Courage to be disliked

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 30 September 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor of the Church
Zechariah 8:20-23 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 9:51-56
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 19 March 2025.
You were the first,
Lord Jesus Christ,
to teach us to have
the courage to be disliked;
you were the first
to show us true freedom
from what others say
to freely follow what God says;
you were the first
to suffer and die for love,
Lord Jesus Christ
because your being is always clear,
your mission is always clear,
and your love is most clear.

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destinations of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village (Luke 9:51-56).

You knew very well,
dear Jesus, what awaited you
in Jerusalem yet you "resolutely
determined to journey" there and
when trouble was brewing in a
Samaritan village, you simply
took another route to not waste
energy and time among
the Samaritans.
Grant me the same courage
and freedom, Jesus,
to be disliked,
to be rejected;
teach me to let go
of my past especially
my mistakes and failures,
choosing to be better
than bitter;
keep me anchored in you,
Jesus, of how much you love
me and believe in me so that
I do not have to seek other's
approval except that I am doing
your holy will; most of all,
teach me to be gentle and kind
with myself, that I am not God
who is perfect; like St. Jerome,
let me immerse in your words
to continue following you
despite my imperfections
as Zechariah prophesied.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024.

Inside, outside the house

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 23 September 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Luke 8:19-21
Photo by author, Angels’ Hills Retreat House, Tagaytay City, 19 April 2025
How amusing are
the settings of your
words today,
God our loving Father!
In the first reading
is the story of the
rebuilding of your home,
your temple in Jerusalem,
of your people's homecoming
in you while in the gospel
is the striking story of
our Lord Jesus Christ's
Mother standing outside
the house where he was
preaching.

They completed this house on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The children of Israel – priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles – celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy (Ezra 6:15-16).

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it” (Luke 8:19-21).

How lovely,
dear Jesus
that in Hebrew
the first letter
in the word "God"
resembles a house,
or a door because
you, O Lord,
is our home,
our house;
like our home,
it is more than
walls and beams
but of relationships,
of love and kindness
that make each one of us
your indwelling.
Bless our homes,
bless our families
with your presence
always, Lord.

Through the intercession
of St. Padre Pio,
help us heed his words:
"Always be united
in the Faith
and try to be
a family according
to the heart of God."
Amen.

St. Padre Pio,
Pray for us!

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

Discipleship is loving more

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 September 2025
Thursday in the Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
1 Timothy 4:12-16 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Luke 7:36-50
Photo by author, Manila Club, BGC, June 2025.
Your words today 
surprised me again,
Lord Jesus:
so many times I find
myself like Simon the Pharisee,
always welcoming you
into my home,
into my life,
into my meal
and many times too
like him,
I am shocked,
becoming judgmental
at times like the others
when a sinner comes
like that sinful woman
who gatecrashed
to get near you,
Lord.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hudnred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one I suppose, whose larger debt was forgive.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly” (Luke 7:39-43).

Forgive me, 
Jesus,
when I fail to see
my own sinfulness,
my past where I came from
before being with you
as a disciple:
I, too, am a sinner
like that woman who
broke all protocols
and conventions
just to get close to you,
to touch you
and be restored by you
in your mercy and forgiveness;
let me heed Paul's call to Timothy
to be "absorbed"
in your love
because
discipleship is more
than knowing you
and following you
but most of all,
loving you most
especially among
the unloveable
for we were once
like them.

Like that sinful woman,
let me go in peace today
by rejoicing
in your infinite mercy
for us all,
not just me.
Amen.
Photo by author, Manila Club, BGC, June 2025.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

Cross my heart?

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 14 September 2025
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Numbers 21:4-9 ><]]]]'> Philippians 2:6-11 ><]]]]'> John 3:13-17
*This is a reissue of our 2023 reflection. Salamuch.
Photo by Mr. Gelo Carpio, 27 January 2020, Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

The cross is one of the most widely used but also abused and misunderstood sign in almost every generation. In fact, we are so accustomed with the cross of Jesus Christ found everywhere like in homes and offices, churches and classrooms, hospitals, restaurants and vehicles. Almost everybody carries it in our persons as an object of veneration, as a badge, or as a jewel.

