Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 07 September 2026 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 6:6-11
Long before that became a bestseller, you, O Lord Jesus and the Saints who followed you like St. Paul not only preached but lived out that courage to be disliked; teach me this Monday to muster enough courage to be disliked, to be free to choose you, to be free to be faithful and true to your teachings the world had always rejected or circumvented which many of us are so afraid to stand by because they are not popular; teach us, O Lord, to stretch out our hands according to your instructions and will, not minding what others may say about us; let us have the courage to do what is good than what is sinful, the courage to be kind than unkind, the courage to be Christian than be unChristian not like some Corinthians who refused to make a stand against a prevailing immorality among them.
Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough inasmuch as you are unleavened… Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Oh how I admire
and long to be like St. Paul,
Lord, filled with
courage and wisdom,
so free to be himself,
so free to be for you,
so free from pressures
of others;
throughout his life,
St. Paul had the courage
to be disliked even by
his fellow apostles
not just fellow Jews
because he was so convinced
of your love
and gospel,
Lord Jesus;
in this age of social media
where external pressures
like acceptance and popularity
are given more emphasis,
so many of us have become
so dependent on others' validations
of our actions and decisions
that leave us more lost,
alienated,
and so unfree
like that man with a
withered hand;
give me the humility,
Jesus to accept those
many parts in me
that are withered
and dry
that make me so afraid
to stand for you,
for what is true and good.
Amen.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 06 September 2026 Ezekiel 33:7-9 ><}}}}*> Romans 13:8-10 ><}}}}*> Matthew 18:15-20
From Facebook post by Marvin Germo, 04 September 2026.
Thanks be to God for Alex Eala – not only an excellent tennis player, a bright and intelligent lady but most of all, most kind and humble of all.
Her recent landing on the front page of New York Times that prides itself with the motto “All the News Fit to Print” in its 175 years of existence cemented Eala’s stardom. That’s real influence no blog stats nor Hollywood walk of fame could match.
Side by side with the major events and newsmakers in the world, the editors of New York Times featured Eala on their front page not entirely because of her prowess and grit in tennis but of her expressions of love, community and unity of Filipinos – a far, far cry from news coming from our forsaken country of calamities and crooks in government. Eala – along with other athletes like EJ Obienna – are the only good news we now have, with her practically a walking gospel like St. Paul in today’s second reading.
Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8).
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
What kind of love is Paul exhorting the Romans then and us today? For St. Paul, love is the self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed us when he offered himself for us on the cross.
Recall last Sunday St. Paul reminded us “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1) like Jesus. In that same chapter, he spoke of not retaliating or seeking vengeance while in the following chapter we now have, he expounded the themes of obedience to authority and a sort of social responsibilities like justice (Rom. 13:1-7).
And while justice demands we pay off our debts and other dues to one another, to the state and public officials, it is a totally different scenario when it comes to love. For St. Paul, love is the imitation of Jesus Christ, a love that can never be measured at all and even be demanded and decreed.
Love is not a possession that anyone can receive nor give in an exactly measured quantity like a pound or a kilogram of love. St. Mother Teresa said the measure of love is when you love without measure. It is either you love or do not love! And when we do not love, then we sin which is a refusal to love.
That sin can only be repaired and corrected by love.
Therefore, to overcome sin, you have to love more!
That is why we hear Jesus teaching us today the importance of fraternal correction based on love not anything else.
Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two other along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).
Photo by a friend in Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
Jesus is now heading to Jerusalem to fulfill his mission. Along the way, he taught his disciples important lessons about the Church he had just established upon Peter, the Rock, while at Caesarea Philippi the other Sunday.
For three Sundays beginning today, Jesus will touch on three moral issues we face with seeming complexity in our modern time like fraternal correction, forgiving, and work. These are crucial because they are expressions of mutual love for one another. Most of all, it is in these realms we fall into “sin of omission” particularly with fraternal correction as we tend to detach ourselves from others when they are committing sin. By distancing from them or refusing to make a clear stand against evil, we unconsciously allow sin to persist.
