Tag: love

Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan (Ang Solstice)

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sacred Heart Novena Day 6, 23 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.

Sigurado, sasabihin ninyo ako ay kumakanta na naman sa pagninilay dahil sa ating pamagat na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” mula sa awitin ng yumaong si Haji Alejandro noong aming kabataan ng 1977.

Bata pa lamang po ako ay mahilig na ako sa radyo at tugtugin kaya hindi ko maiwasang maugnay palagi maski sa pagdarasal ang maraming awiting aking nagisnan.

At heto na nga po ang titik ng awit ni Haji na noon ay tinaguriang “kilabot ng mga kolehiyala” di lamang sa kanyang porma kungdi sa ganda ng boses at mga tema ng pag-ibig sa kanyang musika katulad ng “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan”:

Tag-araw, sa may dagat namasyal
At pagdilim, sa may baybay humimlay
At nagyakap, sabay sa pagsabog ng alon
Sabay sa paghuni ng ibon, saksi ay liwanag ng buwan
'Di ba sabi mo pa, na wala pang iba
Na ako ang una sa pagmamahal mo, sinta?

At ang buhay nating dal'wa ay nagbunga
Ng makulay na pag-ibig na dakila
Ngunit, bakit ngayong umuugong ang hangi't ulan
'Sing lamig ng gabi ang mga halik mo?
Ni wala nang apoy, titig mo sa akin
Naglaho ba ang pagmamahal mo, sinta?
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, La Trinidad, Benguet, 12 Hulyo 2023.

Hanapin na lamang po ninyo sa YouTube.com ang awit ni Haji na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” dahil ngayong ika-anim na araw ng ating Nobena sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus ay bisperas din ng Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pagsilang ni San Juan Bautista, ang tagapaghanda ng Kristo.

Bukod tanging siya lamang at si Jesus ang ipinagdiriwang natin ang kaarawan ng pagsilang bilang Dakilang Kapistahan o Solemnity, ang pinaka-mataas na antas ng selebrasyon sa Simbahan. Palaging pinag-ugnay ng mga ebanghelista lalo ni San Lukas ang buhay at misyon nina San Juan Bautista at Panginoong Jesus na magpinsang makalawa.

Bagama’t ating ipinagdiriwang din ang pagsilang ng Mahal na Birheng Maria tuwing ika-walo ng Setyembre, ito ay Kapistahan lamang o Feast. Kaya kung inyong napapansin, ang kapistahan kadalasan ng mga Santo at Santa ay petsa ng kanilang kamatayan dahild doon sila pumasok sa buhay na walang hanggan.

Marahil sa bahaging ito nagtataka na kayo nasaan ang kaugnayan ng ating introduction na awitin ni Haji na “Tag-Araw, Tag-Ulan” at nina Jua Bautista at Jesu-Kristo at ng Kanyang Kamahal-Mahalang Puso? Heto po mga kaugnayang iyon:

  1. Isinilang si Juan Bautista panahon ng summer solstice, ang pinakamahaba at pinaka-maliwanag na araw sa buong taon tuwing Hunyo habang si Jesus naman ay isinilang ng winter solstice, pinaka-mahaba at pinaka-madilim na araw tuwing Disyembre upang ipakita kanilang ugnayan: dala ni Juan Bautista ang liwanag ni Kristo na siyang liwanag sa gitna ng malaking kadiliman ng mundo.
  2. Ang salitang “SOLSTICE” ay mula sa wikang Latin ng pinagsamang mga kataga na “SOL” (araw o sun) at “SISTERE” (tigil o hinto, stop o stand still gaya ng “to desist/resist” sa Ingles) na kung saan pansamantalang tumitigil o humihinto ang mundo at tumututok sa araw kaya pinaka-maliwanag din ang araw na iyon. Ayon sa PAGASA, naganap ang summer solstice ng 2025 sa bansa noong Sabado, ika-21 ng Hunyo bandang alas-10:42 ng umaga;magaganap ang winter solstice naman sa ika-21 ng Disyembre, 2025 ganap na alas-11:03 ng gabi na siyang pinakamahaba at madilim na araw naman.
  3. Yung awit ni Haji ay “summer solstice” sa Pilipinas na kung saan ating nararanasan ang tag-ulan sa tag-araw, hindi ba? Sa awit ni Haji, nagtataka siya bakit huminto ang kanilang pagmamahalan na tila lumalabo na kanilang samahan katulad ng malakas na ulan sa gitna ng sikat ng araw.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa St. Paul Spirituality Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, 06 Enero 2025.

