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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 26 June 2026 2 Kings 25:1-12 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 8:1-4
Glory and praise to you, merciful God and Father for this wonderful last Friday of June 2026 as you present us with two images of human sufferings: in the first reading is the final siege of Jerusalem with the capture of its king Zedekiah who rebelled against his Babylonian masters and conquerors and the leper who approached Jesus Christ to do homage, begging for his healing.
Many times, we are like Zedekiah who willingly submit ourselves to the forces of evil and eventually end up miserably in their hands: "Then king was therefore arrested and brought to Riblah to the king of Babylon, who pronounced sentence on him. He had Zedekiah's sons slain before his eyes. Then he blinded Zedekiah, bound him with fetters, and had him brought to Babylon" (2 Kings 25:6-7).
You never punish us your people, Lord; all our misfortunes and miseries are brought about by our or others sinfulness; hence, keep us faithful to you, to return to you while still early before we could not get out and be stuck in a difficult situation like Zedekiah.
Teach us to be humble like that leper who approached Jesus after coming down from a mountain: "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." His leprosy was cleansed immediately (Matthew 8:2-4).
To whom shall we go, Lord Jesus but to you alone; let us suffer in you, with you on the cross for you not only have the words of life but because you too have gone through our sufferings and felt its pains that you will nothing for us but healing and cleansing, absolution and freedom. In a special way, dear Jesus, we pray for those undergoing medical procedures this weekend, healing for those seriously ill and easing of pains for those in severe diseases and sickness. Amen.
