Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 26 June 2026 2 Kings 25:1-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 8:1-4
Photo by author, St. Anthony De Padua Chapel, D’Alta Tagaytay, Tagaytay City, 02 June 2026.
Glory and praise to you, merciful God and Father for this wonderful last Friday of June 2026 as you present us with two images of human sufferings: in the first reading is the final siege of Jerusalem with the capture of its king Zedekiah who rebelled against his Babylonian masters and conquerors and the leper who approached Jesus Christ to do homage, begging for his healing.
Many times, we are like Zedekiah who willingly submit ourselves to the forces of evil and eventually end up miserably in their hands: "Then king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon" (2 Kings 25:6-7).
You never punish us your people, Lord; all our misfortunes and miseries are brought about by our or others sinfulness; hence, keep us faithful to you, to return to you while still early before we could not get out and be stuck in a difficult situation like Zedekiah.
Teach us to be humble like that leper who approached Jesus after coming down from a mountain: "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed immediately (Matthew 8:2-4).
To whom shall we go, Lord Jesus but to you alone; let us suffer in you, with you on the cross for you not only have the words of life but because you too have gone through our sufferings and felt its pains that you will nothing for us but healing and cleansing, absolution and freedom.
In a special way, dear Jesus, we pray for those undergoing medical procedures this weekend, healing for those seriously ill and easing of pains for those in severe diseases and sickness. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Week XI, Year II in Ordinary Time, 16 June 2020
1 Kings 21:17-29 <*(((>< <*(((>< ><)))*> ><)))*> Matthew 5:43-48
Photo from Google.
O God our heavenly Father, we come to you today begging for your mercy, for more enlightenment, for prudence and for self-control amid all the things going on in our land and elsewhere abroad while still under threats with this COVID-19 pandemic.
Every day we are beginning to see how ugly sin can be, often expressed in so many forms of injustice to one another; its ugliness can be seen in the “punishments” King Ahab shall suffer following the death of Naboth whose vineyard he had so desired to own.
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me out, my enemy?” “Yes,” he answered. “Because you have given yourself up to doing evil in the Lord’s sight, I am bringing evil upon you: I will destroy you and will cut off every male in Ahab’s line, whether slave or freeman, in Israel. When one of Ahab’s line dies in the city, dogs will devour him; when one of them dies in the field, the birds of the sky will devour him.”
1 Kings 21:20-21, 24
Help us to turn away from sins, Lord, and cleanse our hearts and our hands of our many sins of dishonesty and insincerity, of lies and injustices, of pride and power tripping.
All these things happening to us today are largely due to our past sins that until now we refuse to admit and confess to you.
Give us the grace of honesty within, of confronting our true selves and admit our guilt, confess our sins to you to start anew like King Ahab towards the end that moved you, merciful God, to let go of your wrath in him.
May we find the wisdom and the immense beauty and power of your love as preached by Jesus to us in the gospel today.
Inspire us to be perfect, to be holy today just like you, our Father, is holy, perfect, and beautiful.
Holiness is not being sinless, Lord; fill us with your Self, O God so we may be strong enough to ward off sins and evil and be truly a reflection of your image and likeness in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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