traitor

The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, 14 May 2024
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26   ><)))'>  +  <'(((><   John 15:9-17

*Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 March 2024.*

Dearest Jesus,
please pardon me
in telling You
how it saddens me 
when I hear of so many
stories of Judas Iscariots
among us especially
in our ministry;
why You chose
and called them is a total mystery,
and I am so sorry
how they came out to be;
I have no claims to
holiness nor being perfect
but I thank You, Jesus,
for this feast of St. Matthias
whom You have called
to replace Judas Iscariot
to show us how much You
love us, most of all,
believe in us and 
trust us even if You know
so well we could be unfaithful
to You and Your call like
Judas Iscariot.

I pray, therefore, O Lord, 
for the gift to be faithful always
to Your call,
to fully participate in Your choices,
in Your choosing me
to Your mission
despite my sins
and weaknesses;
let me keep in mind
and heart it was You
who chose me
and not me who chose You:

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.”
John 15:16

How lovely,
O sweet Jesus,
to find in St. Matthias
Your choice to replace 
Judas Iscariot, a reminder from
You of that fact that while
there is no lack of unworthy 
and traitorous Christians 
everywhere like unfaithful spouses,
corrupt officials,
callous and self-centered priests
and bishops,
You still call each of us to
counterbalance the
evils they have done
with our faithful witnessing
to You, 
our Eternal Priest,
Lord and Savior.

Like St. Matthias,
let us value Your call, Jesus
to continue Your mission
so maligned and destroyed
by the many Judas Iscariots
among us; like St. Matthias,
let us nourish Your choice
by remaining in You, Lord,
by keeping our choices
according to Your
holy will; in making choices 
in this life, help me, Jesus
to be discerning,
to be most prayerful
like the Apostles.

So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Acts 1:23-24

Lastly,
I pray today on this
feast of St. Matthias
for people having difficulties
praying to finally realize
Your choices for them;
for those afraid to accept
Your choices;
for those who keep looking
for other options
despite Your clear choice for them;
please enlighten their minds
and fill them with courage
and trust in
You, sweet Jesus.
Amen.

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, 36th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power, 25 February 2022 James 5:9-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Mark 10:1-12

Forgive me, Lord, a veteran of EDSA 1986 for having lost these past years the joy and fervor in celebrating your miracle at the world's first "People Power Revolution"; I really had no plans of praying today so as not to remember the February Revolution of 1986 because I have always felt betrayed by our so-called "EDSA heroes" who turned out to be modern Judas Iscariots who have used us for their personal interests and prostituted the People Power Revolution.

I have long felt within this pain, this anger, frustration and disappointment at how our supposed leaders have wasted the victory and most importantly, the lessons of EDSA '86; oh how my stomach burns in acid, making me belch and throw up whenever I would see or remember those traitors, Lord!

But, as I prayed today and see our nation's precarious situation, I felt ashamed, Jesus, at how I have acted like Judas Iscariot, not so much in betraying EDSA '86 in some ways too but in losing hope in you, the giver of that precious gift of freedom and democracy now under threat again from the same people who enslaved us, aided by these traitors.

Take our hearts so hardened with bitterness, frustrations and disappointments; and yes, also of personal desires not met after 1986 and give us natural hearts that beat with firm faith, fervent hope and unceasing charity and love for you and our Motherland.

EDSA is not just a clogged highway of vehicles; EDSA was first of all a sea of humanity who have banded together to stand for what is true, for freedom and democracy all meant to bring back each person's dignity, created in your image and likeness.

You are the God of history, Lord, bring us back to the spirit and ideals of EDSA '86 to claim again its grace and promise of a matured nation you have gathered and joined together to become one in Jesus your Son with his Blessed Mother Mary who is our Mother too. Amen.

Tag: traitor

Replacing the Judas Iscariots among us

Praying for EDSA ’86