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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday in the Sixth Week of Easter, 19 May 2023 Acts 18:9-18 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> John 16:20-23
Dearest Lord Jesus, thank you very much for this week about to close, thank you for this Friday before the Solemnity of your Ascension. Your words today are very encouraging, inviting us to keep on working in your vineyard, to keep your love alive amid the many sufferings and trials in this life.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.”
John 16:20-22
What a lovely description of joy, Lord Jesus! So encouraging to keep us going in your mission of proclaiming your gospel, so encouraging even without you appearing to us in a vision like with St. Paul at Corinth to become witnesses of your loving presence and service to one another. Remind us, dear Jesus, to never look for numbers in measuring the results of your mission; true joy comes from the life we bring forth into this world like a mother giving birth to a child; keep us simple in our goals today in giving life, in keeping the love alive through simple gestures of a smile, a handshake, a pat on the shoulder, a hi or hello to anyone, a thank you and welcome, a joke that tickles the bone. Enable us to become your loving presence to those grieving today in silence while the world rejoices; through us, may they experience life and joy in you, dear Jesus. Amen.
