The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Week XXXIV, Year I in Ordinary Time, 25 November 2021
Daniel 6:12-28 ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Luke 21:20-28
“Daniel in the Lions’ Den” by Briton Riviere (1872) from reddit.com.
God our loving Father,
save us from severe tests
and trials in life; make us
steadfast in our faith and
trust in you like your prophet
Daniel who escaped death
without any harm at all when
thrown into the lions' den.
As I prayed over that wonderful
scene I have known since a child,
it was only now have I realized
our biggest problem in being
faithful to you in the face of death
and grave danger; of course, it is
pure grace from you to have such
great courage and serenity but
always, we back out, we balk at the
mere thought of suffering because
we are busy thinking of what will
happen next, we are busy focused
with the future than with the present
moment where you are with us.
That beautiful imagery of Daniel
spared by the ferocious lions evokes of
a man so faithful to you, O Lord, living
in your presence, unmindful and undisturbed
of the past and the future because he was
present in you and with you!
Daniel answered the king: “O king, live forever! My God has sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me. For I have been found innocent before him; neither to you have I done any harm, O king!”
Daniel 6:22-23
Cleanse and empty us,
dear Father, of our many excess
baggage in life, our past sins
and worries of the future
so we may experience and live in
your presence in every here and now,
unmindful of whatever may happen
for we are safely secured in you
always. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Red Wednesday, 24 November 2021
Revelation 15:1-4 ><)))*> + <*(((>< Luke 21:12-19
Photo by author, Red Wednesday 2020.
It is this time of the year again,
dear God our Father, when we
your people unite with the Pope's
official charity for persecuted Christians
worldwide through the Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN) to celebrate
Red Wednesday.
Yes, your Church continues to suffer
persecution in various forms, some
very subtle while in others very violent;
but this year, we pray most specially not
only for our Filipino martyrs who sacrificed
their lives for the Gospel but most of all
for each one of us to be a living witness
in taking the path of your Son Jesus Christ
as one Church.
As we come to the closing of our 500 years of
Christianization while preparing for the
Synod of Bishops in 2023, help us to
remember, celebrate, and promote
oneness and unity in faith as we journey
as one Church.
Banish all our fears, let us persevere
amid the trials and persecution that
come specially from those closest to
us, those who refuse and continue to
deny you, choosing a life of sin and evil.
Inflame us, O Lord, with your fire of love
and zeal to always seek and stand by your
truth and justice; let us not, through our
stupid choices, face your "anger" or "fury"
John saw in his vision at the "sea of glass
mingled with fire" (Rev.15:1-4) and be
denied entry for not being worthy. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Memorial of St. Clement, Pope and Martyr, 23 November 2021
Daniel 2:31-45, ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Luke 21:5-11
Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa, 2019.
Glory and praise to you,
our loving and almighty
God and Father!
Your power and might,
majesty and grandeur are
all around us, even deep
within each one of us and yet,
still many deny your presence,
deny your existence.
Enter our consciousness, Lord,
enter our dreams like with
King Nebuchadnezzar to remind us
nothing remains here on earth,
that you are always greater, O God,
"semper major"!
In the lifetime of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end t0 them, and it shall stand forever.
Daniel 2:44
Even your Son Jesus Christ
reminded us through the apostles
how everything would crumble and
fall, including your Temple at
Jerusalem, putting an end to everything
until he comes again to bring upon us
new heaven and new earth.
And so, grant us, Lord,
perseverance and fidelity
to remain humble before you
like St. Clement who bore all sufferings
during the persecution but remained
faithful to you, calling on the early Church
he led as Pope at that time to remain
one in you, our only Rock foundation
in faith, hope and love. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr, 22 November 2021
Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Luke 21:1-4
Very often in life, we rarely
think of you dear God our Father
when we try to consider the best
we could ever have; if ever we
remember you, you always come
last because we always want
the finest and most premium as
something tangible, something we
can hold and even possess.
On this final stretch of our
liturgical calendar before we move
to our "new year" with the First Sunday
of Advent, your words remind us
very well how we continue that practice
of searching and possessing the best -
food, clothes, vessels, gadgets,
even minds and talents or persons
like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,
the conqueror of Judah who ransacked
your Temple of its precious vessels and
threw your people into exile.
When he asked for the brightest and
best men of Judah be separated to serve
at his court, he gave them the best food
and wine to ensure that they function well
when summoned; how amazing were your
servants led by Daniel who refused to eat
the king's food and wine in your honor;
despite their simple meals of vegetables
and water, Daniel and his company emerged
as the best young men in the king's court.