Ang ganda ng larawan, hindi ba?

Subalit, hindi ba ganyan din kadalasan ugnayan natin sa Diyos, parang malabo na di maintindihan? Alalaong-baga, itinakda ng Diyos na natural na tumigil (sistere) pansamanatala ang mundo sa harap ng araw (sol) upang magkaroon ng SOLSTICE upang pahabain at paliwanagin ang araw minsan kada Hunyo at dagdagan ang dilim ng gabi minsan kapag Disyembre upang mabalanse ang init at lamig sa daigdig. Kapag walang solstice, maaring masunog at matusta siguro ang mundo! Kaya mahalaga ang solstice na siya ring panawagan ng Diyos sa ating lahat ngayon.

Dumating si Juan Bautista upang magkaroon ng sosltice kung baga upang tumigil at magisis ng mga kasalanan at magsuri ng sarili upang magbalik sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa.

Ito rin ang kailangan natin sa buhay ngayon, ang pagtigil at pananahimik. Tingnang paanong pinatahimik ng anghel si Zacarias na ama ni Juan Bautista. Katulad niya tayong mga tao ngayon. Puro tayo mema – memasabi lang. Puro kuda ika ng mga bata. Lahat iniisip natin maski problema ng Diyos, problema ng mga kung sinu-sino.

Napansin ko sa aking pagiging chaplain dito sa unibersidad, maraming mga bata ngayon ang “over-thinker” pero hindi na man “critical-thinker”.

Senyales ng kawalan ng pagtitiwala maging ng pananampalatay ang pagiging overthinker – lahat kasi inaalala at kinatatakutan. Madalas mga overthinker ay manipulator at control freak din. Wala kasing tiwala katulad ni Zacarias na ang lakas ng loob hamunin ang angel sa tanong niya kung paano niya matitiyak na totoo ang mabuting balita sa kanya ng pagkakaroon ng anak gayong baog at matanda na si Elizabeth na kanyang may-bahay?

Sa kabilang dako naman, pagmasdan ang kusang pananahimik o pagtigil (sistere) ni Elizabeth sa loob ng kanilang tahanan ng anim na buwan nang siya ay magdalantao kay Juan Bautista. Puno siya ng tiwala at pananampalatay sa Diyos katulad ng kanyang pinsang si Maria na pagkaraan ng anim na buwan ay babalitaan din ng anghel ng pagsilang niya sa Kristo.

Katulad din niya si Jeremias na tinawag at hinirang ng Diyos sa unang pagbasa upang maging kanyang propeta. Bagaman ipinakikita ng tagpo ng unang pagbasa ang pagkakahalintulad ng misyon nina Jeremias at Juan Bautista bilang tagapagsalita ng Diyos, ipinakikita rin sa atin ang attitude niya na tumigil at tumalima sa atas ng Diyos.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Cabo de Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 Mayo 2025.

Sa kuwento ng pagsilang ni Juan Bautista, ipinakikita sa atin kung paanong ang Diyos ay pumapasok sa ating panahon at buhay upang isagawa ang kanyang pagliligtas. Subalit malinaw din sa kuwentong ito ang pakikipag-isa ng tao tulad nina Zacarias at Elizabeth maging ni Jeremias upang maganap plano ng Diyos kay Jesu-Kristo.

Ito ang misyon na ipinagpapatuloy ng Simbahan gaya ng pagninilay at paliwanag ni San Pedro sa ikalawang pagbasa. Kung titingnan natin, madalas parang malabo ang Diyos, parang tag-ulan sa tag-araw na tinatawag tayo sa misyon kay Kristo gayong kay rumi natin sa kasalanan, kay daming kapintasan. Madalas pa nga ay tumatanggi tayo o naghahamon gaya ni Zacarias.

