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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 20 February 2023 Sirach 1:1-8 <'[[[>< + ><]]]'> 0 <'[[[>< + ><]]]'> Mark 9:14-29
As we get closer to the holy season of Lent this Ash Wednesday, your words today, O God, our loving Father, are so reassuring of your presence and love. And power. Most especially.
Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
When Jesus entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
Mark 9:23-24, 28-29
Together with the boy's father in the gospel we also cry out to you, Lord Jesus, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" Many times in life, we do not realize your presence within us, your power within us; help us in our unbelief in your presence, in your love, in prayers. Let us continue to listen to you, to trust in you especially when things are so bleak and dark, even hopeless. At least, dear Lord, if it is already the end for us, if it is time for us to go, give us the courage to to say yes to you, to go with you, to come to you. Ben Sirach said it so well in the first reading that "There is but one, Most High all-powerful-creator-king and truly awe-inspiring one, seated upon his throne and he is the God of dominion... He has poured her forth upon all his works, upon every living thing according to his bounty; he has lavished her upon his friends" (Sirach 1:7, 8).
Lavish us with your mercy. Lavish us with your wisdom. Lavish us with your presence so that while still here, we may live in your eternity. Amen.
