The Way of Love, The Way of God

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Wednesday//19 September 2018//Week XXIV//Year II

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13///Luke 7:31-35

God our Father,

so often in your mystery we get lost and end up within our own, selfish selves.

We always have our own ideas and perceptions of who you really are.

We have become the truth and the only way of knowing you, of being with you.

Exactly what Jesus complained against the Pharisees and scribes:

“To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”(Lk.7:31-34)

And there are so many instances of how we insist on who you really are, refusing to take you as you are, as you reveal yourself to us in many different ways.

We have become the yardstick not only of what is good but even of you, our Lord.

Give us the grace to know and realize like St. Paul that no matter how great are we in speaking and doing things, if we do not love, we are nothing.

LOVE is the only way to know you and to be with you.

LOVE makes us known that we belong to you.

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, St. Paul Retreat and Spirituality Center, La Trinidad, Benguet, 18 July 2017.

Being One In Jesus Christ

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Tuesday//18 September 2018//Week XXIV//Year II

1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31///Luke 7:11-17

Dear God in heaven, we always call you “our Father” but we never really live as brothers and sisters. Everywhere there is always separation and worst are the competitions among us. We could not see our being one family, as one body with many parts because we are so focused in our illusions of greatness and importance in the world. Everyone claims to be better than the other, forgetting that we need each other.

Rekindle in us again the “one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body in Christ” (1Cor. 12:13) as one people, the sheep of your flock (Ps.100:3).

Come and visit us again in your Son Jesus Christ. Restore us to life like that young man in Nain you raised from the dead to be reunited with one another. Let no color or status or belief separate us from one another so that we may be one in Jesus Christ your Son. Most of all, take away our illusions of greatness to make us see the reality that we are not complete in ourselves without you and others. 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.)

Jesus Christ Among Us

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Monday//17 September 2018//Week XXIV//Year II

1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33///Luke 7:1-10

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; but say the word and let my servant be healed.” (Lk.7:6, 7)

So often we pray – or, actually recite this to you, O Lord, without realizing its beautiful meaning just before the Holy Communion. Like the Corinthians being reprimanded today by St. Paul in our first reading, we have become so individualistic that in forgetting those around us we have also disregarded your presence in our midst especially in the Holy Eucharist.

How sad when we eat, we simply fill our body with food and drinks, forgetting our souls to be nourished by the stories shared by those we dine with. In this world of fast-food, we have lost the beautiful meaning of every meal, of being together and sharing not only food but ourselves with the persons seated with us. Sometimes, we do not mind eating alone for as long as we have our most honored guests at the table, our smartphone or tablet. Worst, we do not even pray to you at all, Lord, unmindful of your goodness while we are busy taking pictures of our food, almost worshipping it as a god!

As we start our new week of work and studies, let us heed St. Paul’s call that when we come together to eat, we wait for one another like that centurion in the gospel who loved his slave so much, inviting Jesus to heal him even from afar. 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, “Hapag ng Pag-Asa” painting by the late Joey Velasco.

The Uniqueness of the Cross

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 14 September 2018

Numbers 21:4-9///Philippians 2:6-11///John 3:13-17

Our loving Father, today we celebrate the unique Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

It is so unique because when we come to think of it, how could two pieces of wood that are very ordinary things in life became the means to express to us your immense love through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? It is so unique for how can two pieces of wood used to punish people now remind us of how you “so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (Jn.3:16)”?

In the cross is hidden the power of your love to transform us to better persons. In the cross is hidden the power to lead us closer to you with its vertical beam and to others with its horizontal beam. In the cross is the power of good if we choose to embrace it and be subjected to you in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Master.

What is most unique with the Cross, O God, is that underneath its ordinariness, that is where we see your glory and your majesty. Underneath the Cross of darkness and gloom, that is where we see glimpses of light and hope. And underneath the Cross of sufferings and death, we get to feel assured of the resurrection.

Give us the grace, O God, to always embrace the Cross like your Son Jesus Christ where we can all be empty of ourselves to be filled with your Spirit to make your love visible in us. 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, Fourth Sunday of Lent in our Parish, 11 March 2018.

To Love Like Jesus

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Thursday, 13 September 2018, Week XXIII, Year II

1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13///Luke 6:27-38

O loving Father, today we pray for those who have hurt us, for those who have wounded us so deeply, those we have loved but turned against us. Most especially, we pray for those who have hurt us who are now asking our forgiveness. It is very difficult Lord but it can be done in your Son.

“Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” (1Cor.8:1)

When we use more of our minds, loving especially those who have hurt us becomes difficult, even impossible. We could not get over the pain and the hurts that are so bad enough, worsened by the accompanying shame and embarrassment brought on us when we were disregarded as persons that in turn lead us to think of revenge, of getting even, of demanding “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Thank for the grace, O God, of enabling us to enter into the very heart of Jesus Christ’s teaching which is to love like Him, to love radically that means “loving our enemies, doing good for them, lending without expecting returns and being merciful like you our Father.” (Lk.6: 35, 36) Thank you for the grace, O God, of enabling us to get into the very person of your Son Jesus Christ who is so poor, so empty of Himself with enough space to host everyone inside His heart with nothing to keep except with everything to give within. Amen. St. John Chrysostom, pray for us! 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, St. Paul-Mt. Pico Retreat House, Baguio City, 17 July 2017.

