Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 10 September 2026 1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13 ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> + ><]]]]’> Luke 6:27-38
Photo by author, San Juan, La Union, 08 January 2026.
It is again that most difficult part of your gospel, Lord Jesus, our least favorite of your teachings - “love your enemies.”
Forgive us, Lord because the mere thought of "enemies" turn us off right away; it is wrong but human as we are, there is always that feeling of revulsion, of getting even with those who have hurt us or wronged us; but, we realize too how in the long run it is pure foolishness of keeping that grudge against our enemies because as St. Paul tells us also today, "knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up."
Your teaching for us to love our enemies is not really about our strength and willpower, Jesus but in our likeness with God, "Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."
Help us,
Jesus,
to pray more
intensely,
to surrender more wholly
to you so that we can
let flow towards others
the mercy you have
showered us.
Amen.
Photo by author, Anvvaya Cove, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 08 September 2026 Romans 8:28-30 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Matthew 1:18-23
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
It is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary but your words, O Lord Jesus, spoke more about St. Joseph your foster father.
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…. (Matthew 1:18-20).
Thank you, dear Jesus for being like us, for coming like us in all of our human vulnerabilities: birth is always a grace from the Father lest we forget; in your coming to us, Jesus, you have showed how Mary and Joseph faced not only their toughest tests but most of all their vulnerabilities they gladly embraced that you finally came among us!
Mary humbly submitted to being your Mother, entrusting everything to God who sent an angel to explain everything to Joseph so Christmas would happen; how amazing that Mary's pregnancy was revealed to Joseph while he was asleep, when he was most vulnerable, without full control; Mary on the other hand submitted her full control to God when your birth was announced - what a beautiful lesson for us to remember on her birthday on the need for us to embrace our vulnerabilities because as St. Paul assured us, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
O blessed Mother Mary, pray for us to be more trusting in your Son Jesus, submitting ourselves wholly to his will by embracing our vulnerabilities, becoming fully human and blessed to share Christ like you and Joseph. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 08 September 2026 Micah 5:1-4 ><]]]]*> + ><]]]]*> + ><]]]]*> Matthew 1:18-23
“The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, a 1305 painting by Renaissance artist Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy. The two babies depicted are both the Virgin Mary: below is Mary upon birth wrapped in swaddling cloth and washed by attendants and then above being handed to St. Anne her mother. Photo from en.wikipedia.org.
Feasts of saints are often based on the date of their death when they enter eternal life; sometimes it may also be the date when their remains were transferred for proper burial.
There are only three birthdays we celebrate in our liturgy, two are of the highest order as a Solemnity, our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25 and his precursor St. John the Baptist on June 24; the third is that of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is a rank lower as a Feast, falling on this date, eighth of September which is nine months after her Immaculate Conception.
In this age of social media when every platform has its unique way of alerting everyone of someone’s birthday so that nobody can no longer hide to celebrate silently one’s birthday, the Blessed Mother’s nativity offers us a beautiful opportunity to reflect on the significance of a birthday always seen in relation with Jesus Christ’s birth and coming. St. John Paul II perfectly expressed this in his 1995 Encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), declaring that “Every birthday is a small Christmas because with the birth of every person comes Jesus Christ” (sorry I can’t recall the citation).
What makes that so true with every birthday beginning with the Blessed Virgin Mary is God’s great mystery of becoming small, of being “insignificant” in the birth of his Son Jesus Christ which we find even in his birthplace prophesied by Micah:
“You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:1).
Photo by Ar. Philip Santiago, Angels’ Field Chapel in Bethlehem, October 2025.
And if we go further, this true greatness of Jesus Christ in being small is found also in his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary who came from the obscure town of Nazareth, the only place in the New Testament never mentioned in the Old Testament.
Recall how Nathanael or Bartholomew the Apostle belittled the Lord’s hometown after being told by Philip that they have found the Messiah from Nazareth, saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn.1:46) because Nazareth was totally unknown during that time.
