Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 18 July 2025 Friday in the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I Exodus 11:10-12:14 <'[[[[>< + ><]]]]'> Matthew 12:1-8
How lovely are your words today, O God, on this dark, rainy Friday with many light and shadows that show life's many contrasts with you still remaining with us, in us, and among us.
Although Moses and Aaron performed these various wonders in Pharaoh’s presence, the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the children of Israel leave his land (Exodus 11:10).
You know everything, dear God that is why you set the stage for the first passover at "evening twilight" just in time for the people to see the light of freedom in you; you sometimes allow storms to happen but you already have provisions for us beforehand:
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began ton pick the heads of grain and eat them (Matthew 12:1).
What a beautiful contrast is today's gospel! How did it happen the Twelve were hungry while with Jesus who had fed more than 5000 people with just five loaves of bread and two pieces of fish? Right there under the glaring light and heat of the sun on a Sabbath when you "fed" on the Twelve with grains in the field; moreover, when criticized by your enemies, you defended the Twelve!
You are a God of mystery, Jesus! Truly "greater than the temple" for you are the Christ, the Son of God who became human like us to show us you are with us, in us, and among us when everything seems so dark or so bright that may blind our sights; incline our hearts to you, Jesus who "desires mercy, not sacrifices" so that when we grapple in light and shadows, it is solely you whom we hold on. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Our Lady of Fatima University Valenzuela City