On the cross we find Jesus shown in glory, peacefully sleeping in death, sometimes with his body broken by suffering. Hence, many times we use the word “cross” like in “cross my heart” to indicate our sincerity and truthfulness. But, are we truly aware of its meaning and significance in our faith, of its centrality as the symbol of God’s love for us expressed by the self-sacrificing death of Jesus Christ his Son?

Photo by author, St. Scholastica Convent, Baguio City, 23 August 2023.

This Sunday we take a break from our cycle of readings to celebrate this Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross which falls on September 14. Due to its centrality in our faith, it is still celebrated even if the date falls on a Sunday like today.

This feast started in the fourth century with the miraculous discovery of the True Cross by Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, on 14 September 326, while she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. She then ordered through her son the emperor the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that was dedicated nine years later with a portion of the True Cross placed inside it in September 13, 335. The following day, the Cross was brought outside of the church to be venerated by the clergy and the faithful.

In the year 627, during the reign of the Emperor Heraclius I of Constantinople, the Persians conquered the city of Jerusalem and removed a major part of the Cross from its sanctuary. The emperor then launched a campaign to recover the True Cross which he regarded as the new Ark of the Covenant for the new People of God. Before embarking into war, Emperor Heraclius went to church wearing black as a sign of penance, then prostrated himself before the altar and begged God for courage. His prayer was granted as he won the war and recovered the Cross from the Persians. He brought the Cross back to Jerusalem in 641 amid great celebrations by carrying it on his shoulders. Upon reaching the gate leading to Calvary, the emperor could not go forward! Heraclius and his retinue were astonished and could not understand what had happened until the Patriarch Zachary of Jerusalem told him, “Take care, O Emperor! In truth, the imperial clothing you are wearing does not sufficiently resemble the poor and humiliated condition of Jesus carrying His cross.”

Upon hearing those words, the emperor removed his shoes and bejewelled robes, put on a poor man’s clothing and was eventually able to proceed to Calvary and replaced the Cross inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where a number of miracles happened during the occasion: a dead man returned to life, four paralytics were cured, ten lepers were healed, 15 blind men were given their sight, with several possessed people exorcised and many sick people totally healed!

Photo by author, Mirador Jesuit Villa & Retreat House, Baguio City, 24 August 2023.

Very notable in this story were the words of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It was only after the emperor had taken off his royal clothings and put on those of the poor was he able to carry the Cross.

It is the same thing that is asked of us today: it is so easy to display the cross inside our homes and cars, or wear it as a jewelry or even as a tattoo on our skin. But, that amounts to nothing unless we have the cross inside our hearts, our very being. More than the many signs of the cross and imaginary drawing of its lines we draw on our chest is the need for us to empty ourselves of our pride and sins so that we can be filled with Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).

Called kenosis in Greek, self-emptying is the way of the Cross of Christ. It is choosing love and mercy than self-centeredness and self-righteousness; sacrifice than satisfaction; fairness and justice than greed and possession; bearing all the pains and perseverance than complaining and whining about difficulties and trials in life like the Israelites in the wilderness (first reading); and, thinking more of others than of one’s self.

Photo by author, 02 September 2023.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic had taught something very amusing about the positivity of being negative, when negative was actually positive – healthy and COVID free! Remember how during those days when we would always wish we would yield negative results in our swab tests for COVID?

When we look at the sign of the cross (+), it is a positive sign, a plus sign. Though the cross calls us to let go, to be detached and dispossessed, it is actually an invitation to have more of God, of life and fulfillment! In this time of affluence when everything is easily available for as long as you have the means and the resources, the sign of the Cross reminds us that life is more of letting go and of giving than of having like God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn.3:16). St. Francis of Assisi said it perfectly why the Cross is an exaltation, a triumph:

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen. Enjoy Sunday and have a blessed week ahead!

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

Uniqueness of the Cross

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 14 September 2025
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
Numbers 21:4-9 ><}}}}*> Philippians 2:6-11 ><}}}}*> John 3:13-17
*This is an updated version of our reflection last year; pray for our Marriage Encounter this weekend.
Via Crucis at Fatima University Medical Center, Valenzuela City, 2025.

