We are John the Baptist, a Suffering Servant of God too.

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time,
Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, 24 June 2026
Isaiah 49:1-6 ><}}}}*> Acts 13:22-26 ><}}}}*> Luke 1:57-66, 80

*View of a decorated Christmas tree and tower of the Franciscan Monastery of St Saviour locally also known as San Salvador monastery in the Christian Quarter Old city East Jerusalem*

Six months from now we celebrate Christmas because today is the birthday of the Lord’s cousin and precursor, St. John the Baptist; but, before we rejoice at the fast approaching Christmas, let us reflect first on the joy of John’s parents, relatives and local folks following his birth.

When the time arrive for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her (Luke 1:57-58)

It was indeed a great celebration for everyone in the hill country of Judah when John was born: his parents were both old and his mother Elizabeth was already barren when she conceived John.

Both parents were from the priestly family, very prominent with a great lineage. Most likely, they were the envy of their relatives and neighbors in practically having every good thing in life except a child to inherit and propagate their good name and wealth; when John was born, God gave them more than a child – here was the precursor of the Messiah, the promised Elijah who returned to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Photo by author, May 2019, Church of St. John the Baptist, Ein Karem, Israel.*

It was a joy that did not come easily, with much pains and sufferings and self-doubts along the way that took a long time of waiting too.

This birth of John teaches us that behind every joy is always a great deal of sufferings, doubts, and darkness in life.

Imagine the inner turmoil within Zechariah when the angel appeared to him announcing the birth of John while incensing the Holy of Holies on the most important Jewish feast: he doubted the angel’s good news not because he had lost faith in God but simply got “tired” with God.

Zechariah was having a sort of tampo as we call it in Filipino because God did not seem to listen to his prayers for a son.

It happens with us when we have turned indifferent in our faith even with God when he seems not to care at all to our prayers and requests that we keep on failing the board exam or gets denied repeatedly in our job or visa applications. We still pray with our lips not with our heart just for the sake of praying without really believing in its efficacy, if God listens to us at all.

Or like Elizabeth who went into a self-imposed silence, withdrawing from public view during her pregnancy with John because she felt herself so unworthy of God’s blessing.

Today, the birth of John the Baptist teaches us that every disciple as a precursor of Christ is an image of God’s Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah:

Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the lord, my recompense is with my God (Isaiah 49:4).

*Photo by author of the site believed to be the birthplace of St. John the Baptist at the side of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Ein Karem, Israel, May 2019.*

There are actually three songs of the Suffering Servant in the Book of Isaiah that prefigure Jesus Christ who suffered and died and rose again on the third day. However, it is widely believed and interpreted that in the second song of the Suffering Servant we heard today, the Servant referred to is John the Baptist.

Although John recognized Jesus as the promised Christ during his baptism at Jordan, he was the first to suffer and die a martyr when thrown into prison for speaking the truth against Herod’s taking of his brother’s wife Herodias. There we find that image of God’s Suffering Servant in John’s mission and ministry, reminding us of the great difficulties and dangers in preparing the way of the Lord.

We are all a John the Baptist and a Zechariah and Elizabeth rolled into one like the Suffering Servant for we are all a forerunner of Jesus Christ.

*Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.*

Many times we too have felt like them in doubting our efforts in witnessing Christ and his gospel, when these seemed to have gone in vain especially today when the world is trying hard to delete God from every aspect of life.

Witnessing the gospel of Christ, speaking and fighting for what is true and good, for what is just and fair, even in simply being human and decent can already be strenuous, exhausting and often discouraging.

There are times we feel ineffective, even at the losing end only to realize later how our little efforts have actually contributed in making God’s kingdom to truly come with our life of mission and witnessing Christ because like the Suffering Servant, we have felt deep within us the certainty of God working in us, most especially of him being the Almighty One.

We have proven many times God prevails, how good always triumphs for it is when we are weak that we are strongest in Christ as St. Paul declared in one of his writings.

The next time you feel so down in life, in your mission whether in your personal life or family, in your work or in your apostolate and ministry, have a heart: like Zechariah and Elizabeth keep focused on the Lord for Christ surely comes. Rejoice in all your efforts, though little even insignificant for you and for others, they are God working in us.

Keep in mind too the meaning of the names of our main personalities today: Elizabeth in Hebrew is “God promised” while Zechariah is “God remembered” while John means “God is gracious”. Indeed, God is gracious all the time because he always remembers his promise to us. Amen. May God bless you abundantly today like Zechariah and Elizabeth!

