Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the First Week of Advent, 04 December 2024 Isaiah 25:6-10 ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> Matthew 15:29-37
Photo by author, Pulong Sampalok, DRT, Bulacan, 22 November 2024.
Praise and glory to You, God our loving Father for this gift of Advent Season: thank you in bringing us to this brand new day of salvation, of freedom, of new life in Jesus; most of all, thank you for ending death in Christ's advent.
On this mountain he will destroy he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces… (Isaiah 25:7-8).
Come to us this Advent, dear Jesus and take away all kinds of veils of selfishness that cover and make us unloving, unkind, unmerciful, unhappy... set us free, Jesus, free to love and serve especially the sick and hungry; set us free, Jesus, this Advent to open our hearts to bring out those treasures You have filled us with like goodwill and care for others like the disciples in today's gospel. Amen.
Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Fatima Tribune, 27 November 2024.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday in the First Week of Advent, St. Francis Xavier, 03 December 2024 Isaiah 11:1-10 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Luke 10:21-24
Photo by author, Bgy. Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, 5:36 PM, 28 November 2022.
How lovely indeed
are your words this Season
of Advent, O Lord our God
as we listen to Prophet Isaiah's
colorful prophecies about peace
when preys and predators live
in harmony:
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall b e neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair (Isaiah 11:6-8).
Right now, many of us are in darkness, some are about to give up in life, losing hope, frustrated and disappointed in themselves, in their work, and worst, in their relationships; help us imagine this amazing scene from Isaiah's prophecy heralding the Christ's advent.
Fill us with hope, loving Father so we may cooperate with your grace to accomplish Your "mission impossible" like St. Francis Xavier who gloriously accomplished "mission impossible" in the Far East as he took to heart the final words of St. Ignatius his superior, "Go set all in fire."
Photo by author, Bgy. Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, 5:40 PM, 28 November 2022.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Prince of Peace who had come, would come again, and continues to come to us daily in our lives: open our eyes, teach us to trust in You like little children; give us that childlike attitude of believing and hoping "mission impossible" is possible, that there's nothing we cannot accomplish for as long as we are in You; reawaken our hopes in You, Jesus, despite the defiance of history and other people in your plans of peace and joy, of fulfillment and life right here, right now. Amen.
Photo by author, Bgy. Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, 28 November 2022.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus, King of the Universe, 24 November 2024 Daniel 7:13-14 ><}}}}*> Revelation 1:5-8 ><}}}}*> John 18:33-37
Photo by author, Bohol Sea scene from Salum Dive Resort, Dauin, Negros Oriental, 10 November 2024.
We are now on the final Sunday of the year, the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Next Sunday we begin the Season of Advent, the official countdown to Christmas which is the birth of Jesus Christ, King of kings.
See how our Church calendar begins and ends each year in Jesus Christ’s eternal kingship as seen by Prophet Daniel in his vision (first reading); Christ’s coming to the world was not an addendum or a plan B of God because Jesus has been enthroned at His side, conferred with “dominion, glory, and kingship” (Dn. 7:14).
“Ecce Homo” painting by Vicente Juan Masip (1507-1579) from masterapollon.com
Jesus reiterated this in our gospel this Sunday from John’s account of His trial before Pilate, His first “face-to-face” with a representative of political power. According to St. John Paul II in an interview published in 1994 (Crossing the Threshold of Hope), this scene continues to happen when we, too, like Pilate put God on trial when we insist in doing what we perceive as right and true. Let’s try to enter this scene to unravel its many layers of truth about ourselves who are actually the ones in trial, not Jesus Christ.
Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world…” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king, for this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:33-36, 37).
Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera, Christ the King procession during COVID, November 2020.
From the very start of His trial before Pilate, we find Jesus so “cool” – so sure of everything, actually the One in control of the trial despite the sarcasm of Pilate who, eventually, would be the one to give in to the penetrating truth of Christ.
In fact, we find here how Pilate was already inclined to the truth of Christ as the King as he later affirmed unconsciously when he wrote the inscription on the Cross, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews” that the priests tried to edit but Pilate insisted, “what I have written, I have written” (cf. Jn.19:19-22).
Many times like Pilate, the more we try to justify our sins or inclinations to evil with our various excuses and alibis, the more we sink deeper into admitting the truth that Jesus Christ is King, that He is truth and good Himself. We imitate Pilate’s sarcasm even with God through others like our parents or elders, teachers, even friends who truly love us and care for us as we remain adamant with our wrong beliefs and points of view.
Photo by Mr. Joey Principe, Parish of St. Joseph the Worker, Jaro, Iloilo, 10 November 2024.
What really gave away Pilate – and us – in the process of our trial of Jesus was his final question which I love so much, “What have you done?”
Pilate was sincerely trying to know the truth about Jesus as he was evidently irritated with the case thrown to him by the priests and scribes. His asking Jesus “Are you the King of the Jews?” was a request for clarification as a Roman state official because the word “king” meant only one thing.
And here is the twist in our own days – it is the same question we unconsciously ask Jesus so often to clarify too!
How many times have we sought clarification on the kingship of Jesus especially in this modern time when we discuss divorce, abortion, same-sex marriage, and almost everything from clothes we wear to how we conduct ourselves in this modern time that has become so relative and permissive in morals?