The dark side of the sin of omission lies in that tendency within us to not care at all with those into serious sins when we separate and distance from them, even telling them “bahala ka na sa buhay mo…pinili mo iyan, pagdusahan mo.”
Fraternal correction is the antidote to sins of omission because it is about keeping our relationships intact as family, friends, brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who becomes truly present in the world among us when we live in harmony because “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).
This is the good news of Eala, whether she wins or loses a match, she speaks of love and kindness. And she has been consistent with it!
From Facebook, 04 September 2026.
Since the Old Testament, God had already insisted on this moral precept as his children that we look after one another like a sentinel – a watchman or a guard – as he told the Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading.
At that time, the enemies of Judah were closely approaching their borders that they designated watchmen as their first line of defense. Failure by these watchmen to warn the people – as it turned out later – could spell disaster for the kingdom.
The same thing is true with us. We are all interrelated with each other. One rotten tomato can spoil the whole batch like allowing corruption in every form to continue as well as electing corrupt officials into office. How sad we have not learned our lessons; maybe not until we have sank deep into flood…
We cannot be indifferent and be mere bystanders amid the evil and sins happening around us perpetrated especially by those closest to us. It is not enough either that we do no wrong on others yet allow those into corruption to continue with their evil doings. Fraternal correction is an expression of our love – for God and for others. We correct those into sin because of love, not because we are better or holier.
St. Paul beautifully declared in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “Caritas Christi urget nos” – the love of Christ urges, impels us – to love more especially in these times of calamities and disunity in the country.
Photo by a friend, Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
This love of Jesus Christ the Lord himself described as “new commandment” at his last supper (Jn.13:34) is a love rooted in God himself, a love that “levels up” every disciple into the mystical plane of existence.
Recall those moments you have truly loved without strings attached, unselfish and selfless: that is when we realize that love is a debt we can never pay off because love is a gift from God, something that is never exhausted nor depleted. In fact, we realize that we too can love like Jesus Christ!
God does not “order” nor “command” us in the strict sense to love him. He asks for our love because he loves us, because he is love. When we love, we fulfill the commandments of God, we live in peace and harmony with one another like in heaven. That is why it is only love that will remain in heaven where there will be no more fraternal corrections. Most of all, love can never be paid off as a debt because love is all that shall remain to become our very person in Christ. Amen.Have a blessed, loving week!
Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-04 ng Setyembre 2026
Kuha ni Bb. Bernadette Reyes ng GMA News, Sto. Domingo, QC, 29 Agosto 2026.
Paano nga ba ilalarawan ating kalagayan bilang isang sambayanan sa ngayon?
Lubog sa baha, lubog sa utang, lubog sa hirap ng kabuhayan, lubog sa bulok na sistema, lubog sa red tapes at bureaucracy ng gobyerno, lubog sa mga walang malasakit at mga sakim na politiko, lubog sa mga walang pakialam na kababayan, lubog sa kawalan ng kahihiyan. Saan pa tayo nakalubog?
Ngunit hindi lamang tayo lubog kungdi tayo man ay baon na baon sa marami pang suliranin at problema, mga siste at gawi naglilibing sa atin ng buhay!
Sadsad at baon
na ekonomiya,
salapi wala nang halos halaga;
sadsad at baon
sa korapsiyon
lahat ay pera pera
na lang talaga;
sadsad at baon
sa mga hirap at sakit
taumbayan walang magawa
kungdi magtiis
umasa sa ayuda,
ayaw nang mangarap,
tila nahirati na sa
pagtunganga.
Maglakad sa lansangan
lalanghapin hangin
kasama mga usok ng sasakyan
habang iniiwasan dumi
at lubak sa daan;
mga mukha ay sambakol
karamihan ay litang ang isipan
nakatingin sa kawalan
wala nang panahon pag-isipan
ating kinasasadlakan
maliban sa gawan ng paraan
kumakalam na sikmura
mga paang inaalipunga.
