Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr, 14 August 2026
O God our loving Father, help us to always remember - our origins and beginnings, our past especially the people who had cared and nurtured us, our parents and siblings, relatives and friends, those who gave us the breaks and sparks to begin our great journeys in life, the people who stood by when we were down and nobody believed us: dear God, remind us always of the basic fact, of the principle and foundation of our being: that we came from you and shall return to you.
Forgive us, Lord God, in forgetting you always, in forgetting others, in forgetting we are nothing without you; touch us, nudge us if needed whenever we forget you and our lowly beginnings; let us not be amazed by our feats and abilities.
But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord God (Ezekiel 16:15, 60-63).
Photo of Auschwitz from internet.
As we celebrate today the Memorial of your most faithful servant St. Maximilian Kolbe who offered himself not just once for a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz for he had dedicated himself to you entirely before World War II began, may we remember the lessons that led to the Holocaust; like St. Maximilian Kolbe may we continue to remember your covenant in Jesus Christ by making a stand against injustice and immorality, in defending life especially at its weakest points, and most of all, in remembering the equal dignity of every person created in your image and likeness; like what Jesus told the Pharisees, let us go back to Paradise, let us return to you, O God, as our Lord and Master alone, not ourselves, nor our pride and convenience, nor anyone nor their flimsy, modern thoughts and ideas; like St. Maximilian Kolbe, may we have the courage to always stand forward for what is true and good and holy. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 13 August 2026 Memorial of Sts. Pontian (Pope) & Hippolytus (Priest), Martyrs Ezekiel 12:1-12 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:21-19:1
Photo from forbes.com.
Set my eyes on you, Lord God, that I may see you present always in and around my life, whether at work or at home, in school or in office, in the park, or wherever; set my eyes on you, Lord God, that I may see you always and be reminded that all this has been made possible by you because you love me; set my eyes on you, Lord God that I may realize you are holding me, that everything that happens in the world, among us are in the palm of your hand.
The word of the Lord came to me:: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house (Ezekiel 12:1-2).
Indeed, Lord God, we have not only become callous and numb but sadly blind too to you and your very presence in us and among us; we only have sights without vision; we refuse to look at the truth and realities of life and prefer to look through prisms of our own making; we have been so conceited like that servant pardoned for his debts in today's parable but unforgiving to his fellow debtor. give me the courage to confront myself like Saints Pontian and Hippolytus who both contradicted each other but in the end shed off their own pride to totally embrace and see your real truth in your Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 12 August 2026 Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-19, 22 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 18:15-20
Photo by author, Tam-Awan Village, Baguio City, January 2019.
"If your brother sins against you...."
I feel you speaking to me directly today, Lord Jesus; you know so well how often my brothers and sisters sin against me; let's not included those times I am the one who sinned against them but why is it, Lord, it is different when a brother or a sister sins against me?
There is the deep hurt because he is a brother or a sister - there is a relationship, a bond, a trust that is broken; sometimes unintentionally that they seemed to have not minded at all, or overlooked that makes it more painful actually; but, how shall I approach him or her?
So often it becomes the source of more problems because, simply, they would claim they have no intentions of hurting us or never thought what they did to us or say to us was wrong; and when we approach them, they do not seems to care at all.
With so much platforms in expressing our thoughts and feelings, the more we have become detached from each other, the more we are fragmented, the more our relationships are strained.
Give us the courage and wisdom, and tact as well to speak with a brother or sister who sins against us; more than restoring our ties, may you dwell anew dear Jesus amid us so that more than seeing each other, may we see you and share you to create a sacred ground between us because, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Amen.
Photo by author, Sonnen Berg Mountain View, Davao City, August 2018.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr, 10 August 2026 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 12:24-26
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be a cheerful giver: teach me to be like St. Lawrence your deacon and martyr we honor today who gave himself totally and cheerfully to you because he felt strongly the overflowing abundance of your grace and blessings to him; many times we are reluctant to give our time, treasures, and talents because we feel always lacking; open our very selves to find you and your blessings within so that we freely give and share whatever we have to continue serving in your name; most of all, teach me to give more of myself like a grain of wheat that dies and produces much fruit in you. Amen.
St. Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon, pray for us!
“Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, Deacon” by Hipolito de Rioja (16th c.) from commons.wikimedia.org
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 09 August 2026 1Kings 19:9, 11-13 ><}}}}*> Romans 9:1-5 ><}}}}*> Matthew 14:22-33
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2017.
