Pangungusap ng Puso

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Sacred Heart Novena Day 2, 19 June 2025

*Detalye ng painting ng Sacred Heart of Jesus sa Visitation Monastery, Marclaz, France mula sa godongphoto / Shutterstock*.

Nakatutuwa itong ating wika. Mabulaklak na kahit hindi ka isang makata minsa’y di sinasadya ika’y nakakatha ng kahit maigsing tula.

Madalas ating mabasa sa mga panitikan at mapakinggan saan man kuwentuhan na tila baga itong puso ay nagsasalita gayong wala naman itong bibig. Mismo ang Panginoong Jesus noon ay nagsabi na “ano man ang bukambibig, siyang laman ng dibdib” (Mt.12:34 at Lk.6:45) upang ipakita ang pagkakadugtong ng puso at bibig tulad ng kaisahan nito sa ating kamay batay sa pagninilay kahapon.

Samakatwid, nangungusap nga itong ating puso. At iyan ang ibig kong pagnilayan ngayong ikalawang araw ng ating pagsisiyam para sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus. Ito ang sinasaad sa ating napakinggan ngayong araw na bahagi ng pangangaral ni Jesus sa mga tao mula sa kanyang sermon sa bundok.

“Sa pananalangin ninyo’y huwag kayong gagamit ngn napakaraming salita, gaya ng ginagawa ng mga Hentil. Ang akala nila’y pakikinggan sila ng Diyos dahil sa dami ng kanilang salita. Huwag ninyo silang tutularan. Sapagkat alam na ng inyong Ama ang inyong kinakailangan bago pa man ninyo hingin sa kanya. Ganito kayo mananalangin: ‘Ama naming nasa langit, sambahin nawa ang pangalan mo'” (Mateo 6:7-9).

*Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com*

Isa sa mga madalas na itanong sa akin ng mga mag-aaral dito sa Our Lady of Fatima University bilang kanilang chaplain ay alin daw ba ang dapat nilang pakinggan, sigaw ng puso o sigaw ng isipan?

Palagi kong tugon sa kanila ay ang pabirong paalala na unahin nilang pakinggan lagi ang sigaw ng kanilang mga magulang.

Pagkaraan ng ilang tawanan, saka ko binabalik sa kanila ang tanong sa ibang anyo naman: humihiyaw nga ba ang puso gayong ang pagtibok nito ay napakahina? Hindi kaya sa pakikipag-usap sa atin nitong ating puso, ang ibig nito ay taimtim na pakikinig dahil kung ito ay mangusap, madalas ay pabulong.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Atok, Benguet, 27 Disyembre 2024.*

Mag-imagine tayo kunwari ay naroon tayo sa bundok sa sermon ni Jesus. Siguradong malakas ang tinig niya sa pangangaral ngunit sa aking pakiwari mayroong indayog ang kanyang pananalita na kung saan minsan-minsan marahil siya ay bumubulong katulad nitong sa pagtuturo niya kung paano tayo mananalangin. Mahigpit ang kanyang bilin na huwag tutularan mga Hentil na napakaraming sinasabi sa Diyos sa pakiwaring sila ay pakikinggan. Hindi natin kailangang maging maingay at daanin sa dami ng sinasabi ang Diyos bagkus higit na mainam ang pananahimik upang mapakinggan sinasabi sa atin ng Diyos. Sinabi na ni Jesus na alam ng Diyos ating pangangailangan bago pa man tayo dumulog sa kanya sa pagdarasal. Kaya tayo nagdarasal ay upang pakinggan kalooban ng Diyos.

Kaya gumagamit ng stethoscope mga duktor at nurse kasi nga mahina ang tinig ng puso natin. At yon ang unang kinakailangan sa pananalangin – katahimikan upang Diyos ay mapakinggan!

Kung ang puso man ay humihiyaw, marahil wala na tayong masyadong alitan at mga kaguluhan dahil tiyak ating maririnig at mapapakinggan bawat pintig ng puso na iisa ang sinasabi kungdi ang tayo ay magmahal nang tunay. Ito ang buod ng “Ama Namin” at lahat ng mga panalangin. Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa ating lahat na ating tinutugunan ng pagmamahal sa ating kapwa dito sa lupang ibabaw lalo na sa pagpapatawad sa kanilang pagkakasala sa atin.

Sa Kamahal-Mahalang Puso ni Jesus, doon ay malinaw na inihahayag ang dakilang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa ating lahat ngunit walang nakikinig dahil mas nahahalina ang marami sa malalakas at maiingay na tinig ng daigdig. Ito yung ikinalulungkot ni San Pablo sa mga taga-Corinto sa unang pagbasa ngayon dahil napakadali nilang nalinlang at napasunod sa mga kakaibang turo ng ibang nangangaral sa kanila. Katulad din natin ngayon na maraming nagpapaniwala at nahahalina sa mga kung anu-anong kaisipan ng mundo gaya ng new age at wokism at iba pang mga ideya na wala nang pakialam sa Diyos at moralidad gaya ng relativism na siyang sanhi ng paniniwala sa same sex marriage at abortion.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Liputan, Meycauayan, Bulacan, 31 Disyembre 2022.*

Imagine din natin na first time napakinggan ang panalanging “Ama Namin.” Malamang pabulong at marahang binigkas ni Jesus ang mga titik ng panalanging ito upang tumimo ng higit sa puso at kalooban ng mga tagapakinig.

Kakaibang kaisipan noon iyon sa mga Hudyo sapagkat ang Diyos sa pagkakaalam nila ay makapangyarihan at hindi maaabot doon sa langit. Ngunit kay Jesus, malapit ang Diyos tulad ng sino mang ama sa lupa. Isang personal at mapagmahal na parang tao ang Diyos na pinakilala ni Jesus sa kanila at maging sa atin ngayon kaya mas malamang ay malumanay na malumanay ang pagbigkas ni Jesus lalo ng “Ama naming nasa langit” dahil puno ng pagmamahal at pag-galang. Hindi ba noong una tayong ma-in love ay tahimik din tayo? Hindi natin pinagsasabi yung pers lab natin?

Ayon sa mga dalubhasa sa bibliya, mas mahaba ang tala ni San Mateo sa pagtuturo ni Jesus ng “Ama namin” kesa sa bersiyon ni San Lukas; layunin anila ni San Mateo na ituro ang ating disposisyon sa pananalangin habang si San Lukas naman ang tuon ay naroon sa laman ng ating dasal.

Sa madaling sabi, pagmamahal ang disposisyon nating dapat sa pananalangin di lamang ng “Ama namin” kungdi mismo sa ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa kapwa na siyang paghahayag ng ating ugnayan sa Diyos.

Ang Ama namin at lahat ng pananalangin ay paghahayag ng ugnayan kaya ang mga ito ay dinarama, nilalasap dahil ito ay isang karanasan na pinaninindigan at pinatutunayan sa mabubuting gawa.

Noong bata pa tayo at wala pang kamuwang-muwang sa mga kalokohan at kasamaan ng mundo, napakadali nating napapakinggan bulong ng puso na magmahal, makipag-bati, magsorry, magsabi ng please at thank you, at maging mabuting tao. Subalit sa ating pagtanda, atin nang tinuturuan ang puso natin ng sariling kagustuhan na dapat laging sundin at pakinggan. Magsinungaling kung kinakailangan.

