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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr, 17 October 2022 Ephesians 2:1-10 ><)))*> + <*(((>< + ><)))*> + ><)))*> + <*(((>< Luke 12:13-21
Praise and glory to you, God our Father, so "rich in mercy" and love and "kindness in Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 2:4,7); sometimes, I wonder why can't we just be like the trees and other plants that keep on blooming with flowers and fruits so delightful to sight and tastes without any efforts at all except to simply follow your flow of seasons unlike us spending our entire lives earning and amassing wealth and things that do not fulfill us but even rob us of peace and joy!
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from your works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.
Ephesians 2:8-12
You have created everything, everyone so beautiful by nature, dear God, but here we are, destroying earth and our selves with our own "creations" that do not last at all.
Forgive us, O God, that in our pursuits to earn for ourselves, we fail to learn that the "bestest" things in life come only from you - Jesus Christ and his gifts of faith, hope and love lived sincerely in our family and friends and community.
Forgive us, Father, in coming to you in prayers like that "someone in the crowd" asking for material favors and treasures of this world not realizing the most important which is to be "rich in what matters to God" (Lk.12:21).
May we heed and contemplate the words of your great Saint, Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr who wrote the Christians in ancient Rome: "Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world."
Help us forget ourselves, Lord, so we may love you more through others. Amen.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Pray for us!