*Painting of Zechariah giving name to his son John by Italian painter Riccardo Cessi (1892) from commons.wikimedia.org.*

Lead me, Lord, to your narrow gate.

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 23 June 2026
2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-35, 36 <*(((>< + ><)))*> Matthew 7:6, 12-14

*Photo by Mr. Vigie Ongleo somewhere in Colorado, 03 June 2026.*

Lead me Lord Jesus
to your "narrow gate
and constricted road that
leads to life" (Matthew 7:14)
by teaching me to be
more trusting,
obedient to your will by
let me go
of my many concerns
and worries,
of my fears and
reluctance.

Like Hezekiah
the King of Judah,
let me be led by you,
O God most powerful
who loves me so much;
let me value most this
relationship with you, 
Lord that I may never turn
to anybody else
except you.
Amen.

Our many idols

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of Sts. John Fisher & Thomas More, Martyrs, 22 June 2026
2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 7:1-5

*Photo by author, Malolos Cathedral, June 2019.*

Teach us,
O Lord, to pray
and persevere like
Sts. John Fisher 
and Thomas More
to always have the same 
wisdom and courage
to serve our country well
by remaining your faithful servants
first; in this world so advanced
in science and technology,
many have veered away from
you, God our Father;
we have come to worship so many idols:
our bloated egos with all kinds
of selfish thoughts and ideas 
we hide as rights and freedom;
our body that we adore,
more like vanity than health;
other personalities we blindly follow
and imitate; relationships and habits
that take precedence over you,
O Lord.

May the fall of Israel to Assyria
in the first reading remind us today
to always examine the "plank" in our
eyes Jesus spoke of in the gospel,
of how modern things may be blinding us,
leading us away from you, God
who is our life and meaning.
Amen.

Brave. And gracious. Like Alex Eala.

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 21 June 2026
Jeremiah 20:10-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 5:12-15 ><}}}}*> Matthew 10:26-30

BERLIN, GERMANY – JUNE 18: Alexandra Eala of the Philippines reacts to defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the second round on Day Four of the 2026 Berlin Tennis Open at LTTC Rot-Weiß e.V. on June 18, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

God has a most amazing way of consoling us Filipinos when everything is so dismal in the country, sending us athletes who uplift our spirits and make us proud as a nation. In the not so distant past we have had Manny Pacquiao and Olympic gold medalists Hidilyn Diaz and Carlos Yulo cheering us up.

And now, we have the lovely but tenacious and gritty Alex Eala who just made history anew this week with her two upset wins in the ongoing Berlin Tennis Open when she prevailed over WTA number 2 Elena Rybakin Thursday then Friday crushed number eight Elina Svitolina. (Update: Eala lost to Linda Noskova last night.)

Watch her interviews in both victories where Eala mentioned her being “brave” in her games as she described too both matches filled with “grace” – so very much like this Sunday’s gospel where Jesus mentioned thrice the need to be brave!

Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known… And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… So do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).

*Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, in Ericeira, Portugal, 16 June 2026.*

After choosing and sending his Twelve Apostles last Sunday, Jesus reminds them including us today of the need to have courage in working in the Lord’s “abundant harvests” because the good news goes directly against the ways of the world.

This we have learned at the start of this year in the Lord’s sermon on the mount where he taught us the Beatitudes last February 1, fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Though the Beatitudes like being poor, being hungry and thirsty are not to be taken literally, they still run contrary to the ways of world of power and wealth, fame and convenience.

As the world advances in science and technology, the more it veers away from God and do away with morals that in the process, the Church has always faced many contradictions, some with violent reactions even persecutions for her stance against abortion and population control, divorce and same-sex marriage and other anti-life measures now so widespread through the social media.

It is not only difficult and painful for the Church as an institution but most especially for each of us disciples of Christ that we can easily identify with the Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading.

Of the four major prophets, Jeremiah was the youngest and the only one sent by God to his own people to prophesy. That is why it was so painful for Jeremiah to experience in the hands of his own folks and kin being maligned and rejected, and betrayed just like most of us today!

Jeremiah said: “I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!’ All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. ‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.’ But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion… Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!” (Jeremiah 20:10-11, 13)

Like Jeremiah, we have complained and even cried to God many times for our sufferings in doing his will to be just and fair, kind and merciful, even charitable; and like him, we could not resist God’s call and mission despite the pains and hurts because we too felt “duped” and “seduced” by the Lord (Jer.20:7) as we felt deep inside us his love and protection. Like all the saints who suffered much in witnessing the gospel, we felt deep inside God as our very strength as we pray more to forge on in the difficult mission of doing his works.