Masaklap na bunga nito ang ating pagkakawatak-watak. Hindi maramdaman ang ating ugnayan dahil maraming ayaw nang magmahal, ayaw nang kilalanin bawat isa bilang kapatid at kapwa sa iisang Ama nating Diyos.

Ngayong ikalawang araw sa ating pagnonobena sa Sacred Heart, matuto tayong muli na manahimik at makinig sa tinig at pintig ng puso natin upang muli tayong makiniig sa Diyos na Ama natin. Kapag muli nating ninamnam ang katotohanang ito, mapagtatanto na rin natin ang ating kapatiran sa iisang Ama kay Kristong kapatid natin.

Sa ating panahong napaka-ingay at kay dami-daming nag-aagawan sa ating atensiyon upang pakinggan at sundin, marahil ay humihiyaw na nga itong puso natin ng pabulong dahil hirap na itong maiahon ang katotohanan ng pag-ibig na ating ibinaon. Pagmasdan paanong palaging kalakip ng debosyon sa Mahal na Puso ni Jesus ang pagtitika sa mga kasalanan at pagbabalik-loob sa Diyos at kapwa. Kasi nga, ang magkasala ay hayagang pagtanggi natin na magmahal. Iyon ang salita at pangungusap tuwina ng puso – magmahal, magmahal, at magmahal pa rin! Manalangin tayo:

O Jesus na mayroong
maamo at mapagkumbabang Puso,
Gawin Mong ang puso nami'y
matulad sa Puso Mo!
Amen.

Praying to be generous in Christ

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 16 June 2025
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Matthew 5:38-42

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2025.*

Your words today,
O Lord Jesus Christ
are very astonishing -
from the writings of St. Paul
to your teachings that literally
go against the ways of the world;
of course, you and your message
have always been against the ways
of the world but, how do we strike
a balance in the present conditions
happening today?

Jesus said to his disciples: “You ahve heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well” (Matthew 5:38-39).

You know very well,
dear Jesus our situation:
our country going into a great
showdown with all the maneuverings
of the evil forces in the Senate to
cover up a crime, a serious case of
corruption and abuse of authority
while in the Middle East, 
Israel and Iran are in a very
dangerous war that may spread
in the whole region; O Jesus,
we live in a world of "preemptive 
strikes" and "counterstrikes"
and your words seem impossibly
naive and optimistic?
Is it really possible?

Brothers and sisters: As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; now is the day of salvation (1 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Have mercy on me,
dearest Christ Jesus
in doubting the power of your
words and of your teachings;
have mercy on me,
dearest Lord when I think
in the ways of the world
than in the ways of God;
the balance I am seeking
is found only in YOU:
teach me to be generous like you,
like St. Paul, always in communion
with you through much endurance
in afflictions, hardships, constraints
and other sufferings (1 Cor. 6:4);
let me be centered in you always
Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit
in "unfeigned love, truthful speech,
and power of God; with weapons of
righteousness through glory and dishonor,
insult and praise";
grant me the courage to be truthful
even when treated as deceiver,
to be acknowledged when
unrecognized, alive and living when
considered dead,
always rejoicing amid sorrows,
being poor to enrich many
and simply having YOU,
Jesus in having nothing
(1Corinthians 6:4-10).
Amen.

The God we delightfully await

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of the the Holy Trinity, Cycle C, 15 June 2025
Proverbs 8:22-31 ><}}}}*> Romans 5:1-5 ><}}}}*> John 16:12-15

*Photo by author, Hidden Spring Resort, Calauan, Laguna, 20 February 2025.*

We resume the Sundays in Ordinary Time with the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity today that is the highest truth in our Church teachings often referred to as a “mystery” or something so difficult to explain and understand.

We find this context of “mystery” right in our gospel this Sunday that takes us back again to the Last Supper scene as in the final Sundays of Eastertide.

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming” (John 16:12-13).

What is the “more” Jesus has to tell his disciples that include us today which we cannot bear, that we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit?

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”

As we have learned in the scriptures especially during the Holy Week and Easter, Jesus was speaking at that time of his life and death prefigured by his Last Supper. He was preparing his disciples to do the same as he expressly said after washing their feet.

It is the same lesson Jesus teaches us every Sunday in the Holy Eucharist, of how we his modern disciples must learn to offer our lives with others which is what the Holy Trinity is all about – a sharing and giving of life of the Three Persons in One God. Unity happens only in the total union of one’s self-giving.

This is the mystery of our personal or relating God revealed to us slowly through time, from the Old Testament that reached its highest point in Jesus Christ in the New Testament that continues to these days because each one of us is a reality of the Holy Trinity.

This Holy Trinity sharing and mutuality of Persons in One God is an ongoing lesson we undergo as disciples of Jesus because like the Apostles, we too continue to cling to life, finding it so hard to let go and let God.

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, 20 March 2025.*

As we move on with life, we realize that life is not in clinging but in dying and letting go, in giving and sharing than having or taking or keeping. We realize as we age and mature that more than the wealth and recognition we all aspired for when younger were nothing but a waste in life because what really matters most is our relationships – with God and with others.

It is a lesson that unfolds to us every day, getting better as we age, when we look back to our past especially to our very roots like our parents with whom we find not only proximity and intimacy but most of all, delight and pride in being one with them. This is exactly what the first reading is telling us about Wisdom said to be the personification of Jesus Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity who is one with the Father:

Thus says the wisdom of God: “The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies long ago; from of all I was poured forth, at the first, before the earth… When the Lord established the heavens I was there, when he marked out the vault over the face of the deep… then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race” (Proverbs 8:22-23, 27, 30-31).

*Photo by Mr. Boy Cabrido, EDSA 1986 People Power Revolution.*

Life and man are all a mystery. Many times there are no easy answers to our many questions in life. There are times when our questions in life are actually answered in deaths like in the passing of our loved ones. Most of all, many questions in life can never be answered at all.

But, the joy of living is in still asking more questions. Man is known more in the questions he asks because the answers he gives are often wrong or off-tangent. When we ask the right questions, even if we do not arrive at the right answers, somehow we get a grasp or glimpse of the bigger realities and mysteries of life, of the things to come that Jesus tells us today.

I have always been curious as a child, always asking my father on the various things I heard from him and my mother or from the television and later from books I have read. After explaining things to me or passages I have read that I still could not understand, daddy would assure me that “pag-tanda mo maiintindihan mo rin yan.”

Those are my fondest memories of childhood with my father – the delight of learning, of discovering, of understanding. Now that I am a priest and a senior, there is still that deep joy and delight in searching and asking because like what Jesus said, there is so much more to learn in this life and in our very selves. There is that desire and attraction within that leads us outside our very selves to search for more meaning – like resulting from faith and hope in God as reflected by St. Paul speaks in the second reading wherein the Holy Spirit leads us to the glory of God.

*Photo by Ms. Ria De Vera in Delia, Alberta, Canada, 03 June 2025.*

A senator recently made a mockery of the Holy Spirit, claiming his move to dismiss the impeachment complaint as a leading of the Holy Spirit. Making things worst and most unbelievable is the fact that another senator, son of a founder of a local church and preacher played a real devil in quashing efforts to find the truth about the charges of corruption against the Vice President of the Republic.

