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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of St. Blaise, Bishop & Martyr, 03 February 2025 Hebrews 11:32-40 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + ><))))*> Mark 5:1-20
Thank you, dear Father in heaven for making me feel your proverbial pat on the shoulder this Monday: while the author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote of the heroes and heroines of Old Testament to remind us of their incredible deeds, great hardships and sufferings that led to their giving up their lives for the sake of their faith, you remind me too, dear God, of my own sufferings and trials in life far more greater and fulfilling than theirs not on my own account but in Jesus' name.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth. Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:38-40).
You have rewarded so well all those great men and women in the Old Testament but they have to wait until Jesus Christ's coming for the fulfillment of your promise to them in his life, death, and resurrection; in Jesus, every simplest deed of self denial and sacrifice lead to fulfillment like in his exorcism of that possessed man in Gerasenes who "had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one would restrain him any longer, even with a chain" (Mark 5:3); only Jesus was able to restore him to fullness in life, just like with everyone of us today. Every miraculous healing by any saint, any martyrdom is a celebration of Christ's power over sin and evil, a proverbial pat on our shoulder for letting God, and letting go. Amen. St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, Pray for us.
