The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Sixth Week of Easter Season, 06 May 2024 Acts 16:11-15 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 15:26-16:4
Photo by author, Our Lady of the Poor (also of Banneaux), Sacred Heart Novitiate, 20 March 2024.
Today Lord Jesus I pray in the most special way all the women of the world, especially the women most dearest to me like my mother who brought me forth in this world, who taught me about You and how to pray, my sisters and girl friends who have guided me and opened my mind, heart and soul to the many wonderful things about life and living!
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia… a worshiper of God, listened and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.h
Acts 16:13-14
How lovely to be reminded today in our first reading that like during Your time, Lord, when women were some of the first to help You in Your ministry, it was also the women who made the great impact in the growth of the early Church which continues to this day with majority of the church-goers are women, most of our volunteer catechists and servants in the parish are also women while the mothers remain as primary evangelizers in this modern age that tries so hard to remove God from life's picture.
How sad, dear Jesus, that until now, it is still the women who are on the distaff side of life, whether at home or school or office, even in the Church!
Bless the women
of the world, Lord Jesus,
especially those neglected
and taken for granted
especially by their own
family; bless and set free
those women held captive
by the systematic crimes
and oppression
still going on against them
like human trafficking;
heal those women
suffering not only in body
but also in heart, mind and
soul; touch the hearts
and lighten the load
of women crying in silence
for the many pains they
endure.
Thank You, dear Jesus
for the gift of women
who so often disguise
as our Holy Spirit,
the Advocate
pointing us to the right
directions and decisions
in life; keep them safe
always in Your loving arms,
assure them of Your
presence.
Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Sixth Sunday in the Easter Season, Cycle B, 05 May 2024 Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 ><}}}*> 1 John 4:7-10 ><}}}*> John 15:9-17
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 22 March 2023.
Imagine that beautiful imagery of Jesus last Sunday, of Him saying “I am the true vine… you are the branches” calling us to remain in Him to be fruitful (Jn.15:1, 5, 8). What a lovely sight to behold are the vines, climbing and winding up or creeping on the ground with its vast network of leaves and stems, tiny tendrils and shoots, flowers and fruits.
Jesus identified Himself with the vine to show us the immensity and profundity of His love for us as this plant species sprawls widely with its strong roots and stem system extending to its branches that reach out to its flowers and clusters of fruits like grapes. It is as if in every turn of the vine, there is so much life, full of love like God who is both Life and Love Himself.
Photo by Dra. Carol Reyes-Santos, MD at Napa Valley in California, September 2023.
And that is the essence of Jesus as He had explained during their Last Supper, showing its meaning on Good Friday when He died on the Cross, summarizing everything on Easter when He rose again and appeared later to His disciples.
It is love, love, and still, love in every turn just like the vine.
In being the true vine, we find God’s immense love for us expressed in His Son Jesus Christ who now tells us clearly to love one another shortly before He showed and proved that love for us on Good Friday at the Cross.
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. This I command you: love one another.”
John 15:9, 12, 17
See how Jesus speaks of and lives in love in every turn in this gospel scene this Sunday which is a continuation of His discourse last week during their Last Supper. Nine times Jesus used the word “love” in nine verses.
He began his discourse by laying down the foundation of this love which is the Father’s love in verse 9: it is in “remaining” in His love that we truly have joy which is more than happiness but firm assurance that no matter what happens to us even in the worst situations including death as Jesus went through, there is always God loving us to the end and beyond.
After that, Jesus twice mentioned love as His commandment to us. Actually, Christ’s command to love one another seems pretty simple, and easy if you say so; but, what He added makes it so difficult – “love one another as I love you.”
That part “as I love you” is the challenge of Jesus to each one of us every day because He loved even unto death, literally and figuratively speaking. We do not need to die literally as martyrs but even dying figuratively speaking is already so difficult when we have to make many sacrifices, when we have to love somebody else more than our very selves!
Loving one another like Christ is more than to “feeling good” because…
To love like Jesus is to forget ourselves, to think less of our own good and comfort like a mother despite her being sick would still rise early to prepare her family to school and work or a dad going abroad in order to have food, clothing and shelter for his family.
