40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Second Week in Lent, 06 March 2026 Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 + + + Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2023.
As we come to nearly closing this second week in Lent, forgive us Lord Jesus Christ for the many times we have claimed everything as our own: Lent is when we return back to God our Father the life we have all stolen and destroyed in the process.
It tears apart my heart, O Lord, that scene when Jacob's sons conspired to kill, later sold Joseph their own brother because of jealousy and sadly, how this still happens among us as brothers and sisters, "Judah said to his brothers: 'What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. Afer all, he is our brother, our own flesh.' His brothers agreed. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver" (Genesis 37:26-28).
Forgive us, Lord in owning each other like a thing, an object to be possessed than a subject to be loved and respected like when we rejoice at the summary execution of criminals, when people argue in favor of abortion and contraceptives negating the value of life, when some insist on same sex unions and gender reorientation disregarding the sanctity of the human body.
Photo by author, from Dominus Flevit Church overlooking Jerusalem, May 2017.
It is the same pride that consumes us when we think of our selves, of our very lives, of this planet itself and universe as if we own everything, laying claim on everything and everyone; forgive us, Father for being so arrogant with our misplaced confidence and familiarity in our sense of ownership and possession of "your vineyard" entrusted to us.
We have not only defied you, Father in disregarding the prophets you have sent to gather from us your share of produce from your vineyard we have now usurped; worst of all, we have killed your Son Jesus Christ, not giving him the respect due to him, "Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him" (Matthew 21:37-39).
Every time we sin, whenever we disrespect others especially the sick and the weak, whenever we discredit someone not present with us in a gathering, when we are unfaithful and we betray those we have promised to love and to serve, we steal your vineyard, Father, we kill your Son and Heir, we claim as ours without realizing the truth we have nothing at all for we are mere stewards.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2025.
Lord Jesus, you have given me with so much - life and talents, experiences and fulfillment family and friends not to own nor possess like things but gifts to be shared; I return them to you so you may use them and me according to your will. Amen.
Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth" (Jeremiah 17:5-6).
Forgive us, merciful Father for turning away from you, and turning away from our neighbors especially the sick many other Lazarus we ignore at our doorsteps; forgive us in believing more in ourselves, in our science and technology, ideologies and philosophies that stretch our rights and freedom forgetting all about our responsibilities; how foolish, O God, that we insist on our beliefs and misplaced trust in ourselves, in everything that is passing and temporary for as long as it is self-serving that we become like a barren bush or shrub in the desert, drying up, dying, hoping for the rains that would never come. Awaken us, Lord from this foolishness and let us arise to return to you until there is time.
Photo by author, Hidden Valley, Laguna, February 2025.
Thus says the Lord: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside waters that stretches out its roots to the stream; it fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
Let me find my way back to you, God our Father; let me be like that tree planted beside the stream, beside you, in you, trusting you alone; let me be rooted in you, Father, filled with life and meaning; deepen my roots in you, Father, listening more to your voice of wisdom and truth that are inconvenient in this age of instants comfort.
Photo by author, Malagos, Davao City, 18 August 2018.
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given me with so much and I have given so little; let me give more of myself to you so I can give and share you more with others; keep me rooted in you as I surrender myself to you, doing your most holy will. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Second Week in Lent, 03 March 2026 Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 + + + Matthew 23:1-12
Photo by author, Ephesus, Turkiye, November 2025.
Praise and glory to you, O Lord, God our Father! You are most gracious and kind despite our sins you still call us to come to you.
Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool (Isaiah 1:18).
You are indeed a loving God, dear Father, inviting us your sinful children to "come now", inviting us to a conversation, always believing change is possible even if most often we are not willing to come to you; give us the humility and firm resolve to accept finally your invitation to come and set things right so that we may become a people of justice; let us come to you, Lord to be reconciled, to wash myself clean, to start anew in you again.
O dear Jesus, you have been inviting me for so long to come to you, to return to you but I still refuse to believe, refusing to accept and welcome you because I feel I am doomed and hopeless; open my heart to you, Jesus, make me "willing and obedient" to set things right. Amen.