Every time we put Jesus on trial when we insist on what we want and what we believe in, the Pilate within us question Jesus, what have you done? Let us count them… you may add .
"What have you done, Jesus?"
You have forgiven our sins, Jesus, giving us new chances in life daily; You have saved us, Jesus, from many instances when we felt so lost, even gone that's why we are still intact at this very moment in our lives; You have consoled us, Jesus, in countless times that made us to keep believing, hoping, and trusting God and others; You love us so much, Jesus, in ways we can't believe nor understand that's why we too keep on loving despite the hurts and pains; and the list goes on and on and on... that makes You truly our King, Jesus!
Photo by author, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.
See that when we remember everything Jesus had done to us, we also realize His being a King of different kind who never forced us to believe Him nor follow Him unlike the powerful people of the world.
Jesus as a King simply invites us gently and lovingly to come to Him to find rest and comfort when we are burdened in life. There were times when we have felt Jesus just closed His eyes to our many sins and imperfections, not even reminding us of our shameful selves like when He washed the dirty feet of His Apostles after their last supper.
Jesus never threatened us when we were in the height of our pride and stupidity and instead waited patiently for us to come home to Him like the prodigal son. He never locked us, allowing us to go and explore everything, standing by just in case we cross the point of no return.
Photo by author, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Baguio City, 2023.
Whatever Jesus had done to us, it is always good and comforting, beyond our expectations and imaginations like healing us of our every sickness, feeding us and clothing us when we were hungry and naked, even cleansed us when we were so dirty and untidy.
Therefore, this Sunday as we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, let us cast off all our fears of Jesus taking away our perceived “kingdoms” like King Herod who ordered all infants and children killed on that first Christmas upon hearing the news of “the birth of the king of the Jews” (Mt. 2:2).
Jesus never said “My kingdom is not in this world” because His kingdom while not of this world is right here below on earth that is why John tells us in the second reading from his vision of the end of time, Jesus is coming again here on earth to take us to eternity. The Kingdom of Jesus is here in the world but not of this world; similarly, we are in this world but we are called not to be of this world for our true citizenship is in heaven.
This Sunday, Jesus is asking us in the most personal manner, what have I done to you that have kept you running away from Me? Most lovely of all is that Jesus never asked us what have we done to Him nor for Him… Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God, You have done so much good to me and I have done so little for You and for others; reign in my heart so that I can make others experience Your loving kind of Kingship. Amen.
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Thirty-Second Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 13 November 2024 Titus 3:1-7 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 17:11-19
Photo by author, 20 August 2024, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Tagaytay City.
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).
What a beautiful reminder by St. Paul to his co-worker in the Lord, Titus, and to us in this modern age; Oh, how often are we all foolish, disobedient, and deluded, too?
That word struck me today, Lord: deluded which is to suffer from delusion which is to believe in something not true! And that's the great tragedy in these days of modern communications when information is easily accessible, when facts can be quickly verified if true or not but, why do we remain deluded that St. Paul rightly noted, we are "hateful ourselves, hating one another"?
Proof? Our being ungrateful. Our refusal to express gratitude like the nine lepers cleansed of leprosy by Jesus; only one, a Samaritan returned to Jesus and thanked Him for the healing: forgive us Jesus when so often in life it is easier for us to believe in things not true at all than to accept and embrace simple truths in life like that we are loved, that we are good, that You believe in us; clear us of our built-in biases against ourselves that delude us and blur our vision of others; teach us to be more appreciative of simple joys and pleasures in life.
The Lord Is My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B, 03 November 2024 Deuteronomy 6:2-6 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 7:23-28 ><}}}}*> Mark 12:28-34
Photo by author, river at the back of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024.
Jesus finally entered Jerusalem to fulfill His mission as we also enter the last four Sundays of our liturgical year before entering the season of Advent in preparation for Christmas.
Two Sundays ago we reflected the atmosphere of fear among the Apostles and the crowd following Jesus to Jerusalem after He had made known to them for the third time His coming Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This Sunday our readings invite us to look into that feeling of fear we often experience.
Fear can be negative in nature when we experience a threat to our safety whether there is a clear and present danger from a person or animal hurting us, or when our imagination runs wild with ghosts or a snake underneath the bed at night.
Positive fear is actually the reverence we experience due to a sense of awe often associated with our relationships like with our parents and relatives, teachers and superiors, or any person who seem to amaze us. We fear them not because they threatened us but actually inspired us with their presence, dignity and grace, intelligence and kindness among other things. This kind of fear we experienced in childhood then slowly matured and blended with trust, translated into adoration of the persons so unforgettable to us, influencing us in many ways that we have come to love them eventually, especially God. This is what the Bible and catechism books refer to as “fear of the Lord”.
Photo by author, Mount Sinai, Egypt, May 2019.
Moses spoke to the people, saying: “Fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today” (Deuteronomy 6:2, 4-6).
This “fear of the Lord” that Moses and later the prophets instilled among the Israelites was expressed in faithfulness and obedience to the Laws so that for them, being holy or upright was obedience to the Laws.