Clearly, it was not of the Holy Spirit but more of the devil that is divisive and most untruthful, totally unmindful of our relationships as a nation.

The “more” that Jesus speaks of in sending us the Holy Spirit is for each of us to realize our being a Trinity in our very selves, our connectedness as one in God. It is sad that for many, the Blessed Trinity does not really matter that much for them to appreciate or even understand. For many, it is enough to believe in God just like the others in various religions and sects or worst, like those who do not care at all about God except that they “believe” in a Supreme Being.

As we resume the Sundays of Ordinary Time, this Solemnity of the Holy Trinity evokes the most concrete reality of God, that he is a Person like a Father who is the giver of life because he is life himself with whom alone we owe our lives. This we realize and experience in the Son Jesus Christ who became like us humans so we may become like him again as divine, with honor and dignity. It is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity who guides us to more realities and truth of this loving God so immense, delighting us in awaiting our union in him. Let us pray:

Come, Holy Spirit!
Fill our hearts with that
desire to continuously await
God's coming in Jesus Christ,
as we delight in a life of
giving and sharing,
of caring and kindness,
of mercy and forgiving
until that day we shall be one
in the Father in heaven
in his love.
Amen.

Happy Father’s Day too!

“Here I am! Send me.”

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday after Pentecost, Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Eternal High Priest, 12 June 2025
Isaiah 6:1-4, 8     <'{{{{><  +  ><}}}}'>     John 17:1-2, 9, 14-16

*Photo by author, Cabo de Roca, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.*

Lord Jesus Christ,
our Eternal High Priest
who called and sent us 
to continue your work of love
and mercy into this world
so broken by pride and selfishness,
personal interests and evil schemes,
continue to pray for us,
to consecrate us to your truth
so we may continue to make you known
in this world that refuses to 
recognize you
accept you
and worship you.

So much decadence has been
going with us these past six months
especially in our Senate:
we have put into office inept and
corrupt lawmakers who shamelessly
disregard the rule of law especially
the welfare of the people,
taking on themselves a wrong
sense of authority based on power
and personal whims instead of
seeing it as a sharing in your
rule meant to keep justice
and peace among us;
decadence has come upon us
all when pride is something to 
be proud of,
when persons and sexuality
are redefined to suit each one's
inclination disregarding God's
original design so that love and
life may flourish amid our differences;
our family is disintegrating
while our society is decaying
127 years since our Independence;
what a mess we are into,
Lord Jesus.

To whom shall we go,
Lord Jesus?
You have the words of life
but many times the problems
and darkness we are into
even with our personal lives
are so enormous;
we have been so detached
from you that is why we have been
far from each other too;
on this Feast of your Eternal Priesthood,
remind us of our share in your Priesthood,
of our being a priest,
a bridge,
a link with others
in you and through you;
let us imitate you Jesus
in your gentleness and mercy,
kindness and love;
many times Lord we forget
these qualities are already in us,
our giftedness in becoming like you
because you are our perfect mediator
with the Father,
our Eternal High Priest who became
like us so that we can become
like YOU.

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said this, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him… I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:1-2, 14-15).

Lord Jesus,
your prayer offered for us
 since that Holy Thursday evening
remains true and sincere,
and most fulfilled in our time
as you never cease to fail in giving us
everything we need;
on this Feast of your Eternal Priesthood,
we pray that we do our share,
 our part in fulfilling that prayer
 by becoming like you,
 of being in the world
 but not of the world;
like the Prophet Isaiah,
we each one pray too
"Here I am! Send me"
to be your witness,
to be your light,
to be your presence.
Amen.

Pentecost is home

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of the Pentecost, Cycle C, 08 June 2025
Acts 2:1-11 ><}}}}*> Romans 8:8-17 ><}}}}*> John 14:15-16, 23-26

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – MAY 08: Faithful in St. Peter’s Square participate in the first blessing of Pope Leo XIV immediately after the white smoke on May 08, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images.

The other “good news” I heard next to the election of Pope Leo XIV last month were reports of people from different countries and other religions who went to join the pilgrims at the Vatican Square celebrating the election of our new Holy Father.

According to news, many of those non-Catholics who came there were so attracted and drawn by the unity of the people in rejoicing and celebrating Pope Leo XIV’s election to the papacy. That is Pentecost in modern time happening whenever people are one with each other in God by the Holy Spirit.

*Painting by El Greco, “Pentecostes” (1597) from commons.wikimedia.org.*

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together… Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem… They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?” (Acts 2:1, 3-5, 7-8).

The Pentecost is an old Jewish Feast commemorating the ratification 50 days after of their covenant with God through Moses at the Sinai desert; today in the Church, we celebrate it 50 days (pente) after Christ’s Resurrection that also closes the Easter Season.

Considered as the birthday of the Church, see how appropriate the way Luke described the Church “born” on that day, “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.”

They were all in one place. There has always been the oneness or gathering of people as one body. However, it was more than being physically together in one place but of being one heart and one mind of the Church that continue to this day in our own time despite our many physical differences. What we celebrate today is not just a remote event in the past but a reality that continues in the Church and in various churches everyday.

The Pentecost is the fulfillment of those reflections we have had these past weeks on Jesus Christ’s commandment to love so that God would dwell among us. It is again our gospel this Sunday that was experienced by the Jews from other parts of the world there in Jerusalem on that day when they were astounded at how the Apostles were speaking in their own languages of God’s mighty deeds. They felt the love among everyone that they felt home. It was the complete opposite of what happened at the Babel’s Tower in the Old Testament.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God” (Acts 2:7-11).

*Biblical vector illustration series, Pentecost also called Whit Sunday, Whitsunday or Whitsun. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ*

"We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God"

The social media was recently abuzz with a post by a vlogger who brought to Facebook his misgivings with Starbuck’s for wrongfully calling him “JC” instead of “JP” notwithstanding his earlier insistence on not making a mistake with his name’s spelling.

He is labeled as OA – overacting – or maarte in bringing to social media his experience which has anyway been a trademark of most coffee shops. What really got the attention of everyone that made his post viral was his declaration of how Starbuck’s had lost one loyal customer following that mistake which became the subject of many memes with some parodies that are thought-provoking. One is by a brother priest, Fr. Ritz who called his parody with the long title NOT ONLY A COFFEEHOUSE MAY LOSE A LOYAL CUSTOMER TODAY.

Fr. Ritz satirically narrated the two common laments of parishioners almost everywhere, namely, the priest’s boring homilies and lack of transparency with the faithful’s financial contributions. Sadly true, many of our faithful have become lukewarm in their faith and have stopped coming to church especially on Sundays due to these particular reasons.

Of course, we can’t put all the blame on the priests but we can’t blame either the lay faithful who make up the Church, the flock of Christ entrusted to us to love and care for by bringing out their giftedness in order to build this mystical Body of Christ on earth. The Church is more than Starbuck’s or any food and service entity but they all essentially share the same things like love and care among others to keep their relationships for existence and relevance or meaning.

Of course, that vlogger’s post about his experience at Starbuck’s was way off the mark but it is something we need to look deeper. How did it happen that people are now more concerned and more eager in coming to Starbuck’s than to our parish church? Maybe because like him who had given albeit wrongly his loyalty to a mere coffee shop, some of our faithful have felt taken for granted. We cannot claim “para yun lang” because certain things no matter small may be the world for some like being called in their name, being greeted or simply acknowledged as present on a weekday Mass. Or being enriched by a good homily which is after all the right of every baptized Christian.

