Blessedness & beauty of poverty

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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Thirty-fourth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 27 November 2023
Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20   ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*> + ><}}}}*>   Luke 21:1-4

Praise and glory to you, 
our loving Father! 
Thank you 
in bringing us closer to you 
in Jesus everyday 
especially in this final stretch 
of our church calendar 
as we come to prepare for Christmas soon.

But, rather than focusing 
on the outside appearances 
and material inclinations 
of our Christmas feelings,
teach us to empty ourselves
to be filled by you in Jesus Christ!

Let us be poor, O God!
Let us embrace poverty
 and simplicity
 to experience you,
your coming,
 your presence
in Jesus,
our Emmanuel!

Let us treasure poverty
for it is our true wealth
in this life
like that “poor old widow”
who gave everything she had
into the temple collection box;
let us realize that it is in poverty
that we find true wisdom
and strength
like what Daniel and his companions
have taught the chief chamberlain
of King Nebuchadnezzar
(Daniel 1:11-20).

Let us be poor, O God,
like Jesus Christ to find
power and strength in weakness,
glory and honor in humility,
and life in death.
 Amen.