Sino sasaklolo
sa ating pagkalubog
o mag-aahon sa ating pagkakabaon?
Mga halal na upisyal
mga manhid at walang alam
sariling kapakanan at kaluguran
tanging pakialam:
nang sumigaw ng tubig,
sumbat ang naging tugon,
nang puntahan mga sinalanta
pinangalandakan kanilang
mamahaling damit
sa postura at ayos
hindi madapuan ng insekto
mga palatandaan ng kanilang
kakaibang sakit
kleptospirosis -
yumaman sa pangungurakot.
Sino ang daramay sa ating kapighatiang dinaranas kung ulit ulit lamang din nating ihahalal mga sumalaula sa ating bayan?
Nasa ating mga kamay ang kapangyarihan upang umahon sa pagkalubog, bumangon sa pagkabaon sa mga bulok at gahamang politiko na di na dapat iboto at iba pang mga bulaang propeta na puro pangako ng kaunlaran hatid naman ay kapahamakan; higit sa lahat, suriin nating mabuti ating puso at kalooban kung tunay ating pananampalataya sa Diyos na lumikha ng lahat baguhin makasariling pag-uugali iwaksi gawaing mapanglamang dahil tunay ang sinabi ng binibining tagapagbalita, hindi pala baha ang magpapalubog sa ating bayan kungdi kasakiman.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 04 September 2026 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 5:33-39
Photo by a friend from Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
Your words remain, Lord Jesus through St. Paul from the other day calling us "God's co-worker" (1 Corinthian 3:9) and now as "stewards of the mysteries of God" (1 Corinthian 4:1).
Keep me reliable and conscientious of these tasks not primarily as a work but a commitment to your call for us to be faithful; like St. Paul and your apostles, Lord, we have many critics that many times we run into misunderstanding and opposition; if their points are valid, keep us humble to change our ways and if our consciences are clear in doing your work, all the more you keep us humble for only you can truly and fairly judge us; keep us grounded in you always, Jesus, doing our best, putting on new wines into new wineskins! Amen.
Photo by a friend from Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby, Oregon, 29 August 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 03 September 2026 Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor of Church 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 5:1-11
Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News in Batanes, 18 September 2018.
What an ordinary but lovely day it was, Lord Jesus when you saw Simon and companions washing their nets by the Lake of Gennesaret: first you "borrowed" his boat then you asked them to go fishing; he explained they have caught nothing but simply obeyed your order to cast their nets into the deep and the miracle happened.
But, Lord Jesus, a bigger miracle followed when Simon and companions left everything behind to follow you to become fishers of men; every day you come to me in the most ordinary situations without me realizing you, Lord and Son of God, borrowing my boat to bless others; and so many times I have reluctantly obeyed you to cast my nets into the deep and caught a lot of fish that is why here am I following you... but, every day Jesus, I also ask myself, "what have I left" for you?
When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him (Luke 5:11).
Photo by Mr. Chester Ocampo, Catanduanes, September 2019.
Like the Corinthians of the time of St. Paul, I still could not set aside the "wisdom of this world" to be a fool for you, Lord Jesus Christ; until now I have those sets of boundaries within me where I wish to move and serve you instead of casting my net into the deep as you instructed Simon; there are still times I am so self-centered thinking more of myself than of you and of others.
Teach me to emulate St. Gregory the Great; I have no plans of being great but simply be like him so filled with zeal to follow you willing to set aside my own comfort and benefits, most especially even my personal plans to give way to your Divine plan, Jesus; teach me to grow deeper in prayer to be one in you, with you, Jesus; most of all, let me be a fool for you one day at a time. Amen.
Photo by Fr. Pop Dela Cruz, Binuangan Island, Obando, Bulacan, 05 June 2021.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Wednesday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 02 September 2026 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:38-44
Photo by author, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 18 September 2018.
Your words today, O Lord, are so edifying despite the many turmoil within and among us: "For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:9).