And so was Mary!
That is why it is so disappointing and sad when many Catholics unfortunately led by some priests have the misimpression of portraying Mary as a “beauty queen” with flawless skin and Western features when she is clearly Middle Eastern woman. Worst of all is the pomp and pageantries we have in the recent fads of processions and coronations in many dioceses and parishes.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
How sad we have missed the Blessed Virgin Mary as the model disciple of Jesus was the first to embody his teaching of being small like little children with her simplicity and humility so very well expressed in her 20th century apparitions in Fatima, Portugal and Banneux, Belgium.
Enough with the extravagant sometimes imeldific celebrations of Marian feasts and events that have become egregious display of wealth and power.
Being simple and small like Mary, both as a child and as an adult, enable us to see again the value of life and of every person.
Aside from the lack of any account on the birth of Mary, we heard proclaimed today the birth of Jesus to teach us that truth expressed by St. John Paul II that in every person Jesus actually comes. The more simple and true we are like Mary and Joseph, the more Jesus is seen and experienced in us!
That is why when we greet somebody a “happy birthday”, what we really mean telling him/her is “I love you, I thank you for making me who I am today.” Through one’s simplicity and littleness in Christ, we are transformed into better persons because we are able to have glimpse of God’s love and kindness.
The true joy of celebrating a birthday is not found in the externalities of gifts and parties and guests with all the fun that come along but in the silent, prayerful reflection of our life’s beginning and direction into eternal life. See how there are still people who only celebrate Mass on two occasions each year – on their birthday and on Christmas, a clear recognition of our origin and direction in Christ in life.
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, March 2023.
In the birth of Jesus Christ, we are reminded by every birthday that life is precious because it is so fragile – any infant and every person can be easily hurt and harmed, be sick and eventually die.
Like Mary and Joseph, the little Child born in Bethlehem asks us, even begs us to take care of him found in everyone among us.
Let us be more loving and kind, understanding and caring, even merciful and forgiving with one another especially in this time of calamities.
Such is the wisdom of God in making life small and fragile so that we may care and value it because there lies also its greatness. The best birthday greeting we can express to the Blessed Mother Mary today is to start being small and simple like her to share Jesus with everyone. Not with those many cakes we buy and “offer” – tayo rin naman kakain!Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 06 September 2026 Ezekiel 33:7-9 ><}}}}*> Romans 13:8-10 ><}}}}*> Matthew 18:15-20
From Facebook post by Marvin Germo, 04 September 2026.
Thanks be to God for Alex Eala – not only an excellent tennis player, a bright and intelligent lady but most of all, most kind and humble of all.
Her recent landing on the front page of New York Times that prides itself with the motto “All the News Fit to Print” in its 175 years of existence cemented Eala’s stardom. That’s real influence no blog stats nor Hollywood walk of fame could match.
Side by side with the major events and newsmakers in the world, the editors of New York Times featured Eala on their front page not entirely because of her prowess and grit in tennis but of her expressions of love, community and unity of Filipinos – a far, far cry from news coming from our forsaken country of calamities and crooks in government. Eala – along with other athletes like EJ Obienna – are the only good news we now have, with her practically a walking gospel like St. Paul in today’s second reading.
Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8).
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
What kind of love is Paul exhorting the Romans then and us today? For St. Paul, love is the self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed us when he offered himself for us on the cross.
Recall last Sunday St. Paul reminded us “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1) like Jesus. In that same chapter, he spoke of not retaliating or seeking vengeance while in the following chapter we now have, he expounded the themes of obedience to authority and a sort of social responsibilities like justice (Rom. 13:1-7).
And while justice demands we pay off our debts and other dues to one another, to the state and public officials, it is a totally different scenario when it comes to love. For St. Paul, love is the imitation of Jesus Christ, a love that can never be measured at all and even be demanded and decreed.
