Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church, 28 January 2026 2 Samuel 7:4-7 <*[[[[>< +++ ><]]]]*> Mark 4:1-20
Photo by Nikola u010cedu00edkovu00e1 on Pexels.com
"May tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita."
A Filipino saying to express how news and rumors travel so fast because "The soil (or land) has ears, news has wings."
It sounds funny, Lord Jesus that this saying came to my mind upon hearing your parable that started with your words "Hear this! A sower went out..." and ended, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear" (Mark 4:3, 9).
What an art you have endowed each of us Lord with two ears so that we may listen and hear twice than speak; how lovely you have shaped our ears that when put together, they look like a heart and yet, we rarely listen at all to you and with others.
Make us like the good soil, Jesus: open to receive your words, open to welcome your many possibilities, open to simply be ourselves so that you may transform us like the seeds that grew and produced fruits.
Remind us, Lord Jesus, like David by Nathan that far more better than buildings on land is our hearts where you desire most to dwell; may our hearts remain your temple planted on good, firm soil that it may be felt alive always.
Teach us to imitate your great Saint Thomas Aquinas we remember today: that we may cultivate to prepare our hearts and minds to become like the good soil so that your seeds of the Gospel may grow and bear fruit for your greater glory. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul, 23 July 2025 Wednesday, Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 13:1-9
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, San Miguel, Bulacan, 2022.
Lord Jesus, you are the Sower and your seed is always good: wherever it falls, it grows; most of all, you are most good as you never tire of going out to sow your good seed!
“A sower went out to sow… Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Matthew 13:3,9).
“The Sower” painting by Van Gogh from en.wikipedia.org
Open my heart and my soul, dear Jesus to listen intently to your word and be a "rich soil" like St. Bridget of Sweden whose devotion to family, to her people especially the poor and to Church reforms that led to the return of the papacy to Rome proved her to be a seed well sown; there are times when I am just like the path where your seeds fell that fed only the birds; quite often, I am like the rocky ground so full of enthusiasm but wanes quickly when challenges come; worst of all, Lord Jesus, free me from the many thorns that steal me from you that I stop maturing and growing; let me be the rich soil who receives you and your seed: let your light of truth and warmth of faith help me grow; may your hope nourish me especially when days are dark and nights are long; most of all, water me with your love and charity to bear all and be fruitful. Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
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