In this season of calamities and devastations around us not just due to natural causes but worsened by our irresponsibility and corruption among officials in government, it is a timely reminder that we are yours, totally yours, Lord, as God's field and building; in times of trials and difficulties, the task is for us to return to you, find your will and plans for us so we may work together to rebuild our lives and whatever is left behind by the floods and other calamities.
Grant us the courage and wisdom to admit our own faults and shortcomings, to be open to welcome Christ like Simon Peter and people of Nazareth so that their sick may be prayed over and healed; help us to not allow Satan to speak among us and sow hatred and disunity in this critical time when we must rise again to follow Jesus more closely than ever to make us fertile and fruitful as a field, stable and rooted as a building. Amen.
Photo by author, Chapel of St. Anthony de Padua, Tagaytay City, 08 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Tuesday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, 01 September 2026 Wisdom 13:1-9 ><}}}}*> Colossians 1:15-20 ><}}}}*> Matthew 8:23-27
Photo by a friend in Washington, 28 July 2026.
Thank you dear God for this brand new month of September when we dedicate its first day as prescribed by Pope Francis to be a World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation: how timely on this first of September 2026 we are still reeling from the devastations of many natural calamities not only here in the Philippines but from throughout the world - from the powerful earthquake in Colombia to the catastrophic collapse of glaciers in the Himalayas that swept entire villages in Nepal, Tibet, and China where thousands are still missing while death tolls continue to rise.
World climate is indeed changing but still many refuse to believe it, refusing to change lifestyles as told by Pope Francis in "Laudato Si" in order to curb our consumption to lessen adverse impact to the environment; worst of all is how men and women especially those in our government are deeply into shameless corruption destroying nature, altering its flow that turned calamity into criminality leading to losses in lives and properties as well as thousands of productive hours; indeed, many people worship money, seeing nature more as a source of wealth without recognizing you as its Creator:
For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan… But doomed are they, and in dead things are their hopes, who termed gods things made by human hands (Wisdom 13:1, 10).
Photo by Ms. Bernadette Reyes, flood in Sto. Domingo, QC, GMA News, 29 August 2026.
Let us care for your creation, Lord for it is actually caring for ourselves and for one another; we only have one home we call Earth you have entrusted to us; for many years, nature have taken cared of all our needs but offered it no care at all; let us realize that this Earth and everything in it is a reflection of your goodness and love for us with Jesus Christ's coming, "in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17); let us find, dear God, in every beauty of nature your majesty and mercy so we may be kinder not only with your Creation but especially with one another through Jesus your Son who alone can restore order in this nature we have so destroyed due to our greed and selfishness; let us not only pray to care for Creation but most especially find Christ in every storm in life so we may care most of all for one another in whom we find you dear God who loves us immensely. Amen.
Rembrandt’s famous painting “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” (1633) stolen from a museum in Boston in 1990 and still has not been found yet. From en.wikipedia.org.
Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, 31 August 2026 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 <*((((>< + ><))))*> Luke 4:16-30
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
Teach me Lord to "know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified" like St. Paul, not just "looked intently at you" like your folks in Nazareth when you preached in your synagogue; it is not enough to just look intently at you, imitating you and your manners and style but not your life, your self-sacrifice on the Cross; what a shame in this age of social media we speak and preach about you merely to chase clout for ourselves using sublimity of words or persuasive words of wisdom used by demagogues and influencers for followers and shameful profits.
Help us realize, Jesus, that our faith rests on the power of God best shown in your Crucifixion, not in our personality nor eloquence in speech nor being savvy with new technologies that blind us from the realities of life like love and sacrifice, kindness and patience, justice and truth. Amen.
Photo by author, St. Michael Retreat House, Antipolo City, 16 June 2026.
Lord My Chef Sunday Music by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 30 August 2026
Ang aking tokwarts kagabi, brownout, 29 Agosto 2026.
We go OPM (Original Pilipino Music) this last Sunday of August, our Buwan ng Wika – kaya dapat nga pala isulat ko ito sa wikang pambansa.