At Pentecost, imagine the great joy of the Jews from diaspora visiting Jerusalem, hearing others speaking their language. They must have felt at home!

Are we at home in our Church?

Do we find and experience solace and comfort in our parish? Is there justice and sense of being fair from the priests instead of taking sides with the rich and famous? Can we feel our pastors and church volunteers and servants one with us?

Many times some of our parish workers and volunteers are more strict than the priests, throwing their weight around with their own rules and regulations. The single most important PR department of any parish is its office but sadly, some of its staff members scrimp on their smiles, feeling grouchy when ordinary folks come to inquire or get some certificates. Some are so unmindful of people walking for an hour only to be told they are still closed or about to close for lunch.

How sad when we are left out in the singing because the choir members stage a concert every Mass, experimenting with their voicing even with the most common Christian prayer of Our Father that people just stand and stare waiting for the communion to come and get home. Worst, as a preparation for the Father’s homily that often unprepared anyway, there are also the unprepared lectors lost which readings to proclaim or totally unmindful of the dignity of the ministry.

Above all these things, is the total lack of sense of prayer and silence among church servers who lead the Maritess sessions before and after each Mass right there inside the church. Worst, they cap each service with selfies and photo sessions at the altar as if it was their last serve. Clearly many of us live in the flesh than in the Spirit as St. Paul reminded us in the second reading. Where is the love that Jesus Christ had sent us in the Holy Spirit to make us one, feel at home joyful, safe and loved?

On this Pentecost Sunday, let us start practicing silence to feel the Holy Spirit within so that we can be in touch with everyone around us in love and kindness. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus had told us (Jn. 14:26). Amen. Have a blessed week ahead everyone!

Eba’t Adan… wala tayong magagawa?

Lawiswis Ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-03 ng Hunyo 2025

Marahil inyo nang napakinggan ang nakakaaliw na rap music na Eba’t Adan. Kahit saan maging sa simbahan lalo na sa social media pinaguusapan, pinakikinggan, binabanggit ang hiphop na ito.

Eba't Adan
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Eba't Adan
Eeba't Adan
Alam mo ba (Alam mo ba)
Mahal mo na (Mahal mo ba)
Wala tayong magagawa
Mahal mo na
Eba't Adan
Eeba't Adan...

Nakakaaliw ang saliw ng tugtugin at mga titik na paulit-ulit lang naman. Sa aking pagsasaliksik, mayroong iba’t ibang version ang naturang rap music ngunit iisa lang ang sinasaad nitong lahat kaya marahil naging trending at viral – ang kapangyarihan ng pag-ibig. Wika nga ni Francisco Balagtas, “O pag-ibig kapag pumasok sa puso ninoman, ang lahat ay hahamakin masunod ka lamang”.

At iyon nga kasi itinakda noon pa man kina Eba at Adan. Kaya daw wala ka nang magagawa sabi ng rap.

Pero, teka… talaga bang wala nang magagawa kapag ikaw ay tuluyang nahulog na sa pag-ibig gaya ng sinasaad ng hiphop na Eba’t Adan?

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, Oktubre 2024.*

Sa isang version na aking pinakinggan, binabanggit doon hindi lamang pag-ibig ng lalake sa isang babae kungdi pati pag-ibig ng lalake sa kapwa lalake at ng babae sa kapwa babae.

Ganun din ba ang ating tugon kung ikaw ay umibig sa iyong pinsan o kamag-anak? Paano kung ang iyong iniibig ay mayroon nang asawa o pareho kayong may asawa? Eba’t Adan, E-Eba’t Adan wala ka nang magagawa?

Dito makikita natin na hindi ganoon kasimple ang pag-ibig. Hindi lahat ng pag-ibig ay tama tulad nang sa mga kapwa lalake at kapwa babae, sa mga may asawa na at maging sa mga pari at relihiyoso. Mayroong disordered love na kung tawagin sa Inggles. Ito yung maling pagmamahal hindi lamang sa kapwa tao kungdi maging sa mga hayop at gamit na labis nating pinahahalagahan kesa sa Diyos.

Maliwanag ang turo ni Jesus: ang pag-ibig na tunay ay palaging naka-ugat at may kaisahan sa Diyos na siyang pag-ibig mismo! Kasabay nito, naroon ang napakagandang pagninilay at paglalahad ni San Pablo ukol sa pag-ibig na matatagpuan sa Unang Sulat sa mga Taga-Corinto, kapitulo trese.

Alalahanin din na hindi lamang damdamin ang pag-ibig kungdi isang desisyon o pagpapasya kasi, feelings are sometimes high, sometimes low. Hindi weather weather lang ang pag-ibig. Ito ay desisyon gaya ng inawit nina Ben&Ben:

Mahiwaga
Pipiliin ka sa araw-araw
Mahiwaga
Ang nadarama sa'yo'y malinaw.

Bagaman nagsisimula sa damdamin bilang attraction ang pag-ibig, kailangan itong lumago at lumalim. Kailangan mag-mature ang pag-ibig kaya ito ay nililinang sa pananalangin at wastong pag-iisip.

Mahiwaga ang pag-ibig ngunit hindi naman wala kang magagawa. Bagkus, malaki nga ang ating magagawa para sa pag-ibig ay yumabong at mamunga ayon sa turo ni Jesus tulad ng paglimot sa sarili. Ang pag-ibig ay palaging papalabas at hindi pakabig, hindi makasarili. Ang totoong sukatan ng tunay na nagmamahal ay kapag kaya mo nang ibigin ng higit sa iyong sarili ang ibang tao.

Kay sarap ugatin na ang isa pang kataga na gamit natin sa pag-ibig ay pagmamahal na mas ibig kong ginagamit lalo na sa pagkakasal. Iyon kasing pagmamahal ay paglevel up ng pag-ibig na kadalasan ay mababaw pa ang kahulugan tulad ng kapag sinabig “ano ibig mong sabihin o kainin?”

Ang pagmamahal ay nagsasaad ng pagpapahalaga kaya mahal ang presyo ng isang bilihin dahil ito ay mahalaga. Ang pag-ibig na tunay gaya ng pagmamahal ay pagpapahalaga sa minamahal na handang limutin ang sarili hanggang kamatayan.

*Larawan mula sa The Valenzuela Times, 02 July 2024.*

Ang taong nagmamahal ay palaging nagpapahalaga. Iyon ang masaklap at masakit na nangyari noon kina Eba’t Adan nang sila ay magkasala dahil tumanggi silang pahalagahan ang Diyos higit sa lahat.

Kaya naman sa madaling salita, ang kasalanan ay isang pagtanggi na magmahal kasi mas pinahahalagahan ng nagkakasala ang kanyang sarili kesa ibang tao lalo na ang Diyos. Iyon ang kapalaluan o kayabangan na sa Inggles ay pride.

Itinuturing na pride ang naging kasalanan nina Eba’t Adan dahil hinangad nilang maging Diyos, hindi lang makatulad ang Diyos. Ayon kay Sir Cecil B. De Mille, and direktor ng pelikulang The Ten Commandments noong 1956, ang palaging nilalabag na utos ng Diyos ng mga tao ay ang unang utos na huwag magkakaroon ng ibang Diyos maliban sa Kanya. Paliwanag ng batikang direktor, tuwing tayo ay nagkakasala, mayroon tayong ibang Diyos na sinusunod.

