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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 04 June 2025
Acts 20:28-38 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 17:11-19
What a moving first reading today as we come to close the Easter Season when Paul bid goodbye to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus. They were all in tears because most likely they would never see Paul again; but most of all, of the sincerity of Paul in his words spoken to them.
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood…I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know very well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:28, 33-35).
Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive because in giving that is when we have to use more of our hands in toiling and working; in the work of our hands, we not only share Christ in the good deeds we do but most of all, open the eyes and hearts of others to welcome Jesus into them to work also through their very own hands.
It is the same imagery we have of Jesus praying for us his disciples, laying over his hands over us as he "consecrate" us in truth. Oh dear Jesus, make our hands strong to keep working, doing the difficult things many avoid so we can bless more people; keep our hands open too to share our work and blessings with others; most of all, keep our hands clasp together in prayer to you to surrender ourselves to your will always so that our hands may be cleansed of dirt and stains of sin worthy in giving praise to you and touching those in need. Amen.
