Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 03 July 2025
Thursday, Feast of St. Thomas the Apostles
Ephesians 2:19-22     <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*>     John 20:24-29

Lord Jesus,
teach me to be like you -
so understanding,
so caring,
so loving
to those who are doubting
you like Thomas your Apostle;
poor Thomas -
he has been called "Doubting"
when the evangelists simply
referred to him as "Didymus"
or twin; however, it is so lovely
too to know that doubt and
certainty are like twins because
when we doubt,
the more we seek and find 
the truth which Thomas did.

When I think of my own faith
journey in you, Lord,
many times I was worst
than St. Thomas for I was not only
doubting you
but also hesitant in following you
because of fears and mistrust,
lack of confidence in my self,
and simply self-centered.
Could it be, Lord,
that in each one of us is 
Thomas our twin -
doubting,
hesitating,
indecisive,
in following you?

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28).

How nice of you, 
Lord Jesus
to be so warm with Thomas
on that night 
when you appeared again;
instead of engaging Thomas 
into a debate or discussion,
you called him,
invited him to touch your wounds,
to feel your scars; 
what an incredible courage,
Lord Jesus 
to let us see and feel
closely your wounds,
to stare and look at your
sufferings, to remember and
imagine your lowest point in life
if only to show us that it is
the only way to glory;
many times, we are afraid
to admit even to ourselves
and to others our wounds and hurts,
preferring to keep them
even hide them
to keep our illusions
of greatness.

May we find 
the graces of
joy and warmth,
love and kindness
that fill our many wounds
in life as a result of our
following you, Lord Jesus
for it is in our woundedness
and hurts that we become 
"members of the household of God
who are built together to be
the dwelling place of God 
in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19, 22).
Amen.

Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City