The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 10 July 2023 Genesis 28:10-22 ><000'> + ><000'> + ><000'> Matthew 9:18-26
Surprise us, dear God, surprise us with your loving presence in the simplest things today like Jacob in Bethel:
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!” In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!”
Genesis 28:16-17
In a world saturated in media where everything and everyone is exposed and shown, bared and revealed, we have lost the sense of awe and wonder, of being surprised because we believe we have seen all; we are no longer surprised with little wonders and miracles that happen daily in life like the infectious smiles and laughter children, the thoughtfulness of a friend, the warmth of a stranger, or the flowers that color our paths.
We have lost our sense of awe and wonder, of being surprised because we no longer believe in you, O God, nor in people, nor in nature. Grant us, dear Father, the grace of wonder and awe like the official and the woman hemorrhaging in the gospel; yes they have faith so great but also have the sense of being surprised that is why they came to Jesus; what a surprise indeed, the official's daughter was brought back to life and the woman hemorrhaging was instantly healed when she touched the tassel of the Lord's cloak!
Forgive us, O God, for not noticing your many surprises to us daily; open our eyes, open our very selves to life's many wonders that point to you! Amen.
