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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II
Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle, 03 July 2026
Ephesians 2:19-22 <*{{{{>< + ><}}}}*> John 20:24-29
Thank you, dear Jesus for this first Friday in July 2026, the feast of your Apostle Thomas called Didymus: some say due to his having the twin of faith and doubt but most likely also our very own twin because like him, deep within us are many "dark places" that need to be enlightened by your light.
Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. so the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later, disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28)
Every day you also come to us, Lord Jesus amid the many darkness around us, often in our locked doors of doubts and disbelief, cynicism and pessimism, grief and hopelessness; many times we think we infer we rationalize that your Resurrection and presence are just too good to be true! So many things within us resist a faith too easy to claim or put into effect just to believe you; enlighten the many "dark places" within us that we have become so skeptical these days: our government and church are just like so similarly plagued with corruption and evil that are sadly allowed or tolerated, justice utterly lacking with evil doers seem to be more favored than law-abiding ones with all these persisting because many are oblivious to the darkness and disorder going on.
Where are you, Jesus in all of our mess in life as individuals, as a nation, as a church, as a family that we most often doubt than believe?
Guide my hand, lead my finger into your wounds, dear Jesus that I may experience you Risen; let me experience your coming and loving presence amid our darkness and woundedness; let me not seek you Jesus in spectacular things in feel-good situations but like Thomas in touching your wounds in that dark room be enlivened with your inner light of peace and assurance that more than your miracle of rising from the dead is the reality of living, of life coming out from real death.
Grant me that spark of faith like in Thomas while touching your wounds, Lord Jesus so that a glimmer of hope within me may finally glow and grow as I follow you, my Lord and my God. Amen.
