Tag: Mondays

Decluttering our inner self

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Week XIX, Year I, 12 August 2019
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 >< }}}*> < *{{{>< Matthew 17:22-27
From Google.

Moses said to the people: “Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.”

Deuteronomy 10:16

Your words, O Lord, today are so shocking. Even funny. And difficult to relate with.

But that is exactly what we need to hear and learn these days: your words that shake and jolt our inner selves that cleanse and lead us to a more genuine and intimate relationship with you.

Like those Israelites wandering at the desert, rebelling against you, we have become stiff-necked. We have refused to look up to you as well as look inside our hearts to see you and follow you.

Help us to circumcise our hearts – not physically but spiritually – like what Marie Kondo has been advocating of decluttering our spaces to experience inner joy. So often we refuse to admit how our outer selves and homes look like indicate our inner selves.

It is you, Lord Jesus, who probes our hearts and guide us like Marie Kondo, step by step, to declutter our hearts.

May your light enable us to see and remove the many stacks of materialism, compartments of insecurities, and drawers of pretensions and other lies that clutter our inner selves, our hearts that keep us away from you and from others.

Like what you did today in the gospel when you taught Peter a beautiful lesson of being nice among our enemies and detractors who try to destroy us always, may we look more often inside our hearts to see YOU as the most essential in life than simply following the ways of the world.

May the example of St. Jane Frances Chantal whose feast we celebrate today, help us to keep that inner glow of your love within us when facing difficult situations in life like problems with in-laws and being widowed.

Fill us with the same charity you have given her in helping the poor as well as the forgotten people of the society.

We pray through her intercession for parents and children separated from one another due to many reasons, either by choice or circumstances.

Bless also the members of the congregation she had founded, the Sisters of Visitation that they may continue her wonderful works of charity among the poor. Amen.

God makes all things new

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major, 05 August 2019
Revelation 21:1-5 >< )))*> <*((( >< Luke 11:27-28
Mural painting of Mary and Child Jesus at Monte Sant’ Angelo, Citta Longobarda, Italy. Photo by Arch. Philip Santiago. 2018.

Praise and glory to you, our loving Father in heaven for this new day, Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major, the first Marian Shrine and one of the Mother Churches in our eternal city of Rome.

Indeed, you make all things new as St. John had seen in his vision at Patmos when he wrote the Book of Revelation.

And the best part of it is how you make all things new with Mary, the Mother of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Give us the grace to be like Mary intimately one with you and your will in Christ Jesus.

Help us to be open in receiving your word, bearing fruit in words and in deeds as we share it with others. Amen.

Dome of St. Mary Major in Rome. Photo by Arch. Philip Santiago, 2018.

Remaining in the Lord

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Wk. XVI, Yr. I, Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, 22 July 2019
2 Corinthians 5:14-17 >< }}}*> >< }}}*> John 20:1-2, 11-18
Jesus telling Mary Magdalene not to touch him in a painting at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy. Photo from Google.

What a beautiful way to start our week of work and studies today with the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, O Lord!

In St. Mary Magdalene we see, O Jesus, your infinite love and mercy and forgiveness no matter how dark is our past. In St. Mary Magdalene we also see, O Jesus, our new life and relationship with you especially when you called her by her name “Mary” on that Easter morning.

Open our hearts every morning, especially when we feel everything is lost, when everything is so dark to that we too may hear your sweet voice calling us by name.

One beautiful lesson we have learned from St. Mary Magdalene is the need to remain in you, Jesus. After being converted, Mary never left your side along with the other women who have come to follow you and help you in your needs.

On the Cross when your disciples have left you, St. Mary Magdalene remained at your foot along with your Mother and beloved disciple John.

On the first day of the week, it was also St. Mary Magdalene who remained faithful to you by coming to your tomb to bring spices and perfume; and, when she found it empty, she was the one who remained faithful to your teachings by informing St. Peter of the situation.

Most of all, during that dark morning at the empty tomb, it was St. Mary Magdalene who remained outside, remaining faithful to you, waiting in tears for developments as she asked everyone around in the hope of finding and retrieving your missing body.

The scene may be funny, Lord, but embarrassing and shameful to us your disciples who always leave you especially when the cross becomes too heavy and bloody! And when everything is dark and empty, unlike St. Mary Magdalene, we are nowhere to be found.

From Google.

Let us remain in you, Jesus, like St. Mary Magdalene especially when everybody else is leaving or had left you at the cross or the empty tomb.

Let us boldly proclaim not only in words but most especially in deeds like St. Mary Magdalene that we have seen you, that we are now a new creation in you. Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

When life gets harder…

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Wk. XV, Yr. I, 15 July 2019, Feast of St. Bonaventure
Exodus 1:8-14, 22 >< )))*> <*((( >< Matthew 10:34-11:1
The Sphinx and Pyramids of Egypt. Photo by author, 09 May 2019.

It is that time of the year again, Lord, when life gets harder with the rains, with all the expenses piling up along with a hosts of so many other problems besetting us.