*Photo by author, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.*

When Jesus asks us to “fear no one”, he is inviting us to primarily fear God most of all for he knows everything and will judge us in the end. It is a kind of reverential fear, not the kind of fear of a slave to a master of being reprimanded and punished.

To “fear no one” and “be not afraid” do not mean that we disregard our fears of being hurt or killed physically and emotionally; it is call to have courage which is facing our fears. Having no fears in life is not normal. As we say in the province, yung walang takot sira tuktok!

To fear the Lord means to recognize the sanctity of life, the blessedness of every person. See Eala’s attitude of being magnanimous in victory and in defeat as she would always praise and recognize the talents and greatness of her opponents. In her we find the truth that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” – that every person is a subject to be loved and cherished, not an object or thing to be used or possessed, without feelings and dignity.

This is the tragedy exposed by the recent deaths of the two Ateneo athletes, and it involves almost all UAAP members these past decades who have given more priorities in winning trophies above all, forgetting the value of every person. True enough, it is a secret slowly becoming known.

Likewise, to be not afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul is to recognize the soul in each one of us, of Christ’s indwelling within us, enabling us to overcome every obstacle in life.

It is like being a pencil: remember the inside is more essential than the outside. That is our identity as God’s beloved child.

Our physical strength actually draws much of its power and stamina from our inner core than merely from our bones and muscles. Hence, the need for prayers and meditation, for conditioning to realize our giftedness and value.

When this happens, the third call of Jesus becomes automatic which is to be not afraid because we are worth more than many sparrows or anything else in this world.

Why? Because God is gracious!

To recognize our fears and vulnerabilities as well as weaknesses is in itself courage, fearing no one except God who alone heals us. Most of all, who alone is our strength in our weaknesses. Let us not be afraid in this life to do what is good, to stand for what is right and just, to proclaim the gospel of Christ’s salvation because God is gracious especially to those who abide in him through Christ. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead! And say a prayer for Alex Eala.

Treasures we eye, treasures we keep

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 19 June 2026
2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 6:19-23

Thank you dear Lord for the last week,
thank you for this beautiful Friday
as you give us this sacred moment
to examine two vital organs
of our body:
our heart,
our eyes
the both lead us
to treasures we eye,
treasures we keep.

"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be" (Matthew 6:21).

Guide me,
Jesus as I look inward
into my heart
to see what occupies it
most of the time,
what I value
and desire much daily in life,
the things and even persons
perhaps I hold onto,
protect and depend on
for meaning and security,
the things and people
I value most,
I treasure
more than you.

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be" (Matthew 6:22-23).

How lovely are your words,
Jesus,
because what we look at,
what we focus on
with our eyes
do not merely inform us
of what we see
but mostly shape our inner self,
filling our hearts
and thus
forming our sense of who we are;
what we look at,
what we choose to see
either lead us to light
or darkness
like Athaliah in the first
reading who was consumed with
wealth and power.

Teach me,
Jesus,
to focus my eyes
on those things
and persons
who can make me see you
more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more closely.
Amen.

Why pray?

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 18 June 2026
Sirach 48:1-14 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 6:7-15

As we move deeper into Ordinary Time,
your words today Lord Jesus Christ
are so appropriate and timely,
answering our perennial question,
"why pray?"

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

Actually,
our question becomes more
pressing: why pray at all if
the Father knows what we need
before we ask him?

Thank you dear Jesus
in giving us the grace to pray
despite our questions on the need
to pray; indeed, the Father knows
very well our needs even before
we pray but we need to pray because
we do not know what the Father needs from us.

Teach us to be like the Father's
two great prophets,
Elijah and Elisha
who prayed deeply in their lives
to know and follow the plans
and will of God;
most of all, 
like Elijah and Elisha,
may we realize that prayer
is primarily a relationship,
a friendship in you, O Lord;
you do not need our prayers,
Jesus but we need you so much;
without you, we are nothing;
without prayer therefore, we die
for it is prayer that sustains us in you.
Amen.

