me the courage to be truthful even when treated as deceiver, to be acknowledged when unrecognized, alive and living when considered dead, always rejoicing amid sorrows, being poor to enrich many and simply having YOU, Jesus in having nothing (1Corinthians 6:4-10). Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 10 June 2025 Homily on the advanced birthday celebration and book launching last June 4 of Dr. Vic Santos Jr., President of Fatima University Medical Center in Valenzuela and Antipolo
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
We heard today in the first reading St. Luke’s account of St. Paul’s departure from Miletus to Rome for his trial and eventual martyrdom. We are told how the priests and leaders of the Ephesus community cried as St. Paul bid goodbye. It was a major turning point in the Apostle’s life.
We too are gathered tonight at a major turning point in the life of Dr. Vic as he officially becomes an elder among us, a senior sixty cent. There are no crying as we so filled with joy celebrating his gift of life. Like the Ephesians who were so glad in being a part of the life and mission of St. Paul, we praise and thank God for Dr. Vic’s gift of self especially to us, his family and friends and colleagues.
I’d like to focus your attention to St. Paul’s speech where he discussed how he had used his hands in his ministry, “You know very well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (Acts 20:34-35).
What a beautiful imagery of the hardworking hands of St. Paul who was a tent maker by profession who earned money for his own needs so as not to be a burden to the community.
With his caring and loving hands, people accepted Jesus Christ and Christianity.
With his gentle and kind hands the people saw and experienced the love of God, felt more convinced than ever of God’s presence among them.
With his strong hands as an Apostle of Jesus, the people felt the discipline of God.
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
It is the same thing why we are here tonight. So many sights were restored by the gentle hands of Dr. Vic that helped us to better or even see again.
Dr. Vic’s hands toiled not only in the clinic and OR but also in the tennis court and golf course as well as the kitchen that reminded us of God’s loving presence among us, of the Divine grip that everything will be fine so we can enjoy life. The hands of Dr. Vic as an ophthalmologist, as a husband and a dad, a brother and a friend and a colleague tell us we are in good hands. Like the hands of St. Paul, his hands allowed us to be touched by God’s love and mercy, kindness and forgiveness.
But there is something else about the hands of Dr. Vic I would like you to reflect upon. Like St. Paul, Dr. Vic’s hands not only restored sight but most of all allowed us to have vision, of seeing beyond physical or material things.
St. Paul’s hands were so gifted that more than half of the New Testament writings were from him; in fact, he was the first to write about Jesus Christ, way ahead of the gospel writers. By his writings, we are able to have a glimpse about God in Jesus Christ and eternal life.
Photo by Dra. Mary Anne Santos, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
With his gifted hands in writing not just prescriptions but also elegant prose and essays, Dr. Vic opened our eyes to see the deeper realities and truth behind our many common experiences in life. His hands seem to have eyes too that he can weave a beautiful tapestry of the joy of living side by side with its many pains and hurts, even losses and griefs, failures and disappointments. Dr. Vic’s hands are so precise not only in surgery but especially in writing, giving us hope to never give up, to always forge on, and be open to many possibilities in life.
Like St. Paul, Dr. Vic can boldly proclaim of the timeless truth of Christ’s teaching that “it is better to give than receive” because he had experienced God’s abundant blessings through his very hands that were always opened, ready to work and take on new tasks, willing to hold others hands to lead and guide them to healing and new life.
Salamuch po, Dr Vic in sharing with us your blessed hands that taught us to find God we rarely see due to our many blindness in life.
Your hands did not only heal our sight but gave us a vision of God present in us and among us always. We pray like Jesus in the gospel tonight that the Father may consecrate you with his sacred hands in order to bless you with more fulfillment and fruitfulness on your 60th birthday. With Dra. Mary Anne and your sons – Angelo, Francis, and Vince – may God fill your hands with his blessings, holiness and healing. Amen.
Photo by author, Manila House, BGC, Taguig, 04 June 2025.
Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-03 ng Hunyo 2025
Marahil inyo nang napakinggan ang nakakaaliw na rap music na Eba’t Adan. Kahit saan maging sa simbahan lalo na sa social media pinaguusapan, pinakikinggan, binabanggit ang hiphop na ito.