This Sunday we have a unique celebration, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross that falls on the 14th day of September. It is so important that even if it falls on a Sunday, the more it must be celebrated as it is most central in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

It is so unique because despite its being made up of two ordinary pieces of wood, the Cross is most unique with its deeply extraordinary in meaning as sign of God’s immense love for us humans through Jesus Christ’s Passion and Death.

From being the sign of the most inhuman punishment in history, the Cross is now the very sign of how God “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn.3:16). It encapsulates the whole mystery of Jesus Christ, of how this all-powerful God beyond the ordinary became weak like us in everything except sin so that we too may be like Him, divine and more than ordinary. In His suffering and death on the Cross, Jesus made the lowly wood so ordinary to be so exalted to become His sign of love and mercy, power and majesty.

Photo by author, Jerusalem, May 2017.

Hence, in the Cross is the power of God’s love to transform us to better persons.

In the Cross is God’s power to lead us closer to Him with its vertical beam and to others with its horizontal beam.

In the Cross is the power of good if we choose to embrace it with Christ Jesus as our Lord and Master.

The Cross is most unique of all signs in the world because underneath its ordinariness, that is where we see God’s glory and majesty. It was underneath the Cross of darkness and gloom on Good Friday that humanity began to see light and hope in life’s many absurdities. Most of all, it was underneath that Cross of suffering and death of Jesus Christ that we feel and experience the assurance of the Resurrection.

How?

Through our own pains and sufferings that are most uniquely ours too!

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died (Numbers 21:4-6).

Photo by author, Dominican Hills, Baguio City, January 2018.

You must have heard that old story of a man who came to Jesus to return the cross given for him to carry; he asked Jesus to have it replaced with a lighter one. Jesus then led the man to a huge room with all kinds of crosses for him to choose which he prefers as the best one for him so that he would stop complaining.

After closely examining the specs of so many crosses, the man finally decided to pick one he deemed as perfect for him after considering its weight and other dimensions, only to find out from Jesus Himself that it was the same cross he had actually returned for exchange!

Many times in life we are like those people in the first reading, never ending in their complaints to God, even challenging Him, accusing Him of forsaking us, of being unfair when life becomes difficult and unbearable. There are times we feel being on the distaff side of life always like a flat tire, never on top. We cry foul to God especially with all our hurts and pains inflicted by others, asking Him where was He when most needed?

Photo by author in Jordan near the Israeli border where Moses put up the bronze serpent as instructed by God to heal those bitten by the snakes after they have complained of their conditions in the wilderness, May 2019.

While it is true life is indeed difficult, the cross reminds us of the fact that the pains and hurts we have are uniquely ours too, something we have to accept and most of all, own.

There are pains that are so deep and won’t go away that have in fact affected us dismally in our lives already. Instead of self-blaming and self-pity, we just have to ask for God’s grace to accept and own them like Jesus Christ. We just have to “bring it home” – that imagery of the Cross planted on the Calvary – into our very selves, in our being as something so true and real. And uniquely ours.

Stop thinking of others’ pains and hurts. We are not all the same. If ever we have similar experiences, the hues and shades even gravity and circumstances are not same because each pain and hurt, like the cross, is uniquely ours. Like every person, every cross is unique because it is also a gift, a mystery, and life. We have to “befriend” our pains and hurts, our own cross instead of resist it. It is in “befriending” our pains and hurts, our cross in life that we grow and mature, becoming more free to love and to be joyful because that is when the cross triumphs over its disgrace and shame in us and with others. That is when our pains and hurts, when our crosses begin to reveal to us the many beautiful truths of Easter awaiting us.

The Cross of Christ triumphed because Jesus carried it wholeheartedly, allowing those two pieces of wood to reveal not only to Him who knew everything beforehand its meaning but most of all to everyone of us the deeper truths the Cross signifies as St. Paul eloquently expressed in our second reading.