Others call these months of July until August as the “ghost months” when so many difficulties come along our way. But of course, we believe more in you.

Like in our Responsorial Psalm today, we sing “Our help is in the name of the Lord.”

Most of all, like the people of Israel living in Egypt long after Joseph had gone who were subjected to cruel slavery by the Pharaoh and his men, “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread” (Ex.1:12).

Our almighty Father, keep us close to you through your Son Jesus Christ.

Let us rely more to you in him through the Holy Spirit when life gets harder for us.

May we learn more from him so we may follow him closer than ever especially during times of trials and difficulties.

Keep us faithful in Christ for “whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt.10:39).

Amen.

Our awesome God

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Wk. XIV, Yr. I, 08 July 2019
Genesis 28:10-22 >< )))*> >< )))*> Matthew 9:18-26
Tourists taking a peek into the awesome ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Photo by author 30 April 2019.

Surprise us always, O Lord!

Surprise us with your simple presence in the most ordinary events and things of daily life.

Envelop us in your surprising presence like Jacob in today’s first reading.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!” In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!”

Genesis 28:16-17

The whole earth, O Lord God, is your abode but we do not know it. Or, we refuse to recognize it most of the time.

Grant us that “solemn wonder” of Jacob beyond ordinary things your presence O God.

Grant us that deep faith on Jesus by the official who begged he could bring back to life his dead daughter.

Grant us that fervent hope of the hemorrhagic woman who reached to touch the tassel of the cloak of Jesus so she can be healed of her sickness.

Like these three people, let us not be limited or constricted by simple and complex things and situations alike because we have an awesome God in you, O Lord!

Thank you in surprising us again with this morning, Lord. Amen.

Sunrise at Lake Tiberias, the Holy Land. Photo by author, 02 May 2019.

Prayer is God entering a dialogue with us

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Monday, Week XIII, Year I, 01 July 2019
Genesis 18:16-33 >< )))*> <*((( >< Matthew 8:18-22
Man loses head in prayer before God. Photo by JJ Jimeno of GMA-7 News, 27 May 2019.

Thank you very much, our dearest loving Father for the grace to pray to you always. Thank you very much in entering into a dialogue with us, Lord, when you make us feel your presence with us.

We pray because you come. Most of all, whatever we say when we pray is completely because of you!

You perfectly know well our needs long before we call on you. And that is why, even our basic prayer the Our Father were the words of your Son Jesus Christ. Our second most frequently recited prayer, the Hail Mary were the words of the Angel Gabriel you have sent to Mary and of the Holy Spirit speaking through Elizabeth during the Visitation.

Abraham also prayed to you for the just people of Sodom and Gomorrah because you made the first move of coming to visit him at Mamre. You were the first to make the move to enter into a dialogue with him.

And this is what makes prayer so wonderful and beautiful: you always reveal yourself to us as well as your plans.

The Lord reflected: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him.”

Genesis 18:17-19

Like Abraham, teach us to listen to your words, O Lord, that we may perceive your Divine Will so that eventually we may find the best possible way to respond to you and your words.

Abraham interceded for the remaining just people of Sodom and Gomorrah which you eventually destroyed but after giving a chance for Lot and his family to flee to safety.

Abraham’s example shows us that in our dialogue with you in prayer, O God, any one of us can turn to you as toward a friend of whom we can ask anything, toward a father whose love and complete generosity is so well known.

Teach us to be hospitable like Abraham, always open to welcome you into ourselves especially Jesus Christ “the Son of Man who has nowhere to rest his head” (Mt.8:20).

Our almighty Father, help us find in prayer the place where we discern good and evil, where we become aware of what you ask of us and most of all, what we await from you our dearest God. Amen.

Where are you leading me, Lord?

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, 24 June 2019
Isaiah 49:1-6 >< }}}*> Acts 13:22-26 >< }}}*> Luke 1:57-66, 80
St. John the Baptist Church in Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Photo by author, 05 May 2019.

Praise and glory to you, O God our almighty Father! Thank you very much for the gift of life, for the gift of being born into this world to see and experience your majesty. Indeed, it is always good to be alive, no matter what our condition or status in life may be.

Unfortunately, Lord, there are so many times in life that we fail to see life’s beauty because we have taken control over ourselves and everything, leaving no room for you to work in us, with us and through us. So many times, Lord, we wonder what we would be like what the neighbors and relatives of John the Baptist said when he was born.

All who heard this these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

Luke 1:66

Perhaps, it will be best for us today to be silent as we celebrate John the Baptist’s birthday to let your hand be upon us too, O God, so we may ponder and pray where you are leading us.

It is the start of work and studies for another week. Some of us are getting tired of the routine, some of us could no longer find meaning and direction in life. And some of us are on the brink of giving up on our many plans and even with our very lives!

Let your hand be upon us, Lord, and lead us to your direction. Guide us with your Holy Spirit. Teach us to lay aside our plans and personal agenda to allow you to take us where you would want us to be. Give us the courage to take that plunge into the unknown, trusting you alone wherever you may be leading us.