Eba't Adan Eeba't Adan Eba't Adan Eeba't Adan Alam mo ba (Alam mo ba) Mahal mo na (Mahal mo ba) Wala tayong magagawa Mahal mo na Eba't Adan Eeba't Adan...
Nakakaaliw ang saliw ng tugtugin at mga titik na paulit-ulit lang naman. Sa aking pagsasaliksik, mayroong iba’t ibang version ang naturang rap music ngunit iisa lang ang sinasaad nitong lahat kaya marahil naging trending at viral – ang kapangyarihan ng pag-ibig. Wika nga ni Francisco Balagtas, “O pag-ibig kapag pumasok sa puso ninoman, ang lahat ay hahamakin masunod ka lamang”.
At iyon nga kasi itinakda noon pa man kina Eba at Adan. Kaya daw wala ka nang magagawa sabi ng rap.
Pero, teka… talaga bang wala nang magagawa kapag ikaw ay tuluyang nahulog na sa pag-ibig gaya ng sinasaad ng hiphop na Eba’t Adan?
Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, Oktubre 2024.
Sa isang version na aking pinakinggan, binabanggit doon hindi lamang pag-ibig ng lalake sa isang babae kungdi pati pag-ibig ng lalake sa kapwa lalake at ng babae sa kapwa babae.
Ganun din ba ang ating tugon kung ikaw ay umibig sa iyong pinsan o kamag-anak? Paano kung ang iyong iniibig ay mayroon nang asawa o pareho kayong may asawa? Eba’t Adan, E-Eba’t Adan wala ka nang magagawa?
Dito makikita natin na hindi ganoon kasimple ang pag-ibig. Hindi lahat ng pag-ibig ay tama tulad nang sa mga kapwa lalake at kapwa babae, sa mga may asawa na at maging sa mga pari at relihiyoso. Mayroong disordered love na kung tawagin sa Inggles. Ito yung maling pagmamahal hindi lamang sa kapwa tao kungdi maging sa mga hayop at gamit na labis nating pinahahalagahan kesa sa Diyos.
Maliwanag ang turo ni Jesus: ang pag-ibig na tunay ay palaging naka-ugat at may kaisahan sa Diyos na siyang pag-ibig mismo! Kasabay nito, naroon ang napakagandang pagninilay at paglalahad ni San Pablo ukol sa pag-ibig na matatagpuan sa Unang Sulat sa mga Taga-Corinto, kapitulo trese.
Alalahanin din na hindi lamang damdamin ang pag-ibig kungdi isang desisyon o pagpapasya kasi, feelings are sometimes high, sometimes low. Hindi weather weather lang ang pag-ibig. Ito ay desisyon gaya ng inawit nina Ben&Ben:
Mahiwaga Pipiliin ka sa araw-araw Mahiwaga Ang nadarama sa'yo'y malinaw.
Bagaman nagsisimula sa damdamin bilang attraction ang pag-ibig, kailangan itong lumago at lumalim. Kailangan mag-mature ang pag-ibig kaya ito ay nililinang sa pananalangin at wastong pag-iisip.
Mahiwaga ang pag-ibig ngunit hindi naman wala kang magagawa. Bagkus, malaki nga ang ating magagawa para sa pag-ibig ay yumabong at mamunga ayon sa turo ni Jesus tulad ng paglimot sa sarili. Ang pag-ibig ay palaging papalabas at hindi pakabig, hindi makasarili. Ang totoong sukatan ng tunay na nagmamahal ay kapag kaya mo nang ibigin ng higit sa iyong sarili ang ibang tao.
Kay sarap ugatin na ang isa pang kataga na gamit natin sa pag-ibig ay pagmamahal na mas ibig kong ginagamit lalo na sa pagkakasal. Iyon kasing pagmamahal ay paglevel up ng pag-ibig na kadalasan ay mababaw pa ang kahulugan tulad ng kapag sinabig “ano ibig mong sabihin o kainin?”
Ang pagmamahal ay nagsasaad ng pagpapahalaga kaya mahal ang presyo ng isang bilihin dahil ito ay mahalaga. Ang pag-ibig na tunay gaya ng pagmamahal ay pagpapahalaga sa minamahal na handang limutin ang sarili hanggang kamatayan.
Larawan mula sa The Valenzuela Times, 02 July 2024.