This “fear of the Lord” is not about God overpowering man to keep him in bondage. In giving the Ten Commandments, God first entered into a relationship or covenant with the chosen people based on friendship, trust, and love. See here that positive aspect of fear, of reverence like our fear of parents and elders as well as those seemed larger than us including our crushes and first love when we revered them by showing them love and respect.
This “fear of the Lord” then becomes a passing from fear to love that leads us to maturity as persons. And believers. Then lovers and followers not only of those significant people in our lives but most especially of God!
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord your God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31).
Photo of author, Mount Sinai, Egypt, May 2019.
Unlike the tricky questions posed by His enemies, this one from a scribe was so unique with his calm attitude that invites everyone including us to join in the discussion. One can feel his sincerity in seeking out the truth he felt (rightly so!) only Jesus can answer.
Many times, we feel the same way like that scribe so convinced in asking Jesus, ready to follow Him only if we are clarified which is the first to follow in life in order to mature from fear to love.
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Like that scribe, many times we feel confused in our lives, in our faith with the many laws and traditions we were told since childhood to follow; hence, we ask “which is the first of the commandments” that really matter most in life.
Such moments in our life is a grace from the Holy Spirit because in asking “the first of the commandments” is not to determine a hierarchy nor a list of which ones to be prioritized and dismissed; the “first” commandment means the absolutely capital that is always binding on all. The “first” commandment is the one to which all others are subjected without being cancelled or considered least nor optional. The “first” commandment is the very essence of all commandments present in each commandment. It is actually a search for the First Principle who is God Himself!
That is why Jesus quoted verbatim Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the opening words of their best known prayer Shema every pious Jew knows by heart, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Similar to His manner of answering the question about divorce last month, Jesus did not answer the scribe’s question by making reference to a code of laws but instead recited the Shema that encapsulates maturity and deepening of faith in God who is One, with no other except Him. The Shema also shows how our personal God relates with us His people, bonding in a covenant like husband and wife that is reciprocal, exclusive, and total love “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength.”
This “first” commandment is also a relationship that flows to our relationships with one another we rightly call as neighbors. See how Jesus added a “second” commandment not as in a hierarchy making it less important but as an expression of the essential “first” commandment of all the scribe understood well when he affirmed, “Well said teacher… and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mk.12:32, 33).
For the Jews, their neighbors were their fellow Jews and those aliens residing in their land as found in the Book of Leviticus; but, in this scene, we find Jesus bringing that whole notion of neighbors for everyone, regardless of color and status in life, or of gender, or beliefs.
Jesus makes known to us this Sunday His mission of salvation is for all, for everyone. Most of all, Jesus tells us this Sunday that He is the fulfillment of the Law that many during His time and sadly until now have misread as mere letters to be followed, failing to find the face of God in every law inscribed on every person.
Photo by author, view from Jerusalem Temple, May 2019.
How interesting that each face has two cheeks, both essential, both as the first commandment: love of God is love of neighbor. To profess and practice this faith in God that started in fear and matured into love finding Him in everyone as our neighbor is to be “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mk.12:34).
Friends, let us not fear asking Jesus which is the “first” of the commandments like that scribe.
Keep asking Him until we find Jesus “first” in our trials and tribulations, darkness and confusions, failures and emptiness.
Keep asking Him until we find Jesus “first” on those people who burden us, those who hurt us, those who judge us, those who refuse to listen to us, those who dictate on us.
Keep asking Him until we find Jesus even in programs and plans we could not understand or that are downright crazy.
That is what to truly love God and to love everyone. It is difficult but we have Jesus as our high-priest “who has passed through the heavens” leading us closer to the kingdom of God. Amen. Have a lovely November!
Photo by author, Pundaquit Mountains, San Antonio, Zambales off Nagsasa Cove, 19 October 2024.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-01 ng Nobyembre 2024
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2024.
Salamuch sa mainit na pagtanggap sa ating nakaraang lathalaing nagpapaliwanag sa ilang mga pamahiin sa paglalamay sa patay.
Sa ating pagsisikap na tuntunin pinagmulan ng mga pamahiin sa paglalamay, nakita rin natin ang kapangyarihan ng mga kaisipan ng tao na mahubog ang kamalayan at kaugalian ng karamihan sa pamamagitan ng mga ito.
Ang nakakatuwa po, mayroon namang praktikal na dahilan sa likod ng maraming pamahiin katulad po ng maraming nagtatanong, bakit daw masamang magwalis kapag mayroong patay?
Larawan kuha ni Fr. Pop dela Cruz, San Miguel, Bulacan, 2022.
Sa mga katulad kong promdi o laki sa probinsiya inabutan ko pa mga kapitbahay naming nakatira sa kubo at mga sinaunang tirahan na mayroong bubong na pawid at silong sa ilalim. Tablang kahoy ang mga sahig kung mayroong kaya at masinsing kinayas na mga kawayan kung hindi naman nakakaangat sa buhay. Ang silong palagi ay lupa din, mataas lang ng kaunti sa kalsada. Bihira naka-tiles noon. Kaya, masama ring ipanhik ng bahay ang tsinelas o bakya o sapatos kasi marumi mga ito.
Masama o bawal magwalis kapag mayroong lamay sa patay kasi nakakahiya sa mga panauhin na nakikiramay – mag-aalikabok sa buong paligid! Liliparin mga lupa at buhangin kasama na mga mikrobyo.
