The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Twenty-Eighth Week of Ordinary Time, Year I, 19 October 2023 Romans 3:21-30 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Luke 11:47-54
Your words today, O God, invite us to look deeper into your "righteousness" which is beyond measure for it is your way of being God - your are kindness, your are righteousness, your are uprightness that you justified us all by acquitting us of our sins through your Son Jesus Christ.
It was not that simple, Father, when after you have justified us in Jesus, you went further in making us a new creation in Christ by setting us free from the bondage of sin.
And there lies the beauty and challenge of your righteousness: you have made everything possible for us to be better persons assured of heaven but are we willing to take and treasure that gift that calls for commitment and responsibility?
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On what principle: That of works? No, rather on the principle of faith. For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of law… for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Romans 3:27-28, 30
Forgive us, God, for being so proud, of putting too much premium on economic achievements as benchmark of success; forgive us for being so proud of being able to do and have everything in this world forgetting that the entire humanity is utterly dependent on you for salvation and fulfillment and life; most of all, that nothing we do is accomplished apart from your grace, Father.
Keep us humble and simple, keenly awaiting Christ's daily coming so we may walk with him and lead others to him too unlike the scribes and Pharisees who have "taken away the key of knowledge, refusing to enter God's kingdom and worst, stopped those trying to enter" (Lk. 11:52). Amen.