Loving like Christ is giving up our wants and needs, including our dreams sometimes like the many Ate and Kuya who remain single in order to send their younger siblings to school until they graduate and be able to stand on their own.
To love like Jesus is to die in our own POV (point-of-view) and other long held beliefs in order to find Christ in everyone especially those different from us or from those who hurt us.
Loving one another like Jesus Christ is choosing the Father above all every day.
Admittedly, to love like Jesus is very difficult indeed but, the good news this Sunday is that it is doable as the beloved disciple explains in the second reading, “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins” (1Jn.4:10).
And the best part of this Sunday’s gospel is when Jesus declared twice He loves us, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you… This is my commandment: love one another as I love you” (Jn. 15:9,12).
Wow! Everyone knows so well the deep joy one feels in hearing someone say “I love you”. For as long as it is the true kind of love, these words of “I love you” are not only transformative but also performative because they are powerful, filled with the powers of God that can change us, heal us and inspire us.
The words “I love you” are the nicest and most life-changing things one can always hear but unfortunately we rarely say these words to others because we are afraid of running out of love. The truth is, the more love we give, the more we share love in words and in deeds like Jesus, the more we are filled with His love but by those around us too!
Never say nor claim we cannot love like Christ because we are humans like that cheesy Filipino love song of yore, sapagkat ako’y tao lamang. That ability to love like Jesus is already here in our hearts, in our being, in us because He had lavishly loved us first so that we too can love. Every day Jesus repeats those words of the Last Supper whenever we wake up, telling us, “I love you”.
It was the same experience Peter and later the household of Cornelius have experienced in our first reading when the Holy Spirit came down upon them to fill them with the love of God that prompted Peter to realize earlier how “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34), meaning, God loves everyone lavishly regardless of color, gender, and creed. The problem is with us when we love only those “like us”; hence, the need to remain in Christ to be able to find Him in everyone.
Let us immerse ourselves into that amazing reality that we are personally loved by Jesus as we pray:
Dearest Jesus: let me remain in Your love so I may learn to forget myself, set aside my plans and agenda so that I may love like You by keeping Your commandments, laying down my life for others, echoing Your very words of "I love you" to those who hardly know You because they have never felt being loved as they suffer alone in diseases, poverty, and injustice; let me bask in Your love, Lord to lead others back to You in my loving service and kindness especially those who have lost faith in You and humanity. Amen.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 03 May 2024
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan, 15 April 2024.
How I wish I could strum and sing like Simon and Garfunkel saying hello and listening to the sound of silence that nobody hears, nobody cares; what a lovely commodity now a rarity in the time of Siri, everybody is so afraid of silence when its loudest sound is less than a breath, feebler than a whisper.
How foolish have we become to disregard silence when it is the only sound before we have all become that is why when death comes, in silence we shall return; woe the Walkman that pushed us back to the caves of our own world enslaved by gadgets that muffle our ears and head from the warmth of another soul speaking in silence.
Let us touch and be disturbed by the sound of silence! Listen to its wisdom and truth for it is not emptiness but fullness; embrace silence, feel its warmth to see life's vibrance in its natural sound telling us to trust again so we can love anew that is most true when words are few because the heart is empty, silently awaiting YOU!
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove in Morong, Bataan, 15 April 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Feast of Sts. Philip & James, Apostles, 03 May 2024 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ><}}}}*> Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5 ><}}}}*> John 14:6-14
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
Thank You, dear Jesus in coming to us, most especially calling us to know You and be close with You like Your Apostles Philip and James the Less whose feast we celebrate today.
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.
1 Corinthians 15: 5-8
Like Philip and James the Less, we are Your apostles too: we may not have met You personally in that particular time, but we have seen You so many times when You appeared to us on many occasions in our lives; You appeared as people we love, as people who love us, as strangers with good hearts who live in You and Your words; You appeared to us in many circumstances both good and bad, most especially in dismal ones; You appear to us always when we are near You in prayers, in good works, in state of grace; You appear to us when we are not distant from You due to sins.
