Narrow Gate, Hallowed Parents and Children

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Wednesday, 31 October 2018, Week XXX, Year II

Ephesians 6:1-9///Luke 13:22-30

Dearest God our loving Father: it is the last day of the month of October, the eve of the feast of All Saints – the Hallowed or Holy Ones now with you there in heaven. How sad that people today, especially from those so-called advanced countries have wrongly chosen to honor what is evil and abominable, to celebrate death and damnation. How sad that there are still so many benighted souls among us who would rather believe with witches and monsters than with a loving and merciful God like you we have experienced with our departed relatives and friends?

How wonderful are the words of St. Paul today reminding us of your fourth command to “honor your father and your mother”, your only commandment with a promise of blessing at old age. How wonderful of St. Paul to remind us also of our relationships with one another, to always revere each other, to “hallow” one another for we only have one Master in you our God.

Give us the grace to see more clearly your path which is a “narrow gate” of holiness (Lk. 13:24) where everyone is welcomed with their good works, enjoying your sacred presence than the scary darkness of evil now glorified in our midst in various forms.

Give us the true sense of Halloween, of having a hallowed, holy evening and eve for all our loved ones who have gone ahead of us into heaven we have all loved and revered while here on earth until now as we hope them to be in your presence as saints. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by the author, Jerusalem, April 2017.

Power of Greatness Is In Being Small

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Tuesday, 30 October 2018, Week XXX, Year II

Ephesians 5:21-33///Luke 13:18-21

O loving Father, you are such a joy to be with, filled with life and humor!

Yesterday through St. Paul you asked us to “live as children of light” and today through him again you are asking us to “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Eph.5:21)

Being children, being subordinate are both calls to become small, to be little. In a world where size always matters, when we talk more about being bigger and biggest, we have always taken for granted being little, being small. For some, life is measured in terms of power and reach, influence and domination while respect equated by with strength and humility with weakness.

How ironic that the most powerful weapons in the world are called “atomic” that harness the power of the smallest particle of everything, the atom. Moreover, some scientists have recently borrowed your name to designate the minutest particle that makes up an atom as “god particle” only to show that to be atomic, to be powerful is to very, very small.

How could we forget, even disregard, this basic lesson of the universe, still unaware and unconvinced with your example of sending us your Son Jesus Christ who was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, born as an infant like everyone, grew and matured like any child in Nazareth except in sin? Eventually, in conquering death, He fully emptied Himself by dying on the Cross in total weakness and surrender, so small in the eyes of the world when in fact He got the whole world in His hands?

Help us, O God, to keep in our hearts Christ’s teaching that your kingdom is like the small mustard seed that becomes a large bush or the little yeast that leavens the dough. Help us realize, O God, that for us to be truly great, we have to be small before you our Creator, to always subordinate ourselves with one another in Christ like husband and wife deeply in love. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News, Iceland, October 2018. Used with permission.

Children of Light

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Monday, 29 October 2018, Week XXX, Year II

Ephesians 4:32-5:8///Luke 13:10-17

Thank you, loving Father, for reminding us on this blessed Monday to “live as children of light” (Eph.4:32) as I still remember yesterday’s beautiful story of the blind Bartimaeus, of how I sometimes live in darkness, of being blinded by my selfishness and sin.

Help me to be kind as St. Paul tells us in the first reading.

Being kind is the first step in living as children of light because to be kind is to consider everyone as my kin, a relative or someone not different from me. There are times, O God, that I am blinded even by your commandments like in the gospel that I no longer see you among people most especially the sick, the elderly, and the poor.

Thank you for being so kind, merciful Father, in sending us your Son Jesus Christ to become one of us – a kin, a brother who clears our vision that we may see more of the other person as a brother and a sister created in your own image and likeness. It is only when we see everyone as a kindred that we begin to see you on the face of every person and start living as children of light. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by Dra. Mai B. Dela Pena inside St. Jacob’s Church in Rothenberg, Germany 2014. Used with permission.