Photo by Ms. Kei Abad, Kawaguchiko Lake (Fujisan), 23 November 2025.
Your words today, O Lord Jesus are short but give much to reflect on: "Be merciful... stop judging... stop condemning... Forgive... Give."
Jesus, teach me to be "shamefaced" like Daniel in the first reading: it is not enough that I realize my sinfulness, of my wickedness in refusing to love, in turning away from you, in disregarding your words over and over and still - be forgiven and loved.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
So often in life, I forget the Father's mercy that I have totally been oblivious to being merciful; thank you Jesus in giving this comparison today, of being merciful as the Father is merciful.
What a shame of how often I look up to myself as so good, so righteous against others that I judge and condemn them; teach me to be like you, Lord: merciful, non-judgmental, forgiving; most of all, teach me to give freely like you, Lord; remind me always to remember your mercy on me to realize that more than an ideal, mercy is about how it feels in my own life.
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given me with so much love and mercy, kindness and forgiveness of sins but I have refused to be merciful with others; have mercy on me, Lord and let me be merciful like the Father. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Second Sunday in Lent, Cycle A, 01 March 2026 Genesis 12:1-4 +++ 2 Timothy 1:8-10 +++ Matthew 17:1-9
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2023.
Despite the sweltering heat of summer, I have always loved the season of Lent when everything is subdued in liturgy – no Gloria nor Alleluia with the altar bare without flowers. It is during this season when we listen to a rich selection of readings from the Sacred Scriptures with music so solemn to guide us in our reflections and prayers to be converted and reconciled with God through one another especially those we have hurt or offended us.
That is why Lent is so beautiful because it is a call for transformation and transfiguration in Jesus Christ, when we are renewed as beloved children of God our Father. As we have reflected on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a coming home to God.
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, 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. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:1-4).
Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor in Israel; photo from wikimedia.org.
Every second Sunday in Lent, we listen to the gospel account of Jesus Christ’s transfiguration at Mount Tabor that shows us the inseparability of the Cross and of the Resurrection, the tragedy of Good Friday and the glory of Easter Sunday.
Matthew, Mark and Luke shared the same event with minor variations in their respective account, agreeing on the basic details of the scene that happened on a high mountain six days after Jesus identified himself at Caesarea Philippi as the Christ or Messiah who shall suffer and die but rise again on the third day.
What I like most of the common details mentioned by the three evangelists in their accounts of the transfiguration were the words spoken by Peter to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” So lovely.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2024.
Many times we are like Peter who tell Jesus the same words “Lord, it is good that we are here” without really knowing what we are saying. And surprisingly, we often speak these words to Jesus during those moments when we feel him most incomprehensible – hindi maintindihan just like during that scene at the transfiguration.
We have been saying since Ash Wednesday that “life is Lent” – a daily journey to God’s loving presence within us and among us. Life is a daily ascent, of coming close to God that is never easy.
We all struggle in our prayer life because prayer is stripping ourselves naked before God, confronting our true selves. That’s difficult but transformative, making us grow to become better persons.
So many of us could not even keep up with the Sunday Mass, God’s third commandment, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”
But, thanks be to God that there are moments of prayers and during the celebration of sacraments when we feel so high in the Lord’s presence we could not understand nor explain yet, feel so good to be there.
There were times when we truly heard Jesus telling us, teaching us how to overcome great temptations and trials in life that after being spared from all the troubles and sins, we felt so good to be there with the Lord.
Or, how can we forget those times we faced the most severe difficulties we have had in life when we have lost a loved one, or we have experienced defeat and failure, painful sufferings like sickness or betrayal when we felt so down, so empty and depleted but also felt the gentle touch of Jesus through the kindness of some strangers or faithful friends, inspiring us to rise and be not afraid to start anew in life, convinced that it is good to be there in the Lord.
