Our hands, a gospel in themselves

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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbott, 11 July 2024
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9     <*[[[[><  +  ><]]]]*>     Matthew 10:7-15

Jesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Matthew 10:7-8).

God our loving Father:
thank you for the gift of our hands
that are a gospel in themselves;
Your Son Jesus Christ said it again today
to each of us to make this proclamation
that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand";
hands are so essential for us 
to do so many things 
that they mean
so many things too - 
it is a microcosm of our very selves
that it is why we offer our hands 
to meet new friends,
to seal a deal,
to accept a peace offer;
we use our hands to touch
others literally and figuratively
speaking to ensure them of our
love; it is with our hands that 
we can hold and grasp other
hands for love and support,
help and assistance;
to proclaim your kingdom of heaven
is at hand is to make it present,
to make it nearer
like our hands
touching, 
caressing,
holding especially those
in need.

Thus says the Lord: When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me… Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer (Hosea 11:1-2, 4).

Forgive us, Father,
when we use our hands
to hurt others
the way we have turned away
from You,
when we have disregarded
the loving gestures of your hands
like teaching us to walk,
raising us to your cheeks,
and feeding us your children;
forgive us
when we refused to reach out
to your hands in Jesus Christ
offering His outstretched arms
 with hands wide open
with mercy and forgiveness.

On this Memorial
of your great Saint Benedict
whose rule was "Ora et Labora",
let us put our hands into
their most noble and divine
usage of praying and working.
Amen.