Marumi, sa madaling salita. Kaya ang utos ng matatanda, pulutin mga kalat gaya ng balat ng kendi o butong-pakwan. Noong mamatay Daddy ko, hindi ko matandaan kung tinupad namin pamahiing ito pero hindi ko malimutan paano nilinis ng mga kapit-bahay aming bahay nang ihatid na namin sa huling hantungan aking ama. Bagaman bawal magwalis noong lamay, asahan mo naman puspusang paglilinis ng mga kapit-bahay at kaanak pagkalibing ng inyong patay.
Kapag ako po ay tinatanong kung “naniniwala” sa pamahiin, “hindi” po ang aking sagot kasi iisa lang aking pinaniniwalaan, ang Diyos nating mapagmahal. Tandaan turo ni San Pablo noon sa marami niyang mga sulat, hindi mga ritual at kaugalian nagliligtas sa atin kungdi tanging si Kristo Jesus lamang.
Bakit lamay o "wake" ang pagbabantay sa patay?
Nakakatawa at marahil mahirap paniwalaan sagot sa tanong na iyan. Ang paglalamay ay hindi pagtulog sa gabi dahil sa mga gawain at gampanin kinakailangang tuparin. Wake ang Inggles nito na ibig sabihin ay “gising” tulad ng awake.
Naglalamay ang mga tao noong unang panahon lalo na sa Europa kapag mayroong namamatay upang matiyak na talagang namatay na nga kanilang pinaglalamayan. Inihihiga ang hinihinalang namatay sa mesa habang mga naglalamay ay nagkakainan at nag-iinuman upang hindi antukin; higit sa lahat, baka sakaling magising at matauhan hinihinalang patay sa kanilang ingay.
Alalahaning wala pang mga duktor noon na maaring magdeklarang pumanaw na ngang tunay ang isang tao; kaya, hindi malayo na may pagkakataong ang mga inaakalang namatay ay nag-comatose lamang. Kapag hindi pa rin nagising sa ingay ng kainan at inuman ng mga naglamay ang patay pagsapit ng bukang-liwayway, ipinapalagay nila noon na tunay na ngang patay iyon at saka pa lamang pag-uusapan ang libing.
Nang maglaon sa paglaganap ng Kristiyanidad, ang lamay na dati ay kainan at inuman, naging panahon ng pagdarasal ngunit hindi rin nawala mga kainan at inuman sa mga lamayan upang huwag antukin. At higit sa lahat, para maraming makiramay na ibig sabihin, mabuting tao namatay.
Mga salita at kaalaman natutunan dahil sa mga patay...
Heto ngayon ang magandang kuwento mula sa kasaysayan kung paanong napagyaman ng mga tradisyon sa paglalamay ng namatay ang ating mga wika maging kaisipan. Kitang-kita ito sa kulturang banyaga tulad ng mga Inggles.
Nagtataka maraming archaeologists sa ilang mga takip ng kabaong sa Inglatera ay mayroong kalmot ng kuko ng daliri. At maraming bahid ng dugo.
Napag-alaman sa pagsasaliksik na may mga pagkakataong nalilibing mga yumao noon na hindi pa naman talagang patay! Kaya, kapag sila ay nagkamalay o natauhan habang nakalibing, pinagtutulak nila ang takip ng kabaong hanggang sa pagkakalmutin upang makalabas hanggang sa tuluyang mamatay na nga sa libingan.
Kaya naisipan ng mga tao noon na magtalaga ng bantay sa sementeryo lalo na mula alas-diyes ng gabi hanggang pagsikat ng araw na siyang pinagmulan ng katagang graveyard shift – literal na pagtatanod sa sementeryo o “graveyard” upang abangan sakaling mabuhay ang nalibing.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, libingan ng mga pari at hermanong Heswita sa Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, ika-20 ng Marso 2024.
Ganito po ang siste: tinatalian ng pisi ang daliri o kamay ng bawat namamatay kapag inilibing. Nakadugtong ang taling ito sa isang kililing o bell sa tabi ng bantay ng sementeryo, yung nasa graveyard shift.
Nakaangat ng kaunti ang takip ng kanyang kabaong at hindi lubusang tinatabunan kanyang libingan upang sakaling magkamalay, tiyak magpipiglas ito sa loob ng kabaong para makalabas… tutunog ang kililing sa gitna ng dilim ng gabi para magising o matawag pansin ng bantay na agad sasaklolo upang hanguin ang buhay na nalibing.
Isipin ninyo eksena sa sementeryo sa kalagitnaan ng dilim ng gabi… at biglang mayroong kikililing? Sinong hindi matatakot sa taong nalibing na biglang nabuhay? Doon nagmula ang salitang dead ringer na ibig sabihin ay isang taong nakakatakot o kakila-kilabot. Ikaw ba namang magtrabao ng graveyard shift sa sementeryo at kalagitnaan ng gabi ay tumunog kililing… marahil magkakaroon ka rin ng tililing sa takot!
Kaugnay din nito, alam ba ninyo na mayroong nakatutuwang kuwento rin ang paglalagay ng lapida sa libingan ng ating mga yumao?
