Tag: self

Jesus, both the Gift and the Giver

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Thursday, Week XXXI, Year I, 07 November 2019

Romans 14:7-12 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 15:1-10

Betania Tagaytay, August 2017.

Dearest Lord Jesus:

It seems more rains are coming today as I watched the rains last night amid dark skies with only a few stars above to accompany the moon. What a sight to behold as darkness enveloped us with the trickling of rains calming my soul while listening to St. Paul:

Brothers and sisters: none of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

Romans 14:7-8

Thank you very much Lord for your wonderful gift of self to us!

Indeed, you are the gift and the giver at the same time.

Thank you for making each of us a small universe, self-contained but not totally complete if separated from you and from others. May we always share this gift of self with others by keeping us one in you and with you.

You are our “deep space”, our “big bang”, always expanding, ever growing, bursting with life and meaning.

May we not be bothered like the Pharisees and scribes when people seek you more than us for we are mere stars leading them to you.

May we search and bring back to you the other dead stars and lost stars of this universe we call life. Amen.

Modern jerusalem at dawn, April 2017.

Prayer to Persevere

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Wednesday, 28 November 2018, Week XXXIV, Year II
Revelation 15:1-4///Luke 21:12-19

            Everything you have said in today’s gospel, Lord, is now happening:  so many of us are facing so many forms of persecutions, being maligned and hated by so many people filled with evil thoughts and deeds.  The other day you told us how false prophets would come claiming to be you as savior and they, too, are now in our midst with mouths full of blasphemies and deceits, sowing confusion and division among us as a people.

             I am not complaining, Lord Jesus.  I am even thanking you for warning us about these trials and tribulations, assuring us that we need not worry how to defend ourselves from their attacks for not even a hair on our head will be destroyed (Lk.21:14,18).

             All I ask you, Lord Jesus Christ is to bless me with the grace of perseverance (Lk.21:19), that amidst this plague that have come upon us as a nation and as a Church, I may sing with the victors of heaven the song of the Lamb John heard in his vision of heaven (Rev.15:2-4).

             Let me persevere in loving you Jesus even if I am a sinner.
             Let me persevere in following you Jesus even if I often stumble and fall.
             Let me persevere in serving you Jesus even if I am self-centered, seeking recognition.  AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.
*Photo above by my former student, Arch, Philip Santiago, Basilica della Santissima Trinita at Fatima, Portugal during his pilgrimage October 2018.  I have always loved this photo shared by Arch. Philip:  at the back of the modern metal cross is a mosaic of the Lamb seen by John in Book of Revelation; at the left side is the mosaic of the BVM with Saints Francisco and Jacinta, visionary children of Fatima and to the right is the mosaic of St. John the Baptist.  Very modern rendition of old concept in Eastern churches of images above the door of Jesus also at the middle flanked by BVM as the start of the New Testament and John the Baptist who closed the Old Testament.  Beautiful images of perseverance in Christ!
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Prayer to Look Inside than Outside

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Photo by Fabrizio Verrecchia on Pexels.com

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Tuesday, 27 November 2018, Week XXXIV, Year II
Revelation 14:14-19///Luke 21:5-11

            Here I go again, O Lord, looking outside, looking at things like buildings and structures, events and other happenings for clues for your coming.  Like the people of your time, I ask for signs outside when in fact you always come inside, deep within me.

            “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name… Do not follow them!  When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” (Lk. 21:8, 9, 10-11)

            Give me the grace of your beloved disciple John to see you coming in my heart.  Like the psalmist let me sing “The Lord is king.  He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.  He shall rule the world with justice and the peoples with his constancy.” (Ps.96:10, 13)

            Let me be faithful to you, be just and most of all be loving and kind to others for you are coming not to destroy us but to renew us in you, Jesus.  AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

LMC