Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 22 September 2026
Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13     ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>     Luke 8:19-21

I pray for all
those suffering today,
Lord Jesus;
for those hoping to see
you, to talk to you even for a while
like your mother and brothers
in the gospel;
why did you not go out to see
them right away?
I felt sad.
And disappointed.

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 annd they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of G0d and act on it” (Luke 8:19-21).

Luke never bothered
to tell us what they wanted
from you, Lord;
but your reply got me praying
more deeply and these
I realized:
you love us so much
Jesus,
your words always in us,
in our hearts
but many times we do not listen;
Mary and your brothers know
that so well
and they never protested;
in fact,
they affirmed your words
by remaining silent,
trusting you as always;
most of all,
your reply teaches us
your disciples
to widen,
to enlarge
the bounds of our family:
if we choose to listen
and act on the Word of God,
we must at the same time
become a member of the
family of Jesus.

Teach us to be like
that king in the first reading
willing to bow
his will and desires to
God despite his power
and authority;
give me a listening heart,
a will so pliant to your ways
so that I may welcome those
trying to get close to you
Jesus because they hurt;
many times our pains
are so pronounced because
we have no room
for those seeking you,
Jesus.
Amen.