Kaya nakapagtataka rin naman itong mga LGBTQ na ipinagmamalaki pa ang kanilang pagdiriwang na Gay Pride ngayong buwan ng Hunyo. Bakit kailangang ipagmalaki ang “pride” gayong masama kadalasan ang kahulugan niyon?

Dalawang bagay ang sinasaad ng pride, maari itong positive na mabuti at banal o negative kaya ito ay mali at kasalanan. Yung positive pride kung tutuusin ay kapakumbabaan na kung saan kinikilala natin ng may karangalan at pagmamalaki sa tamang paraan ang ating katayuan na nilalang ng Diyos bilang lalake o babae. Ito yung wastong pride na sumasalungat sa linya at excuse parati na “ako’y tao lamang na mahina at makasalanan.” Bagaman hindi tayo perpekto, tayo ay bukod tanging pinagpala ng Diyos ng mga katangian at kakayahan upang lubos na makibahagi ng buhay ng Diyos.

Subalit hindi iyong ikalawang uri ng pride na mali at dapat iwasan dahil sa bahid at dungis ng kapalaluan at kayabangan. Ito ang dahilan kaya pride ang una sa lahat ng pitong capital sins. Ito yung pride na ipinagpipilitan ang sariling kagustuhan kahit na ito ay hindi ayon sa katotohanan, sumasalungat maski sa Diyos at lahat maipilit lamang ang sarili. Ito yung pride na kasalanan nina Eba’t Adan dahil ipinagpilitan nila kanilang sarili na maging Diyos din gayong hindi naman maaring mangyari.

*Mula sa Facebook ng Ateneo De Manila University, 02*
*Hunyo 2025.*

Kaya mahirap maunawaan at tanggapin itong laganap tuwing buwan ng Hunyo bilang Pride Month ng mga kasapi sa LGBTQ. Kailangan bang ipagmalaki at ipangalandakan kanilang sariling kagustuhan?

Hindi lamang binabago kanilang kasarian kungdi pati balarila sa wikang Inggles, mga gawi at mga pananaw sa mundo. Hindi po kasalanan maging bakla o tomboy. Nangyayari ito bunsod ng maraming kadahilanan ngunit sa kahuli-hulihan, isa ring itong pagpapasya o pagpili – choice – na ginagawa ng may katawan. Lalake pa rin o babae na mayroong homosexual tendency ayon sa Katesismo. Ang maliwanag na masama mula sa Banal na Kasulatan ay ang pagtatalik ng kapwa lalake at kapwa babae. Iyan, noong pang panahon nina Eba’t Adan ay masama at ipinagbabawal na.

Hindi mababago ang pagkatao kung papalitan ang ari at iba pang bahagi ng katawan ng tao dahil ang kasarian ay kabuuan ng pagkatao. Hindi mababago ang kabuuan kung babaguhin lang ang isang bahagi. Hindi naman gamit ang tao na maaring palitan ang piyesa tulad ng mga sasakyan at iba pang kasangkapan.

Ang maling pag-ibig kailanman ay hindi maghahatid ng kaganapan kanino man dahil malinaw na ito ay makasarili – selfish – isang pagpapahayag ng pride o kapalaluan na masama at kasalanan.

Ito ba ang ibig mangyari ng mga LGBTQ? Batay sa marami nang pag-aaral wala din namang mga nagpabago ng ari o nagpasame sex marriage ang tunay na nakatamo ng kaganapan at katuwaan sa buhay. Marami sa kanila ang malungkot at bigo batay sa mga pag-aaral.

*Larawan mula sa sunstar.com.ph kung saan nag-viral noong isang taon ang pagpapatayo sa isang waiter upang turuan ng gender sensitivity matapos tawaging “Sir” ang isang celebrity na LGBTQ sa mall.*

Pero mayroong magagawa. Kaya sinugo ng Diyos ang Kanyang Bugtong na Anak na si Jesus, ang Kristo. Ipanakita at ibinigay niya sa atin ang mga kinakailangang biyaya at grasya upang tayo man ay makapagmahal nang tunay katulad niya.

Nasa atin ang biyaya na magmahal ng tunay kung saan ay ating makakayang limutin ang sarili para sa mas mahalagang layunin, ang kaisahan sa Diyos (communion) na siyang paraan upang matamo natin ang kaganapan o fulfillment na higit pa sa kasiyahan at tagumpay sa buhay.

Ang pagmamahal gaya ng ating nasabi na ay hindi pakabig kungdi palaging papalabas ang tungo, mapagbigay at mapagparaya.

Mahirap talagang magmahal ng tunay ngunit hindi maaring sabihing wala tayong magagawa. Diyos na ang gumawa ng lahat upang tayo ay makapagmahal ng tunay. Makikibahagi at makikiisa o cooperate lamang tayo sa Kanyang biyaya.

Una ay tanggapin ang katayuan natin sa buhay bilang lalake o babae o bakla o tomboy; may-asawa o hiwalay; may sinumpaang pangako na hindi mag-aasawa tulad ng mga pari at madre at relihiyoso.

Huwag ipilit ang hindi naayon sa nature natin bilang tao. Marami nang mga bakla lalo sa showbiz ang nagsabing hindi kinakailangan ang mga gay pride na ito dahil tanggap nila katauhan nila. Ano mang hindi natural at tunay ay hindi makapaghahatid sa atin sa kaganapan at kagalakang tunay.

Isang biyaya na nakakaligtaan sa panahong ito na tila lahat na lang ibig ang relasyon kahit sa murang edad ay ang dalisay na pagkakaibigan o true friendship na nagpapahiwatig ng ibang mukha ng pagmamahal na nakapagpapaging-ganap at kasiya-siya ding tulad ng pag-aasawa. Ibang antas ito ng pagmamahal at ugnayan na biyaya din ng Diyos kung bukas sana ang ating puso at kalooban sa kanya at di lamang sa ating sariling kagustuhan.

Bilang pangwakas, ibig kong iwanan ang isang katotohanan hindi pansin ng karamihan ngayong panahon ng social media: mabuti pa sina Eba’t Adan nang magkasala, sila’y nahiya at nagtago sa Diyos. Bakit ang mga tao ngayon bukod sa hindi na nahihiya sa kasalanan at kasamaan, ipinagmamalaki pa lalo na sa social media? Sabi nga ng matatanda, ang mahiya pa lamang ay pagpapakatao na. Ano kaya tingin sa atin ngayon nina Eba’t Adan? Siguro, hiyang hiya na sila sa atin.

(Mis)understanding Jesus

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 02 June 2025
Acts 19:1-8     <*[[[[><  +  ><]]]]'>     John 16:29-33

*Photo by author, mountains of San Antonio, Zambales from the side of Anawangin Cove, 2024.*

Lord Jesus,
teach me
and help me
understand you.

I really wonder if
the disciples truly understood you
on that Last Supper:

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe” (John 16:29-31)?

Oh how easy it is
to claim I have understood you
Lord Jesus
when in fact
more often
I misunderstand you
when difficulties and sufferings
 come my way
that I complain a lot;
when pains and disappointments
happen I lose interest
in following you;
when frustrations come
 because I cannot know fully
what is to come
after following you.