In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.
Daniel 1:20
Meanwhile at the donation box
of the temple, your Son Jesus
found the widow who gave two
small coins as the best donor
of all because she gave her very self
to God unlike the rich who gave only
a portion of what they no longer needed.
Teach us, dear God, that you are
the very best of the best we can ever
have and offer in this life;
may we aspire to have you more -
your love and kindness,
your mercy and justice,
your wisdom and understanding,
your very life and presence
so that we may also learn to give
our total self to you.
Like St. Cecilia, may we sing
your song, O God in our hearts,
giving our very selves to your
loving service for others. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Week XXXIII, Year I in Ordinary Time, 19 November 2021
1 Maccabees 4:3-37, 52-59 ><)))*> + <*(((>< Luke 19:45-48
Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera, November 2020.
Today you remind us, dear God
our Father, of the need to keep our
house of worship always in order,
clean and sacred; like Judas and
his brothers who rededicated and purified
your Temple in Jerusalem after driving
away the pagans, may we also keep
in mind that your house of worship is
always indicative of the kind of relationship
and faith we have in you.
While it is very true you dwell in us
your people, O God, for we are indeed
your temple, we cannot discount the fact
that the way our church buildings and facilities
look like show the kind of people we are,
of how much care and respect we have for you
and for one another; buildings and material
structures of any church and house of worship
always reflect the spirituality or lack of it
of the pastors who minister and the
people who celebrate and worship there.
It is in this manner we become truly
your very temple!
Cleanse our hearts in Jesus Christ,
may he dwell in our hearts and reign
over us so that we the people, the
body of believers become your true
temple dear God, no matter what others
may say for or against us like the chief
priests, scribes and leaders of the
people during the time of Jesus.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, 18 November 2021
1 Maccabees 2:15-29 ><]]]]*> + <*[[[[>< Luke 19:41-44
Photo by author, Capernaum, Israel, 2017.
Once again we celebrate today
the Dedication of two other major
churches in Rome, the Basilicas of
St. Peter and St. Paul, the two pillars
of the Church who signify our unity
as one body in Jesus Christ.
Thank you, dear God our Father
for this tremendous grace of being
your holy people that unfortunately
many among us disregard, even
refuse to recognize; worst, many have turned
away from the Church in the belief that
they can worship you on their own.
Teach us anew the importance
of having "zeal" for you and your Church,
of being zealous for your house of stone here
like Jesus two weeks ago who cleaned the temple
and now like Mattathias and his men
filled with zeal in preserving the sanctity
and honor of your house of worship;
twice the word “zeal” was used in today's
first reading to show the men’s passion for you,
dear God.
Then Mattathias went through the city shouting, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow after me!” Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving behind in the city all their possessions. Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom went out into the desert to settle there.
1 Maccabees 2:27-29
How sad, O God,
when it is us your priests
who lack the zeal
in keeping your sanctuary holy
and dignified for worship;
worst, when we also lack
the courage to sustain our zeal for you!
Zeal for you alone is never enough, Lord,
while too much zeal can sometimes
distract us from you; give us focus
and direction in our zeal for you.
Let us not be like Simon Peter
who zealously asked Jesus to let him
walk on water but upon seeing the strong winds,
he was terrified and started to sink;
help us learn in prayers and faith like
St. Peter and St. Paul, Mattathias and his men
"who sought to live according to righteousness
and religious custom went out into the desert"
to cultivate and harness other virtues needed
so that our zeal for you would lead us and
your people closer to you in worship and in
service. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious, 17 November 2021
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Luke 19:11-28
Photo by the author, 2019.
God our loving Father,
today I offer this prayer and
praise to all the women of
the world - to all mothers who
brought us to life and nurtured
us in your love and kindness, for
all women who make life go on
and prosper, even easier and
comfortable for us all, for women
who toil and labor everywhere but
always abused or disadvantaged,
misunderstood and mistreated,
worst, forgotten and neglected.
Like the mother of those seven sons
in our first reading today, I pray for all
women, praising and thanking them for
their "womanly heart with manly courage".
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law. Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. Filled with noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words: “I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which of you is composed. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.”
2 Maccabees 7:1,20-23
What is a "womanly heart", Lord?
