Laugh and be holy!

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul
Saturday, Feast of St. Lawrence Deacon and Martyr, 10 August 2019
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 >< }}}*> <*{{{ >< John 12:24-26
“Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, with Two Benedictine Nuns” by Jacobello del Fiero (1425) who introduced “International Gothic” painting style in Venice using elegant and bright colors. The two Benedictine “witnesses” are nuns believed to belonged to the San Lorenzo convent in Venice who commissioned del Fiero to paint the scene. Photo from Rijksmuseum via useum.org.

Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father for the gift of humor.

Yes, Lord, thank you in giving us funny bones, for enabling us to laugh – and be holy!

Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

Keep us cheerful always, Lord, like St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, patron saint of chefs and comedians.

It was pure grace of love for Jesus Christ and his Church that St. Lawrence suffered so much with a lot of sense of humor and joy.

When Emperor Valerian asked your deacon St. Lawrence to bring him all the treasures of the Church of Rome he was tasked to safeguard, he asked permission to leave jail to gather them.

And he was so witty and courageous that when he returned, he came with the poor as “treasures of the Church” that made the emperor so furious and ordered St. Lawrence be roasted to death on a giant gridiron.

Again, in the midst of intense pain while being roasted alive, St. Lawrence never lost that spark of wit and humor when he told his tormentors to “turn me over, I am done on this side…have a bite.”

As a deacon, teach us, O Lord, to serve like St. Lawrence with a deep sense of dedication and passion plus a lot of smiles and joy!

Everybody is so stressed out these days, Lord, for so many reasons like traffic and lousy services everywhere, including in our parishes.

Thanks be to you, O God, we do not have to suffer so much like St. Lawrence.

Give us the grace of wearing always a warm smile and cheerful face to serve those in pain and suffering.

Let us laugh a lot, Lord, to share with others the real fruits of our work in you. Amen.

Deacon’s dalmatic and stole. Photo by Lorenzo Atienza, 12 June 2019, Malolos City.

The need to be proud sometimes

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul, Thursday, Wk.XI, Yr.I, 20 June 2019
2 Corinthians 11:1-11 >< )))*> >< )))*> >< )))*> Matthew 6:7-15
The Our Father Church outside Jerusalem where Jesus is believed to have taught his disciples the “Lord’s Prayer”. Photo by author, 05 May 2019.

For the second straight day, Lord, I could identify with St. Paul in his feelings deep within, the urge to brag something in your name!

Brothers and sisters: if only you would put up with a little foolishness from me! Please put up with me. For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these “super apostles.” Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

2 Corinthians 11:1, 5-6

You know it so well, Lord Jesus why I have been complaining a lot lately as I have told you yesterday: I feel so tired in life because I feel shortchanged. Not that I am asking anything in return but like St. Paul, it pains me so much when some people miss the love and dedication we pour upon our ministry.

Until now, Lord, we have those “super apostles” St. Paul called, preying on your sheep as false servants who seduce people like the snake only to feed on their egos and fatten their wallets.

They are everywhere, Lord. Not only among priests but also among other professionals.

It is so consoling to hear St. Paul today in our first reading of how we sometimes need to brag a little, to be proud of our efforts so the people may know and realize the sacrifices we make for them because, we love them.

We pray Jesus for all the silent workers, the silent servants who continue to lovingly serve you in others. Send them your proverbial “pat on the shoulder” to console them, O Lord, in their darkness and anguish. Let them shine in their true colors in you! Amen.

Santorini, Greece. Photo by Dra. Mai Dela Pena, 2017.

Refresh My Heart in Jesus

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Thursday, 15 November 2018, 21st Anniversary of Diaconal Ordination
Philemon 7-20//Luke 17:20-25

            Alleluia!  The Lord shall reign forever!  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

            Twenty-one years ago today, Lord Jesus Christ, you gifted me with six of my other classmates the Holy Order of Diaconate.  For 21 years, you have never left me Lord Jesus Christ as I continue to serve you despite my many limitations and sins.

            How wonderful O Lord that on this day as I remember my diaconal ordination, St. Paul writes Philemon about his slave – servant – Onesimus.  And how perfect is the request of St. Paul to Philemon to be my prayer too on this joyous occasion, “refresh my heart in you (v.20)”, Lord Jesus Christ.

            Refresh my heart in you Lord by letting me behold always that the Kingdom of God is among us when we serve as you willed in the washing of the apostles’ feet on Holy Thursday.

            Refresh my heart in you Lord by letting me behold always that the Kingdom of God is among us when we proclaim the gospel in words and in deeds, destroying barriers of race, gender and class among us.

             Refresh my heart in you Lord by letting me behold always that the Kingdom of God is among us when we live in harmony with one another in you Christ Jesus, letting go of our many “perceived” privileges and entitlements that betray the truth of your gospel.

            Twenty-one years ago, O Jesus our Eternal High Priest, every morning I have the same prayer before you:  “Here I am Lord, send me.  For every here and now, let me do your will.”  AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

Photo above from Google, Jesus washes feet of Apostles on Holy Thursday when He asked us to serve one another like Him (see John 13:12-15).

Photo below taken last year during our annual clergy retreat in Tagaytay clockwise from center Fr. Arnel Camacho, Fr. Joshua Panganiban, me, Fr. Ed Rodriguez our class president when we were ordained, Fr. Romy Sasi and Fr. Len Hernandez.  God is so good with us.  Pray for us to “refresh our hearts in Christ”.  Salamuch.

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Living In the Lord

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The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Tuesday, 13 November 2018, Week XXXII, Year II
Titus 2:1-8, 11-14//Luke 17:7-10

            Lord Jesus Christ, your birthday is fast approaching as the weather is getting better with chilly mornings, warm sunshine during the day tempered by cool breeze blowing to remind me of the changing of seasons, of the coming end of the year.

             What a beautiful reminder to us all of living in your presence, growing and maturing in your loving service, O Lord!

             Like Titus in the first reading, help me “to say what is consistent with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1) based on your teachings.  Help me to live as older men and women of faith who are “temperate and reverent in behavior, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love and endurance.” (Titus 2:2-3)   Help me to be “a model of good deeds in every respect, living temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age.” (Titus 2:7, 12)

              Let me take delight in you O Lord Jesus Christ, my Master, faithfully doing what I am obliged to do like the “unprofitable servants” in your parable today (Lk.17:10).  AMEN. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.

*Photo from Google.