Way back in 2017 on my second pilgrimage in the Holy Land with friends from GMA News, our early morning boat ride was postponed to midmorning due to strong winds in the Lake of Galilee that locals said could be so dangerous.
And that’s how life could really be a lot often in the most poetic sense.
In this journey in life, we not only walk the earth and climb hills and mountains but also have to cross rivers and lakes and seas many times. This is exactly what we do every Sunday when we journey in faith in Jesus, with Jesus just like the disciples at that time.
This year Matthew leads us in this journey. He tells us a totally different scene and setting in giving us a glimpse of the very person of Jesus Christ this Sunday.
Photo by author, Lake of Galilee, the Holy Land, May 2019.
After the miraculous feeding of more than five-thousand people from five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish last week, Jesus ordered his disciples to go ahead of him on a boat to the other side of the lake as he dismissed the crowds; by evening, Jesus was left alone atop the mountain praying while his disciples encountered rough seas a few miles offshore. During the fourth watch of the night, that is, about 3AM, Jesus came to his disciples walking on water.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out of fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Turly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:26-33).
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
How was our journey of faith this past year? Have our trust in God grown or changed?
It is really difficult to measure our faith, of how deep it has become because most often, we still feel fragile and uncertain, afraid and so unsure.
Growing in faith is often not straightforward; many times we feel shaken, almost at a total loss when suddenly Jesus comes at the nick of time. This is most true when we experience death of a loved one or simply someone close to us.
Actually I have been going to many funerals lately: the death of a best friend last week that was followed by the demise of his mother-in-law a few hours after we have laid him to his final resting place. Last week, several friends and relatives have also died in my hometown but I had to beg off in offering Masses to most of them.
Our faith and trust in God are most tested in deaths. Many things run through our minds when we hear someone close had died: most common reaction is how quick was the shift when we have just saw each other or texted each other then suddenly, we hear death had come while we silently whisper within kailan lang magkausap/magkasama pa tayo…
Like the disciples at that time when their boat was being tossed by waves due to strong winds in the middle of the lake at night: they could not believe how a little while they left Jesus at the shore to cross the lake then suddenly, Jesus was coming toward them on water. It must be terrifying indeed!
“Christ Walking On Water” painting by Julius Servus von Klever (1880) from commons.wikipedia.org
Many times too we find ourselves in great difficulty believing – much more accepting – bad news like when we or somebody close to us is diagnosed with a serious illness, had separated from husband or wife, going through a depression or any mental issues, had an accident or lost everything in a fire.
The list is endless of similar situations when we feel like in a boat tossed by giant waves in the middle of the sea at midnight. Like the disciples in the boat, uncertainties and darkness blind us and drive us into fears that sometimes we fail to recognize Jesus already with us.
Just hold on to God amid all the dangers you face with all your worries and doubts, fears and uncertainties. Most of all, “take courage” as Jesus told the disciples in the boat as he approached them on water because he always comes quietly, often unexpectedly.
By the fact we are able to pray, we are able to celebrate Mass on a Sunday, we are able to cry to God, that is enough proof of his very presence in us giving us courage and strength to endure and move forward with whatever we have just like last week when Jesus asked us to give him whatever little we have. What is most important is we call to God, we believe in him no matter how imperfect it may be like Peter who said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you.”
Ano ba talaga? “Lord, if it is you” – we recognize Jesus our Lord but we can’t remove the “IF” because we are imperfect, divided between doubt and belief.
That’s normal.
There is always that gap in us, like the shore and the sea, doubt and belief that nonetheless keep us in the journey with Christ who asks us to step out in faith even in the high seas.
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
God does not rush or pressure us to complete faith in him but patiently invites us to grow in trust at our own pace. Even the great Prophet Elijah in the first reading had to wait patiently for God’s coming after fleeing to Mount Horeb to escape the murderous plots of Queen Jezebel against him.
Elijah surely was not aware of everything about God’s plan for him but he had the courage to follow him, to obey him to go to Horeb which is also Mount Sinai where God appeared to Moses. Of course, Elijah knew the scriptures very well, of how God spoke and appeared to Moses and the Israelites in “strong heavy winds and crushing rocks, in earthquake and fire” but found God nowhere. Elijah remained at the mouth of the cave in Horeb until “there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave” (1Kgs.19:12-13).
How lovely is this scene that shows us convincingly that God comes and speaks always in silence. Incidentally, it takes a lot of courage to be silent too.