Love is not a possession that anyone can receive nor give in an exactly measured quantity like a pound or a kilogram of love. St. Mother Teresa said the measure of love is when you love without measure. It is either you love or do not love! And when we do not love, then we sin which is a refusal to love.
That sin can only be repaired and corrected by love.
Therefore, to overcome sin, you have to love more!
That is why we hear Jesus teaching us today the importance of fraternal correction based on love not anything else.
Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two other along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).
Photo by a friend in Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
Jesus is now heading to Jerusalem to fulfill his mission. Along the way, he taught his disciples important lessons about the Church he had just established upon Peter, the Rock, while at Caesarea Philippi the other Sunday.
For three Sundays beginning today, Jesus will touch on three moral issues we face with seeming complexity in our modern time like fraternal correction, forgiving, and work. These are crucial because they are expressions of mutual love for one another. Most of all, it is in these realms we fall into “sin of omission” particularly with fraternal correction as we tend to detach ourselves from others when they are committing sin. By distancing from them or refusing to make a clear stand against evil, we unconsciously allow sin to persist.
The dark side of the sin of omission lies in that tendency within us to not care at all with those into serious sins when we separate and distance from them, even telling them “bahala ka na sa buhay mo…pinili mo iyan, pagdusahan mo.”
Fraternal correction is the antidote to sins of omission because it is about keeping our relationships intact as family, friends, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who becomes truly present in the world among us when we live in harmony because “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).
This is the good news of Eala, whether she wins or loses a match, she speaks of love and kindness. And she has been consistent with it!
From Facebook, 04 September 2026.
Since the Old Testament, God had already insisted on this moral precept as his children that we look after one another like a sentinel – a watchman or a guard – as he told the Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading.
At that time, the enemies of Judah were closely approaching their borders that they designated watchmen as their first line of defense. Failure by these watchmen to warn the people – as it turned out later – could spell disaster for the kingdom.
The same thing is true with us. We are all interrelated with each other. One rotten tomato can spoil the whole batch like allowing corruption in every form to continue as well as electing corrupt officials into office. How sad we have not learned our lessons; maybe not until we have sank deep into flood…
We cannot be indifferent and be mere bystanders amid the evil and sins happening around us perpetrated especially by those closest to us. It is not enough either that we do no wrong on others yet allow those into corruption to continue with their evil doings. Fraternal correction is an expression of our love – for God and for others. We correct those into sin because of love, not because we are better or holier.
St. Paul beautifully declared in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “Caritas Christi urget nos” – the love of Christ urges, impels us – to love more especially in these times of calamities and disunity in the country.
Photo by a friend, Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
This love of Jesus Christ the Lord himself described as “new commandment” at his last supper (Jn.13:34) is a love rooted in God himself, a love that “levels up” every disciple into the mystical plane of existence.
Recall those moments you have truly loved without strings attached, unselfish and selfless: that is when we realize that love is a debt we can never pay off because love is a gift from God, something that is never exhausted nor depleted. In fact, we realize that we too can love like Jesus Christ!
God does not “order” nor “command” us in the strict sense to love him. He asks for our love because he loves us, because he is love. When we love, we fulfill the commandments of God, we live in peace and harmony with one another like in heaven. That is why it is only love that will remain in heaven where there will be no more fraternal corrections. Most of all, love can never be paid off as a debt because love is all that shall remain to become our very person in Christ. Amen.Have a blessed, loving week!
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 02 September 2026 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:38-44
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 18 September 2018.
Your words today, O Lord, are so edifying despite the many turmoil within and among us: "For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).
In this season of calamities and devastations around us not just due to natural causes but worsened by our irresponsibility and corruption among officials in government, it is a timely reminder that we are yours, totally yours, Lord, as God's field and building; in times of trials and difficulties, the task is for us to return to you, find your will and plans for us so we may work together to rebuild our lives and whatever is left behind by the floods and other calamities.