Subalit isang bagay ang malinaw: hindi titigil ang Diyos hanggat hindi tayo napapatigil din upang makinig at sumunod sa kanya. Sa araw na ito, hiling sa ating ng Sacred Heart ay magkaroon ng solstice – huminto at tumigil pansamantala at itutok ating tuon at sarili sa alab ng apoy ng pag-ibig ni Jesus sa atin.

O Jesus na mayroong
maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso,
Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y
matulad sa Puso Mo!
Amen.

*And ideya ng SOLSTICE ay aking hinalaw mula sa pagninilay naman sa mga panahon ni Sr. Renee Yann, RSM sa kanyang blog na aking sinusundan; napakaganda ng kanyang mga lathalain at bakas ang kanyang kabanalan at karunungan. Tingnan sa link na ito: http://lavishmercy.wordpress.com

Pangungusap ng Puso

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sacred Heart Novena Day 2, 19 June 2025
Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock.

Nakatutuwa itong ating wika. Mabulaklak na kahit hindi ka isang makata minsa’y di sinasadya ika’y nakakatha ng kahit maigsing tula.

Madalas ating mabasa sa mga panitikan at mapakinggan saan man kuwentuhan na tila baga itong puso ay nagsasalita gayong wala naman itong bibig. Mismo ang Panginoong Jesus noon ay nagsabi na “ano man ang bukambibig, siyang laman ng dibdib” (Mt.12:34 at Lk.6:45) upang ipakita ang pagkakadugtong ng puso at bibig tulad ng kaisahan nito sa ating kamay batay sa pagninilay kahapon.

Samakatwid, nangungusap nga itong ating puso. At iyan ang ibig kong pagnilayan ngayong ikalawang araw ng ating pagsisiyam para sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus. Ito ang sinasaad sa ating napakinggan ngayong araw na bahagi ng pangangaral ni Jesus sa mga tao mula sa kanyang sermon sa bundok.

“Sa pananalangin ninyo’y huwag kayong gagamit ngn napakaraming salita, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga Hentil. Ang akala nila’y pakikinggan sila ng Diyos dahil sa dami ng kanilang salita. Huwag ninyo silang tutularan. Sapagkat alam na ng inyong Ama ang inyong kinakailangan bago pa man ninyo hingin sa kanya. Ganito kayo mananalangin: ‘Ama naming nasa langit, sambahin nawa ang pangalan mo'” (Mateo 6:7-9).

Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

Isa sa mga madalas na itanong sa akin ng mga mag-aaral dito sa Our Lady of Fatima University bilang kanilang chaplain ay alin daw ba ang dapat nilang pakinggan, sigaw ng puso o sigaw ng isipan?

Palagi kong tugon sa kanila ay ang pabirong paalala na unahin nilang pakinggan lagi ang sigaw ng kanilang mga magulang.

Pagkaraan ng ilang tawanan, saka ko binabalik sa kanila ang tanong sa ibang anyo naman: humihiyaw nga ba ang puso gayong ang pagtibok nito ay napakahina? Hindi kaya sa pakikipag-usap sa atin nitong ating puso, ang ibig nito ay taimtim na pakikinig dahil kung ito ay mangusap, madalas ay pabulong.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Atok, Benguet, 27 Disyembre 2024.

Mag-imagine tayo kunwari ay naroon tayo sa bundok sa sermon ni Jesus. Siguradong malakas ang tinig niya sa pangangaral ngunit sa aking pakiwari mayroong indayog ang kanyang pananalita na kung saan minsan-minsan marahil siya ay bumubulong katulad nitong sa pagtuturo niya kung paano tayo mananalangin. Mahigpit ang kanyang bilin na huwag tutularan mga Hentil na napakaraming sinasabi sa Diyos sa pakiwaring sila ay pakikinggan. Hindi natin kailangang maging maingay at daanin sa dami ng sinasabi ang Diyos bagkus higit na mainam ang pananahimik upang mapakinggan sinasabi sa atin ng Diyos. Sinabi na ni Jesus na alam ng Diyos ating pangangailangan bago pa man tayo dumulog sa kanya sa pagdarasal. Kaya tayo nagdarasal ay upang pakinggan kalooban ng Diyos.

