welcoming/receiving

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Fourth Week of Easter, 27 April 2026
Acts 11:1-18     <*((((>< + ><))))*>     John 10:11-18

*Photo by author, the Sofia Hagia, Istanbul, Turkiye, 12 November 2025.*

I miss you,
Lord Jesus Christ;
I miss reaching out
to others in prayer,
sharing you with them.
Like Peter in Joppa.

The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers confronted him, saying, “You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.” Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying, “I was at prayer in the city of Joppa…” (Acts 11:1-5).

Lord Jesus,
continue to work in me,
most especially,
let me see you working
in others too,
right in their hearts,
especially those different
from us not only 
physically but most 
especially in background
and beliefs; remind me often
that God's grace cannot be
contained nor limited among us
nor in a particular location only;
may this Easter season 
be an occasion 
for us to change how we see
one another as you yourself
had said, "I have other sheep
that do not belong to this fold"
(John 10:16).

There are so many things 
I need to change in myself,
Jesus, our Good Shepherd
especially those so different
from what I have been used to
like in meeting you,
seeing you,
and following you.
Amen.

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 14 July 2025
Monday, Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis, Priest
Exodus 1:8-14, 22   <*((((>< + ><))))*>   Matthew 10:34-11:1

What a lovely Monday
dear God when your words
are "come" and "welcome" - 
two words that indicate 
challenges in our relationships,
challenges we refuse to face
and resolve, challenges that
are so difficult to accept 
nor understand.

A new king, who knew nothing of Jospeh, came to power in Egypt. He said to his subjects, “Look how numerous and powerful the people of the children of Israel are growing, more so than ourselves! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country” (Exodus 1:8-10).

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Matthew 10:34-35).

Many times
we come to foreign countries
like Israel in Egypt
upon your own sending,
Father,
 but instead of
opportunities and green pastures,
we come to many sufferings
and trials like our OFWs
and immigrants;
and there are times
that because of our being
a follower of Christ,
a wedge is driven between
us and our family
or friends or colleagues.

What are you teaching us,
Lord in every coming?

That life is a series of coming,
never of going, and,
whenever we come,
we take up our crosses
and follow you,
Jesus.

The difficulties
and trials that come our way
teach us to "welcome"
these in itself as
the opportunities
and blessings in disguise
we have actually
"come" for!

“Whoever receives you receives me, whoever receives you receives the one who sent me” (Matthew 10:40).

*Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com*

How lovely in other translations
that to receive is to welcome;
what matters most in life
and discipleship,
dear Jesus
is we always come to you,
come to where we are sent
and most of all,
to welcome every coming
as your very presence
like St. Camillus
who lovingly served
the sick
in whom he found you
in each one of them.
Amen.

St. Camillus de Lellis,
Pray for us!

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

Tag: welcoming/receiving

Easter is welcoming those different

Come. Welcome.