Like you when you presented yourself
like a mother in Isaiah 49:15 who cannot
ever forget her child, we thank you for the
gift of fidelity and faith of every woman
specially your many noble causes, first of
which are love and life; I pray for all women,
single and married, for deeper faith amid the
heavy burdens they have to carry on their
shoulders both at home and at work; not
to forget too are the women who taught us
to pray, those who made us experience
your reality as God with their patience,
understanding, and forgiveness.
What is "manly courage", Lord?
Like your Son Jesus Christ who had
come to the world to save us and make
you known to us, it is most wonderful
how the Blessed Mother Mary's heart
was pierced with sword when full of courage,
she stood by him at the Cross.
I pray, dear God, for so many women today
into so many fights, sometimes left alone
by themselves with just faith and courage
in their hearts that someday your truth
and justice would prevail. In a most special
way, I pray for all women battling cancer and
other sickness these days: grant them healing
in body, mind, heart, and soul.
Most of all, dearest God, I pray for
all women in their senior years: grant
them grace and serenity in facing eternity,
fill their hearts with joy and gratitude for
lives well spent in you, specially those like
the servants in the gospel who have invested
and made their "talents" grow in loving service
to you.
And lastly but not the least, I pray for
all the women who have gone ahead of us,
our beloved ones. Grant them eternal rest in you,
O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine
upon them always. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Week XXXIII, Year I in Ordinary Time, 16 November 2021
2 Maccabees 6:18-31 ><)))*> + <*(((>< Luke 19:1-10
Photo by author, 2020.
Once again, O God our Father,
your words today are as timely as
the news headlines, perfect in
reminding us to remain faithful
and true to you, most especially
to be men and women of integrity,
resisting all forms of pretense, of
deceiving in purpose for whatever
reason.
Teach us to be firm like your
servant Eleazar who strongly turned
down offers to save his life by
pretending to eat pork as ordered
by their pagan conquerors;
he chose death than deceive
and mislead the people,
specially the young ones.
He (Eleazar) told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young people would think a ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myslef worthy of my old age.”
2 Maccabees 6:23-27
Teach us also to be like
Zacchaeus, who despite his
being a publican and a sinner,
made no pretense of being
good or holy before Jesus
when he passed by the city
of Jericho; he did not pretend to
be tall or of any stature that he
made the great effort to climb
a tree in order to see Jesus passing;
most of all, he shed all kinds of
pretense in himself when he vowed
to Jesus to repay people he had extorted
money from.
We pray, dear God, for our nation,
for our voters specially the young
people to closely examine the integrity
of every candidate running for office
so we may choose men and women
who are "models of courage" and
"unforgettable examples of virtue"
(2 Maccabees 6:31). Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday, Week XXXIII, Year I in Ordinary Time, 15 November 2021
1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57,62-64 > + < Luke 18:35-43
Photo by author, August 2021.
Your words today, O God
our Father are so perfect
to what is happening exactly
in our country: politicians
busy entering into all kinds of
alliances just to have power
and control in the country.
What a pity, O Lord, that in
the name of politics and power,
they have forgotten all about
their dignity and honor, families
and the nation and ultimately,
you dear God.
The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
1 Maccabees 1:12-15
Keep us faithful to you, Father
and to your ideals of justice,
mercy, and charity; let us choose
righteousness amid afflictions
and never give into the evil
ploys of the enemies for the
sake of convenience and power.
Let us imitate the blindman of
Jericho who persevered to get
near Jesus to be healed of his
blindness: we pray O God for
our politicians and most specially
voters blinded by power and
wealth, forgetting your laws
that value life and the human person.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr, 12 November 2021
Wisdom 13:1-9 ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*> Luke 17:26-37
Photo by author, Taiwan, 2019.
God our Father,
help us distinguish the
difference between finding
you in everything and making
anything as you, an object
of worship, an idolatry.
Fill us with your wisdom
to see you among the beauty
of nature, on each every person
we meet but at the same time
be wise to never stop at them
that we forget you totally.
For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
Wisdom 13:7-9
It happens often with us, Lord, when we get so caught up with nature or people or with our very selves that we miss You as the very source and subject of our wonder! Open our eyes and minds and hearts to see you more.
Do not let it happen again
like what the people did with
St. Josaphat that they were so
blinded by their culture and faith,
by their convictions and failed to see
you speaking and working through
him, leading to his murder just like
Jesus Christ your Son; while it is true
the we live in a world where everything
is touched by you, let us not miss YOU
like in those days of Noah when the flood
came and destroyed the people who
have become so complacent with your
presence. Amen.
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