Like Philip and James the Less, let us grow in intimacy with You, dear Jesus in prayers and good works; like Philip, let us keep on asking You questions, let us keep on searching for You and the Father; like James, let us be silent to listen to other voices to hear You speaking to us always like in the Council of Jerusalem; let us be like James Your cousin as reconcilers of people in You, not dividers for it is when we are in communion, when we are one as disciples when You truly appear to us. Amen.
Jesus teaching his Twelve Apostles painting by Frenchman James Tissot (1836-1902), from GettyImages.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Memorial of St. Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, 02 May 2024 Acts 15:7-21 ><}}}}*> Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 10 ><}}}}*> John 15:9-11
Your words today, Lord Jesus, are so dramatic like in the movies when Your disciples twice went silent: "The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God worked among the gentiles through them. After they had fallen silent, James responded, 'My brothers, listen to me...'" (Acts 15:12-13).
Teach me to be silent, Lord, so that I may listen and hear what others are saying, what You are telling me through others; let me be silent, Jesus, to listen more to You, to experience Your presence, Your love and care, Your mercy and forgiveness, and Your wisdom and direction I must take in this life harassed by so many noises and competing voices to follow.
How interesting that Your great servant and theologian St. Athanasius whose Memorial we celebrate today, the first of the Doctors of the Church who fought the heretics to insist on Your being true God and true man was forced into exile so many times defending You and Your truth as the Christ; how lovely to reflect in those repeated exiles of St. Athanasius he fell silent not because of fear but because of courage by continuing to pray and reflect on Your Person as the Son of God.
Lord Jesus Christ, silence is the domain of trust; hence, teach me most especially to be silent like the saints in order to trust You more so that I can love more like You by remaining close with You, in You always (John 15:9). Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, 01 May 2024 Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24 >>> + <<< Matthew 13:54-58
“Childhood of Christ” painting by Gerard von Honthorst, franciscanmedia.org.
Praise and glory to You, God our Father in entrusting Your Son Jesus Christ to the most noble and holiest of men, St. Joseph who came from the lineage of King David.
Though he never spoke a word in the Gospel, St. Joseph's obedience in doing everything as You had commanded him (Mt. 1:24) proved his being a model disciple too of Jesus like his wife, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On this first day of May when we celebrate his memorial as St. Joseph the Worker, our beloved Patron shows us how family life is so sacred as part of Your Divine plan, O gracious Father in heaven.
St. Joseph worked as a carpenter, a provider to the Holy Family who must have also experienced every dad's problem of never making enough for Mary and Jesus; most likely, the Holy Family he headed did not live a perfect idyllic life, living through scandals and gossips as our gospel today showed when the people of Nazareth rejected the adult Jesus Christ, taking offense at him by asking, "Is he not the carpenter's son?" (Mt. 13:55, 57).
Photo by author, site of St. Joseph’s carpentry shop beneath St. Joseph’s Church in Nazareth, Israel, May 2017.
Dear God, grant us the same grace You gave St. Joseph who lived through scandal and gossip in a righteous way, just like what St. Paul had told us in the first reading, "And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection"; help us to be like St. Joseph who "let the peace of Christ controlled his heart" (Col.3:14-15) in everything to show us that holiness in life is not a poster card but one lived in the ambiguity and complexity of this world rooted in Jesus our Lord. Amen.
St. Joseph, Protector of the Child Jesus and Mary, Pray for us!
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 30 April 2024 Acts 14:19-28 <*((((>< + ><))))*> John 14:27-31
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, Binuangan Island, Obanda, Bulacan, 2021.
Your words today, O Lord Jesus, are very comforting and soothing on these extremely hot days of summer; and how amazing your words were set in the most distressing situations: in the first reading, Paul was stoned and dragged out of Lystra, "supposing he was dead" (Acts 14:19); in the gospel, as You spoke of Your impending betrayal and arrest leading to Your Passion and Death, You spoke about peace, telling Your disciples "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid" (Jn.14:27).
How amazing, dear Jesus, are Your strength and courage to assure others even in the midst of great turmoil Yourself; where did Paul get those grace and power to strengthen the spirits of others, exhorting them to persevere in faith (Acts 14:22) after he almost got killed?