Balikan ang Bagong Tipan ng Banal na Kasulatan na nagsasaad ng isa sa mga pangunahin nating pinananampalatayanan: ang muling pagbabalik ni Jesus o Second Coming of Christ na tinuturing end of the world.
Takot na takot mga unang Kristiyano sa paniniwalang ito na baka wala pa ang Panginoon ay magsibangon kaagad mga naunang namatay sa kanila!
Ang kanilang solusyon, lagyan ng mabigat na batong panakip ang mga libingan tulad ng lapidang marmol upang hindi agad bumangon ang patay bago ang Second Coming of Christ o Parousia.
Isa iyan sa mga dahilan kung bakit sinesemento rin mga puntod at libingan: upang huwag unahan pagbabalik ni Jesus.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, libingan ng mga pari at hermanong Heswita sa Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, ika-20 ng Marso 2024.
Kahalagahan ng pagsisimba... hanggang kamatayan... bago ilibing.
Mula sa tahanan, dumako naman tayo ngayon sa loob ng simbahan para sa pagmimisa sa mga yumao. Pagmasdan po ninyong mabuti posisyon ng mga kabaong ng mga patay kapag minimisahan.
Kapag po layko ang namatay katulad ng karamihan sa inyo na hindi pari o relihiyoso… pagmasdan ang kanilang paa ay nakaturo sa dambana o altar habang ang ulunan ay nakaturo sa mga tao o nagsisimba.
Kuha ng may-akda, 2018.
Ito ay dahil sa huling sandali ng pagpasok ng sino mang binyagan sa simbahan, siya pa rin ay nagsisimba. Pansinin na nakaturo kayang mga paa sa altar at ulo naman sa pintuan dahil kapag siya ay ibinangon, nakaharap pa rin siya sa altar, nagsisimba, nagdarasal.
Kapag pari naman ang namatay, katulad ko (punta po kayo), ang aming mga paa ay nakaturo sa pintuan ng simbahan at ulo naroon sa direksiyon ng dambana.
Hanggang sa huling pagpasok naming pari sa simbahan bago ilibing, kami ay nagmimisa pa rin ang anyo: nakaharap sa mga tao kung ibabangon mula sa pagkaposisyon ng aming ulo nakaturo sa altar at mga paa sa pintuan.
Larawan kuha ng may akda ng pinakamahal at isa sa matandang sementeryo sa mundo; mga paa ay nakaposisyon sa silangang pintuan ng Jerusalem upang makaharap kaagad ang Mesiyas na inaasahang magdaraan doon kapag dumating. Ang totoo, doon nga dumaaan si Jesus pagpasok ng Jerusalem mahigit 2000 taon na nakalipas.
Salamuch muli sa inyong pagsubaybay sa ating pagninilay at pagpapaliwanag ng ilang mga pamahiin at paniniwala kaugnay ng mga namatay. Ang mahalaga sa lahat ng ito ay patuloy tayong mamuhay sa kabanalan at kabutihan na naka-ugat palagi sa Diyos sa buhay panalangin (prayer life) na ang rurok ay ang Banal na Misa.
Huwag na nating hintayin pa kung kailan patay na tayo ay siyang huling pasok din natin sa simbahan na hindi makasalita ni makarinig o makakita. Tandaan, ang pagsisimba tuwing Linggo ay dress rehearsal natin ng pagpasok sa langit!
Kaya ngayong todos los santos, unahing puntahan ang simbahan upang magsimba. Tiyak makakatagpo natin doon ang ating yumao sa piling ng Diyos, kesa sa sementeryo napuro patay at mga kalansay. Amen.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, bukang-liwayway sa Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Nobyembre 2018.
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Oktubre 2024
Larawan kuha ni G. Jim Marpa, 2018.
“Say it with flowers” ang marahil isa na sa mga pinakamabisa at totoong pagpapahayag ng saloobin sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Wala ka na talagang sasabihin pa kapag ikaw ay nagbigay ng bulaklak kanino man. Ano man ang okasyon. Buhay man. O patay na.
Mababango at makukulay na bulaklak. Mas maganda at mas mahal, pinakamabuti lalo’t higit kung ibibigay sa sinisinta upang mabatid nilalaman ng dibdib ng isang mangingibig.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Benguet, 12 Hulyo 2023.
Sa buong daigdig, nag-iisang wika at salita ang mga bulaklak na ginagamit upang ihatid ang tuwa at kagalakan sa sino man nagdiriwang ng buhay at tagumpay, maging ng kagalingan at lakas sa may tinitiis na sakit at hilahil. Sari-saring kulay, hugis at anyo, iisa ang pinangungusap ng bulaklak sa lahat ng pagkakataon, buhay at kagalakan at kaisahan ng magkakaibigan at magkasintahan, mag-asawa at mag-anak, magkaano-ano man.
Marahil kasunod nating mga tao, ang mga bulaklak na ang pinakamagagandang nilikha ng Diyos upang ipadama at ilarawan sa atin Kanya at maging atin ding katapatan at kadalisayan ng loobin at hangarin. Alalahanin paalala ni Jesus sa atin, “Isipin ninyo kung paano sumisibol ang mga bulaklak sa parang…maging si Solomon ay hindi nakapagsuot ng kasingganda ng isa sa mga bulaklak na ito, bagamat napakariringal ang mga damit niya” (Mt. 6:28, 29).
Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Benguet, 12 Hulyo 2023.
Kapag ako ay nagkakasal, palagi kong ipinaaalala sa magsing-ibig ang kahulugan ng maraming gayak na bulaklak sa dambana ng simbahan na nagpapahiwatig ng larawan ng Paraiso.
Alalaong baga, bawat Sakramento ng Kasal ay “marriage made in heaven” – malayang ginawa at pinagtibay ng magsing-ibig sa harap ng Diyos at ng Kanyang Bayan sa loob ng simbahan. Kaya wika ko sa kanila, ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng bulaklak sa maybahay kahit hindi anibersaryo, lalo na kapag mayroon silang “lover’s quarrel” bilang tanda ng “ceasefire”.
Kaya naman maski sa kamatayan, mayroon pa ring mga bulaklak na ibinibigay tanda hindi lamang ng pagmamahal kungdi ng pag-asa na harinawa, makapiling na ng yumao ang Diyos at Kanyang mga Banal sa langit. Gayon din naman, dapat katakutan ng sino mang buhay pa ang padalhan ng korona ng patay o bulaklak sa patay dahil babala ito ng masamang balak laban sa kanyang buhay.
Lamay ni Mommy noong Mayo 7, 2024; paborito niya ang kulay pink at bulaklak na carnation.
Dagdag kaalaman ukol sa mga bulaklak sa patay: isang dahilan kaya pinupuno ng maraming mababangong bulaklak ang pinaglalamayan ng patay ay upang matakpan masamang amoy ng yumao dahil noong unang panahon, wala pa namang maayos na sistema ng pag-eembalsamo maging ng mga gamot para ma-preserve ang labi ng yumao. Kapansin-pansin ngayon lalo sa social media kapag mayroong namamatay, ipinapahayag ng mga naulila na huwag nang magbigay o mag-alay ng mga bulaklak bagkus ay ibigay na lamang sa favorite charity ng yumao. Kundangan kasi ay malaking halaga ng pera ang magagarang bulaklak sa patay; kesa ipambili yamang malalanta rin naman, minamabuti ng mga naulila ng yumao na mag-donate na lamang sa favorite charity ng pumanaw nilang mahal sa buhay.
Marahil ay hindi ito matatanggap hindi lamang ng mga Pilipino kungdi ng karamihan ng tao sa buong mundo; higit pa ring napapahayag ang pakikiramay at pagmamahal sa namatay at mga naulila sa pamamagitan ng bulaklak dahil malalim na katotohanang taglay ng mga ito.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, 2018.
Tuwing Sabado Santo noong nasa parokya pa ako, gustung-gusto ko palagi sa aming umagang panalangin (lauds) na ipinahahayag iyong tagpo ng paglilibing kay Hesus.
Sa pinagpakuan kay Jesus ay may isang halamanan, at dito’y may isang bagong libingang hindi pa napaglilibingan. Yamang noo’y araw ng Paghahanda ng mga Judio, at dahil sa malapit naman ang libingang ito, doon nila inilibing si Jesus (Juan 19:41-42).
Inilibing si Jesus sa may halamanan, garden sa Inggles. Nagpapahiwatig muli ng Paraiso, hindi ba.
Kay sarap namnamin ng tagpo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ni Jesus doon sa “halamanan” na muli ay paalala sa atin ng “return to Paradise”, “return to Eden” ika nga. Kaya nang lapitan ni Jesus si Magdalena nang umiiyak dahil wala ang Panginoon sa libingan, napagkamalan niya si Jesus bilang hardinero.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, halamanan sa St. Agnes Catholic Church, Jerusalem, Mayo 2017.
Noong Martes, sinabi ni Jesus sa ebanghelyo na ang paghahari ng Diyos ay “Katulad ng isang butil ng mustasa na itinamin ng isang tao sa kanyang halaman” (Lk.13:19).
Bawat isa sa atin ay halamanan ng Diyos, a garden of God. A paradise in ourselves.
Maraming pagkakataon pinababayaan natin ating mga sarili tulad ng halamanang hindi dinidilig ni nililinang. Kung minsan naman, hindi nating maintindihan sa kabila ng ating pangangalaga, tila walang nangyayari sa ating sarili, tulad ng halamanang walang tumubo o lumago, mamunga o mamulaklak sa kabila ng pagaasikaso?
Nguni’t maraming pagkakataon din naman na namumulaklak, nagbubunga tayo tulad ng halamanan dahil ang tunay na lumilinang sa atin ay ang Panginoong Diyos na mapagmahal!
Ilang araw pagkaraan ng Pasko nang kami’y magtanghalian ng barkada, 2023.
Noong Disyembre 2022, umuwi isa naming dating teacher at kaming magkakaibigan ay nagsama-sama para sa isa pang dati naming kasama sa ICSM-Malolos, si Teacher Ceh.
Umuwi siya mula Bahrain noong 2020 dahil sa cancer at sumailalim siya ng chemotherapy.
Dahil Pasko, niregaluhan ko siya ng orchid.