Grant us the courage and wisdom to admit our own faults and shortcomings, to be open to welcome Christ like Simon Peter and people of Nazareth so that their sick may be prayed over and healed; help us to not allow Satan to speak among us and sow hatred and disunity in this critical time when we must rise again to follow Jesus more closely than ever to make us fertile and fruitful as a field, stable and rooted as a building. Amen.
Photo by author, Chapel of St. Anthony de Padua, Tagaytay City, 08 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 28 August 2026 Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be wise like St. Augustine whose feast we celebrate today: like him through your grace O Lord, help me overcome my worldly desires by lovingly embracing your Cross; keep my heart aflame and restless with your love, Jesus, lit with your truth and wisdom ready to welcome you when you return any moment.
Jesus said to his disciples: Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come (Matthew 24:42).
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Make me wise enough, Jesus to be foolish in following you, in embracing your Cross; keep me sensible like the wise virgins lit with your love and presence in my heart sustained with that deep, personal relationship rooted in prayer like an oil keeping the fire burning in every lamp; at the same time, make me a fool like St. Paul, a fool for you, O Christ, believing and relying in the power of your Cross. Amen.
Photo by author, view from Antipolo City of the Ortigas Center, August 2022.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 27 August 2026
St. Augustine with his mother Monica from mycatholic.life
Next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Monica is perhaps the best example of motherhood beyond compare. She is the patron saint not only of wives and mothers, but also of those seeking patience and victims of abuse.
Stories of her suffering in silence with an abusive, philandering, pagan husband named Patricius seem to have given us Filipinos with the wrong impression of a “martyr” as being a wife who willingly bears without complaints the abuses by her husband.
St. Monica was very far from that kind of a “martyr”; she was in fact a “martyr” in the truest sense of its meaning from the Greek word martyria that means to witness Jesus Christ.
Witnessing Christ by bearing sufferings does not mean allowing one’s self to be abused freely by anyone; witnessing Christ is living a life centered on Jesus in prayers that flow into good works and holiness. Martyrdom is overcoming evil with goodness that ends in death, either literally or figuratively speaking. However, it is not a death that is a defeat but a triumph that leads to conversion of sinners and unbelievers, exactly how Christianity spread before and until now.
Photo of St. Monica from the cover of the book “St. Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray For Your Fallen-away Loved Ones” by Maggie Green, Sophia Institute Press, 2019.
According to St. Augustine’s own account in his book Confessions, although domestic abuse was prevalent during their time, their ill-tempered father never beat their mother. Her daily prayers especially her frequent going to the Mass with so many acts of charities to the poor irritated their father Patricius and yet led him to respect St. Monica. Eventually, her prayer life that found expressions in her almsgiving and kindness to everyone won the heart of Patricius, calmed his violent tendencies until he finally converted to Christianity before his death.
Before calming and converting her husband, St. Monica first won over her equally difficult to deal with mother-in-law! So, for those having problems with in-laws, St. Monica is the saint to go to!
But it was not that easy at all.
St. Monica must have cried an ocean of tears in her sufferings sustained by her cultivation of a deep prayer life in God whom she had allowed to work in her that she grew deep in faith, hope and love as well as the other virtues especially patience. All these aspects of her faith flowed in her remaining so sweet and gentle despite her problematic husband and three children (whom Patricius refused to be baptized as Christians) that she exercised great influence over abused wives and suffering mothers who were so moved by her examples.
Now here is the funny thing that most likely mothers and wives today would surely laugh at – St. Monica’s advise to them: “If you can master your tongue, not only do you run less risk of being beaten, but perhaps you may even, one day, make your husband better.”
Huwag daw po kuda nang kuda, mga Nanay at mga Misis…
I always tell young people that our mothers’ nagging is actually their “love language”: they may be saying a lot even without thinking at all but that’s because they love us, they care for us. That is why see also how Filipino mothers are very prophetic too: listen to whatever they are saying even if painful to the ears because so often, they tell the truth. They rarely go wrong in their suspicions so that when problems arise, they say the same thing,“sinasabi ko na nga ba…!”
