Household of God

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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 28 October 2025
Tuesday, Feast of St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles
Ephesians 2:19-22   ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*>   Luke 6:12-16

Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you are also being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).

How lovely to hear
those words of St. Paul
in these times of great divisions
among us not only in politics
but in almost every topic!
What is most painful,
O Lord Jesus Christ is how
some among us have become
numb and callous of each other,
unmindful of things they say
especially of those suffering 
and in pain; with the little cellphone
each of us holding so addictively
the whole day, we have created our
own self-centered world
totally unmindful of others.

On this Feast of your
two great Apostles,
St. Simon and St. Jude 
who were poles apart 
in their differences
as persons and backgrounds,
may we realize that we are not 
"strangers and sojourners" 
but are" fellow citizens",
and "members of the 
household of God" in you,
Jesus Christ who is at the center
of this household as cornerstone.

Help us, Lord Jesus,
to imitate Sts. Simon and Jude 
who built up your Church, 
your household of God here on earth;
fill our hearts with the zeal 
and ardent love for you 
and your Church like Simon 
called the Zealot:
in this time when Catholics 
in the country are declining
in numbers as well as in professing
their faith, may we have the enthusiasm 
to make you known, Jesus,
in our loving actions of witnessing;
grant us also the strength,
clarity and courage like that of
St. Jude Thaddeus in dealing with
the many contradictions of the world
we live in today as Catholics and 
Christians:  
"But you, beloved, 
build yourselves up on your 
most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;
keep yourselves in the love of God;
wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life.
And convince some,
who doubt..." (Jude 20-22).

Bless us, dearest Jesus,
through the help St. Simon and
St. Jude, to rediscover
the beauty of our Christian
faith and of our Catholic Church
by working hard to build it up
without tiring through our silent 
and peaceful witnessing
of the Gospel.
Amen.
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Our Lady of Fatima University
Valenzuela City

Not bowed down anymore

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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 27 October 2025
Monday in the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Romans 8:12-17     <*{{{{><  +  ><}}}}*>     Luke 13:10-17

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God (Luke 13:10-13).

What a lovely story
for this Monday, Jesus,
when many of us 
got the blues so to speak:
many of us are like
that woman at the synagogue
"bent over",
"bowed down" 
and for the longest time 
have seen only the dirty,
hard ground below;
the reasons are varied, Lord:
many of us are bowed down
due to sins and evil,
pains and hurts and trauma
some from people we trusted
and loved, mistakes and missed
opportunities, and so many others
that have enslaved and crippled 
us for so long like 
that woman you
have healed; 
you know so well
how much we have wanted 
to break free from these long years
of bowed down posture so that
we may rise and straighten up our lives
to look up to you in the sky,
to feel the warmth of the sun,
savor the beauty of creation.

On this Monday,
let us take to heart
the words of St. Paul
that we are not debtors 
to the flesh... that we received
a spirit of adoption to cry
"Abba, Father!" 
(Romans 8:12,15).

For those living
"bowed down" in pain
and shame, arouse them,
Jesus with the warmth of the
Holy Spirit, to rejoice
in our new life in you.
Amen.

The Anawim

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30th Sunday C

Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
The reading highlights Sirach’s perspective on justice and the care for the needy. He emphasizes the importance of honest dealings as a reflection of God’s justice, noting Yahweh’s sensitivity to the poor, widows, and orphans, “the anawim”, especially in patriarchal society where a man’s presence was crucial. Sirach stresses the dispositions of dependence and prayer among the disadvantaged, with Yahweh acting as their defender and judge. Hebrew law prioritized justice and the rights of all, with Yahweh as their advocate.

2 Tim 4:6-8, 16-18
Paul writes from his likely Roman imprisonment, feeling his death is near after his first trial (vv16ff). He describes his life as a sacrifice (v6), using athletic imagery, and reflects on completing his work (Acts 9:15) with faith intact and victory assured. The crown of righteousness (v8) symbolizes sanctification, granted at Christ’s return—the parousia, when rewards and punishments are given. Little is known about his adversary Alexander (vv14f). Paul states he was abandoned during his defense, with only the Lord standing by him (v16). Nevertheless, God’s support ensured a successful trial (v17), and He will protect him to reach his heavenly home (v18).

