The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Memorial of St. Roch, Healer, 16 August 2022 Ezekiel 28:1-10 ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> + ><]]]]'> Matthew 19:23-30
"What about me?" and "How about me?", are our two most frequently asked questions to you, God our loving Father and to everyone as well; our Filipino expression is more "dramatic" or "maarte" when we say "Paano naman ako?", as if we are abused and taken for granted when in fact, like Simon Peter in today's gospel, just feeling proud and entitled, deserving to be rewarded or making sure not to be forgotten with the little sacrifices, charities and services we have rendered to others.
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
Matthew 19:27
Forgive us, dearest Jesus, when we count everything we have given and shared without realizing you have given more than so much because whatever we give, whether things or kindness, forgiveness and love, they are all yours not ours to brag or be proud of!
Many times we play like God as the Father had told Ezekiel in the first reading; many times when everything is flowing and going on so well in life, we claim everything, every success as our efforts and triumph; many times we believe we are so intelligent and wise that we know everything that because of our wealth and power and wisdom, our "hearts have grown haughty" and have thought ourselves to "have the mind of a god" (Ezekiel 28:5, 6).
Teach us, O Lord Jesus Christ, to imitate St. Roch, who, upon contracting disease while caring for the sick and the dying, he never complained to you nor anyone, preferring to go into the woods to mend himself with his sickness, trusting in your healing and care that you provided through a dog that brought his daily bread.
Indeed, as the psalmist proclaimed today, it is you O Lord who deal death and give life; make us realize first that you alone is our God, our everything in life and in death; and secondly, let our faith and trust in you be firm that you will never abandon us nor forsake us; and lastly, like St. Roch and all the saints, following you is never easy but with you everything is possible (Mt.19:26). Amen.
St. Roch, Pray for us!