Ang taong nagmamahal ay palaging nagpapahalaga. Iyon ang masaklap at masakit na nangyari noon kina Eba’t Adan nang sila ay magkasala dahil tumanggi silang pahalagahan ang Diyos higit sa lahat.
Kaya naman sa madaling salita, ang kasalanan ay isang pagtanggi na magmahal kasi mas pinahahalagahan ng nagkakasala ang kanyang sarili kesa ibang tao lalo na ang Diyos. Iyon ang kapalaluan o kayabangan na sa Inggles ay pride.
Itinuturing na pride ang naging kasalanan nina Eba’t Adan dahil hinangad nilang maging Diyos, hindi lang makatulad ang Diyos. Ayon kay Sir Cecil B. De Mille, and direktor ng pelikulang The Ten Commandments noong 1956, ang palaging nilalabag na utos ng Diyos ng mga tao ay ang unang utos na huwag magkakaroon ng ibang Diyos maliban sa Kanya. Paliwanag ng batikang direktor, tuwing tayo ay nagkakasala, mayroon tayong ibang Diyos na sinusunod.
Kaya nakapagtataka rin naman itong mga LGBTQ na ipinagmamalaki pa ang kanilang pagdiriwang na Gay Pride ngayong buwan ng Hunyo. Bakit kailangang ipagmalaki ang “pride” gayong masama kadalasan ang kahulugan niyon?
Dalawang bagay ang sinasaad ng pride, maari itong positive na mabuti at banal o negative kaya ito ay mali at kasalanan. Yung positive pride kung tutuusin ay kapakumbabaan na kung saan kinikilala natin ng may karangalan at pagmamalaki sa tamang paraan ang ating katayuan na nilalang ng Diyos bilang lalake o babae. Ito yung wastong pride na sumasalungat sa linya at excuse parati na “ako’y tao lamang na mahina at makasalanan.” Bagaman hindi tayo perpekto, tayo ay bukod tanging pinagpala ng Diyos ng mga katangian at kakayahan upang lubos na makibahagi ng buhay ng Diyos.
Subalit hindi iyong ikalawang uri ng pride na mali at dapat iwasan dahil sa bahid at dungis ng kapalaluan at kayabangan. Ito ang dahilan kaya pride ang una sa lahat ng pitong capital sins. Ito yung pride na ipinagpipilitan ang sariling kagustuhan kahit na ito ay hindi ayon sa katotohanan, sumasalungat maski sa Diyos at lahat maipilit lamang ang sarili. Ito yung pride na kasalanan nina Eba’t Adan dahil ipinagpilitan nila kanilang sarili na maging Diyos din gayong hindi naman maaring mangyari.
Mula sa Facebook ng Ateneo De Manila University, 02 Hunyo 2025.
Kaya mahirap maunawaan at tanggapin itong laganap tuwing buwan ng Hunyo bilang Pride Month ng mga kasapi sa LGBTQ. Kailangan bang ipagmalaki at ipangalandakan kanilang sariling kagustuhan?
Hindi lamang binabago kanilang kasarian kungdi pati balarila sa wikang Inggles, mga gawi at mga pananaw sa mundo. Hindi po kasalanan maging bakla o tomboy. Nangyayari ito bunsod ng maraming kadahilanan ngunit sa kahuli-hulihan, isa ring itong pagpapasya o pagpili – choice – na ginagawa ng may katawan. Lalake pa rin o babae na mayroong homosexual tendency ayon sa Katesismo. Ang maliwanag na masama mula sa Banal na Kasulatan ay ang pagtatalik ng kapwa lalake at kapwa babae. Iyan, noong pang panahon nina Eba’t Adan ay masama at ipinagbabawal na.
Hindi mababago ang pagkatao kung papalitan ang ari at iba pang bahagi ng katawan ng tao dahil ang kasarian ay kabuuan ng pagkatao. Hindi mababago ang kabuuan kung babaguhin lang ang isang bahagi. Hindi naman gamit ang tao na maaring palitan ang piyesa tulad ng mga sasakyan at iba pang kasangkapan.
Ang maling pag-ibig kailanman ay hindi maghahatid ng kaganapan kanino man dahil malinaw na ito ay makasarili – selfish – isang pagpapahayag ng pride o kapalaluan na masama at kasalanan.