Everything Is Passing

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Wednesday, 12 September 2018, Week XXIII, Year II

1 Corinthians 7:25-31///Luke 6:20-26

Dear God our Father: we are in the midweek, thank you for enabling us to reach this far. There are still so many things to be done and accomplished, so many sacrifices and sufferings to go through while we savor some sweet victories and achievements, blessings and grace that have come our way.

St. Paul reminds us that “the world in its present form is passing away” (1Cor.7:31) and nothing is permanent, like darkness and light, victory and defeat, including our very dear life. The people who have gone ahead of us in this world like our departed loved ones have taught us this basic truth that nothing stays except change. Grant them eternal rest, O God, while we who are left behind here on earth be blessed to choose and bear the little discomforts of life, of being poor before you, hungering for your love, weeping for justice, patiently doing what is right amidst the evil of so many around us who woefully forget your day of judgement. 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, sunset at Bgy. Taboc, San Juan, La Union, 05 January 2018.

When We Treat Others As Entity Than Family

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Tuesday, 11 September 2018, Week XXIII, Year II

1 Corinthians 6:1-11///Luke 6:12-19

Merciful Father in heaven, we look up to you today praying for those people who have died in “9/11”.

Until now we still feel the pain of how such a horrific event could happen on the first year of the new millennium. More than 2000 years ago, you have sent us your Son Jesus Christ to bring us together as brothers and sisters, praying that we may all be one – “ut unum sint” (John 17:21).

Unfortunately, we would more often go on our own separate ways, refusing to see one another as a family but instead as an entity. Like the Corinthians during the time of St. Paul, we could not resolve amicably our many issues and differences that end in tragedy. St. Paul noted so well how we have forgotten our being sanctified by the Holy Spirit to abide with justice and respect in spite of our differences.

Give us the grace, O God, to look more on Jesus Christ than with each other like the Apostles. Give us that grace of seeing more of Jesus Christ like the Twelve so that in the process we may see our very selves being called not because we are qualified but out of your immense love for us. Give us the grace to see our worth as a person amid our diversity in color and creed. Amen.Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022. Photo from CBS.News.

Choose Good, Choose What Is Beautiful!

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Monday, 10 September 2018, Week XXIII, Year II

1 Corinthians 5:1-8///Luke 6:6-11

God our Father, it is Monday again. For most of us, it is the start of another week of work or studies or both. For some of us like our retired parents and friends, it is another week of emptiness in their empty nests. For the sick, it is another week of patient waiting. Every Monday, some of us dread the many decisions and choices we have to make for this brand new week.

Give us the grace amidst these Monday blues to think more of the good things in life. Give us the grace to choose what is good no matter how difficult it may be. Make us positive of the many good choices available for us despite the many darkness and problems that surround us in the family, in our relationships and in our work or school.

Like St. Paul in the first reading today, let us not give in to immorality, that “old yeast” within us, “the yeast of malice and wickedness; but, let us celebrate this new week with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth found in Christ Jesus.” (1Cor.5:7-8) Every day is your day, O Lord, a sabbath – a day of doing good, of saving lives, of healing wounds (Lk.6:9) through 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, Betania-Tagaytay, 23 August 2017.

Old Wine May Be Good, But New Spirits Got the Kicks

bottle pouring summertime wine glass — Photo by Torsten Dettlaff on Pexels.com

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Friday, 07 September 2018, Week XXII, Year II

1 Corinthians 4:1-5///Luke 5:33-39

God our loving Father, another week of work and studies is coming to a close. As we look forward to the weekend rest and recreation, may we not forget the many new things and new realizations we have learned and discovered this week about you.

Let us accept the new meaning of fasting as well as the other new perspectives about you and your plans for us revealed in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ. Let us not be fixated with traditions and rituals, even beliefs that have made us complacent in our relationship with you. So many times in life we do not meet you in the present because we are always in the past, contented in holding on to that saying “old wine is good” (Lk.5:39) that we miss trying new wines that have new and stronger “kicks” so to speak.

Give us the grace like St. Paul of being a “servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God” (1Cor.4:1) by constantly examining our trustworthiness before you, cleansing and purifying our hearts for you alone. Amen.Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

The Inverse Proportionality of God’s Glory

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer

Thursday, 06 September 2018, Week XXII, Year II

1Corinthians 3:18-23///Luke 5:1-11

Your words, O God, today are a mystery, revealing the inverse proportionality of your glory! As I think of the new day, I cannot help but smile that for us to be wise in this age as St. Paul reminds us in the first reading, we have to be fools, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.”(1Cor.3:18-19)

Like Simon Peter in the gospel, we have to be “shallow” by setting aside our expertise, our intelligence or brilliance as fishermen to obey instructions of Jesus the carpenter to “cast their nets into the deep”(Lk.5:4) to catch more fish.

Whenever I look back in my life, I notice how often I felt empty when I tried to be more in control; but, when I surrendered myself to you in faith, that is when I felt fulfilled! Give us the grace, O Lord, to heed the Apostle’s words, “Let no one deceive himself”(1Cor.3:18) because your ways and your glory are inversely proportional to ours. When the world tells us to go up and rise, you tell us to go down to meet you. When the world tells us to have more, you tell us to give and share to be filled by you. And when the world tells us to be famous and popular, you tell us to be simple and hidden to discover true glory and majesty in you. 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 taken last 23 February 2018 during our Stations of the Cross in a barrio. See the warning against stealing or “dukot” with Christ below.

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