There are times
mediocrity seeps in me
that I become lackluster
making no effort to learn more,
to be more daring,
and to be a better
person and disciple
in following
and imitating you, Lord.

To understand you, Jesus
means to experience peace
always in you,
to keep on choosing you still
no matter what
because that is when
we truly enter in your presence
with nothing else important
but do your will.

Understanding you Jesus
is being open and ready
not to understand
everything about you
and still believe you
and trust you.
Amen.

Presence in Absence

Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Cycle C, 01 June 2025
Acts 1:1-11 ><}}}}*> Hebrews 9:24-28;10:19-23 ><}}}}*> Luke 24:46-53

*Photo by author, Atok, Benguet, 26 December 2025.*

We all have experienced dreams so real where we met friends and relatives even strangers that we described as “totoong-totoo” that we woke up crying or simply joyful and feeling so light. The clothes even the scent and ambiance were so real that we tried going back to sleep to continue the dream!

This is what we call as the dynamic of “presence in absence” when loved ones long dead or gone or simply far from us we still feel near and close too. It is the same familiar kind of relationship that we have with God whom we feel also as too near yet so far like what Luke described to us in the Ascension of Jesus Christ:

As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:51-53).

*Photo by Mr. Sean Pleta in Melbourne, March 2015.*

When Luke said that Jesus “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven”, he was describing to us Christ’s new and higher kind of relationship with all his disciples that include us today.

Jesus did not merely enter a physical reality that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us in the second reading; he actually entered into a new level of relationship with us and everyone. This “leveling up” in our relationships that no longer require physical presence is the dynamic of presence in absence. We don’t have to be physically present because there are deeper ties that bind us with God and with others, both the living and the dead.

Recall how since Easter we have been reflecting on this aspect of new level of relationship with Jesus who told Mary Magdalene at their first meeting to “touch me not” because of the need for a higher level of relating with him no longer bound by time and space. This Jesus showed when on the evening of Easter he entered the locked doors where the disciples were hiding. And Luke tells us that beautiful account of Jesus walking to Emmaus with two disciples who did not recognize him but upon reaching home after the breaking of bread, the two disciples recognized Jesus who immediately disappeared from their side. It was always a case of presence in absence!

Note also that in all appearances of Jesus after Easter to his disciples, there was always joy that continued even after his Ascension when “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.” Normally, there is sadness after every separation and goodbye. But not with the disciples of Jesus including us!

How can you explain that even if Jesus does not seem to answer our prayers, we just keep on praying to him? Why do we remain in Jesus despite his apparent absence? That’s because deep in our hearts we are certainly sure he is always with us, that he loves us so much, that eventually, he will answer our prayers though he does answer our prayers always but not in the way we wanted it to be.

That is why we need to make that effort to deepen and cultivate our relationship with Jesus to always see his presence in his absence like what the angel told the disciples in the first reading after his Ascension, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Do not look up or anywhere but look inside our hearts where Jesus dwells as he had told us last Sunday if we keep his words and love one another. We need to level up in our relationship with God through prayers and good works.

We need to see more with our heart than with our eyes because the deepest truths and realities in life are seen with the heart and soul. The ancient Persian sage and poet Rumi said it so beautifully, “Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation.”

Since Easter, we have been reflecting on the profound difference of Christ’s Resurrection with his birth on Christmas filled with external signs and symbols. Easter is characterized by absence like darkness and emptiness where we find the presence of Jesus and his light.

This presence in absence is also the reality we have in those we refer to as “low-maintenance” friendships where we have some people who do not demand anything from us nor we demand much from them. We meet when time allows and chat once in a while yet we remain the bestest friends because of the love and respect we have for each other. Basta, alam na this!

That is also the reality of our relationship with God. Do we experience the same joys in his presence in absence? Are we at home with our relationship with Christ found in darkness and emptiness, present in his apparent absence? Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
let us rise up in our
relationships with you with others;
let us be more loving and faithful,
kind and understanding,
fair and just
even without seeing you
and one another.
Amen.

*Photo by author, Anvaya Cove and Resort, Morong, Bataan, 25 May 2023.*

Kapatiran at sinodo sa lipatan

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-29 ng Mayo 2025

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholantica Retreat House, Tagaytay City, Agosto 2024.*

Ito ay pagsang-ayon sa ginawang pagninilay kamakalawa ni P. Ritz Darwin Resuello ukol sa nalalapit naming lipatan ng mga pari. Malaman ang kanyang mga sinulat. At nakatutuwa ang kanyang pamagat na mayroong halong salya at padyak: GUMUGULONG LANG BA ANG ROLETA? ISANG PAGNINILAY SA NALALAPIT NA LIPATAN.

At iyon nga ang punto de vista nitong ating pagninilay din: gumugulong lang ba ang roleta sa lipatan ng mga pari?

Nakakatawa. Kasi totoo lalo nitong mga lumipas na panahon. Kung minsan nga parang hindi lang roleta kungdi tila bolang kristal na rin ang ginagamit sa lipatan.

*Larawan kuha ng may akda noong Misa ng Krisma, 2025.*

Hindi natin kinukuwestiyon ang pagpapasiya ng Obispo na siyang may final say ngunit gaya ng nilahad ni P. Ritz, napakinggan ba ng “may pag-galang at pag-unawa ang tunay na pangangailangang pastoral” ng parokya?

a. Pakikinig nang may paggalang at pag-unawa sa tunay na pangangailangang pastoral ng parokya: Mahalaga pong lumikha ng malugod na kapaligiran para sa lahat ng boses, lalo na sa mga direktang naapektuhan ng lipatan na ito – ang mga pari, at higit sa lahat, ang mga parokyano. Ang mga hinaing, ang mga natatanging katangian ng isang komunidad, at ang kanilang kasalukuyang pastoral na sitwasyon ay lubhang mahalaga. Ang espirituwal na kapakanan ay manatili nawang pangunahing priyoridad. Gaya ng idiniin ni Papa Francisco, ang diyalogong ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pagdinig kundi tungkol sa pagpapatibay ng isang tunay na pagpapalitan ng mga ideya kung saan tayo ay natututo nang sama-sama at kung saan ang bawat atas ay malinaw na tumutugon sa kung ano ang tunay na kinakailangan sa parokya (P. Ritz, aka Heinrich Atmung sa FB post, 27 mayo 2025, 8:30 ng umaga).

Noong ako ay nasa ICSB Malolos, dumating ang ilang panauhin namin na mga lingkod layko ng parokya sa UP-Diliman na pawang mga propesor sa naturang pamantasan.

Hindi tungkol sa agham at edukasyon aming naging paksa sa hapunan kungdi ang kanilang tanong: paano ba kami tinuturing at tinitingnan ng mga pari sa pagbibigay ng aming mga pastol?

Pakiramdam nila kasi na tila hindi tiningnang mabuti kanilang katayuan sa buhay bilang mananampalataya nang bigyan ng pastol na palaging naroon sa mga rally kesa nasa parokya. Bagama’t anila maraming nagrarally sa UP, hindi nila kailangan ng isa pang ralliyistang pari kungdi isang nananatili doon upang kanilang masangguni sa maraming bagay sa buhay nila ng pagtuturo at pakikisalamuha sa mga mag-aaral na mayroong natatanging pangangailangang espiritwal.

