Tag: spirituality

Mary Is Queen Because God Reigns In Her Supreme

marycoronation_velasquez_crop
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Memorial of the Queenship of Mary, 22 August 2018
Isaiah 9:1-6///Luke 1:26-38

            Praise and glory to you, O God our almighty Father on this Memorial of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth!  It is purely because of your goodness that we now honor her as Queen.  Since the beginning, we have always revered Mary as Queen for being the Mother of your Son Jesus, the King of Kings.  Most of all, you remind us, O God, that Mary is rightly a Queen because you reigned supreme in her whole life while here on earth.

           “Hail, favored one!  The Lord is with you” was Archangel Gabriel’s greeting to her, repeated to us every morning when we wake up, announcing Jesus Christ’s presence in us and with us.  Like Mary, in our humanity you have found favor to bring into the world our Savior; but, unlike her, we refuse to say “yes” to your gift, we refuse to believe your Good News of salvation, we refuse to trust in the fulfillment of your will.
              Give us the grace today to be like Mary in saying “yes” to you, O God, of believing that Jesus is your Son whom we must welcome everyday in our lives to truly come into this world.  May Jesus reign in our hearts, fill us with His humility, justice and love like His Mother Mary so that your heavenly kingdom may come here on earth.  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:  “Coronation of the Virgin” by Spanish painter Diego Velasquez in 1645 at Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Our Being of Forgetfulness

SHNswing
Photo by Fr. Nick F. Lalog II at the Sacred Heart Novitiate (Novaliches), July 4-6, 2018.
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer
Friday, 17 August 2018, Week XIX, Year II
Ezekiel 16:59-63///Matthew 19:3-12

            Another question again, O Lord Jesus Christ from us:  “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” (Mt.19:3)

            Another question from us not seeking answers but justification for our own beliefs; another question not seeking the truth but a changing of order and rules.

           Sorry Lord for the many times when we clearly know the answers deep in our hearts yet we keep on pretending we are confused or simply could not get it.  Or, would not want to accept it at all because of the “hardness of our hearts.”  It has always been like that as you beautifully narrated to Ezekiel of your experience with Israel who was like a little girl you have cared for since birth, lavished with so many good things until you took her as your bride and then disregarded your covenant.

           A philosopher explained that we are all beings of forgetfulness that too often we lead inauthentic lives. Probably.  I don’t remember.

           But, one thing I always remember, O Lord, is that despite all our infidelities and hard-headedness, you have remained faithful, always reminding us to remember your love, your covenant.  Give us the grace to “re-member” you, to make you a member and part of our present lives again.  Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022 . 

 

Singing Mary’s Magnificat In Our Time

assumptionelgreco
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer, Wednesday
15 August 2018, Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM
Revelations 11:19;12:1-6,10//1Corinthians 15:20-27//Luke 1:39-56
 
            Pray for us O Holy Mother of God,
            that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
            Let us pray:

We praise and glorify you, God our loving Father, in bringing us back to you though we are not worthy of your love and mercy.  In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary whom you have assumed body and soul into heaven upon the completion of her mission here on earth.

            And so, loving Father, we ask you for the grace to be like Mary, singing her Magnificat not only with our lips and voices but like her, with our lives so that when Christ returns at the end of time, we too would be assumed body and soul into heaven.

            Let us always proclaim your greatness, let our spirit rejoice in you alone, not in our selves nor talents nor achievements.  Keep us humble to remember everything is a grace from you that we are able to do so many things, great and small alike (Lk.1:46-48).

            Let us do your work always, your will be done – not our plans and agenda so that your mercy would pervade in this self-righteous world (Lk.1:50).

            Let us show the strength of your arm by working for justice and peace, guided by kindness, even by weakness to shame those who brag of their powers and might (Lk.1:51-52).
            Let us find our place in this world to make a stand for what is good and true by keeping a sacred space for you in our hearts and mind so we can stop usurping too much roles and credits to be seen and liked by everyone.  Keep us empty like Mary to be filled with your Holy Spirit to become the very presence of Jesus Christ (Lk.1:53-55).  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, the famous painting of the Assumption by El Greco.

Prayer As Our Mountain of Transfiguration

close up view of bible and rosary
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe-Prayer Monday
06 August 2018, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord-B
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14///2Peter 1:16-19///Mark 9:2-10

            Thank you very much Lord Jesus for bringing us always with you like “Peter, James, and his brother John to a high mountain” to pray with you.  It is always a grace to be able to pray in you and with you.  Not just to tell you what we need or what we feel.  Just to be with you is more than enough.  After all, when you were transfigured before the three apostles you were “just” praying which is the key to any transfiguration.

             So often, we take prayers so lightly, or worst, for granted that we can dismiss it easily when we are busy.  Like your gospel yesterday, we often pray to look for the food that perishes and not for YOU.  We forget that prayer is a relationship, of being with you, of being one with you that leads to transfiguration.

             Continue to bring us along with you on top of the mountain to pray.  Teach us to be silent, to stop talking like Peter without knowing what we are saying.  Most of all, teach us to listen to you always.  To set aside our own agenda and plans in life so that your will is done not ours.  May we be transfigured in your heart and person, O Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Father.  Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022