A Prayer to Revere God

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Wednesday//03October2018//Week XXVI, Year II

Job 9:1-12, 14-16///Luke 9:57-62

God our almighty Father, each day when I begin my day with you, I always wrestle with the same issue: like Job, my illusions about you overshadow your mystery.

Job answered his friends and said: “I know well that it is so, but how can a man be justified before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times… If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.” (Job 9:1-3,16)

Give me the grace, O God, to listen to you as YOU ARE NOT AS I WANT YOU TO BE.

So many times my illusions about you prevent me from truly listening from what you are saying to me. Teach me how to revere you, of allowing myself to be wrapped in your mystery so that I may recognize deep within me who you really are and what you really are as my Maker and not as I have “created” in my mind and imagination.

So many times my illusions about you prevent me from properly responding from what you want from me that I end up doing my own will, not yours. Like those people wishing to follow Jesus in today’s gospel, I have illusions of discipleship. Teach me how to revere you by making me set aside my illusions of working for you, instead of doing your work by recognizing you deep within me as my Lord and Master. 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, 17 September 2018. Used with permission.

True Greatness Comes From Being Little and Small

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Tuesday//02October2018//Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Exodus 23:20-23///Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Dearest God our Father, today you give us this special memorial of the Guardian Angels to remind us anew that the way to true greatness is in our becoming like little children. How we as children long ago loved praying, delighting in the rhythm of “Angel of God my guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here; Ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.”

Back then when we were so young, we trusted you so much, God that we tried hard to be good boys and girls so as not to sadden our guardian angels when we sin. But as we grew up, feeling matured enough, we have disregarded you and our guardian angels because we have come to believe more, rely more, and trust more on ourselves. We felt so independent and so strong, not needing any guidance from you or from angels you send us. We thought that to be the greatest, we must be “free” from you and your holy will by asserting our “adulthood”.

But, experience has taught us that real growth and maturity that lead to true greatness can only happen “unless we turn and become like little children.” (Mt.18:2) What a paradox, O God, that the highest maturity possible for us all is in becoming like little children for that is when we also allow your angels in heaven to always look upon your face to direct our words and actions to your holy will. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo from Google: “Christ Among Children” by German Expressionist Emil Nolde painted in 1910 now at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. See https://hamonlibraryblog.org/2015/01/15/emil-nolde-christ-among-the-children/

On Being Small and Little

baby holding human finger — Photo by Wayne Evans on Pexels.com

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Monday//01October2018//Week XXVI//Year II

Job 1:6-22///Luke 9:46-50

We praise and thank you Lord for this brand new month of October! Indeed a new beginning for us as we come closer to closing another year of many blessings from you though we must also confess that after eight months, we still have not matured that much before you.

We are still so preoccupied with petty things, always disturbed on who is the greatest, who is the most powerful, who has the most.

Teach us to emulate the modern saint and Doctor of the Church, St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Teach us to live with her “little way” of loving and serving God in others by giving our very best. Teach us to trust you more, to realize like Job that “naked we came forth from our mother’s womb, and naked shall we go back again. You O Lord gave, and you O Lord has taken away. Blessed is your name!”(Job 1:21) AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Prayer To Always Profess Who Jesus Is

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Friday//28September2018//Week XXV//Year II

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11///Luke 9:18-22

Today we remember and celebrate, O God, San Lorenzo Ruiz and his Dominican companions martyred in Nagasaki. Most of all, we recall the strange circumstances behind his wonderful story, of how in your mercy and grace San Lorenzo Ruiz ended up victorious and glorious as the first Filipino saint when he shed blood for his great faith in you, O God. Truly, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” (Eccl.3:1)

Bless us, O God, like San Lorenzo Ruiz to recognize every time, every moment of our lives as an occasion to answer the question of Jesus, “who do you say that I am?” (Lk.9:20). Give us the courage to cooperate with your grace always present in us like with St. Peter and with all the other saints to profess who Jesus Christ is.

You, O God, “has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.”(Eccl.3:11) Let us seize always every appropriate time you have made for us to be faithful to you in Jesus Christ like San Lorenzo Ruiz who professed to his executioners that “if I had a thousand lives, I would gladly offer them all to God.” AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo from Google.

Finding Meaning and Direction in Life

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Thursday//27September2018//Week XXV//Year II

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11///Luke 9:7-9

It is a Thursday Lord and I wonder what you feel how we have made this day a “throwback Thursday” when we all look back to the past partly just for fun, partly perhaps to find meaning in life today. We listen to old music, we dig albums for old photos to reminisce good old days to feel good, to find direction and meaning in life.

And despite all these, Qoheleth hit it right, “What has been, that will be, what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun.”(Eccl.1:9)

There are times we are like Herod the tetrarch in today’s gospel who could not believe at all the wondrous things happening around despite the many darkness in life. There are times we have refused to accept and recognize your presence among us, Lord Jesus, amid the many sufferings and poverty in this world because we are scandalized by your cross. We are so afraid to even get near your cross not knowing that you can only be found there.

Fill our hearts with the same courage and charity you have given St. Vincent de Paul who found you among the poorest of the poor he had willingly served in his lifetime. Make us realize like him that meaning and direction in life can only be found in you and your cross, lest everything becomes “vanity of vanities”. 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.