Kaya gumagamit ng stethoscope mga duktor at nurse kasi nga mahina ang tinig ng puso natin. At yon ang unang kinakailangan sa pananalangin – katahimikan upang Diyos ay mapakinggan!

Kung ang puso man ay humihiyaw, marahil wala na tayong masyadong alitan at mga kaguluhan dahil tiyak ating maririnig at mapapakinggan bawat pintig ng puso na iisa ang sinasabi kungdi ang tayo ay magmahal nang tunay. Ito ang buod ng “Ama Namin” at lahat ng mga panalangin. Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa ating lahat na ating tinutugunan ng pagmamahal sa ating kapwa dito sa lupang ibabaw lalo na sa pagpapatawad sa kanilang pagkakasala sa atin.

Sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, doon ay malinaw na inihahayag ang dakilang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa ating lahat ngunit walang nakikinig dahil mas nahahalina ang marami sa malalakas at maiingay na tinig ng daigdig. Ito yung ikinalulungkot ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Corinto sa unang pagbasa ngayon dahil napakadali nilang nalinlang at napasunod sa mga kakaibang turo ng ibang nangangaral sa kanila. Katulad din natin ngayon na maraming nagpapaniwala at nahahalina sa mga kung anu-anong kaisipan ng mundo gaya ng new age at wokism at iba pang mga ideya na wala nang pakialam sa Diyos at moralidad gaya ng relativism na siyang sanhi ng paniniwala sa same sex marriage at abortion.

Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Liputan, Meycauayan, Bulacan, 31 Disyembre 2022.

Imagine din natin na first time napakinggan ang panalanging “Ama Namin.” Malamang pabulong at marahang binigkas ni Jesus ang mga titik ng panalanging ito upang tumimo ng higit sa puso at kalooban ng mga tagapakinig.

Kakaibang kaisipan noon iyon sa mga Hudyo sapagkat ang Diyos sa pagkakaalam nila ay makapangyarihan at hindi maaabot doon sa langit. Ngunit kay Jesus, malapit ang Diyos tulad ng sino mang ama sa lupa. Isang personal at mapagmahal na parang tao ang Diyos na pinakilala ni Jesus sa kanila at maging sa atin ngayon kaya mas malamang ay malumanay na malumanay ang pagbigkas ni Jesus lalo ng “Ama naming nasa langit” dahil puno ng pagmamahal at pag-galang. Hindi ba noong una tayong ma-in love ay tahimik din tayo? Hindi natin pinagsasabi yung pers lab natin?

Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa bibliya, mas mahaba ang tala ni San Mateo sa pagtuturo ni Jesus ng “Ama namin” kesa sa bersiyon ni San Lukas; layunin anila ni San Mateo na ituro ang ating disposisyon sa pananalangin habang si San Lukas naman ang tuon ay naroon sa laman ng ating dasal.

Sa madaling sabi, pagmamahal ang disposisyon nating dapat sa pananalangin di lamang ng “Ama namin” kungdi mismo sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa kapwa na siyang paghahayag ng ating ugnayan sa Diyos.

Ang Ama namin at lahat ng pananalangin ay paghahayag ng ugnayan kaya ang mga ito ay dinarama, nilalasap dahil ito ay isang karanasan na pinaninindigan at pinatutunayan sa mabubuting gawa.

Noong bata pa tayo at wala pang kamuwang-muwang sa mga kalokohan at kasamaan ng mundo, napakadali nating napapakinggan bulong ng puso na magmahal, makipag-bati, magsorry, magsabi ng please at thank you, at maging mabuting tao. Subalit sa ating pagtanda, atin nang tinuturuan ang puso natin ng sariling kagustuhan na dapat laging sundin at pakinggan. Magsinungaling kung kinakailangan.