Ito ba ang ibig mangyari ng mga LGBTQ? Batay sa marami nang pag-aaral wala din namang mga nagpabago ng ari o nagpasame sex marriage ang tunay na nakatamo ng kaganapan at katuwaan sa buhay. Marami sa kanila ang malungkot at bigo batay sa mga pag-aaral.
Larawan mula sa sunstar.com.ph kung saan nag-viral noong isang taon ang pagpapatayo sa isang waiter upang turuan ng gender sensitivity matapos tawaging “Sir” ang isang celebrity na LGBTQ sa mall.
Pero mayroong magagawa. Kaya sinugo ng Diyos ang Kanyang Bugtong na Anak na si Jesus, ang Kristo. Ipanakita at ibinigay niya sa atin ang mga kinakailangang biyaya at grasya upang tayo man ay makapagmahal nang tunay katulad niya.
Nasa atin ang biyaya na magmahal ng tunay kung saan ay ating makakayang limutin ang sarili para sa mas mahalagang layunin, ang kaisahan sa Diyos (communion) na siyang paraan upang matamo natin ang kaganapan o fulfillment na higit pa sa kasiyahan at tagumpay sa buhay.
Ang pagmamahal gaya ng ating nasabi na ay hindi pakabig kungdi palaging papalabas ang tungo, mapagbigay at mapagparaya.
Mahirap talagang magmahal ng tunay ngunit hindi maaring sabihing wala tayong magagawa. Diyos na ang gumawa ng lahat upang tayo ay makapagmahal ng tunay. Makikibahagi at makikiisa o cooperate lamang tayo sa Kanyang biyaya.
Una ay tanggapin ang katayuan natin sa buhay bilang lalake o babae o bakla o tomboy; may-asawa o hiwalay; may sinumpaang pangako na hindi mag-aasawa tulad ng mga pari at madre at relihiyoso.
Huwag ipilit ang hindi naayon sa nature natin bilang tao. Marami nang mga bakla lalo sa showbiz ang nagsabing hindi kinakailangan ang mga gay pride na ito dahil tanggap nila katauhan nila. Ano mang hindi natural at tunay ay hindi makapaghahatid sa atin sa kaganapan at kagalakang tunay.
Isang biyaya na nakakaligtaan sa panahong ito na tila lahat na lang ibig ang relasyon kahit sa murang edad ay ang dalisay na pagkakaibigan o true friendship na nagpapahiwatig ng ibang mukha ng pagmamahal na nakapagpapaging-ganap at kasiya-siya ding tulad ng pag-aasawa. Ibang antas ito ng pagmamahal at ugnayan na biyaya din ng Diyos kung bukas sana ang ating puso at kalooban sa kanya at di lamang sa ating sariling kagustuhan.
Bilang pangwakas, ibig kong iwanan ang isang katotohanan hindi pansin ng karamihan ngayong panahon ng social media: mabuti pa sina Eba’t Adan nang magkasala, sila’y nahiya at nagtago sa Diyos. Bakit ang mga tao ngayon bukod sa hindi na nahihiya sa kasalanan at kasamaan, ipinagmamalaki pa lalo na sa social media? Sabi nga ng matatanda, ang mahiya pa lamang ay pagpapakatao na. Ano kaya tingin sa atin ngayon nina Eba’t Adan? Siguro, hiyang hiya na sila sa atin.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 02 June 2025 Acts 19:1-8 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> John 16:29-33
Photo by author, mountains of San Antonio, Zambales from the side of Anawangin Cove, 2024.
Lord Jesus, teach me and help me understand you.
I really wonder if the disciples truly understood you on that Last Supper:
The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe” (John 16:29-31)?
Oh how easy it is to claim I have understood you Lord Jesus when in fact more often I misunderstand you when difficulties and sufferings come my way that I complain a lot; when pains and disappointments happen I lose interest in following you; when frustrations come because I cannot know fully what is to come after following you.
There are times mediocrity seeps in me that I become lackluster making no effort to learn more, to be more daring, and to be a better person and disciple in following and imitating you, Lord.
To understand you, Jesus means to experience peace always in you, to keep on choosing you still no matter what because that is when we truly enter in your presence with nothing else important but do your will.
Understanding you Jesus is being open and ready not to understand everything about you and still believe you and trust you. Amen.
Photo by author, mountains of San Antonio, Zambales from the side of Anawangin Cove, 2024.
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