Nadarama nga ba naming mga pari ang pintig ng mga tao sa parokya? Hindi tuloy nila maiwasang magtanong bakit tila sila ginagawang “tapunan” sila ng mga paring may problema.

Iba na ang mga tao ngayon. Mulat at handang makipag-usap at suriin hindi lang mga homilya kungdi mga desisyon ng kanilang pari. They deserve nothing less, ika nga dahil nga naman sa tagal ng pag-aaral at paghubog ng mga pari bago maordenahan, pagkatapos ay puro pagpalakpak at telenovela lang kuwento sa Misa? Hinubog ang mga pari upang maging mahuhusay at masisipag sa paglilingkod kaya kawalan ng katarungan na ipapasan sa mga tao lalo na kung ituring silang maliit na parokya na puwede nang pagtiyagaan mga pari na may problema sa iba’t-ibang aspekto tulad ng pananalapi, pag-uugali, at seksuwalidad.

*Kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2025.*

Nasaan ang diwa ng sinodo o sama-samang paglalakbay kung saan ay nakikinig ang lahat ng panig lalo’t higit ang mga nag-aasign ng pari? Maraming parokya nasisira dahil hindi isinaalang-alang kapakanan ng mga mananampalataya kasi nga naman yung mahusay nilang kura pinalitan ng tamad at walang pakialam o makasarili. Lahat ng pagsisikap ng naunang pari ay pilit binubura at winawasak ng sumunod na kapalit dahil sarili ang inuuna at hindi ang mga kawan. At mayroong pari na hindi maka-move on, hindi maiwanan dating parokya dahil pakiwari sa sarili ay Mesiyas!

Problema ito sa buong Simbahan maski sa ibang bansa dahil marahil sa isang pinag-uugatan: ang pagturing sa mga parokya bilang maliit o malaki, mayaman o mahirap. Hindi totoong may pangit na parokya; nasa uri ng pari iyon. Mayroong mga munting pamayanan na napapayabong ng ibang pari na tingin ng iba ay imposible.

Panahon na upang alisin sa talasalitaan ng mga pari ang label na maliit at malaki o mahirap at mayamang parokya dahil bawat pamayanan ay katipunan ng mga alagad ni Kristo. Higit sa lahat, bawat parokya ay pinanahanan ng Espiritu Santo bilang Katawan ni Kristo na dapat palaging pahalagahan ano man ang katayuan. Kung tutuusin batay sa turo ng Panginoong Jesus, iyon ngang hirap na parokya at tila pinagtampuhan ng panahon ang dapat bigyang halaga ng mga pari gaya ng mga nasa kabundukan at liblib na pook. Hindi ko malilimutan ang salita noon sa amin sa seminaryo ng dating naming Obispo na Arsobispo Emerito ng Naga, ang Lubhang kagalang-galang Rolando Tria-Tirona, “those who have less in life should have more of God.”

Ito ang sinasaad ng katagang sinodo, ang katagang palasak na ngayon ngunit hindi pa rin maramdaman dahil wala namang nakikinig at nagbibigay halaga sa bawat isa.

Usiginga… kailan nanaig kalooban ng mga kawan kesa sa kura? O ng karamihan ng mga pari kesa sa Obispo at iilan niyang upisyal?

Totoong walang demokrasya sa Simbahan sa larangan ng chain of command dahil ito ay isang hierarchy, na mayroong hanay ng mga upisyal sa pamumuno ng Santo Papa katuwang mga Obispo na kinakatawan ng mga Kura sa bawat Parokya.

Subalit, hindi ito nangangahulugang diktadura ang Simbahan. Kung tutuusin nga ay sa Simbahan dapat matagpuan ang tunay na diwa ng kalayaan na kung saan ay masinsinang tinatalakay ng lahat ang higit na makabubuti sa karamihan batay sa kalooban ng Diyos. Ito ang dahilan kaya nagpatawag ng sinodo ang yumaong Santo Papa Francisco.

Dito makikita din natin ang isang malinaw na problema ng Simbahan na hindi namin matanggap – na kaming mga pari mismo ang problema ng Simbahan. At sa Simbahan. Ngunit saka na natin iyan pag-usapan at balikan ang pagninilay ni P. Ritz na ating pinagtitibay. Wika niya muli sa kanyang FB post noong Mayo 27:

b. Pagyakap sa maagap na pastoral na karunungan: Mahalaga pong isaalang-alang kung paano nakatutulong ang bawat “assignment” sa paglago ng isang pari sa ministeryo at nagpapayaman ng kaniyang mga karanasan, laging naghahanap ng balanse sa pagitan ng mga pangangailangan ng mga parokya at ng paglago ng indibidwal na mga pari.

Matalik na kalakip ng diwa ng sinodo ang kapatiran ng mga pari. Ngunit kapansin-pansin tuwing lipatan ang problema ng aming mga tampuhan at mga reklamo sa assignment. Totoo namang mayroong mga pari na namimili at mareklamo sa assignment ngunit hindi sila ang problema sa lahat ng pagkakataon tuwing may lipatan.

Ang problema ay ang sistema at patakaran – o kawalan ng mga ito.

Masakit sabihin ngunit aking pangangahasan sa pagkakataong ito na sa dalawamput-pitong taon ko sa pagiging pari, mas maayos ang lipatan at mga assignment noon kesa ngayon. Problema na rin naman noon din ngunit mas malala ngayon ang pananaw ng hindi pagiging patas o unfair sa pagpili ng mga assignment.

Hindi matatapos ang mga reklamo at hinaing sa bawat lipatan hanggat hindi naiibsan ang pananaw na ito. Hindi po salapi ang problema ng mga pari. Hindi rin naman babae o mga pogi. Ito palagi ang problema at daing natin – ang hindi patas sa maraming aspekto at pagkakataon.

Dito pumapasok ang maruming kahulugan ng “politika” sa Simbahan tulad ng barkadahan at favoritism. Mayroong napaparusahan, mayroong pinalalampas. Mayroong pinag-iinitan at mayroong kinukunsinti. Ang malungkot, mayroong mga pinangingilagan kaya pinagbibigyan lahat ng kagustuhan. Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan sapul!

Gayon pa man, on a positive note, dito makikita ang mabuti at malalim na kapatiran ng mga pari kung saan mayroong ilang maninindigan upang kausapin ang lahat kung kinakailangan alang-alang sa ilang bagay na nakakaligtaan o ayaw tingnan ng ilan sa mga kapatid naming naka-kahon na hindi makaahon sa kabila ng kanilang pag-amin at pag-ako ng kanilang pagkakasala at pagkakamali. Problema ng stigma.

Tanging hiling lang naman ng mga pari ay kausapin sila upang mapakinggan kanilang kalagayan at kalooban sa pagbibigay ng assignment. Ito yung pinupunto ni P. Ritz sa kanyang pitak. Sadya bang nasuring mabuti ang lahat ng paraan upang mapalago ang sino mang pari sa kanyang destino? Wala namang pari na likas na masuwayin kungdi ang ibig rin ay sariling ikapapanuto. Sa kabutihang-palad, mas marami pa rin ang mga paring masunurin at nagpapahalaga ng pangako ng obedience kaya sana ay naroon palagi ang fairness.