Recall those times when it was the face of Jesus we saw on those familiar people or even strangers who shared with us the warmth of being welcomed, of being loved, of being forgiven that made us feel so good to be with the Lord.
Our most difficult moments, our most trying times are when we get better, when we mature and grow, when we are transformed in Jesus Christ. Many times, we hardly understand what is going on except that we believe and hold on to Jesus our Lord despite the many temptations that come our way to follow the ways of the world. But, experience have shown us that doing that is not good at all.
Photo by author, Lent 2021.
As we have reflected last Sunday, life is a Lent, a wilderness with so many voices competing for our attention. Many times we listen more to the voice of the devil that lure us into taking shortcuts and instant routes than follow the word of God that tells us to wait and persevere.
This Sunday, Matthew intensifies that call to us to listen to God’s call and voice when during the transfiguration a voice was heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (17:5).
After the transfiguration of Jesus, everything he shall be telling us is to forget ourselves, take up our cross and follow him.
St. Paul insists this to Timothy in our second reading today, to “bear our share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God” (2Tim.1:8). Likewise, the story of the call of Abram in the first reading reminds us of our same call from the same God to leave our comfort zones to a life of blessedness, of holiness.
It is always good to be with the Lord; and wherever he is, there we must always be (Jn.12:26). Jesus is always where there is love and kindness, mercy and justice, poverty and emptiness. Even death and darkness for that is when and where we are transformed and transfigured in Christ. That is why it is good that we are with him always. Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, there are so many things I do not understand in this life, especially when I have to be silent to be with you in prayer, to forget myself and carry my cross and follow you in the path of simplicity, kindness and service; but, one thing though is clear: it is when I am with you, even when I could not see clearly everything, that is when I feel peace and fulfillment within, when I feel so good to be here with you. Let me ramain in you, Jesus. Amen.
Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor, Holy Land; from custodia.org.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the First Week of Lent, 27 February 2026 Ezekiel 18:21-28 + + + Matthew 5:20-26
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Abad Santos, MD, February 2021.
Thank you, dear Father for the first week of Lent about to end; much is still to be desired to be closer to you, to be faithful to you, to be one in you; teach me in your Son Jesus to go beyond the letters of your laws, to go beyond the minimum requirements, to go beyond of what is asked of us in order to be more loving to others in you:
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Abad Santos, MD, February 2021.
Teach us to be holy or righteous like you; make us whole, to be different and be radical by going back to you our very roots of being and existence; instead taking the path of supremacy especially when we are angry that we are unafraid of breaking away from others, insisting on what is right than on what is good, let us be reconciled with you in others and in our very selves where peace remains the best to have.
To go beyond than what is required is to be humble and gentle like you, dear Jesus, caring more for people and relationships than on being right which often is not the case; holiness or righteousness is confronting and accepting our limitations so that your infinite power of love and mercy may work in us and through us, Lord Jesus.
Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Abad Santos, MD, February 2021.
Lent is going beyond the ordinary because it is about choosing you, Lord above all else always: you never condemn us letting go and forgetting of our past sins when we choose to finally live in your presence doing your will; however, let us not be complacent in your presence, Lord for our good record can be undone completely when we refuse to love you in others.
O Lord Jesus, you have given me with so much chances to become better; help me to remain in you so I can also give more chances more mercy and more love to others lost and trying to find you. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the First Week of Lent, 24 February 2026 Isaiah 55:10-11 + + + Matthew 6:7-15
Photo by author, somewhere in the SCTEx, November 2018.
Today I borrow the words of your servant, Lord Jesus Christ, the late Fr. John Main, OSB who wrote that "The meaning of life is the mystery of Love. Just as the roots of trees hold firm in the soil, so it is the roots of love that hold the ground of our being together."
Keep me rooted in you, God our Father; keep me rooted in your love in Jesus Christ your Son; water and nourish me with your words of life so I may grow tall, spread my branches, bloom and bear fruit to share your love and kindness and mercy with others; keep me rooted in you, Lord, strong and firm to weather the harshest storms and summer in life, still full of sap, still full of life.
