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The Lord Is My Chef Easter Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Fifth Week of Easter, 29 April 2024 Acts 14:5-18 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> John 14:21-26
Like the Apostle Jude, I have always wanted to ask You dear Jesus, "Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" (John 14:22); why, O Lord, You not simply appear to everyone so that people will not have to create other gods like the people at Lystra who mistook Paul and Barnabas as Hermes and Zeus?
Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”
John 14:23
It is a very timely question many of us are still asking and Your answer, O Lord, was mysterious and so profound; but, thank You, dear Jesus, for being so near with us, for being with us always to enable us to slowly grasp and understand Your words: forgive us, Lord, when we take You as a thing, as an object to be possessed and held like those idols and gods not only of the Greeks and Romans of old but by many of us today in various forms and ways; You, O Jesus, are a Person, Someone who must be seen and perceived by our hearts so that You may take Your dwelling within us; how lovely that despite our sins and weaknesses, You desire to enter our lives; grant us, therefore, Lord, an open heart willing to welcome You inside, to dwell in our hearts so that we may manifest You to others in our life of witnessing You peace and joy, mercy and love, kindness and reconciliation so that like the psalmist, we may always sing, "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth" (Psalm 115:1). Amen.