Enero 2023 namasyal kami sa Tagaytay at napakasaya namin noon. Gustung-gusto niyang pinupuntahan ang Caleruega tuwing umuuwi siya mula Bahrain kung saan siya nagturo matapos mag-resign sa aming diocesan school.
Ang akala namin ay papagaling na si Teacher Ceh at dadalas na aming pagkikitang magkakaibigan mula noong simula ng 2023. Pagkatapos ng huli niyang chemotherapy noong Setyembre, nabatid na mababagsik kanyang cancer cells at hindi nagtagal, pumanaw si Teacher Ceh noong ika-16 ng Oktubre 2023.
Larawan kuha ng may-akda, 16 Oktubre 2024.
Isang araw bago sumapit kanyang babang-luksa, ibinalita sa amin ng kanyang Ate na umuwi mula Amerika na buhay at namumulaklak ang bigay kong orchid kay Teacher Ceh. Dinala niya ito nang magmisa ako sa kanyang puntod kinabukasan para sa kanyang ibis luksa.
Laking tuwa namin sa gitna ng nakakikilabot na pagkamangha nang makita naming magkakaibigan ang regalo kong orchids kay Teacher Ceh.
Isa’t kalahating taon pagkaraan naming huling magsama-samang magkakaibigan, isang taon makalipas ng kanyang pagpanaw, buhay at namulaklak pa rin ang orchid kong bigay sa kanya na tila nangungusap na masayang-masaya, buhay na buhay si Teacher Ceh doon sa langit!
Sa aking silid; bigay lamang po iyang halaman na iyan at di ko alam pangalan.
Ako man ay nagtataka. Kung kailan wala na aking Mommy, saka ako nakakabuhay ng mga halaman. Green thumb kasi si Mommy.
Kahit maliit lamang aming lupain, sagana siya sa pananim mula sa mga rosas at orchids, cactus at mga mayana, mga sari-saring halaman sa paso maging papaya, atis, langka, pati kamote at sili sa gilid ng bahay namin ay mayroon siya.
Ito yung flower vase ng mga napatay kong waterplant sa dati kong assignment; ayaw ko sanang dalhin sa paglipat dito sa Valenzuela pero awa ng Diyos, buhay pa halaman mula 2021.
Nakakatawa, ako hindi makabuhay ng halaman. Muntik pa akong bumagsak ng first year high school sa gardening kasi hindi ako makabuhay ng ano mang panananim maliban sa kamote. Sabi ni Mommy sa akin noon, kapag iyong kamote hindi ko pa nabuhay, ako ang talagang kamote!
Nang magkaroon ako ng sariling parokya noong 2011, nakakadalaw pa siya at simba sa amin noon tuwing Linggo. Ipinagyabang ko sa kanya mga alaga kong water plants sa kuwarto ngunit pagkaraan ng ilang buwan, namatay mga iyon. Sabi niya ulit sa akin, “ano ka ba naman anak, water plant na lang napapatay mo pa? Masyadong mainit iyong mga kamay,” aniya.
Hoya daw ito na nakuha ko noong aking personal retreat sa Sacred Heart Novaliches noong 2022; buhay pa rin hanggang ngayon sa aking banyo.
Isang bagay nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Mommy bago siya mamatay ay nakakabuhay na ako ng water plant sa kuwarto ko sa bago kong assignment sa Fatima Valenzuela.
Ako ay nagugulat sa sarili ko ngunit ngayon ko lamang napagnilayan nang makita ko ang orchids na regalo ko kay Teacher Ceh: apat na taon nang buhay aking mga water plant sa kwarto mula nang malipat ako dito noong 2021.
Hindi ko rin alam pangalan ng halamang ito na bigay sa akin pero nakapagpatubo na ako ng isa pa niyang sanga nasa aking office sa University; yung orchids bigay sa akin noong Abril, wala nang bulaklak pero buhayn pa rin. Himala!
Parang sinasabi sa akin ng mga alagang kong water plant na marahil, buhay na buhay at tuwang tuwa na rin si Mommy at nakabuhay ako ng halaman.
Kasi sabi niya kasi sa aking noong maliit pa ako, dapat daw marunong akong mag-alaga ng halaman at hayop dahil tanda raw iyon na makakabuhay na rin ako ng tao.
Siguro nga. Kaya ko nang mabuhay maski wala na siya, paalala marahil nitong aking mga halaman. Flowers for you, kaibigan.
Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 22 October 2024
Video by author using iPhone, 18 October 2024 near Floridablanca Exit, SCTEX bound to Subic.
Please, do not report me to the SCTEX Mobile Patrol. Promise… I won’t do this again, taking a video of sunset while driving. Blame “The Cure” playing on my playlist Friday I’m In Love…
That was last Friday as I drove – alone, as usual of course, going to a much-needed rest and mental health break at Subic. It was actually long-delayed vacation from repeated invitations over ten years from my kinakapatid Leah and Eric.
We planned it last September during a dinner in Makati after I had promised to visit my Ninang Lyn, Leah and Eric’s mom who was also grieving for her eldest we called Koyang Dindo who died in January; she felt too my grief in losing my mom later in May. I promised to visit her after my hospitalization in August when Leah and Eric learned it that they both offered for us to have dinner instead to “lend” me their mom.