A Prayer for Contentment

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Wednesday//26September2018//Week XXV//Year II

Proverbs 30:5-9///Luke 9:1-6

Today Lord I borrow the prayer of the author of the Book of Proverbs for this is essentially I believe the only thing most necessary: “Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die. Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, provide me only with the food I need. Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.”(Prov.30:7-9)

When life for us is so easy and everything is in abundance, we feel so perfect, forgetting all about you but, when tough times come, we sometimes blame you for all our woes. Teach us to be content with what we have. And most of all, to share whatever we have, most especially your special gifts to us like the brothers Saints Cosmas and Damian who were both physicians who treated patients for free during their time. Like your disciples you have sent to proclaim the good news, teach us to rely always on your providence. 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 News, Batanes before typhoon Ompong, 14 September 2018. Used with permission.

Deepening Our Family Ties In Christ

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Tuesday//25September2018//Week XXV//Year II

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13///Luke 8:19-21

Dearest God:

Every time we would pray, we always call you “our Father” without really realizing its deeper meaning and implications. Today’s gospel surprised and even shocked us when your Son Jesus Christ claimed “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”(Lk.8:21) Thank you in showing to us the deeper realities of our family that we always take for granted.

It is always easy to know who are our family but so difficult to recognize them deeper and truly with all the love and respect as father and mother, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Give us the grace like Jesus to find our relationships rooted in you so we can have more harmony and peace in the family. Bless us today with your grace to always “do what is right and just”especially in dealing with our family for that is “more acceptable to you than sacrifice.” (Prov.21:3) AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo from Google.

A Lamp of Jesus

person standing on shoreline beside gray tubular lantern — Photo by Alan Cabello on Pexels.com

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Monday//24September2018//Week XXV//Year II

Proverbs 3:27-34///Luke 8:16-18

God our Father, it is again a Monday. Thank you for the gift of life, the gift of work, the gift of responsibilities, the gift of one another. Give us the grace to always do whatever is good and remain humble before you through others (Prov.3:35).

Open our eyes to see more of the many things we can learn instead of seeing the many faults and failures of others as well as shortcomings in many situations we find ourselves in. The world is one vast classroom with so many wonderful things to enjoy and cherish!

Make me a lamp of the light of your Son Jesus Christ to dispel the darkness not only in the world but most especially within each one of us. Make me a lamp that would reveal the truth of our being your beloved children, sanctified and forgiven in Christ Jesus. Let us all gain more of your love and mercy, more of your justice and peace, more of you 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.

The Light of Christ Conquers Darkness of Sin

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Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist//21 September 2018

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13///Matthew 9:9-13

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this feast of Matthew the Apostle who wrote for us one of the gospels that gave us a wonderful picture of the humanity of your Son Jesus Christ. In His humanity, Christ showed us in turn your gift of divinity for sinners like us in calling Matthew.

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Mt.9:9)

How wonderful it is that most of the Apostles you have called Lord are of low standing in the society like fishermen and now, a tax collector considered a sinner who is corrupt and a traitor as well. We are all a Matthew, a sinner with a dark past, a dark background, even hiding in the darkness of sins and evil.

How wonderful O Lord that you have come to call us from the dark, lighting up our path, most especially our faces to bring out that image and likeness of the Father when we were first created. Like that beautiful painting of Caravaggio in the call of Matthew, come in our darkness not with flashing but with soft light that brightens us with hope and meaning in life.

Continue to enlighten us, O Lord, with your warm light to enable us to “live in a manner worthy of the call we have received from you.” (Eph.4:1) Most of all, help us like Matthew to rise always from our sinfulness and weaknesses, to leave the dark so we could follow you more closely and freely. AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo from Google: the famous painting by Caravaggio and the favorite of Pope Francis on the call of Matthew hanging at the Contarelli Chapel of San Luigi Francesci in Rome. Caravaggio is famous for his play of light and shadows.

Loving Much

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Thursday//20September2018//Week XXIV//Year II

1 Corinthians 15:1-11///Luke 7:36-50

Dearest Lord Jesus Christ,

On this feast of South Korea’s first priest-saint Andrew Kim Taegon and companions, I praise and thank you for your immense love expressed in forgiving my many sins.

In your mercy, my sinful moments have become my deepest religious experiences too. Whenever I find myself in grave sin, full of shame that I could not even call your name, you are always there – lovingly, patiently waiting for me. Silently and very kindly, welcoming me to come near you even if I have not told you “I am sorry” or “please forgive me.”

You know me so well, and that’s the most amazing thing – that you still love me!

Like that woman in Simon’s house you have allowed to come to you, to cry at your feet and wipe them dry with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with ointment (Lk. 7: 37-38), you just sat there, full of gentleness and mercy. Though you knew who she was and, most especially of how the people there judged and condemned her, you remained silent. But when you finally spoke out loud, your words were unbelievable: “Your sins are forgiven.” (Lk.7:48)

So wonderful, O Lord, of you reminding me always to strive harder to love and serve you among others because when I recall my many sins and feel shameful, that is also when I must feel grateful to you like Paul and that sinful woman.

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to love much because much was forgiven of me, first by forgiving those who have hurt me so I could give them all the chances you have given me.AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Raffy Tima of GMANews, Batanes After Typhoon Ompong, 18 September 2018. Used with his permission.