Image of St. Monica from grunge.com
One thing I miss these days after my mom’s death two years ago are her words of love and wisdom, especially whenever she would hold my hand and arm after I had kissed her every time I came home.
There is that certain sense of gravity, of weight in a mother’s words, even if repetitive and uncontrolled in pitch. So reassuring of her love for us.
Now my mom is gone, no one reminds and “nags” me anymore in the good sense. And the worst part of that is, you have no one to make sumbong anymore, somebody willing listen to all of our own kuda. This is one reason mothers suffer a lot in silence: they keep so many of their children’s pains and hurts, including anger and complaints in their hearts. Many times mothers explain but we refuse to listen, accusing her of bias and favoritism. There are times she would say “hayaan mo na lang anak”… she would be talking and talking again of many things.
Every Nanay is a Sta. Monica, suffering in silence because she has always been loving us in silence too. Truly, when a mother dies, our links are never cut off from her as if the umbilical cord remains intact, like a satellite link up to heaven.
Photo by author, “Madonna&Child”, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
How funny that we when they were alive, we complain of our our mother’s nagging and endless talking but when she dies and there is that deafening silence at home, we miss her because we miss most her love and concern that cannot be expressed by a sister or a brother. Or anybody else for that matter.
One of the things I used to insist in my students since becoming a priest until now is for them to never, ever forget to write their mother’s middle initial. I tell them “how dare you to forget” your mom’s first letter of her maiden’s name after she had carried you in her womb for nine months and then took care of you all these years…
On this Memorial of St. Monica, hug and kiss your mom while still beside you. Thank God for all mothers for their great gift of life. Amen.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 27 August 2026 Memorial of St. Monica, Married Woman 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Matthew 24:42-51
Photo of St. Monica from the cover of the book “St. Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope and Pray For Your Fallen-away Loved Ones” by Maggie Green, Sophia Institute Press, 2019.
Today we pray Lord Jesus for all mothers - especially those alone and widowed, the elderly and sick mothers, those with disabilities, young mothers, single mothers, those mothers silently crying in pain due to unfaithful, irresponsible husband or wayward children: for all mothers praying hard for their husband and children like St. Monica...
How lovely are the words of St. Paul today to the Corinthians, so appropriate on this Memorial of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine:
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4-7).
Photo by author, Anvaya Resort, Morong, Bataan, 21 July 2026.
Thank you, too, Lord Jesus, for the gift of our mothers, in bestowing upon them every spiritual blessing as well as physical strength, strong will, and fighting spirit who have guided us with their enlightenment, hard work and perseverance; for their immense love and sacrifices beginning in our life journey in their womb up to our adulthood; they have always been there with us, believing in us, hoping we get better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually like St. Monica in her love for St. Augustine and his father.
Bless all mothers today, Jesus: like St. Monica console them in experiencing the transformation of their children; we pray also for all departed mothers; reward them with your gift of eternal peace. Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 23 August 2026
Photo from Facebook post by Dr. Tony Leachon, “KLEPTOPIROSIS: When Corruption Becomes a Public Health Crisis”, 08 Agosto 2025.
We go back to the year 1986 for our Sunday music we find so related with our gospel as well as situation in the country where we are literally inundated in government corruption and evil that have caused this massive flooding in various parts of the country.
Every year at this time when the rainy season comes, floods come in many parts of the country especially the city. It used to be normal but for the past decade, it has been getting worse every year. And suspicious until last year when it was uncovered at how officials from the Public Highways connived with lawmakers stealing billions of pesos – not to mention the life and future of countless citizens – through their mostly non-existent but paid flood control projects. (Sadly, it is until under investigation and no big fish had truly been jailed for their crimes.).
Back to our Sunday music – The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and the Range from their debut album of the same title released in July 1986….