Lord Jesus, you have given me with so much and I have given so little; teach me to give more of myself to you so I can give more of you and of your love to others. Amen.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II First Sunday in Lent-A, 22 February 2026 Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7 + Romans 5:12-19 + Matthew 4:1-11
Photo from earth.com.
We now live in a world so noisy with many voices competing for our attention. Everybody is talking including cars and elevators, phones and gadgets and apps with names Siri and Alexa. So often, it is from these competing voices come our temptations in life, too.
In his first Lenten Message, Pope Leo XIV invites us to listen more to the word of God in order to be converted anew to Him. He said it so well that “The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”
Very true! And the question this first Sunday in Lent asks us is, whose voice do I follow? Because the voice we listen most is likely the one we prefer or love most – in fact, it could be the voice of the one we keep a relationship with!
That is the tragic truth of the story of the fall of Adam and Eve in the first reading today – they listened more to the voice of the devil signified by the serpent than to God who warned them not to eat the forbidden fruit.
And that continues to happen every day in our lives! That is why to sin is not merely to turn away from God but actually a refusal to love because sin is rejecting a relationship with God to whom we must listen to. This we see today in Matthew’s version of the temptations of Christ in the desert.
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4).
Detail of “The Temptation of Jesus According to St. Matthew” on the wall of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy. Photo from psephizo.com.
Right at the start, Jesus made it clear by quoting the Sacred Scriptures, the word of God, that “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Jesus, the Word who became flesh to live among us tells us clearly today that same truth. God’s word is life when He created everything by just speaking. Any voice that leads to destruction is from the devil, the father of fake news. And the devil’s biggest lie we must always avoid is making and having things easily. See how until now every fake news is always about “instants” like instant food and health, instant solution to everything without realizing its sinful effects as well as side effects that may actually harm us more.
Listening is an art because it teaches us to be patient, to wait and most of all, to persevere which leads us to perfection and excellence. Haste always makes waste. When we listen, we become patient, choosing to wait than take shortcuts or get instants that avoid difficulties and hardships like gambling to be wealthy without working, or cheating to pass exams without learning as well as freedom without responsibilities.
Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on then parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command is angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “Again, it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:5-7).
Photo by author, Domiican Hills, Baguio City, January 2019.
More than an art, listening is a virtue because it demands silence which is a fullness wherein we are able to listen and distinguish every voice and sound so that we may choose which to listen to and follow.
The word “listen” is the palindrome of “silent” – we listen best in silence to hear God, others and our very selves.
When we learn to be silent, we also become more trusting because when we trust, we speak less and listen more. The most silent people are the also the most trusting. When we trust, we wait and avoid shortcuts and instants.
The voice of God stirs our inner self, not just our senses because His voice leads us to deeper realities and meanings in life. Remember that Jesus eventually fed more than five thousand people from just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish when He saw them already prepared inside their hearts and soul; when Jesus felt them more open to God than to the world, then He gave them bread and fish for their stomach.
Notice how the devil’s temptation to Jesus continues among us with those voices calling us to overly assert ourselves, to be influencers and clout chasers or content creators to be praised and followed by everyone when actually is all about wealth and money, and of course, power. It is the voice of control and manipulation. How sad that many of us gobble their lies completely, consuming everything, filling ourselves even with trash.
The voice of God calls us to sacrifice, to bear pains and sufferings not to be overburdened in life but for us to see God especially among those mostly in need like the poor and marginalized. Often, the voice of God is the softest and tiniest in our hearts calling us to simply trust Him by doing the simplest things like smiling to strangers, easing the pain of those lonely and sad, giving bread to the poor and hungry. Listening to the silence of God enables us to trust Him more that we learn to share and forget ourselves. Then, we grow and mature truly as persons.
Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him (Matthew 4:8-11).
Again, we go back to Pope Leo XIV’s Lenten Message about listening as “the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into a relationship with someone.”
Don’t you feel sad at the sight of today’s everyday life where everyone has something in their ears, whether the tiny earpods or the headset/headphone?
