Tag: Mondays

Prayer to take away our fears

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, 18 November 2019

Acts of the Apostles 28:11-16, 30-31 ><)))*> Matthew 14:22-33

High Altar of St. Peter’s Basilica

My dearest Lord Jesus:

It is again the start of work and studies.

How I pity Monday!

It is perhaps the most hated day of the week primarily because of the many fears it brings upon us.

Inner and outer fears that lead us to doubt our selves, our talents and abilities, even people around us.

And worst, of doubting YOU.

There are times we are like the Apostles who could hardly see you coming to us in times of darkness and storms in life.

Though you keep on calling us, assuring us of your presence, to be not afraid, we still choose to be afraid that we sink deeper into sin and evil.

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:31

Hardly a day passes in our lives, Lord, without our experience of so many fears, doubts, apprehensions, and anxieties that drain us of so much energies to do more good things for you through others.

Some of us have long been held captive by this dark power of fear within and without that we hardly experience true freedom!

As we celebrate the dedication of the two Major Basilicas in honor of your two great Saints and Apostles, Peter and Paul, teach us to come home to your dwelling place of love and freedom, not of fear and doubts.

Teach us to be at home with you, to always find you even in the midst of darkness and giant waves of uncertainties. Amen.

St. Paul with a sword in front of the Basilica in his honor in Rome. From Google.

Prayer to cleanse our lips

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Memorial of St. Martin of Tours, 11 November 2019

Wisdom 1:1-7 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 17:1-6

Photo by jami jari on Pexels.com

It is the start of work and school today, Lord.

Thank you for our jobs, thank you for our schools, thank you for the food and clothes we have.

Thank you very much for the gift of self and most especially for the gift of others.

Unfortunately, O Lord, they are the ones we always hurt with our painful words, and yes, with all sorts of profanities.

If our words were like swords or clubs, or even at least like thorns of the cactus, everyone of us would be beaten black and blue or worst, mangled.

For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips; because God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart and the listener to his tongue. For the spirit of the Lord fill the world, is all embracing, and knows what man says.

Wisdom 1:6-7

Bless us today, Lord, to be like St. Martin of Tours who always spoke with humility and gentility, full of wisdom and kindness to everyone. Most of all, bless us to be like him to see you Lord among everyone and treat them with respect and dignity always.

Fill us with your wisdom, Lord, especially our public figures that they may never let speak evil of anyone and be an occasion of sin as you warned in the gospel today.

Help us to bring back decency and kindness especially in our language for indeed, “from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34).

Cleanse our lips, Lord. Amen.

When faith is not enough

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Week XXIX, Year I, 21 October 2019

Romans 4:20-25 ><)))*> <*(((>< Luke 12:13-21

Baguio Cathedral, January 2019.

God our Father, so often we profess our faith in you.

But so often, it is not authentic faith at all because it is more of manipulating you for we can actually see all possibilities.

Like that someone in the crowd who said to Jesus:

“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Luke 12:13-15

Forgive us Lord in believing more in our selves than in you, in believing our selves that we can use you for our selfish ends even if it something rightly ours.

Give us an authentic faith like that one Abraham had when he believed in you, O God, that you would still fulfill your promise to make him the father of all nations despite his advanced age as well as Sarah’s condition.

As explained by St. Paul in today’s first reading, teach us to have the same faith of Abraham who showed a kind of resurrection faith – of faith that God could bring forth life from the barren or “dead” womb of Sarah.

A “faith that justifies” like that of Abraham is a faith that saves because more than fulfilling his promise, Abraham believed that God can bring back to life anyone already dead like the womb of wife Sarah who was already old and barren.

Let us grow in having an authentic faith like Abraham who entrusted his total self to you, Lord, even if human reason reason tells us there is no hope at all. Amen.

Kindly say a prayer for the recovery of our brother priest, Fr. Federico dela Cruz, who had brain surgery last night due to a head injury he sustained in an accident Saturday night. Thank yo.

God with us, Mary beside us

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, 07 October 2019

Jonah 1:1-2:1-2.11 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 10:25-37

Part of a painting in a church in Seville, Spain depicting the Battle of Lepanto Bay won through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary. From Google.

O God our loving Father, as we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, you have assured us again through the readings of today of your abiding love and presence among us.

In the first reading, you remind us how you continue to call us and send us to many missions and tasks in life even if we often doubt and refuse to follow you like Jonas.