It’s melody mainly in piano is one of those unforgettable soft rock tune wafting on breeze with lyrics so bitterly cold of the sad realities in life. It is actually a gospel in the truest sense because its lyrics are both challenging and disturbing set in a relaxing mood and melody like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its title could actually mislead anyone into thinking it as a feel-good music with its sophisticated piano introduction and accompaniment without paying attention to its lyrics and message.
It is not. Hornsby actually dares us even today to leave the comforts of our rooms to get truly examine how things are going on around us as if that’s just the way it is… It isn’t at all. Like poverty and unemployment as mentioned in the first stanza.
Standing in line, marking time Waiting for the welfare dime 'Cause they can't buy a job A man in a silk suit hurries by As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes Just for fun he says, "Get a job"
That's just the way it is Some things'll never change That's just the way it is Ah, but don't you believe them
Most of all, an end to all forms of discrimination due to color and beliefs found in the fifth stanza.
Well, they passed a law in '64 To give those who ain't got a little more But it only goes so far 'Cause the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar, no, no
The Way It Is is so very much like today’s gospel set in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus surveyed his disciples on what people were saying about him before directly asking them, “But who do you say that I am?”(Mt.16:15). Our personal answer to that question of Jesus leads us to our identity as beloved children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ who must be respecting each one other.
And the more we get to know Jesus, the more we also get to know who we are… This may sound simplistic: all these problems we have about school violence, degradation of our moral values as a nation that perpetuate in office corrupt and inept officials while destroying our environment with our disregard for proper disposal of waste and garbage, may be due to our disregard for who is Jesus to us.
The question who connects us with God and everyone. And with our very self. How sad that in this age of too much digitization, we have been so focused on techniques of doing like what and how, forgetting being, the focus of who. (https://lordmychef.com/2026/08/22/the-definitive-question-of-all/)
See the gospel’s relation with Hornsby’s incisive genius and values in the third and fourth stanzas where he challenges the situation we have been so accustomed to, “the way it is” as if challenging us to find Christ on the face of everyone we meet.
Said, "Hey little boy, you can't go where the others go 'Cause you don't look like they do" I said, "Hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way? Did you really think about it before you made the rules?"
He said, "Son Well, that's just the way it is Some things'll never change That's just the way it is" Ah, but don't you believe them Mm, yeah
Many times in life, the simplest things are the most profound in meaning like the parables and this time the question of Jesus. And don’t forget, like modern music too that truly reflects the way it is in the world we are called to change into something more humane.
Here is Bruce Hornsby and the Range with their 1986 classic. Enjoy. And ponder too.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 23 August 2026 Isaiah 22:19-23 ><}}}}*> Romans 11:33-36 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:13-20
Last Saturday at the Solemnity of the Assumption, we reflected on the need to ask the right – and difficult – questions in our life like Mary. It does not really matter if we don’t get answers right away because along the way, God reveals and shows us himself and his plans for us if we keep asking him with our questions.
That is why this Sunday as Jesus continued to travel into pagan territory, he asks us like his disciples along the way his most definitive question of all, “who do you say that I am?”
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-15)
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
After healing the possessed daughter of a Canaanite woman last week in the district of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus and his disciples reached Caesarea Philippi that used to be the summer capital of the Roman officials in northern Israel. It had an abundant supply of water that is why the Romans built many buildings including a temple to one of their major goddesses.
Imagine such an affluent backdrop for Christ’s intensive “lecture series” about discipleship to the Twelve: first, he surveyed them what the people were saying “who the Son of Man is” before asking them directly, “but who do you say that I am?”.
In 2009, the British-American author and inspirational speaker on business leadership Simon Sinek published his book Start with Why because the question why helps us clear motivation in every undertaking we make. Starting with why is to get to the very core, the raison d’etre of our business or plan or project.
However, we are not only dealing with projects in life; life itself is our very project too which is addressed by the question who. Actually, Sinek’s model of starting with why is anchored on persons and relationships that are directly concerned with the who because every why is sustained by a who. No project nor plan nor business nor whatever endeavor by humans would continue without persons addressed by the question who!