“Please stay here… I will not leave you.”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 17 June 2026
2 Kings 2:1, 16-14 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Your words today,
O Lord, 
are lovely paradoxes
expressed in the two readings:
from the second book of Kings,
you invite us to walk with
Elijah and Elisha to experience
both being a mentor and a student,
a companion in life's journey,
comfortable in conversation
and silence, most especially 
in doing your will.

Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied (2Kings 2:6).

And that is how life is,
people come like family and friends
but eventually we part ways
and in every separation,
there remains God who keeps
our bonds together,
even getting stronger after death,
the ultimate separation.
Here you call us, Lord, 
to witness to others your loving presence
as part of our mission,
not for our own glory.
May we have the same courage
of Elisha to show to everyone
your power not for personal gain
but for mission to continue the
works of Elijah.

But before we can go out
witnessing your loving presence
and power, 
dear Jesus,
teach us first to remain hidden
in doing what is right,
what is just,
and what is good as expressed
in your gospel today;
let us realize that despite 
life is now lived in social media,
the more essential things in life
are still and will remain best kept hidden;
it is in that hiddenness where we
must remain and stay like Elisha
to truly witness your great power
not for our own sake and vanity
but for your mission and glory
so that at the end of our daily journey,
we may find you always,
Lord Jesus,
in every "Jordan" we cross
like Elijah
and Elisha. 
Amen.

*Photo by author, sunset at the RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.*

What good is it?

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 16 June 2026
1 Kings 21:17-29 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Matthew 5:43-48

God our loving Father,
grant me the grace to love you more,
to follow you more closely,
to be like you,
"perfect" and "holy";
I feel so sad especially
these days as I continue to grapple
with your mystery,
of your immense love for us all,
even ton our enemies and oppressors.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father… So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-45, 48).

What is most difficult
for me, O Lord, is when your
"anger" subsides,
when your mercy prevails
on those who do evil against us
like King Ahab in the first reading;
oh yes, Father,
sorry but it is true,
we enjoy you "castigating"
evil doers like King Ahab;
but, why Oh why,
after he had realized his sins
and be sorry,
you suddenly change your mind?

Then the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite,
"Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself
before me?
Since he has humbled himself before me,
I will not bring the evil in his time.
I will bring the evil upon his house
during the reign of his son"
(1 Kings 21:28-29).

Forgive me,
Lord Jesus Christ
when sometimes I see
vengeance as a form of justice,
forgetting your lesson yesterday;
but, help me learn
and realize to embrace fully
your words that are so extravagant,
asking far more than anyone
might ever think possible
not only in loving our enemies,
or doing good to our persecutors
but mystery of all mysteries is
when perpetrators of evil seem
to get away with their sins
like King Ahab
by simply being sorry?

But, on deeper prayer
as peace and tranquility
take over my anger,
then I realize your call Jesus
to be perfect like the Father
is also a call for me to be vulnerable
like him in offering kindness
because he is a Father,
not because of any worthiness
of anyone among us
for we are all sinners;
indeed,
we do not deserve anything at all
but because of your love,
you have made us deserving.

May we find your love
and kindness
and mercy in us, Jesus,
instead of look for these
on those who hurt us
for indeed, 
what good is it really
if I can love only
 those who love me
or hate those who hate me?

With you dwelling in my heart,
Jesus,
it's no good at all,
no good at all
for what is truly good
is to love like you:
help me Jesus
to bear witness
to your loving presence
in the world.
Amen.

Breaking the chain of evil

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 15 June 2026
1 Kings 21:17-29 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 5:43-48

*Photo by author, sunset at RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 10 June 2026.*

Forgive us,
God our loving Father,
in continuing the story of 
Naboth's vineyard forcibly taken
by King Ahab through
his evil wife Queen Jezebel.

Most sad with this story
that continues to our days
is not only the greed and avarice
of people with wealth and power;
its tragedy that continues today is  
how there are people below them
in stature, mostly the ones they abuse
with a lot of help from supposed to be
educated and middle class are so willing
to support the modern King Ahabs
and Queen Jezebels in their evil schemes 
employing fake news,
willingly conniving,
taking part in their chain of evil.

His fellow citizens – the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city – did as Jezebel had ordered a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people. Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death (1Kings 21:12-13).

How tragic that until now,
there are so many Naboths
among us who are victims
of a world governed by the rule
 of "an eye for an eye"
where the powerful and corrupt take
on what they want as they shamelessly
crush the poor and the weakest;
help us, Lord Jesus,
to have the courage and humility
to trust in you,
to rely in you
to have the strength in fighting
the abuses of those in power;
enlightening us of ways
and approaches in opening the minds
of the poor and supposed to be educated
among us who blindly even rabidly
support corrupt and evil men and
women in the society, in politics.