Blowing In the Wind

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Friday, 26 October 2018, Week XXIX, Year II

Ephesians 4:1-6///Luke 12:54-59

It is a beautiful Friday, loving Father in heaven! As I prayed over your words for today, I can’t help singing the last stanzas of Bob Dylan’s Blowing In the Wind:

Yes, ‘n’ how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind

The answer is blowin’ in the wind

We have always considered the weather as very erratic that we spend so much time studying everything about it to make a more accurate prediction of how it is going to be the following day. And we have been succeeding all these years, especially with the help of modern technology. Yet, Jesus Christ’s observations 2000 years ago remain true to this day: “we can interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but we cannot interpret the present time.” (Lk.12:56)

We have always been so concerned with the world outside us, forgetting your “call within each of us to live in unity with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love.” (Eph.4:1-2)

Most of the time in our lives, we are more erratic than the weather. We destroy our unity rooted in your Son our Lord by refusing to see for ourselves what is right (Lk.12:57). We always insist to look more at outside appearances that we miss the more essential within us, our “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph.4:5-6)

Teach us to reflect more on what we believe because it is our faith that determines what we do, regardless if the weather would be fair or stormy, warm or cool at any given day. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News, Batanes before typhoon Ompong, 14 September 2018. Used with permission.

The Earth Is Full of God’s Goodness

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Thursday//25October2018//Week XXIX, Year II

Ephesians 3:14-21///Luke 12:49-53

Allow me, O God, to borrow St. Paul’s beautiful prayer for the Ephesians and make it my prayer to you this Thursday: “As I kneel before you loving Father in heaven, grant me the riches of your glory to be strengthened in my inner self with your Holy Spirit so that through faith rooted and grounded in love in you, Jesus Christ may dwell in my heart always. Grant me the strength to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love that surpasses human knowledge to be filled with all your fullness, O God. For it is only in Jesus Christ, through Him and with Him that I can accomplish far more than all I ask or imagine.” (Eph.3:14-21)

Indeed, “the earth is full of your goodness, O God,” but we miserably fail to discover and keep these because we always run away and hide from you in our sinfulness and selfishness.

Let us become one with your Son Jesus Christ in “setting the earth on fire by being one with Him in His baptism” (Lk.12:49,50) with our commitment to love and serve you, O God, by putting into practice your words and precepts, to make this world a better place to live in peace and harmony. Let us commit ourselves to Jesus Christ so we can build more bridges that unite us as brothers and sisters. Let us commit ourselves to Christ so we can build better and lovelier buildings of dwelling and work where we gather as one family in you, our Father.

Into your loving and merciful hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves today and forever. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo of Santorini by Dra. Mai Dela Pena. Used with permission.

God’s Call Is Personal But Not Exclusive

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Wednesday//24October2018//Week XXIX, Year II

Ephesians 3:2-12///Luke 12:39-48

Today, O Lord, I praise and thank you for the gift of your call that is always personal. Like St. Paul telling us today of his own experience in his call, I remember the mystery of the gift of your grace given to me in a very personal way that have touched me and others too. It is not just the gift of priesthood but most of all the grace of being loved by you despite my many sins.

Forgive me, Jesus, when this gets into my head, when I feel very exclusive like Peter asking you today in the gospel if your parables and teachings are “meant for us or for everyone?” (Lk.12:41) When you refused to answer his question by continuing with your teachings to stress the need to be wise and faithful stewards of your gifts and call, the more I am amazed with you as my Lord and Master: you play no favorites as you are very inclusive but at the same time personally relating with each of us full of love and mercy.

As I treasure your gifts, let me grow deeper in your love that I may faithfully serve you by sharing you with others. Let me own the song of the psalmist today, singing “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation (Ps.12:2-3).” AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News in Iceland, 09 October 2018. Used with permission.

Continuing Christ’s Work

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Tuesday//23October2018//Week XXIX, Year II

Ephesians 2:12-22///Luke 12:35-38

Dear God:

Last night while praying I found myself in a very amusing situation over the words of your Son Jesus Christ telling us in today’s gospel to “Gird your loins and light your lamps.” (Lk.12:35)

Remember how yesterday at the meat section of the supermarket, the butcher was enticing me to buy some loins that are tender and tasty, good for dinner and how I struggled? Thank you for preventing me from falling into that temptation, a little victory in my daily battle of the bulge!

But, as I prayed on your words today, I have realized that is really how it is with life: we always have to gird our loins, to prepare and strengthen ourselves for what is to come. The loin is where our basic instinct and urges emanate from, always evoking pleasures in us that are so powerful and irresistible. And so, keep me always on guard like those faithful servants in today’s parable to gird my loins and light my lamps especially in continuing Christ’s work of reconciliation, of “keeping us all together as a sacred temple for God.” (Eph.2:21)

How sad that we always forget the beautiful preaching of St. Paul of how Jesus Christ have reconciled us all in you, O God, with His precious Blood. How sad when we destroy our unity by looking more at our many differences because we cannot control our urges, our loins. And it is most painful, O God, when we allow it to happen right inside your Church, the Body of Jesus Christ! Help us to embrace the diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds of everyone that we may become new persons in your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo by the author, from the inside of the Church “Dominus Flevit” (the Lord Cried) overlooking Jerusalem as background. How sad that Jesus continues to cry today because we are still divided.