Luke 18:9-14
The gospel presents two parables on prayer. The first emphasizes perseverance; the second highlights the inner attitude needed for prayer, exemplified by a childlike spirit. Self-righteousness hampers discipleship and God’s reign (v9; 5:32; 15:7). The Pharisee’s prayer is self-serving, comparing himself to others and boasting about religious deeds like fasting and tithing, representing religious authority. Conversely, the tax collector, seen as a social outcast, admits his sinfulness, seeks forgiveness, and demonstrates humility. This contrast mirrors the story of the sinful woman and Pharisee (7:36-50). The parable underscores God’s justice, where the tax collector’s humility leads to justification, distinguishing it from Pauline ontological justification. God judges the conduct, recognizing the tax collector’s dependence and repentance, while the Pharisee’s self-reliance is lacking. Jesus concludes with a note on God’s reversal of fortunes (v14).

Avoiding self-righteousness is difficult, as conversations often turn self-serving. Self-preservation includes seeking recognition, which never fully vanishes. Jesus repeatedly warns us, emphasizing humility in Luke’s gospel. Those who appear favorably are sinners and outlaws because they understand their need for God and turn to Him. May we all have the stance of the “anawim of Yahweh” who has no one but God to rely on. For “the Lord hears the cry of thr poor”, (Ps 34). Amen.

Pride of Place

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Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for the Soul, 26 October 2025
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 ><}}}}*> 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 ><}}}}*> Luke 18:9-14

We got our inspiration anew for this Sunday’s reflection from the blog of Sr. Renee Yann, RSM whom we follow at WordPress (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/10/18/pride-of-place-2/). Her blogs are so wonderfully written with reflections so deep, inspiring and uplifting.

In her recent blog, Sr. Renee tells of their parishioner they fondly called “Mamie” who sat on the same seat in their church they called “Pride of Place” for forty years until her death. And for a good reason. Despite her many trials and sufferings in life, Mamie never failed in helping those in need in their community.

As told by Sr. Renee’s dad, Mamie had always sat in the same pew through the Depression as she struggled to keep her grocery opened; after the death of her husband in an accident, Mamie never missed their Sunday Masses seated at the same spot – in fact, she was at the same pew on a Sunday Mass when her son was killed at Pearl Harbor. It was actually their community who “proudly awarded” the seat as a “pride of place” to Mamie following her life of Christian witnessing.

“Pride of Place” isn’t always something physical like a pew in church. More often it’s a moral or spiritual position that’s granted to us by others after we pay moral dues. These dues include trustworthiness, sacrifice, contribution, and wisdom…“Pride of Place” doesn’t come automatically with power or position.  It comes with respect. Unfortunately, not every parent, boss, teacher, pastor, elder, president, or champion deserves it.  It must be earned and kept as a trust. (https://lavishmercy.com/2025/10/18/pride-of-place-2/).

The story reminded me of our own “pride of place” in the church, of people always occupying the same pew or spot during the Mass that they are amazed how we priests get to know them simply with their “seating arrangement” like their coming late or being absent!

But, what struck me most with Sr. Renee’s piece is the spiritual meaning of “pride of place” which refers actually not to where we sit but where we stand. That standing is more than physical but spiritual and moral in nature. Where we stand is about our stance or conviction not only on issues but about our faith and relationship with God expressed in our dealings with others exactly what our gospel tells us this Sunday.

“Two people went to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous —- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whomever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

For the second straight Sunday, we hear another teaching of Jesus about faith expressed in prayers in another parable only Luke has.

Last Sunday we reflected that to persist in prayer is not about wearing God down but of allowing our hearts to clarify our desires until we silently surrender to what God knows is best for us which is salvation or “justification”. See how we find that word again – justified – as the key to this parable at its end when Jesus declared that it was the prayer of the publican that was heard for “he went home justified”.

