Tag: mystery of life

Lent is being wrapped in the mysteries of God

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, First Week in Lent, 12 March 2025
Jonah 3:1-10     + + +     Luke 11:29-32
Photo by author, Timberland Highlands Resort, San Mateo, Rizal, 08 March 2025.
Fill me, O God,
with wonder and awe
for you like Jonah!
Surprise me always
of your goodness among
your peoples;
help me in my unbelief!

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:1-5).

Loving God our Father,
you are so great and awesome,
more wide than the great city
of Nineveh yet so mysterious
that Jonah himself could not 
believe what he had seen:
the people of Nineveh believed 
in you and repented
a mere half day yet 
when he proclaimed
your message to them!

Many times in life,
we are like Jonah -
very reluctant in following
you, in obeying you because
your ways are so different, 
even beyond comprehension
yet so real; many times,
we feel we know more 
than you know; most of all,
most of the time, 
we insist our own
even to you.
Sorry, Lord.
Photo by author, Hidden Valley Springs Resort, Calauan, Laguna, 20 February 2025.
In this Season of Lent,
banish our evil thoughts,
banish the many reasons
and explanations we have
to open our minds and our hearts
to your mysteries
so we may read your many
signs of presence and power,
love and mercy
for us even in this time
in the world
when it has become
more difficult to believe in you
due to modern trends,
most especially of our own
stubbornness;
grant us that same disposition
you gave Jonah who finally
believed and obeyed you
in doing your work
in the way you want it done.
Amen.

A special prayer for widows

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Hildegard, Virgin & Doctor of Church, 17 September 2024
1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31     <'[[[[><  +  ><]]]]'>     Luke 7:11-17
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompnaied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep” (Luke 7:11-13).

Today, O God our Father,
you remind us of life's fragility, 
of life's daily crossings
into a gate, a portal
of death and life,
of weeping and rejoicing,
of absence and presence
like Jesus drawing near
to the gate of the city of Nain;
you give us each day
a chance to enter each day
filled with life and joy,
love and mercy
of your Son Jesus Christ.
We pray most especially for widows
who have lost everything:
their husband,
their son or daughter,
their joy and meaning in life;
help them cross each day's
gate and portal of their daily Nain;
how lovely that Jesus was 
moved by the widowed mother
not by the dead son to be buried;
many times we forget the living
especially widows
without realizing the unique
pains and hurts they go through
in losing a husband
and a child.
Take care, dear Jesus,
of the widows and widowers too
who often cry alone,
suffer in silence
for their loss;
visit them today with
your warmth and joy
to comfort them with your
loving presence through
their family and friends,
the Church which is your Body.
Through the intercession of the 
great mystic St. Hildegarde von Bingen,
may widows and widowers
experience what she had written that
"The mystery of God hugs you
in its all-encompassing mystery."
Amen.
From quotefancy.com