Sometimes, we have to wait for the storms to hit us in this sea of life before we can realize that indeed, you are calling us, that you do believe in us to entrust us with specific tasks and mission in life.

Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima, Batanes, 2018.

And yet, in the many turbulence in this sea of life we are into, you never fail to save us and assure us of your love and mercy like at the Battle of Lepanto Bay in 1571 when the Holy League of Christians crushed the much feared and powerful navy of the Ottoman Turks.

Thank you in giving us the Blessed Virgin Mary as our Mother too to calm our many fears while in the high seas of life.

On the other hand, you dare to challenge us dear God to find you and share you among the most needy of this long and perilous road of life in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

From Google.

So often, we refuse to leave the security and comfort of our lives than cross the road to reach out to those in the margins left to die in sickness, hunger, and pain- alone.

Through the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ, may our eyes be opened, our faith be deepened to find and serve you Lord and Master in the storms of the high seas and in the security of the roads ahead us. Amen.

Hope for our difficult personality

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Memorial of St. Jerome, 30 September 2019

Zechariah 8:1-8 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 9:46-50

St. Jerome painting by El Greco portrayed as wearing the Cardinal’s robe to represent his highly esteemed works and contributions to the Church as one of the Four Western Fathers along with St. Augustine, St. Ambrose of Milan, and St. Gregory the Great. Photo from Google.

Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father! Thank you very much for giving us saints, men and women like us who were sinners with so many weaknesses but through your grace were able to lead holy lives.

Through your saints, you give us so much hope to be become better persons despite our many imperfections like our great Doctor of the Church, St. Jerome, the Father of Catholic biblical studies who immersed himself in the study and prayer of the Sacred Writings right in the Holy Land.

Considered as one of the great theologians of the Church, St. Jerome is said to be approachable but notorious for being a difficult person too due to his temper as well as sarcasm and being argumentative at times.

I confess, O God, that I am exactly the opposite of the kind of person Jesus Christ is telling us to be like – a child. Instead of being childlike, many times I have become childish, difficult to handle with my burst of temper and sometimes annoying sarcasm.

Like St. Jerome, fill me with your grace, with courage and willpower to conquer my irascibility and direct all my negative energies in pursuing you in prayers and good works.

Help me to follow St. Jerome in his call to “let us translate the words of the Scriptures into deeds.”

Fill me with your words, O Lord, cleanse me of my sins and iniquities so that your Holy Spirit may dwell in me, suffuse me with your holiness. Amen.

My favorite depiction of St. Jerome by Italian painter Antonello da Messina (c.1430-79), “St. Jerome in his Study.” Again, we see St. Jerome in red robe and hat like a Cardinal at his study desk with his faithful lion in the background which tradition says he had helped in the forest by removing a thorn in its paw. At the foreground are two birds: a peacock which is an ancient Christian symbol of eternal life that our saint meditated often (reason why he always has a skull in other paintings), and a partridge, a reference to St. Jerome’s notorious temper as the bird often represents jealous rage. Photo from Google.

Praying like San Padre Pio

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Feast of St. Padre Pio, 23 September 2019

Ezra 1:1-6 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 8:16-18

Chapel of San Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. Photo by Arch. Philip Santiago, 2017.

Praise and glory to you, O Lord our God and almighty Father! You never cease to amaze us, doing great marvels for us your people. Despite our sins, you always make yourself present among us in so many ways.

In the first reading from Ezra, you have used the pagan king of Persia, Cyrus, to be the instrument in fulfilling your promise to Israel to bring them back home from their Babylonian exile.

In our modern time, you have sent us San Padre Pio to prove and show to us that worrying is useless in this age when we believe and rely more with science and technology than with you, a loving and personal God who had come to us in Jesus Christ.

Teach us to be like San Padre Pio to “pray, hope and not worry” by embracing Christ crucified, by bearing all the pains and sufferings in love contrary to the ways of the world seeking power, wealth, fame, and pleasures.

From Google.

May we befriend silence and prayer than the noise of the world; may we persevere in patiently waiting for you than be in the foolish “rat race” with no winner at all; and, may we believe in things we cannot see with our eyes contrary the modern dictum to see is to believe.

Give us the courage of San Padre Pio to bring out your light, Lord, especially at this time when people claiming to be liberal and progressive are calling for so many rights that are outrightly wrong, destroying the human person, family, and society.