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, Binuangan Island, Obanda, Bulacan, 2021.
Many times, my Lord, I cave into myself, worst, sulk in isolation from the rest when disappointed and hurt; keep me strong, dear Jesus, let me persevere in face of trials and difficulties like Paul, keeping in mind that difficulties are temporary, are meant to purify and strengthen me because the enemy has no power over me for You have already conquered the world in love; let me rejoice in the face of my adversaries so that the world may know and experience Your great love poured upon me in Your passion and death. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 29 April 2024 Acts 14:5-18 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 14:21-26
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, July 2023.
Like the Apostle Jude, I have always wanted to ask You dear Jesus, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" (John 14:22); why, O Lord, You not simply appear to everyone so that people will not have to create other gods like the people at Lystra who mistook Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus?
Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
John 14:23
It is a very timely question many of us are still asking and Your answer, O Lord, was mysterious and so profound; but, thank You, dear Jesus, for being so near with us, for being with us always to enable us to slowly grasp and understand Your words: forgive us, Lord, when we take You as a thing, as an object to be possessed and held like those idols and gods not only of the Greeks and Romans of old but by many of us today in various forms and ways; You, O Jesus, are a Person, Someone who must be seen and perceived by our hearts so that You may take Your dwelling within us; how lovely that despite our sins and weaknesses, You desire to enter our lives; grant us, therefore, Lord, an open heart willing to welcome You inside, to dwell in our hearts so that we may manifest You to others in our life of witnessing You peace and joy, mercy and love, kindness and reconciliation so that like the psalmist, we may always sing, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth" (Psalm 115:1). Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Fifth Sunday in the Easter Season, Cycle B, 28 April 2024 Acts 9:26-31 ><}}}}*> 1 John 3:18-24 ><}}}}*> John 15:1-8
From the Good Shepherd last Sunday, Jesus today declares himself as the “true vine”. Notice that qualifier true vine similar with last Sunday’s good shepherd because Jesus “lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11, 17, 18); so we ask, was there an untrue vine?
Yes. Jesus was referring to Israel, God’s vineyard lavished with all his care but produced wild grapes as portrayed in Isaiah’s “Vineyard Song” that he vowed to take it away and plant a new vine fulfilled in Christ (Is. 5:1-7). Jesus as the true vine is an expression of his Incarnation, of how God in Jesus Christ became human like us in everything except sin so that we in turn would become like him, holy and divine. This can only be when keep that union intact by remaining in Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
Our scene is now at the Last Supper, after the washing of the feet of the disciples. Judas had already left and Jesus began his series of discourses capped with his high priestly prayer after which they proceeded to Gethsemane for his betrayal and arrest.
Imagine the solemnity of the scene, of how Jesus had shown the Twelve the meaning of his being the good shepherd laying down his life by taking the bread and wine as his Body and Blood given to everyone. All these will have its fullness on Good Friday at the Cross while it would take some time after Easter and Pentecost when the disciples will finally grasp and understand its meanings.
We are not just going back to a past event, to what Jesus had done. In declaring himself as the true vine, Jesus reveals to us himself truly God and Risen from the dead, telling us how we can share in the joy and mystery of his Resurrection. And that is by remaining in Jesus first above all, “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.”
Photo by Dra. Carol Reyes-Santos, MD at Napa Valley, California, 2023.
See how in eight verses, Jesus used the word “remain” eight times because it is not enough Jesus is the true vine in whom we are blessed and become fruitful; we must remain in him too.
There is no doubt of Jesus remaining in us which is what his being a true vine is all about; unlike Israel in the Old Testament that produced wild grapes, Jesus can no longer be uprooted because he is God himself who had become one in us. But, are we one in him and with him?
To remain is more than physical like to stay. A branch remaining, staying intact with the vine but had turned yellow and dried up is clearly not one with the vine. We can be inside the church but be detached with everyone and the celebration. We may be staying or residing in the same address and home but our heart and very self may be so far away from our siblings or parents, or from your wife or husband.
