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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday in the Third Week of Easter, 26 April 2023 Acts 8:1-8 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 6:35-40
Lord Jesus, teach me to be a "devout" person; not just righteous or holy but devout as well like those "Devout men (who) buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him" (Acts 8:2). Yesterday, you taught us dear Lord that whatever is in our heart is reflected on our face; today you teach us that to be "devout" is still of the heart which is to be of a good heart ready to believe and act openly with courage on that belief.
Only St. Luke used the adjective "devout" to describe some persons like Simeon who praised God upon seeing Jesus when presented to the temple by his parents; the Jews from all over the world who came to observe Pentecost day in Jerusalem; the men who buried Stephen, and Ananias who sought Saul while still blind to bring him to the Church.
Many times dear Lord our being devout is self-serving when we merely open our eyes for things that are seen in our many devotions, seeing more our selves failing to see Christ in the other persons who have to be loved and cared for, understood and forgiven, accepted and affirmed. No wonder until now, though we receive you Jesus in the Eucharist, we do not experience and feel your Body, your Person because our hearts are not open at all to you through others especially the sick and suffering. Amen.