The Cross of Christ atop the church of our Lady of Lourdes in France. Photo by my former student Ar. Philip Santiago during his pilgrimage, September 2018.

One thing I realized after my mother died May last year is the fact that while there are so many pains and sufferings in this world, my own pain and suffering in losing her are most difficult to bear; hence, something I must carry because it is uniquely mine.

But, one thing so unique I noticed is that the more I see my cross following my mother’s death, the more I saw also the cross of others. The Cross of Jesus triumphed truly in me when I embraced and owned my cross, when I befriended my pains and hurts that eventually led me to recognize and see, to feel more and experience too the crosses of others.

When we become conscious of each one’s unique cross, slowly we are able to reveal to them the meaning of their personal crosses too because we become more sympathetic, more open, more silent to listen more, love more, care more and be more present with those in their own unique cross. No wonder, I find conversing more engaging with others who also grieve because we can see each other’s unique crosses!

Jesus calls us to imitate Him that by embracing and owning our cross, we too may lead others to finding the meaning of their own cross and thus experience Easter soon. Let us pray:

Give us the grace,
dear God
to always embrace the Cross
like your Son Jesus Christ
where we can all be empty
of ourselves to be filled
with your Holy Spirit
and make your love
visible in us.
Amen.
A blessed week to everyone!

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

What Christ himself is

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 11 September 2025
Thursday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year I
Colossians 3:12-17 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 6:27-38
Photo by Ms. Jo Villafuerte in Atok, Benguet, September 2019.
Your words today
Lord Jesus are very soothing,
so personal,
so YOU!

Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another… And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:12-13, 14).

A disciple should be like
the one he follows
and much of this words
by St. Paul describe you,
Lord Jesus Christ -
and how I miserably fail!
Forgive me for not being
compassionate and kind,
humble and gentle,
patient and forgiving like you,
Jesus; help me to put on
more love so that I may look like
you, my Lord and Master.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)

Increase & abound in love

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 28 August 2025
Thursday, Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo by author, St. Paul Center for Renewal, Alfonso, Cavite, 20 August 2025.
Praise and glory to you,
Lord Jesus Christ
as you continue
to touch us,
comfort us,
and inspire us
with the words of St. Paul
to the Thessalonians;
yesterday he addressed
them like a father encouraging
them his children in faith;
today he referred to them
as "brothers and sisters"
to "increase and
abound in love".

Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. (1Thessalonians 3:11-13)

What a beautiful lesson 
about our relationships
as a community of your
believers and followers,
of how we must regard
one another as children
with love and care of a parent,
respect and goodwill as
brothers and sisters!

Most of all,
of wishing everyone to
"increase and abound
in love for one another"!

This is something we rarely
hear these days,
wishing others to increase
and abound in love for one
another; all we hear are
prayers and wishes for more
material blessings not realizing
the superiority of love above all gifts;
to pray to increase and abound
in love is the noblest prayer
we can offer for anyone
because it means
to be holy,
to be closest to God,
to be like Christ;
to increase and abound in love
is exactly what St. Augustine,
our saint today, preached,
"Love and do what you will."
Like St. Augustine,
let our love increase and
abound so that we do nothing
to displease you Lord and
our neighbors; increase and abound
us in love, Jesus
so we may be transformed
in you.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo by author, St. Paul Center for Renewal, Alfonso, Cavite, 20 August 2025.

What if St. Paul & Jesus come to our Church today?

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 25 August 2025
Monday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year I
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 23:13-22
Photo from The Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday at the Chapel of Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 27 November 2024.
Today I wonder,
God our Father,
what if Paul your Apostle
or Jesus Christ your Son
were to visit our church today,
what would they find out?
Would Paul be proud of us
like the Thessalonians of
his time?

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen… In every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything (1Thessalonians 1:2-4, 8).

Oh how I envy the Thessalonians
that Paul along with
Silvanus and Timothy
were so proud of their "faith
and labor of love
and endurance in hope";
most of all,
of their "conviction"
that he had no need
to say anything,
as in, "walang masabi".
So beautiful!
How I wish Paul could say
the same things today to our
parish, to our community of
believers with their vibrant
faith, hope and love.
What  I dread, O Father
is when Jesus comes
and begins speaking
the same way to us
his priests and bishops:

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter (Matthew 23:13).