What used to be insane like talking by one’s self has now become a status symbol as everyone looks crazy speaking by themselves through modern devices amid a crowd while walking or seated anywhere conversing to somebody at the other end of their lines unmindful, oblivious of the persons around them. May sariling mundo.
Many these days have created their own worlds and universe with them at its center through our new Baal, the cellphone – the very first thing everyone is looking for after waking up and the last thing in everyone’s hand before sleeping. How sad many among us today practically live in social media. What is most tragic is that all these modern means of communications were invented to bring us closer together when in fact, the more we have grown apart from each others! We are not only polarized as people but even separated from God.
The third temptation of the devil to Jesus continues with us today with all those voices telling us to forget God and morality and truth so that we become popular by being viral and trending. It is the biggest scam and fake news of all by the devil – of us being the “master” to rule and have world with all of its luxuries and power. The voice seems harmless, as if asserting our true selves but actually destroys our being and relationships with God, with others and eventually with our very selves.
Lent is an inside journey into our hearts, of finding Jesus anew inside our hearts where He dwells. St. Paul tells us in the second reading how Jesus brought us back to God, to grace and salvation.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us not to harden our hearts today so that we may listen anew to Your voice within us to find our way back to God, to peace and to fulfillment in ourselves and in one another.Amen. Have a blessed week ahead!
Photo by author, Carmel of the Holy Family Monastery, Guiguinto, Bulacan, 22 January 2026.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday After Ash Wednesday, 20 February 2026 Isaiah 58:1-9 +++ Matthew 9:14-15
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2024.
God our loving Father,
thank you for this
blessed season in Lent;
grant me the true spirit
of fasting,
of emptying my self
of my pride and sins
to be filled with your Spirit,
with your word,
with your love and justice;
in my fasting
and self-emptying,
help me create a space within
that shall restore
my broken relationships
with you,
with others,
and even with my true self.
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: Releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the appressed, breaking every yoke… Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! (Isaiah 58:6, 8-9)
Show me, Lord Jesus those "bonds of injustice" and "thongs of the yoke" you are calling me to undo; it is so easy to identify the many injustices and oppression happening in the society that are indications of the very inequalities I do against my family members, to those in my close circle of friends and those around me.
Let me fast, Lord, according to your desire and design that is to make you present among us so that whenever anyone would cry to you for help, they may hear through me your voice and presence, "Here I am!"
Lord Jesus Christ, you have given me with so much and I have given you with so little; teach me to give more of myself, more of my time, most especially, more of you in me. Amen.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2024.
40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 19 February 2026 Deuteronomy30:15-20 +++ Luke 9:22-25
Can my life, or life itself be separated from you, my God?
Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" (Luke 9:23-24).
As I immerse myself to your words today, Jesus, I remember so many occasions when I was younger always trying to save my life, simply clinging to my life, or asserting my life, that's when I lost in every count: it seems to me now that when we are young - and strong - we choose ourselves more, insist on ourselves, even shouting deep within "It's my life"...!
Sad truth is, we lost always as we felt most empty, no direction, no meaning in life. When life is too cushy, without any problems and challenges, that is when life is deep in serious trouble. It is not even life at all but felt like death!
But, Lord, I remember too that since I took that dive, when I thought less of my self, when I started following you, of losing my life for your sake, that was when I found meaning and fullness in life, when I truly save my life; it was a bumpy road, Lord - you know it very well how many times I stopped along the way to choose my own path, even dared leaving you but you were always there waiting for me, walking with me even in the opposite direction just to bring me back to you to gain my life in you.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus! Your words are not just a rhetoric, nor a poetic overstatement of a guru or a teacher but actualizing words of the Son of God, our Savior and Messiah; you have given me with so much and I have given you so little; teach me to give more of myself to you so that I can give myself to others by giving more of you in loving service.
Let me choose you always, Jesus, for life itself cannot be separated from you who is life yourself. Amen.
lordmychef.com 