Bringing out the light of Christ

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 29 January 2026
2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Mark 4:21-25
Photo by author, Mt. Arayat, Pampanga, 28 January 2026.
How lovely it must be,
dear Jesus,
if there were few sunrise
each year like in other
places of the world;
maybe everybody would be up
very early for those few mornings
we can witness a sunrise
to see and behold;
as I have told you Lord
last Sunday,
I have always loved sunrise
with its subtle yet intense
appeal of light slowly bursting forth,
light breaking out to brighten
the earth and life in it.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light… To the one who has, more will be given; from the ones who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Mark 4:21-22, 25).

Thank you,
dear Jesus for that
reassurance today of God
continually pouring out his grace
on us today as he reveals further to us
his glory and majesty in you,
our light,
the true light of the world
never hidden and finally
brought out to the world;
grant me the grace of courage
to bring out your light in me,
Jesus; enough with too much
hiding of you,
now is the time to reveal you
Jesus in me,
through me;
take away my being too shy
even ashamed and afraid
of letting your light shine in me,
Jesus in this time everybody is
so fascinated with the artificial lights
of the world that dazzle us at first
and slowly blinds us until
we could not see the realities
anymore; like King David
in the first reading,
make us realize that it is in
our weaknesses when you,
O Lord, can shine most
and work most.
Amen.
Photo by author, La Paz, Tarlac CLLEX, 28 January 2026.

Pray to not delay

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle, 25 January 2023
Acts 22:3-16     ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>     Mark 16:15-18
Praise and glory
to you, O God our Father
for this glorious day of
celebration of the Feast of
Conversion of St. Paul, 
the 13th Apostle of Jesus Christ!
He is the perfect example of
your boundless mercy in Christ,
that every sinner can always be
a saint, that every sin can be
forgiven for your love is more
immense and vast than all the evils
that men do!
While St. Luke tells us of the vision
that led St. Paul to conversion,
the great Apostle himself tells us
it was more of an illumination
when God's light "has shone in our
hearts to bring to light the knowledge
of the glory of God on the face of 
Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6); moreover, 
St. Paul claimed conversion 
was a revelation and a vocation 
in the encounter with Jesus Christ 
that began "from my mother's womb" 
when God "had set me apart and 
called me through his grace, 
was pleased to reveal his Son to me, 
so that I may proclaim him
to the gentiles" (Gal. 1:15-16).

If we could just realize this most
wonderful truth like St. Paul 
that you have called us too 
while we were in our mother's womb
because you have a beautiful plan for us
in this world, in this life;
that we all have a special mission,
an important role,
and noble purpose in being 
alive, 
in being here
in this world! 
Therefore, Lord Jesus,
let us not delay our own 
conversion in the same manner
that Ananias told St. Paul after
regaining his sight in Damascus
that "The God of our ancestors 
designated you to know his will,
to see the Righteous One,
and to hear the sound of his voice;
for you will be his witness before
all to what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay?  Get up and have
yourself baptized and your sins
washed away, calling upon his name"
(Acts 22:14-16).
Most of all, dear Jesus,
like St. Paul, may we put you
at the center of our lives so that
our identity is marked by our
encounter with you,
by communion in your Person
and with your Word; help us reach
that wonderful stage of conversion
when like St. Paul we begin to see everything
considered as value is just a loss and refuse
(Phil. 3:7-10) because you, O Lord,
is the only essential, the most precious
one we can ever have in this life; hence,
place all our energy and being 
at your service, dear Jesus and your Gospel 
so that eventually, we may truly be
your Apostle, becoming 
"all things to all men" or 
"omnia omnibus"
(1 Cor. 9:19-23).
Amen.