Faith, like love, comes after an encounter with Jesus. The more we follow Jesus, the more we grow in faith in him as we meet him and most of all, listen to him despite our many imperfections. Just remain in him for he alone is our certainty and security. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, draw me deeply into a trusting relationship with you by following you more closely as I struggle with my many hesitations and doubts of your presence. Amen.
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II First Friday in August, Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II 07 August 2026 Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 16:24-28
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Thank you for this first Friday in August, Lord Jesus; your words remind us of our continuing journey in you and with you; many times, we go towards you but sometimes we go on so many detours because we think them as shortcuts, as better, most often but wrongly, much lighter.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses hisnlife for my sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25).
Christian journey is a continual turning of our hearts to you, Lord Jesus; problem is how we easily forget, how foolishly we insist like the people of Nineveh to live in power and wealth, in greed and violence, in selfishness; life and its fullness can only be found in you, Jesus; help us find our way back to you when we are lost, let us leave the sidewalks to join you on the road itself as we journey to the Cross so that along the way experience your life and joy and fulfillment. Amen.
Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like thine!
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, 06 August 2026 2 Peter 1:16-19 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 17:1-9
Mosaic inside the Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, Israel; photo from commons.wikimedia.org.
The face is a reflection of what is in the heart and soul of every person. No amount of cosmetics and beauty procedures can ever bring out that glow and radiance of anyone’s face beaming with joy and fulfillment, peace and contentment coming from the heart.
This direct correlation of the face and the heart is called countenance – an indication of someone’s depth – or shallowness – of inner transformation due to deep spirituality, of communion with God. This is most evident on those we find whose face looks younger than one’s age that we often describe as malalim or deep, or magaling magdala ng problema. Another favorite Filipino expression of a person’s countenance is when we find somebody as madaling makagaanan ng loob – a person we meet for the first time yet we feel so light and easy with, we feel at home with him or her. In the same manner, we sense or notice something negative and unpleasant like rotting inside a person despite having good features like flawless skin or aquiline nose and beautiful eyes, we still find him or her so chaka or ugly.
Countenance is what young people call as “uma-aura” when they pose for FB or IG from “aura” or spirit within evoked and projected by one’s face that cannot be manipulated nor faked.
Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light (Matthew 17:1-2).
Painting of the Transfiguration by Italian artist Duccio di Buoninsegna between 1308 and 1311 from commons.wikimedia.org.
What a beautiful expression by Matthew, “his (Jesus’) face shone like the sun” at his transfiguration primarily because deep inside him is his complete and perfect union in the Father. Jesus always insisted on this reality within him, of his perfect communion in the Father from which also flows his total obedience that reached its highest point at his Passion and Death on the Cross, his own Pasch or exodus.
Try recalling unexpected moments in your life when God’s presence was so clear to you like a light shining from within; it could be those moments you have overcome a major obstacle in life or simply when you felt so loved while in some forms of darkness in life. Like the three apostles, during those moments we felt so overwhelmed by God’s glory and majesty that we felt like remaining in that state of comfort and certainty and consolation. Most often, these occurred during or after some trying times or occasions.
There on Mount Tabor in his transfiguration, we are shown that Christ’s glory cannot be separated from the Cross. His majesty and triumph shall come from his pasch. And so are we his disciples. That is why the voice heard by the apostles said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him”. From now on after his transfiguration, Jesus would be speaking thrice of his coming Passion, Death and Resurrection as he heads toward Jerusalem. All his lessons after Mount Tabor are about our participation in his paschal mysteries.
Do we listen at all? How’s our facial expression when we dwell on his conditions of discipleship? Is there a spark within us, a light shining through? Or, do we experience a “blackout”?
Photo from custodia.org of Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, Israel.
Every second Sunday in Lent, we hear the same gospel of Christ’s transfiguration in preparation for Easter; this August 6 is the 18th week in Ordinary Time and we celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration to help us sustain in following Jesus in the last 16 weeks of the year.
During this time especially August when everything seems to slow down with life getting a bit difficult, the Transfiguration of Jesus calls us to never lose sight of the Cross of Good Friday as our path to glorious transfiguration in Christ. It is a process we have to patiently and persevere to go through in life.
The apostles learned and embraced all these lessons in a process slowly with the guidance of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost. That is why Jesus told them to come down from Tabor to continue their journey to Jerusalem to fulfill his mission. Through them we have believed despite our not having seen Jesus that is how he would appear as “Lord” on the mountain that we the faithful are climbing to participate in the ultimate manifestation of his return at the end of time.