Grant us patience
to bear with the fools in our Senate
holding on to power,
who do not know what they are doing;
enlighten the minds and hearts
of those belonging to the majority
to start following what is truly good
and not their whims dictated
by their bloated egos.
Let your truth and charity
prevail over us these days,
Lord Jesus,
so we can break the chain of evil
in our country
and society.
Amen.

Heaven knows I’m miserable now

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 12 June 2026
Deuteronomy 7:6-11 ><}}}*> 1 John 4:7-16 ><}}}*> Matthew 11:25-30

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2026.*

You read it right. The title of our reflection on this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the same title of The Smiths’ 1984 classic Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.

It is one of my all-time favorite songs, my theme song after graduating in 1986, landing on my first and only job as it captured my exact situation of the period:

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But Heaven knows, I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And Heaven knows I'm miserable now

Since then, the song has remained relevant with me especially after learning how the young generation appreciate a lot The Smiths that I have used their other music in my spiritual conferences and recollections as a university chaplain. That’s why during our Sacred Heart Novena in our university chapel, the same song kept playing at the back of my mind especially while meditating on the second reading on this feast of the Sacred Heart.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins (1 John 4:7-8, 10).

How lovely and simple is our second reading from the letter of the beloved disciple, John who gives us the deepest theological grounding of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “God is love.”

Pope Benedict XVI used to say Christianity is the only religion is the world with that kind of declaration about God; it is not merely that God loves but that love is God’s very nature!

And what does it mean to us? The older I get, the more I realize and experience that I live because of God’s love: it is the reason I wake up and sleep; why I strive to be my best in everything despite my weaknesses and limitations; why I still love even if I am not loved or misunderstood and even maligned; why I still go in living even if I am sure one day I shall die.

We live because we are loved by God.

Simply loved because he is love himself.

Not because we are good or does something important or fulfills his divine will.

God loves because it is his very essence as Moses reminds us in the first reading, “It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. It was because the Lord loved you” (Dt.7:7-8).

Hence, John insists that in this is love – not that we loved God but that God loved us first. Our love for God and for one another is a response to his very love.

Would there be any difference at all to begin with God’s initiative rather than our own love?

Surely a lot. Even unthinkable to just rely on our own love and initiative because it is never enough for we humans are imperfect.

Human love is imperfect; only God can love us perfectly. That is why love is always initiated by God. We can’t love on our own. No matter how good and holy we may be. Mayroon palaging maisusumbat ating minamahal sa ating pagmamahal. Sa Diyos wala.

That is why I love the song Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.

We humans are so miserable in loving but because of our loving God who is love himself, we are able to love, to keep on loving despite and in spite of everything because to live is to love. Jesus came so that we can continue to love, to keep loving even if the world tells us it is foolish. Even if people don’t care at all for us and do not love us as Morrissey sang it so well in the chorus of Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now:

In my life, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?

Very true – fascinatingly – is Morrissey’s third chorus line because he openly brings out the usual thoughts we hide in dealing with people we hate or do not like:

In my life, why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?

Funny is it not? But very true! And that’s because of God’s love in us, of his grace that despite the many people who hurt us and do not love us, we still choose to be loving and kind, at least smile at them than stoop down to their low levels.

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart of Jesus Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.*

The feast of the Sacred Heart is an invitation to look at the heart of God – at what God most desires for us and for our world. It is not a sentimental image but a radical one: a love that goes all the way to the Cross.

God knows how miserable we are these days when things like positions and power, fame and wealth have become more important than persons to be loved and cared for. Despite the many technological advances we have achieved that promised to make life easier, the opposite proved to be more true. Life has been reduced to mere lifestyle, persons have become objects to be possessed by companies and brands, even by schools!

Today’s celebration of the Sacred Heart feast invites us to go back to Jesus who knows fully well our miseries; songs like Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now can identify and express them to offer respite for a while but only Jesus can uplift and change us for he alone truly loves us because he is love himself.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Amid the many miseries we are all going through these days, let us take time today to respond to the love of Jesus Christ in the most honest and true ways that will make others experience his love. Many times, it is the simplest gesture of just being gentle with others in words and in deeds, of not adding to their many burdens in life. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like yours! Amen.

From Youtube.com.