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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent, 23 March 2023
Exodus 32:7-14   >>> + <<<   John 5:31-47

Forgive us, 
God our merciful Father
for our forgetfulness and
thanklessness; more than
being forgetful, we are also
ungrateful like the Israelites at Sinai.

Many times in life,
we rarely appreciate what we have,
especially the little ones.

How unfortunate we recognize only
big things as important that we forget
everything in life which is the sum of 
the littlest things put together -
the single steps of every journey,
the minute cells of our body,
the little efforts put together 
by the little, ordinary people
who give us our meals, our daily needs,
the small acts of kindness like smiles,
hi’s and hellos we don’t even mind at all;
the little children who play or cry 
to remind us of our beginnings…
So many other tiny, 
little things and moments, 
ordinary people we disregard
that prevent us from remembering and 
thanking you and everyone 
for the many joys and comforts
we enjoy in every moment.

Forgive us also,
loving Father,  
of how we forget
and hence could not appreciate 
to be grateful with the little 
gifts we have within like 
this life we have versus the
great moments of victory and fame we 
choose to remember; the family and
friends you surround us daily
but take for granted as we prefer
big people like the rich and famous;
those little giftedness of ours like
simplicity, sense of humor, 
even rich appetite to savor 
and enjoy ordinary food shared
with common folks we forget 
and become thankless for our gifts
of selves and uniqueness.

Bless us, 
dear God to remember
and be reminded of the many
gifts we have but unaware
that make us thankless and forgetful,
tempting us to create our own idols
and golden calves to worship;
open our eyes to see your works
and majesty in Jesus who became like
us in everything except sin
so that we experience you more
in flesh in us and one another;
help us feel and enjoy life’s little joys
and blessings so we may remember
and never forget all good things 
come from you, often in little
packages to be more appreciative 
and grateful.
Amen.