Masaklap na bunga nito ang ating pagkakawatak-watak. Hindi maramdaman ang ating ugnayan dahil maraming ayaw nang magmahal, ayaw nang kilalanin bawat isa bilang kapatid at kapwa sa iisang Ama nating Diyos.

Ngayong ikalawang araw sa ating pagnonobena sa Sacred Heart, matuto tayong muli na manahimik at makinig sa tinig at pintig ng puso natin upang muli tayong makiniig sa Diyos na Ama natin. Kapag muli nating ninamnam ang katotohanang ito, mapagtatanto na rin natin ang ating kapatiran sa iisang Ama kay Kristong kapatid natin.

Sa ating panahong napaka-ingay at kay dami-daming nag-aagawan sa ating atensiyon upang pakinggan at sundin, marahil ay humihiyaw na nga itong puso natin ng pabulong dahil hirap na itong maiahon ang katotohanan ng pag-ibig na ating ibinaon. Pagmasdan paanong palaging kalakip ng debosyon sa Mahal na Puso ni Jesus ang pagtitika sa mga kasalanan at pagbabalik-loob sa Diyos at kapwa. Kasi nga, ang magkasala ay hayagang pagtanggi natin na magmahal. Iyon ang salita at pangungusap tuwina ng puso – magmahal, magmahal, at magmahal pa rin! Manalangin tayo:

O Jesus na mayroong
maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso,
Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y
matulad sa Puso Mo!
Amen.

Generosity & trust

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, 18 June 2025
2 Corinthians 9:6-11     ><}}}*> + ><}}}*> + ><}}}*>     Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Photo by the author, La Mesa Dam Eco-Park, QC, February 2023.
What will it take 
for me to be a cheerful giver,
Lord?
Maybe, first I must have that
complete trust in you,
Jesus Christ;
no one can be generous 
unless one trusts completely
God the source and giver
of all good things in life.

Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingl, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make very grace abndant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).

St. Paul's words in 
today's first reading echoed
your teachings, Jesus
in today's gospel,
of the need to do everything
from the heart, 
not to please others,
but God alone;
to do anything from the heart
calls
demands
trust! 
I have been through 
moments of abundance
when sometimes I was generous
and sometimes not generous at all,
when giving was "costly" despite 
still having a lot for myself.

Why?

It was not really of the abundance 
that I have in my hands that make
me generous, Jesus
but the abundance of faith and
trust I have in you in my heart;
teach me, Jesus
to be more trusting 
in you
in order to be more loving
so that I may be generous,
whatever I may have in my hands,
whether I have less or more.
Amen.
Detail of a painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Visitation Monastery in Marclaz, France. (photo: godongphoto / Shutterstock)

Why be perfect like God?

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 17 June 2025
2 Corinthians 8:1-9     ><]]]'> + ><]]]'> + ><]]]'>     Matthew 5:43-48
Photo by author, Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora De Guia, Ermita, Manila, 28 November 2024. 
Your words struck me hard
again today, Lord Jesus:
can we really be perfect
just as our heavenly Father
is perfect?
(Matthew 5:48)

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).

When I recall your mercies,
Jesus as you spared me 
from the bad things I deserved
due to my many and repeated sins,
the more I must be loving 
and perfect like the Father;
when I think, O Lord, 
of your many graces poured 
upon me, of the many good things 
that are mostly I never asked 
and certainly I never deserved,
it is but natural that I must be loving
and perfect like the Father;
when I examine my life
and experience how you have filled
and blessed me, Jesus,
with all your mercy and grace
despite and in spite of who I am,
the more I am convinced 
of my need to be perfect
like the Father.
Dearest Jesus,
we are all undeserving of your
love and grace,
mercy and blessings
but you simply showered us with
these all because you love us;
let our love for you be genuine
with our concern for others
like you who became poor
for us so that we may become rich
for God through others
(2 Corinthians 8:9).
Start in me,
Lord Jesus,
a revolution of love
in tenderness
and kindness
in a world that has
become so harsh
and inhospitable.
Amen.
Photo by author, sunflower farm, Benguet Province, 12 July 2024.