You Are the Handiwork of God

POPE JOHN PAUL II HOLDS CROSIER AS HE PRAYS

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Monday//22October 2018//Memorial of St. John Paul II

Ephesians 2:1-10///Luke 12:13-21

My heart is overflowing with praise and thanksgiving to you, O God our loving Father in giving us the wonderful gift of a saint who had lived during our lifetime, the great St. John Paul II whose feast celebrate today. Having lived during his pontificate, I have experienced your love and majesty, your presence, your reality. When I think and remember our beloved JP2, I cannot but be filled with awe that there is a loving, merciful and personal God like you!

In his own life, today’s words by St. Paul are evidently true that each of us is “your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” (Eph.2:10) When I recall the early childhood of St. John Paul II, his family, his Poland, his long pontificate along with his many travels and great speeches along with his bubbling sense of humor, the more I see your love and mercy, O God.

Here is a man with so much pains and sufferings until his death who never ceased to echo among us the call of Jesus to be not afraid. Here is a man who had showed us in his very life that “one’s life does not consist of possessions but of being rich in what matters to God.” (Lk.12:15,21)

Give us that grace too, loving Father in heaven, to be like St. John Paul II that we may also see you working in us and through us, despite our many brokenness, that we are not determined by our failures and sins in the past. Make us realize St. John Paul II’s teaching that we can only find fulfillment in your Son Jesus Christ who had come to bring us back into your loving arms. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022. E-mail to lordmychef@gmail.com for free subscription.

*Photos from Google.

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Sealed With the Holy Spirit

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Friday//19October2018//Week XXVIII, Year II

Ephesians 1:11-14///Luke 12:1-7

It’s a Friday again, God our loving Father.

Thank you for the many blessings you have given us this week, especially for those gifts we never asked from you. Forgive me in failing to manifest you and show your glory in my work and in my life this week. Most of all, in failing to show the “seal of the Holy Spirit” we have all received from the redemption worked on us by your Son Jesus Christ (Eph.1:13).

Help me O God to always remember this seal of the Holy Spirit in me, of my task to praise and worship you always as my Lord and Master. Let me be careful with things that I say and whisper, with things I keep in secret and darkness because sooner or later, everything shall be revealed in your light for nothing escapes you (Lk.12:2-3).

Let me be like the northern lights at this time of the year, O Lord, when every little thing like air and humidity, gases and light, including every little degree of earth’s tilting all work in a dazzling symphony of lights that liven up the cold, dark nights of winter. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022. E-mail to lordmychef@gmail.com for free subscription.

*Photo courtesy of Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News, Iceland Northern Lights, 08 October 2018. Used with permission.

We Are Evangelists of the Lord

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Thursday//18October2018//Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist

2Timothy 4:10-17///Luke 10:1-9

Today we thank you O Lord for opening our eyes through St. Luke in showing to us that what we need most in this world are people who would reveal to us and enable us to experience the mystery of your coming and presence among us. You never told us to pray for more machines or technology, more gadgets or more money for the abundant harvest. What we need are people – laborers – or evangelists who would write with their lives your gospel of love, your gospel of life like St. Luke.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Lk.10:2)

Of your four evangelists, only St. Luke made known to us how he had “decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence” (Lk.1:3) everything about you and your teachings, O Lord. With his life and writings, we were able to have a glimpse of the mysteries of your life especially stories of your Annunciation and Birth up to your presentation at the Temple that have endeared the Christmas season to us.

It was St. Luke who always told us the many instances you have prayed to stress the need for an intimacy with God always in this life. He was the only one who told us the beautiful Emmaus story that has been a constant reminder of Easter burning always within our hearts. And it was also St. Luke who remarkably showed us how Mary has always been your model disciple until the Pentecost.

Give us, Lord Jesus, the same grace as a laborer and an evangelist which is the ability to see and communicate God working in our lives daily in the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022. E-mail to lordmychef@gmail.com.

*Photo from Google: “Saint Luke Drawing the Virgin” by Flemish painter Roger van der Weyden (1400-1464). It is one of the most important paintings from Europe in the United States now kept on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is a very lovely and very interesting painting too!