Shame on us, Lord Jesus,
your priests and bishops!
If you were here today,
you would surely say the same
things to us: many of us
your priests do not pray at all
that many have forgotten to
pray properly and celebrate
liturgy meaningfully;
many would rather go on
vacation and recreation than
celebrate Mass and sacraments
for your people;
yes, Lord Jesus,
"woe to us" your servants
for many of us have no plans
of going to heaven at all with the
kind of Eucharist we celebrate
that people have lost faith
in you and your church.
Forgive us, Jesus,
your priests for being
blind fools,
following the limelight
of the world than your path
of the Cross;
lead us back to you, Jesus,
so that your flock may be
enlivened again in their
faith, hope and love
like the Thessalonians
of your great Apostle Paul.
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo from The Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday at the Chapel of Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 27 November 2024.

Discipleship is relationship not apprenticeship

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 19 August 2025
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Ezechiel Moreno, Bishop
Judges 6:11-24 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 19:23-30
Photo by author, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 09 August 2025.
God our loving Father,
today I feel like Gideon:
in our beautiful story today
of your call for him to be a judge
of your people,
you have taught me
that discipleship is not
about work like
an apprenticeship
but a relationship
because a disciple's
first task is to love you,
O Lord, our Master
that is why despite the
great dangers during his time,
Gideon continued to work
even in hiding from their enemies
because he believed in you,
he trusted you,
he loved you.
Discipleship is relationship
because it is more of
looking at you,
Lord Almighty
the Caller,
the Believer,
and the Sender
of my poor me!
Discipleship is not
about me that is why,
after that meeting with
Gideon, he built an altar
to you and called it
Yahweh-shalom.

Gideon, now aware that it had been the angel of the Lord, said, “Alas, Lord God, that I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” The Lord answered Gideon, “Be calm, do not fear. You shall not die.” So Gideon built there an altar to the Lord and called it Yahweh-shalom (Judges 6:22-23).

Shalom is peace
and you are our peace,
our total well-being
O God
that can only come
from a relationship
with you,
in you;
this is what your Son
our Lord Jesus Christ
tells us today through Peter,
of the need to leave everything
and everyone in order to have you.
Calm me,
Lord,
like Gideon
for only one thing is
necessary: that we remain
in you who is our peace
so that even there are
turmoils in our ministry,
we continue
because of our relationship
than of work.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City
(lordmychef@gmail.com)
Photo by author, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 09 August 2025.

The problem with us…

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 August 2025
Monday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year I
Judges 2:11-19 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 19:16-22
Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo, Virginia, USA, August 2021.
Your words today,
O God our Father
are so disheartening
not only because after
a week of joyful stories of
Moses and Joshua and the
Israelites finally nearing the
Promised Land,
we begin work and classes
this Monday with the distaff
side of Israel's history,
of their low point of being
repeatedly attacked and
defeated by their enemies.

But more sad
and disheartening is the fact
that low point in their history
was also their low point in their
faith in you -
it was all due to their repeated
falling into sin of idolatry,
of worshipping false gods
instead of you alone.

Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the Lord took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct (Judges 2:18-19).

And that is the painful
truth of the story,
of the fact still true
among us today:
the problem,
the trouble
are all with us.

Yes, Lord,
many times we are like
your people during that
time of the judges:
you keep on saving us
from troubles of our own making
but once we are able to rebound
in life, we go back to our old ways
of sins and self-centeredness,
forgetting you and your love;
we do not have the false gods
of old like Baal
but we keep on turning
away from you, Lord,
worshipping
fame and wealth,
power and control,
comfort and safety;
though through all these
you keep on coming to save us,
giving us all the chances
to be better in Jesus Christ your Son,
we are like the young man
in the gospel who can't let go
of our many possessions,
choosing to leave sad
than follow Jesus empty
but filled with love and
and meaning in life.
Help us fix this
trouble in us, Lord.
Amen.
Jesus and the rich young man.