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Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 11 September 2026 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 6:39-42
It has been twenty-five years, Lord Jesus, when the beginning year of the new century was marred by senseless deaths from terrorist attacks in various US cities; more than the images are the indescribable pains and hurts that still remain not only among friends and families of those who have died but also for the whole world that has ever been more in precarious situations ever since; today, we are stunned by news from tech experts of how AI could actually wipe out the human race in the next ten years like in the movies?!
Twenty-five years into the new millennium, peace and fulfillment remain elusive not only for the world but for each of us humans because we have gone astray from you, O Lord; we have worshipped the new gods of technology - gadgets and social media that leave us more empty and lost and enslaved by our endless wants and make-believe realities.
Now more than ever we need to imitate St. Paul, to be with discipline, with virtues and principles not with algorithms:
Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we, an imperishable one. Thus, I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
Teach us to be truly your "disciples" - followers, ones who follow, ones with discipline not whims nor impulses; it is only with discipline can we truly look and confront our true selves to become better persons than seeing what's wrong with others; teach us discipline, Jesus, that we may strive to trust you more and reach out to you for help and grace because we are weak in ourselves; let our soul and heart yearn only for you, Lord, for in you we find true peace and fulfillment. Amen.