Yes & No, Salt & Light

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 10 June 2025
2 Corinthians 1:18-22     <*[[[[><  +  ><]]]]*>     Matthew 5:13-16
Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels.com
What a great way to resume
the Ordinary Time this Tuesday,
Lord Jesus Christ as your words 
today invite us to examine 
some of the most "ordinary" things
in life we take for granted.

Brothers and sisters: As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him (2 Corinthians 1:18-19).

Many times in our answers
of yes or no we cannot even make
a clear stand in you, Jesus;
like Paul,
give us the strength and courage
to mean "yes" in you, Jesus;
let our "yes"
to your gospel,
to your love and justice,
to your kindness and forgiveness
be a resounding "Amen"
in Christ, without any reservations,
without ifs nor buts
but a firm "yes, Lord!"
Teach to become
the salt of the earth bringing out
the flavor and goodness
of every person like what salt
does to our food;
at the same time,
let your light shine in us,
Jesus, to bring out the light,
the beautiful colors of every person
around us with our witnessing
to you, Jesus.
Amen.
From The Fatima Tribune, Red Wednesday 2024.

Loving Jesus, following Jesus

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 06 June 2025
Acts 25:13-21     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     John 21:15-19
Photo by author, Cabo Da Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship you
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy my King
In what you hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
in your ear...
I just felt singing that lovely
song, Jesus as I prayed
on your words today;
felt so good,
so comforting,
especially if sang
at times like when everything
is flowing smoothly in life,
when obstacles are overcome,
when there is more joy than sadness,
more triumphs and success,
more healthy than sickly;
how easy it is to say
"I love you, Lord"
unless you Jesus asks us
"do you love me" thrice.

It is different when you
are the one asking the question,
Jesus because you know everything,
you know very well how imperfect
our love while at the same time you
know so well how we try hard
in loving you by forgetting
ourselves, following you and
carrying our Cross.
Give us the courage and
strength to say "I love you, Lord"
dear Jesus for it is only in first loving you
that we are able to follow you.
Amen.

More blessed to give

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 04 June 2025
Acts 20:28-38     <*{{{{><  +  ><}}}}*>     John 17:11-19
What a moving first reading
today as we come to close the
Easter Season when Paul bid goodbye
to the presbyters of the Church of
Ephesus.

They were all in tears because 
most likely they would never see
Paul again; but most of all, of the
sincerity of Paul in his words spoken 
to them.

“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood…I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 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 20:28, 33-35).

Indeed,
it is more blessed to give
than to receive because in giving
that is when we have to use more of our hands
in toiling and working;
in the work of our hands,
we not only share Christ in the good
deeds we do but most of all,
open the eyes and hearts of others
to welcome Jesus into them to work
also through their very own hands.
It is the same imagery
we have of Jesus praying for us
his disciples,
laying over his hands over us
as he "consecrate" us in truth.

Oh dear Jesus,
make our hands strong
to keep working, doing
the difficult things many avoid
so we can bless more people;
keep our hands open too
to share our work and blessings
with others;
most of all,
keep our hands clasp together in prayer
to you to surrender ourselves
to your will always so that
our hands may be cleansed
of dirt and stains of sin
worthy in giving praise
to you and touching
those in need.
Amen.
Paul saying goodbye at Ephesus on the way to Rome for his trial and eventual martyrdom.

(Mis)understanding Jesus

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.

Presence in Absence

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle C, 01 June 2025
Acts 1:1-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 9:24-28;10:19-23 ><}}}}*> Luke 24:46-53
Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 26 December 2025.

We all have experienced dreams so real where we met friends and relatives even strangers that we described as “totoong-totoo” that we woke up crying or simply joyful and feeling so light. The clothes even the scent and ambiance were so real that we tried going back to sleep to continue the dream!

This is what we call as the dynamic of “presence in absence” when loved ones long dead or gone or simply far from us we still feel near and close too. It is the same familiar kind of relationship that we have with God whom we feel also as too near yet so far like what Luke described to us in the Ascension of Jesus Christ:

As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:51-53).

Photo by Mr. Sean Pleta in Melbourne, March 2015.