So many times Lord, we are like John the Baptist’s father Zechariah who believe so much with ourselves that we forget to trust you.

And many times, too, we are like the relatives and neighbors of Elizabeth who always interfere with your plans, insisting on following traditions and patterns, preventing you from surprising us.

Keep us silent today, Lord, to hear you more, to follow you more wherever you are leading us. Amen.

Pilgrims outside the Church of St. John the Baptist in Ein Karem waiting for their turn to enter his birthplace. What a beautiful sight of people still patiently waiting for God to lead them closer to him.

Lord Jesus, we are happy to be your priests!

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul, Wk. XI, Yr. I, 17 June 2019
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 >< )))*> >< )))*> Matthew 5:38-42
Ordination of our new deacons, 12 June 2019, Minor Basilica and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Malolos City. Photo by Lorenzo Atienza.

Our feast is still a month and a half away but Lord Jesus Christ, I just feel like telling you today along with my brothers in ministry that we are happy to be your priests!

Thank you for the gift of vocation, thank you for the gift of three new deacons, and thank you for the gift of a new bishop!

St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading are so touching, reminding us of your great love for us to be your ministers of the word. But, they are also very challenging especially when there are some of us who have received your grace in vain, so attached with the trimmings and perks of your call, forgetting you Jesus, our Caller.

Forgive us in failing you, Lord, and help us find our way back to you.

Thank you for our faithful priests who lead and inspire us especially our fellow workers silently shepherding the flock, smelling like the sheep as Pope Francis had asked us to be, always avoiding the limelight now so glaring in the Church.

Thank you also for our old and sick priests, especially those who have aged gracefully, embracing retirement without much complaints and whines.

With St. Paul, we commend ourselves to you O Jesus “through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints” (2Cor.6:4) that many of us now evade or, deny.

It is a very interesting time to be your priests today, Lord, when people no longer believe us and your Church, when people doubt and malign us, and when the “faithful” are not so faithful at all, deserting us. Keep us to remain standing by your side at the Cross like the beloved disciple with Mary our Mother.

We are treated as deceivers and yet at truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:8-10

Fill us with Holy Spirit, Jesus our Eternal Priest, so our minds and hearts may be enlightened to seek and follow and stand by your truth always. Amen.

The Gospel Book on which every new deacon and priest professes his faith before the Bishop shortly before the Mass of his Ordination. Photo by Lorenzo Atienza.

Our Mother, Our Home

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul, Wk. X, Yr. II
Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, 10 June 2019
Genesis 3:9-15, 20 >< }}}*> <*{{{ >< John 19:25-34
From Google.

As we resume the Ordinary Time today Lord Jesus, remind us not to take this longest period in our liturgical calendar lightly because it is “ordinary”. It must have been your will when you instructed Pope Francis last year to declare every Monday after the Pentecost as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

Thank you Lord for reminding us today to always relive and fulfill the words you have spoken as you hung upon the Cross:

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:26-27

How wonderful that in one of your final acts before your death, you ensured an adoption arrangement for your mother whom you would leave behind when you finally ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

But more than that, you are also teaching us that Mary as the image of the Church is also our home, that like the beloved disciple, we have to take her home we may come home to her.

Give us that grace in this Ordinary Time as your disciples that we take Mary your Mother as our Mother too, both as an individual and as the Church. What a great honor to be like your beloved disciple that you entrusted your Mother to us. May we be your true disciples always in loving union with you like Mary.

To love Mary and to protect her is to love and protect your Church O Lord that is now under attacks more than ever in history.

Forgive us for the many times we have wounded and hurt in so many instances the Church in the same manner we have done with our own mother.

Teach us to be like you, a faithful and loving son, who thought until the end at your brink of death the safety and security of your Mother and of your Church. Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church. From Google.

Peace in Jesus

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul, Monday, Easter VII, 03 June 2019
Acts 19:1-8 >< }}}*> >< }}}*> John 16:29-33
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

We are fast approaching the closing of your Easter Season, Lord Jesus, but your daily readings remind us that following you is not all glory. The joy of Easter remains to be found in the Cross of your Good Friday.

Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

John 16:32-33

It is very true, Lord Jesus, how in the world we always have trouble witnessing for what is true and good, for what right and just, for what is decent and moral.

We are so scattered not only due to our running away from you but also scattered within us when we often choose what we know is wrong and sinful but later get so bothered and guilty without any peace at all.

Free us, Jesus from the powers of darkness that envelop us and let your Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and our hearts to follow your holy will even to the Cross.

Let it sink into our hearts that there is no shortcut to peace, that we always have to allow your Holy Spirit to work in us like the example of St. Paul when he preached you among the people of Ephesus.

True peace in you can only come from love borne out in the spirit of justice and respect for life and persons. Like St. Charles Lwanga and his 21 companion martyrs in Uganda, help us to see our value as a person, keeping our body, mind and spirit clean from all sins.

Help us muster your gift of courage in our hearts like the martyrs to witness your truth and your love. Amen. 

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