To journey with Christ, listening and obeying his voice is something of the inside, of the heart. Not of the outside like places. The light of Christ does not remain still, continuously drawing us forward unto him, right into our hearts.
Life is a daily ascent to Mount Tabor, often when nights are long and dark, when the temptation to follow the artificial lights of the world and modernisms offering shortcuts to fulfillment and meaning are so tempting.
Photo from iStockphoto.com of Mount Tabor in Israel where Jesus is believed to have transfigured.
St. Peter warns us in the first reading that “we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ… we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2Pt.1:16, 19).
The path to glory is the path of the Cross of Jesus, right in our hearts when we are willing to forgive and understand, when we are more loving and kind, when we are empty of pride and filled with Jesus always. May the light of Christ shine on us, on our face. Let us pray:
Show me your face, Jesus by dwelling right here in my heart, filling me with your love and kindness, justice and truth, mercy and forgiveness; show me your face, Jesus by showing me Moses too that I may love your laws and commandments that often I see as burdensome not realizing they actually lead to true freedom to love and be faithful to you, Lord; sow me your face, Jesus by showing me too Elijah, your powerful prophet taken to heaven body and soul by a chariot because he believed in your words Lord; show me your face, Jesus that my face may shine with your light while I transfigure in you. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 05 August 2026 Jeremiah 31:1-7 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 15:21-28
Photo by a friend in Washington, 28 July 2026.
Glory and praise to you O God our loving Father with your boundless love and mercy; your words today are a beautiful reminder of how wide is your love and mercy: in the first reading, Jeremiah continues to rally our hopes of your coming redemption and restoration of Israel after its fall and conquest by Assyrians due to their own sinfulness; in the gospel, a Canaanite woman who was both a foreigner and pagan considered like a "house-dog" among Jews persisted in asking Jesus for the healing of her daughter; two stories about central characters widely different and divergent yet converged in the mercy and love of God.
What a beautiful reminder how our smallest cry in faith is always heard by God while our biggest sin against him can still be forgiven for as long as we are willing to change our ways and most of all, be contented with scraps in life. Amen.
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, January 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II Memorial of St. John Mary Vianney, Priest, 04 August 2026 Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14
Photo by a friend in Washington. 28 July 2026.
Your words today, O Lord sound harsh but I do not mind at all because you speak as an honest friend who truly loves and cares for me; you speak the truth always that hurts us because every mess we are into this life is a result of our own making, of our pride and sinfulness like Israel and Judah conquered and banished from their own country by the Assyrians and the Babylonians:
Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise; There is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished your cruelly; Why cry out over your wound? Your pain is without relief. Because of your guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you (Jeremiah 30:12-15).
Today we also celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint, John mary Vianney, your most holy priest who bore so much pains and sufferings not because of his sins but by the sins of many around him; we your priests, O God, have sinned a lot against you, O God, through your people, the flock you have entrusted to us: we have hurt them so bad their wounds are incurable, their bruise so grievous with some leaving the Church; forgive us, Lord for being too far from the heart of your Son Jesus, the Good Shepherd; cleanse our hearts and make us realize priesthood is victimhood like Jesus; let us bear the wounds inflicted to us by the sheep rather than us wounding them.
Deep within your harsh words today, Lord, we feel your deep desire to heal us, to free us, and to renew us; cleanse our hearts, Lord, your priests, purify us to bear all pains for your people, to be truly prophetic so that your people may realize you are in their midst and eventually be like you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 03 August 2026 Jeremiah 28:1-7 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 14:22-36
Photo by author, Cabo de Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.
It is always nice, dear God our loving Father, to hear encouraging words - but not if they are false and misleading like the prophecy of Hananiah in our first reading today; forgive us, Lord, for always seeking false hopes in prophets of boom - on demagogues like most of our politicians and leaders and sadly many of us people and listeners are entertained and believe their lies without realizing that "in breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke!" (Jeremiah 28:13)
Truth always hurts but it is only in accepting it that we grow and mature; let us be bold like Jeremiah in standing by your instructions, Lord, no matter how unpopular it may be, no matter how disturbing and unsettling it may be; when caught in a storm, when winds blow so hard that we lose directions in life filled with fears that we grasp for whatever that would pull us through, may we imitate Peter in crying out to you, Jesus with "Lord, save me!"; when life seems too harsh and difficult, may we have the courage to confront face to face life's painful realities always. Amen.
Photo by autor, Anvaya Cove Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