The object of every prayer is God because prayer is a relationship, not just a ritual. To be filled with God is what holiness is, not being sinless. In fact, holiness is finding our sinfulness before God. And that is the essence of our parable this Sunday.

That is why Jesus directs our attention in the “where” when we pray – not just the location when we pray but our “place” in that relationship with God who is our very foundation. When all we see is our self in prayer like in any relationship, it means it is a monologue, a one-way street. Worst, it is an indication of the absence of God, even of others because the pray-er is so preoccupied with his or her very self!

The Pharisee was clearly not in God even if he were in front of the temple. His very self was very far from God and all he had was his bloated ego. He may be a very pious person but not really good at all for he has no space for God and for others. He is a very closed man without any room for others. Remember, Luke said that “Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else” (Lk.18:9).

The tax collector, on the other hand, may be physically far outside the temple but was the one actually nearest to God with his self-acceptance and admission of sins, of his need for God. He was closest to God because he was more open with God and with others by admitting his true self.

Prayer is more than entering a church or a prayer room, or finding our most suitable spot or space to pray. Prayer is being one with God, one in God. Prayer is losing our very self in God. The question now is, “where are we when we pray?

First, we become one with God in prayer when we admit our sinfulness, when we confess our sins to him, and own them without any “ifs” and “buts”. God always comes to those who truly open themselves to him by emptying themselves of their sins and inadequacies.

The tax collector was justified in his prayer more than the Pharisee because in confessing his sins, he admitted his need for God. He knew very well his place, so unlike the Pharisee who felt God owes him so much!

Second, we are in God in prayer when we are humble and have the conviction to leave everything behind and go down with God into the lowest point because one is so confident of the efficacy of prayer like what Ben Sirach tells us in the first reading.

The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heaven. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal (Sirach 35:16-17).

Most often in life, friendships and relationships are kept when we are willing to take the lower stance, not necessarily admitting fault or guilt in any misunderstanding because being lowly indicates the person’s need for the other person and of one’s love to work on that relationship despite its fragility. I tell couples that when they quarrel, the first who must first make the move to greet the other person is not the guilty one but the one with most love and self to give.

Third, we are in God in prayer when there is an offering daily of one’s self to God. It is not enough to be lowly and sorry for our sins in prayer. It has to be sustained because prayer is a discipline like any sport as St. Paul tells us in the second reading, calling us to persevere and endure until the end for Jesus Christ “who shall award us with the crown of righteousness in heaven.”

We are all sinners forgiven and beloved by God. When we find our right place in God in prayer, then we also find him. And meet him. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead into November! Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City ([email protected])

Befriending my inner self

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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul, 24 October 2025
Friday in Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I
Romans 7:18-25     <*((((><  +  ><))))*>     Luke 12:54-59

Lord Jesus Christ,
today I join St. Paul 
in his cry,
“Miserable one 
that I am!"
for deep in my heart 
I am your slave 
O Lord,
of righteousness,
of what is good
but what I do
and follow is sin
like your warning
in the gospel,
"the spirit is willing
but the flesh is weak".

So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members (Romans 7:21-23).

Not only every day
but so many times each day
I experience this inner clash
within me, sometimes good prevails
and there are times sin prevails.

How I wish I could sit 
with St. Paul to discuss this
as I imagine his own agony
in fighting sin and evil desires
within; how reassuring
and inspiring to learn
how everyone goes through
this internal warfare.

Like St. Paul,
may I have the courage
to recognize and embrace,
accept and own this internal
strife between good and evil;
reconcile me, dear Jesus
in you who dwells within me;
let me recognize and 
read your signs of presence,
of salvation,
of integration
within me and through
my community so that
in the end, 
like St. Paul I may 
declare, "It is no longer
I who live, but Christ
who lives in me" 
(Galatians 2:20).
Amen.