A painting of “The Canaanite Woman asks for healing for her daughter” by Spanish painter Juan de Flandes ca. 1500 as part of the 47 small panels of paintings commissioned by Queen Isabella I of Castile; from commons.wikimedia.org.
More than a person, who is a relationship, a meaning for us to continue with our why like in fulfilling our mission in Jesus, in answering his call to follow him.
As a continuation of our reflection last Sunday about faith and intimacy in the Lord, clarifying who is Jesus Christ for us deepens that faith and intimacy we have in him.
It is only when we are clear and convinced with who isJesus shall we become clearly convinced with our call and mission in him by finding him among everyone and whatever circumstances we may get into in life. Even in our human relationships.
Relationships and friendships, marriages and ties are shattered and broken these days not merely because of infidelity and betrayals which start to happen the moment we take our beloved for granted. We betray one another not when we speak against them or turn against them; it all starts the moment we no longer recognize them as a beloved, our loved one or friend.
Would you exchange a family member or a friend for any amount of money or thing or property? Or your wife or husband for another better looking woman or man?
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
Normally, we deal with every question first with our minds like when the apostles gave Jesus varied answers of leading religious figures like John the Baptist and the prophets as what the people thought of him. But, it took on a different dimension when Jesus asked “But who do you say that I am?” that is pointed into our hearts.
And here we find a remarkable quality – sometimes deficiency – of Peter. He was always baring his heart and soul; he easily opens us what’s in him and clearly here as Jesus later explained, Peter allowed the Spirit to speak from his heart, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Notice in Peter’s response we find traces of Sinek’s starting with why. Peter with his his brother Andrew and fishing partners James and John were the first disciples called by Jesus, following him longest than the rest of the Twelve. For Peter, more than finding in Jesus the answers to his starting question of why about life, he had remained with Christ primarily of the who he is to him. Despite that he would waver on this many times, he remained faithful to Jesus with his own martyrdom.
See that in Matthew’s account, Peter said the words “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” while Mark and Luke merely reported Peter as saying “You are the Messiah/Christ” (Mk.8:29 and Lk.9:20). Peter saying Jesus as “Son of the living God” reveals something deeper in who is Jesus for him as he speaks of a relationship. Not just details and facts.
Most likely, Peter must have experienced something so deep as in “living”, so alive like when he saw that miraculous catch of fish before being called to become fisher of men. It was an experience that Paul describes to us in the second reading, of having experienced personally the “depth of the riches and wisdom of God” (Rom.11:33).
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
That is how we are with those most dearest to us – there are things so deep for words, so profound realities we have experienced that we have come to be so convinced, so in love with someone we follow or regard. Someone like “a peg in a sure spot” as God described Eliakim to Shebna according to Isaiah (22:23).
More than the why of doing, the who leads us to our being. And the more we get to know Jesus, the more we also get to know who we are. Our identity as a person does not depend on what social media portray or what others say. The more we get to know Jesus, the more we get to know ourselves, the more we become at home with our weaknesses and failures, sins and shortcomings.
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 18 August 2026.
This may sound simplistic: all these problems we have about school violence, degradation of our moral values as a nation that perpetuate in office corrupt and inept officials while destroying our environment with our disregard for proper disposal of waste and garbage, may be due to our disregard for who is Jesus to us.
The question who connects us with God and everyone. And with our very self. How sad that in this age of too much digitization, we have been so focused on techniques of doing like what and how, forgetting being, the focus of who.
From Caesarea Philippi which is up north, Jesus and his disciples would take a U-turn down towards Jerusalem that is their true destination. After this scene comes the Transfiguration of Jesus and the triple predictions of Jesus of his coming passion, death and resurrection. Let us know who Jesus is so that we can follow him more closely as his disciples. Amen. A blessed, hopefully warmer and drier week ahead to everyone!
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