May our hands bear the wounds of your crucifixion, Lord Jesus, like San Padre Pio in praying to you and serving you through those most in need. Amen.

Christ among us, our hope of glory!

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Week XXIII, Year I, 09 September 2019

Colossians 1:24-2:3 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 6:6-11

Photo by Fernando Andrade on Pexels.com

What a wonderful way to start the week of work and school with you, O Lord Jesus Christ dwelling in me! St. Paul perfectly said it in today’s first reading:

“God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.”

Colossians 1:27

Inspire me, Jesus, like St. Paul not to be disheartened by suffering, to be filled with passion in proclaiming your gospel not only in words but most of all in deeds. Take away all the hurts and pains, insecurities and doubts within me that prevent you from reigning in me.

Remind me, Jesus, that your gospel is not a philosophy nor a collection of doctrines or of ethics but your very person so that in preaching and witnessing your gospel, I may lead others to a personal encounter with you, O Lord.

Dwell in me, Jesus Christ, and let me do something good today like what you did to the man with a withered hand on a sabbath day. Amen.

Prayer for consolation

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Week XXII, Year I, 02 September 2019

1Thessalonians 4:13-18 ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 4:16-30

Yvoire, France. Photo by Fr. Gerry Pascual, August

“Therefore, console one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:18

Today, O Lord, I felt your words fulfilled in my hearing.

When St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians in the first reading of your resurrection and of your second coming any time, I felt a dash of hope and sense of joy within because I feel no longer alone because you are with me.

How sad, O Lord, that despite our many advancements in the sciences and technology, we are still alone, fragmented as a people where nobody seem to care at all with one another, always moving, going places, refusing to even stay in one place anymore.

Sometimes, our words are alienating than consoling.

From the ancient language of Latin, help us reflect on the true meaning of to console which is from “con” or with, and, “solare” for alone that together literally mean “to accompany someone alone” or to be with somebody who is alone.

We are no longer alone, Lord, in your presence especially in your words and the Eucharist. Problem is, like your own folks, we always abandon you, leave you alone or worst, even drive you out of our homes for various reasons.

Help us to console, to accompany those alone, by sharing your words of life by giving life to your words to those around us especially the sick, those going through many challenges in life, and those abandoned by family and friends and society.

Let us come to you, welcome you instead of driving you away. Amen.

We are God’s chosen people

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Week XXI, Year I, 26 August 2019

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10 ><)))*> Matthew 23:13-22

From Google.

We are now at the final stretch of the month of August, Lord, and everybody is thinking of September already, counting the days until Christmas.

How sad, O Lord, that we are so focused with the dates and we miss the event of your coming to us, of your birth. No wonder we also miss your great gift of calling us unto you, of making us your new chosen people.

St. Paul reminds us today of how you have loved us, God, of how we were chosen and called in Christ Jesus to become his body, the Church.

How sad that these days, churches and houses of worship have become more of places to meet for lovers and friends than for people to gather as a community of disciples waiting for the Lord’s coming again.

How sad that like the scribes and Pharisees of the time of Jesus, we have also become hypocrites living in the darkness of sin and self-centeredness, believing more in our selves than in you.

Lead us out anew, Lord, from the many darkness that blind us and prevent us from living a life of faith in you and love among our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our foolish hearts

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Monday, Week XX, Year I, 19 August 2019

Judges 2:11-19 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Matthew 19:16-22

Grotto at Baguio (Mirador Hill), February 2019.

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 2:11-19

Sometimes I wonder why, O God, you did not just fix our hearts on you so we would remain in you?

Like the experiences of your people during the time of judges in Israel, our lives have become like one big vicious circle too difficult to break but so easy to predict: we turn away from you, our lives go wayward, we repent, you forgive us, then we go back to you, we are blessed and then, after some period of peace and prosperity, we again turn away from you, our lives go wayward and the cycle continues.

What a foolish heart we have, O Lord.

But, you are so filled with love and mercy for us, believing in us always for the ability to change and remain in you despite our weaknesses.

Thank you for never completely abandoning us, for always having that gaze filled with love like Jesus looking onto that young man in the gospel who walked away sad because he could not completely commit himself to serving you and loving you with all his heart.

Keep us faithful to you, enlighten our minds and our hearts to trust only in you even if the journey is full of dangers and difficulties.

We pray in a special way for our brothers and sisters suffering with various forms of cancer. May the prayers of St. Ezequiel Moreno grant them healing. Amen.

From Google.