Hindi mawawala mga inggitan at siraan sa lipatan ngunit huwag mawawala ang “sense of fairness” dahil dito nakasalalay mabuting samahan at ugnayan. Susunod at susunod pa rin mga pari sa lipatan alang-alang sa obedience at faith in God ngunit palaging uusok ang isyu ng lipatan parang isang takore ng kumukulong tubig. Pakinggan natin ang sipol ng kumukulong tubig sa takore, yung tinatawag sa Inggles na tempest in teapot. Diyan pumapasok ang ikatlong punto ni P. Ritz:

c. Pagpapatibay ng malinaw at mapagmalasakit na komunikasyon: Kung posible po, ang pagbibigay ng napapanahon at “transparent” na impormasyon tungkol sa lipatan ay maaaring makapagpapagaan ng mga alalahanin at makapagpadali ng mas maayos na pagsasaayos para sa lahat – ang mga pari, kawani ng parokya, at ang mga mananampalataya. Ang isang maikli ngunit napag-isipang paliwanag ay maaaring lubos na makapagpatibay ng tiwala sa loob ng ating pamilya sa diyosesis.

Ang Simbahan ay komunikasyon. Kaya naman sa mga dokumento nito lalo mula nang Vatican II, sinasaad na sa Simbahan dapat masaksihan ang pinakamainam at pinakamataas na antas ng pagtatalastasan.

Ngunit taliwas palagi. Maraming pagkakataon sa mga pari kulang ang komunikasyon. Ni walang formal communication sa mga lipatan. Mayroong mga pari na atat nang lumipat na akala mo ay makikipagpalit lang ng tsinelas! Juice colored…! Kaluluwa ang pinag-uusapan habang ang antas ng aming usapan ay parang paglipat lang ng bahay kung saan ang pananaw ng ilan ay mag-impake lang ng mga gamit at damit. Kapirasong text o sulat hindi pa magawa kung hindi kayang tawagan o personal na kausapin sa mga balakin.

Kaya nga babalik tayo sa tanong ng mga tao: ano nga ba turing natin sa kanila tuwing maglilipatan kasi ang sagot dito ay siyang sagot sa tanong ano nga ba turingan naming mga pari sa isa’t isa? Hangga’t walang maayos na sagot sa mga katanungang ito, mananatili ang pananaw at paghahalintulad sa roleta na gamit sa perya ang lipatan. O bolang kristal ng mga manghuhula.

Sa diwa ng sinodo at kapatiran bilang sama-samang naglalakabay na Simbahan, patuloy tayong manalangin para sa mga pastol at kawan. At huwag din mag atubiling makilahok sa mga talakayan at usapan na ang tanging mithiin ay hanapin at sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos upang higit Siyang mapaglingkuran at masalamin dito sa lupang ibabaw. Salamuch po.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Chapel of the Angel of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, Marso 2025.*

The need for sensitivity

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 28 May 2025

*Photo by author, Cota da Cabo, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 15 May 2025.*

Salamuch for the very positive response to our blog Praying to “do no harm” where we underscored the need for more sensitivity among us to be able to respond to those being pushed to the limits in life (https://lordmychef.com/2025/05/27/praying-to-do-no-harm/) .

Sensitivity is the condition of a person (or thing) being sensitive that in the positive sense means someone who is quick to detect and appreciate other’s feelings while in the negative sense, one who is easily hurt or delicately affected by other’s feelings and attitudes.

For this sharing, we refer to the positive sense of the need for sensitivity especially in these days when it has become more of a rarity as more and more people seem to becoming numb and even callous. It is maybe a sign that points to one reality we have been seeing but refused to acknowledge these years – the dwindling number of people praying these days.

Prayer is more than reciting certain formal prayers we have learned by heart since childhood or reading novena prayers to a host of our devotions and practices. Prayer is primarily a relationship we keep with God. We pray because we love God.

This is the reason that in prayer, it does not really matter we are able to say or tell God everything because He knows them so well even before we asked Him (Mt.6:8). What really matters most in prayer as St. John Paul II used to say is that we are able to hear and listen to what God wants from us. That we surely do not know at all that is why we need to pray.

Just like in our relationships with others when we simply have to be sensitive with their presence when each one’s presence is more than enough. Or in fact, is everything!

When we pray more and cultivate a prayer life – a relationship with God – it is our sensitivity that is most heightened. The more we become sensitive of our ourselves and surroundings, we become more aware of God’s presence in us and among us. The more we become sensitive of ourselves and of God, then, we become sensitive of others too. Then our relationship with God flows naturally into our relationship with others which becomes the fruit of our prayers: have we become more kind and understanding, more loving and forgiving, more just?

Another beautiful thing with prayer that heightens our sensitivity is the gift of being proactive when we are able to “predict” the future without really predicting it! Our Filipino expression of magdilang-anghel says it so well that whatever we say happens or turns out to be true because we can feel everything and everyone with our heightened sensitivity.

*Photo by author, Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Dumaguete City, 07 November 2024.*

Prayerful people are always sensitive in the positive sense. They are the ones most in touch with the realities of life, literally and figuratively speaking. They are always “present” like God who calls Himself “I AM WHO AM” – the perfectly present. Without sensitivity, there can be no presence at all.

See how kids these days do not mind at all nor pay respects or at least recognize anyone – whether family member or guests – when they are engrossed in their computer games or watching movies or simply scrolling their cellphones. Sorry as I find many of these kids are growing disrespectful as in, bastos.

Experts have long been warning us of the dire effects especially to children of these gadgets and social media itself that make us insensitive, numb and callous practically with the world around us.

How sad and sickening to see young people literally so absorbed and immersed as in subsob in their cellphones, wired with those pods stuck in their ears living in a world of their own, unmindful of the sounds and commotion, of the people and everything happening around them.

Going back to that beautiful scene after an earthquake shook the prison cell of Paul and Silas in yesterday’s first reading, see how the apostle’s sensitivity and presence saved and converted their jailer.

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas… After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. About midnight… there was suddenly such a severe earthquake… When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here” (Acts 16:22, 23, 25, 26, 27-28).

Speaking of earthquake, I just found it quite amusing how some students did not feel at all the “jolt” when the 5.1 earthquake struck us before noon yesterday. After we have evacuated our building, I met some students who were laughing at themselves to have not felt at all the earthquake, saying they were caught by surprise when the alarm went off that signaled the evacuation.

Sorry and please excuse us as this may be extending too much the earthquake this noon but, it isn’t funny anymore when we are jolted by news of some people we hardly know taking their lives for various reasons. We wonder and even search our souls wondering what happened they “harmed” themselves until we realize that partly because, we were not there at all when they most needed us.

*Photo by author, Cota da Cabo, Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales, 14 May 2025.*

This is why we need to recover our vanishing sensitivity through prayers to be aware, to notice and feel others around us, especially those silently screaming for help when many are so absorbed in their own little worlds. Every time we become sensitive of God’s presence and reality, we become sensitive of ourselves and of others too. Let us pray:

Forgive us,
Jesus for being far
from those in pain and sufferings,
for being insensitive
to those crying in silence,
for being indifferent
to the realities of mental health
and total well-being
of everyone.

Give us a chance,
Jesus to be like Paul and Silas
of saving one life
from doing no harm to one's self
by first being sensitive
to your presence in prayers
because the more we pray,
the more we become sensitive
of you and of others.
Amen.