When Luke said that Jesus “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven”, he was describing to us Christ’s new and higher kind of relationship with all his disciples that include us today.

Jesus did not merely enter a physical reality that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us in the second reading; he actually entered into a new level of relationship with us and everyone. This “leveling up” in our relationships that no longer require physical presence is the dynamic of presence in absence. We don’t have to be physically present because there are deeper ties that bind us with God and with others, both the living and the dead.

Recall how since Easter we have been reflecting on this aspect of new level of relationship with Jesus who told Mary Magdalene at their first meeting to “touch me not” because of the need for a higher level of relating with him no longer bound by time and space. This Jesus showed when on the evening of Easter he entered the locked doors where the disciples were hiding. And Luke tells us that beautiful account of Jesus walking to Emmaus with two disciples who did not recognize him but upon reaching home after the breaking of bread, the two disciples recognized Jesus who immediately disappeared from their side. It was always a case of presence in absence!

Note also that in all appearances of Jesus after Easter to his disciples, there was always joy that continued even after his Ascension when “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.” Normally, there is sadness after every separation and goodbye. But not with the disciples of Jesus including us!

How can you explain that even if Jesus does not seem to answer our prayers, we just keep on praying to him? Why do we remain in Jesus despite his apparent absence? That’s because deep in our hearts we are certainly sure he is always with us, that he loves us so much, that eventually, he will answer our prayers though he does answer our prayers always but not in the way we wanted it to be.

That is why we need to make that effort to deepen and cultivate our relationship with Jesus to always see his presence in his absence like what the angel told the disciples in the first reading after his Ascension, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Do not look up or anywhere but look inside our hearts where Jesus dwells as he had told us last Sunday if we keep his words and love one another. We need to level up in our relationship with God through prayers and good works.

We need to see more with our heart than with our eyes because the deepest truths and realities in life are seen with the heart and soul. The ancient Persian sage and poet Rumi said it so beautifully, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation.”

Since Easter, we have been reflecting on the profound difference of Christ’s Resurrection with his birth on Christmas filled with external signs and symbols. Easter is characterized by absence like darkness and emptiness where we find the presence of Jesus and his light.

This presence in absence is also the reality we have in those we refer to as “low-maintenance” friendships where we have some people who do not demand anything from us nor we demand much from them. We meet when time allows and chat once in a while yet we remain the bestest friends because of the love and respect we have for each other. Basta, alam na this!

That is also the reality of our relationship with God. Do we experience the same joys in his presence in absence? Are we at home with our relationship with Christ found in darkness and emptiness, present in his apparent absence? Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
let us rise up in our
relationships with you with others;
let us be more loving and faithful,
kind and understanding,
fair and just
even without seeing you
and one another.
Amen.
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove and Resort, Morong, Bataan, 25 May 2023.

Praying to “do no harm”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 27 May 2025
Acts 16:22-34     <*{{{{><  +  ><}}}}*>     John 16:5-11
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.
Let me begin this prayer
Lord Jesus with the call of
St. Paul to their jailer,
"Do no harm to yourself;
we are all here"
following the many 
sad news of people
harming themselves
and others because
of so much pains and sufferings.

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas… After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. About midnight… there was suddenly such a severe earthquake… When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here” (Acts 16:22, 23, 25, 26, 27-28).

These are the words most precious
these days, Lord:
"Do no harm to yourself."

Do no harm to yourself
even if you have failed
for you are more precious than
grades and achievements.

Do no harm to yourself
despite the pains and hurts
there must be a better way
to stop the beatings.

Do no harm to yourself
because we are here...
but, alas, Lord!
We can only cry those words
after they have harmed
themselves and others.
Worst,
we call only those words
"Do no harm to yourself"
when they are gone.
Forgive us,
Jesus for being far
from those in pain and sufferings,
for being insensitive
to those crying in silence,
for being indifferent
to the realities of mental health
and total well-being
of everyone.

Give us a chance,
Jesus to be like Paul and Silas
of saving one life
from doing no harm to one's self
by first being sensitive
to your presence in prayers
because the more we pray,
the more we become sensitive
of you and of others.
Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.