How can I say no when Ninang Lyn told me to join Leah and Eric in their Subic homes after saying, “ako na mommy mo ngayon”?
At Makati Shangrila Hotel, September 2024.
At Binictican home of Eric and Gic, 18-10-2024
Appetizing appetizers…
then salad, sirloin, prime rib and rice in steak’s drippings…
…and more wine.Cheers!
And whoa! What a Friday it was, truly a TGIF as I broke all rules not only in driving but also in eating and drinking! It was a wonderful evening of stories with great food and wine. Most of all, of love from true friends over 50 years!
Ninang Lyn’s husband, the late Atty. Fernando Ma. Alberto was a friend of my late dad. Unlike my siblings and friends, I only had just one pair of Ninong and Ninang in my baptism. Both have blessed me for being truly my “godparents”.
When my father passed away in 2000, it was Ninong Ding who helped me made a major decision in 2005, of whether I should stay or move to Canada to serve there instead. He told me to greatly consider the many experiences I have had in media and life that can greatly help more people here than abroad. True enough after six months in a parish in Toronto, I realized his wisdom, the great need of our countrymen mostly poor needing the love and care of pastors than the rich, ageing Catholics of Canada.
With Dindo aka Nando Alberto during our roadtrip in Rizal in January 2021, listening only to Steely Dan the whole day!
When Dindo’s condition worsened late last year, I got to see my Ninang more often along with her other children so united in those critical moments: Leah, Doc Mayette, Eric, Ricky and Toby with Joy sometimes joining us on Facebook live from California.
After Dindo died early this year, my mom died too in May. The Albertos were there coming all the way to Bulacan. And have remained until now.
What I like most with them is how they have never asked how I am doing because they knew so well what I am going through. Maybe that’s the gift and grace of over 50 years of friendship. They simply make themselves present, tenderly inviting me to go out and chillax. They so remind me of this passage from a Canadian author and poet who wrote in one of her books:
I overheard a conversation the other day. He said, "But if you don't let people know you are lost, how can they help you?" She said, "Because the help I need is found in the eyes of someone who sees I am lost. Who stops to notice I have been gone, or my pace has slowed or my smile is forced. If they can see those things, then they will know that I need caring, not help." - Nausicaa Twila
Lately, so many friends including their siblings were texting me, inviting me out for lunch or coffee, simply making me feel of their care as I go through this grieving phase. So glad to have them. And so blessed in giving me a glimpse of Jesus Christ’s loving presence in them, teaching me firsthand about love and care.
Here is another video clip I did last Friday but this time I stopped by the roadside at SCTEX near Floridablanca exit on the way to Subic. See you again this Friday for the second part of our Subic adventure.
Video by author using iPhone, 18 October 2024 with natural sound from my car stereo playing The Cure “In Between Days.”
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. John Paul II, Pope, 22 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*[[[[>< + ><]]]]*> Luke 12:35-38
Photo by author, mountain range off the coast of Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024.
Glory to You, O God our most loving Father for this blessed Tuesday as we celebrate the Memorial of one your great servants in modern time, Saint John Paul II, the Pope who truly worked so hard to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ our Savior, especially to children and young people, to the sick and suffering.
Oh how we miss him so much most especially in his efforts to promote unity in the real sense without bending Church teachings and traditions like St. Paul who taught the unity effected by Jesus Christ:
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Grant us through your Son Jesus Christ the grace to have Him always at the center of our lives and in our efforts to bridge people together despite their many differences so that we may truly build the Body of Christ here on earth.
Like St. John Paul II, let us be faithful servants, let us "gird our loins and light our lamps" awaiting your presence, Lord Jesus, of your coming among people who open themselves to building unity, to coming together in your name to promote peace and harmony not a unity for the sake of appeasing modern thoughts and trends, nor to win favors or be popular but truly standing firm in Jesus and His teachings because truly, as St. John Paul had taught us, "Unity not only embraces diversity, but is verified in diversity." Amen.
Pope John Paul II, using his crosier for support, celebrates an outdoor Mass in Slovenia, Sept. 19, 1999. (photo: Gabriel Bouys / AFP via Getty Images)
The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Twenty-ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 21 October 2024 Ephesians 2:1-10 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 12:13-21
Photo by author, the pristine Nagsasa Cove in San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024.
Your words today, O loving God through St. Paul are so refreshing, so lovely to read and hear, very reassuring especially for those of us losing hope in life, those so tired and exhausted, those about to give up; let us sing joyfully to You, O Lord, and serve You gladness!
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them (Ephesians 2:10).
Everything that we have become, every good and beautiful thing we do is simply because of You, O God, at work in us, through us; what a great honor, O God You made us so good and beautiful, You brought us here, You sent us for a mission; let us be open in order to give our unconditional "YES" to Jesus Christ in faith daily so that we may do continue your work in keeping this a better and more humane world; let us give our unconditional "YES" to Jesus daily so we may experience your guidance and help in our undertakings to reflect You, dear God, so that it is You who is always found and recognized in everything we do that is true, good, and beautiful; let us not be preoccupied with so much material wealth and fame that fills us with greed unable to satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts found only in You. Amen.
Photo by author, river leading to Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 October 2024.
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