Remaining implies something more than physical presence. To remain is to have a relationship, a bonding that is deep and intimate. To remain is to be of one heart as GMA7 claims to be a kapuso which is more important than being a kapamilya or a kapatid. There is no sense of being a family (kapamilya) when there is no love in the family or at the other hand, a sibling (kapatid) is nothing if the brother or sister is your enemy. We remain with God and everyone when our hearts are attuned or inclined to God and with others in love which is the fruit of the vine, Jesus Christ.
We can only bear much fruit, be more loving, if we remain in Jesus Christ. It is an imperative, therefore in this life that we remain in Christ for without him, separated him, we can do nothing. Fruit and love are always together as shown in the institution narrative and on Good Friday.
Being fruitful is more than being successful that is often seen and measured in material things. Being fruitful, being more loving is spiritual in nature, can never be measured with what we have but what have we given. Most of all, being fruitful is depending, relying more in Jesus Christ than in one’s self. That is why remaining in Christ is a prerequisite to be fruitful.
We remain in Jesus in prayer when he said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (Jn. 15:7). But, prayer here as in most parts of the gospel does not mean asking God for anything; to remain in Jesus in prayer is to ask for God himself. It is only in having God we can truly love and experience joy and peace within despite the many trials and pains we go through in life.
In the first reading we have heard how Paul, still known as Saul arrived in Jerusalem and “tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26). It must have been so difficult for Saul as well as for the early Christians too to welcome him! Saul must have a hard time convincing them he had really changed, that he had been converted in Christ while he must also understand the feelings of the Christians whom he persecuted before.
Photo by Dra. Carol Reyes-Santos,MD, at Napa Valley, California, 2023.
Let us keep in mind too that Saul’s conversion did not necessarily mean an end of their persecution; in fact, persecutions would turn more fierce later but it was during that time when the church grew so fast and wide too! That was because they remained in Christ who caused their efforts to bear much fruits no one expected.
Look back into our lives and see how when we remained in Christ and problems never stopped but that is when we are more fruitful, more fulfilled in life. Like our responsorial psalm this Sunday, “we praise the Lord in the midst of the assembly” to thank God from our hearts for all the blessings he bestows us like inner growth and maturity, feeling fruitful not just successful. Indeed, as the beloved disciple rightly noted in our second reading today, “God is greater than our hearts and knows everything” (1 Jn. 3:20).
This Sunday, Jesus is telling us “I am the true vine” to show us how God’s life is now in us through Christ and how our life is in God still through Christ. Let us remain in Jesus as he continues to reveal to us who he really is, our Lord and God, so we can share in the many joys and mysteries of his Resurrection. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, let me remain in You; let me stay in You when things are so difficult and let me still remain in You when life is so beautiful; let me be near and close to You as You are in me, speaking Your words, doing Your will; in my remaining in You, may I be fruitful by bringing others closer to You so that in the end, we all remain one in You. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Fourth Week of Easter, 26 April 2024 Acts 13:26-33 ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> John 14:1-6
Photo by author, Anvaya Cove, 15 April 2024.
When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue: “My brothers… The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath.
Acts 13:26, 27
Failure. One of life's many mysteries, next to pain and suffering that has baffled us ever since. Sometimes avoidable, sometimes inevitable but surely happens most of the time.
Like the Apostles at the Last Supper, I fear failures, Lord Jesus; as much as possible, I avoid or at least minimize failures to maximize success and victories.
But, dear Jesus, it is not enough to avoid and minimize failures; You have taught me so many times that like You, I have to embrace even befriend failure which is part of our lives. That is why You gifted us with faith:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1-2, 6
More than a virtue and a gift from Above, faith is a relationship with You and in You, dear Jesus; it is in entering into a personal relationship with You in faith, through faith that I can embrace and befriend failure so that it does not matter anymore how I got lost but how I have remained in You my Way, a Person and a revelation of the Father's love, not just a concept in philosophy or technology like the AI pretending to lead me; deepen my faith in You, Jesus so that every communication in You is true because it is a giving of my self in love like You at the Cross; lastly, let me grow in faith in You, dearest Jesus so that despite the many failures that may come to me, everything leads to eternity because You alone is life. Amen.
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, an orange-bellied flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) somewhere in the Visayas, December 2023.
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