Kakaiba sa ating nakagawian na pag-uugnay ng mga makabagong musika sa ebanghelyo ng bawat Linggo, walang kinalaman itong napili nating awitin ngayon sa Ebanghelyo na inyong napakinggan sa mga Misa ngayong Linggo.
Kagaya ng karamihan kahapon bunsod ng malalakas na ulan at pagbaha, wala din kaming kuryente sa parokya sa Fatima, Valenzuela mula alas-sais ng gabi hanggang kinabukasan ng alas-dos ng madaling araw.
Mag-isa lamang ako sa ibaba ng aming simbahan, katabi ng garahe. Binuksan ko ng lubusan aking pintuan upang pumasok malamig na hangin habang balot ng kadiliman buong silong ng simbahan maliban sa aking munting kandila na sinindihan.
Ma-drama ang eksena.
Basla ng aking tokwarts sa may garahe, kagabi pa rin.
At doon ko naalala ang kantang Ang Himig Natin ng Juan dela Cruz Band na binubuo nina Joey “Pepe” Smith, Wally Gonzales at Mike Hanopol. Isa ito sa mga awitin ng una nilang album na pinamagatang Himig Natin na kanilang inilabas noong 1973. Itinuturing ito ang hudyat ng simula ng Pinoy Rock music na pinalaganap noon ng estasyong DZRJ-AM.
Elementary pa ako noon. Narinig ko na inaawit at tinitipak sa gitara ng isang barkadahan ng mga kabataan malapit sa amin bahay noon. Sila nagturo sa akin na makinig palagi sa DZRJ dahil nga sa Pinoy Rock at iba pang mga magagandang tugtugin.
Bagay na bagay sa panahon ngayon itong awiting ito na maituturing na isang panaghoy sa kriminalidad na umiiral, hindi kalamidad.
Ako’y nag-iisa at walang kasama di ko makita ang ating pag-asa
[chorus] Ang himig natin ang inyong awitin upang tayo’y magsama-sama sa langit ng pag-asa
Tayo tayo lang ang magsama-sama. Puwera mga walang-hiyang pulitiko at upisyal ng gobyerno na nagnakaw ng bilyones na halaga sa kaban ng bayan para sa mga palpak at karamihan ay ghost projects sa flood control kaya lumala pagbaha sa maraming lalawigan at rehiyon.
Mula sa malikhaing panulat ni Smith na siyang ring umawit, maigsi lang naman Ang Himig Natin na nagsasaysay ng dalamhati ng isang kaibigan. Marahil tinutukoy ni Smith ang musikang Pinoy na noon ay hindi pa gaanong katatag na tinatabunan ng mga banyagang musika. Paulit-ulit lang naman ang lyrics kaya masarap kantahin kapag nakainom na…..
Ako’y may kaibigan at s’ya’y nahihirapan handa na ba kayong lahat upang s’ya’y tulungan
[chorus] Ang himig natin ang inyong awitin upang tayo’y magsama-sama sa langit ng pag-asa
Simple at payak ang mga titik. Malalim.
Ngunit ang nagdala sa awitin ay ang musika.
Out of this world. Parang panaginip sa malalim na pagkatulog.
Astig ang gitara ni Gonzales. Pasakalye pa lamang ika nga e, solb ka na agad, tsong! Mayroon ding sumasaliw na tila piano at baho sa kanyang solo kaya umaabot ng lima at kalahating minuto ang awitin. Tagos hanggang buto pati kaluluwa, parang kinakalawkaw iyong kalooban upang matauhan sa katotohanan kung inyong pakikinggan at nanamnamin.
Ewan ko lang kung tablan din napaka-kapal at sagad-sagad na kasamaan ng mga upisyal sa gobyerno!
[chorus] Ang himig natin inyong awitin ang himig natin inyong awitin ang himig natin inyong awitin …
Patay na sina Gonzales at Smith. Tanging si Hanopol – ang Jeprox- na lamang ang buhay sa kanila ngunit ang kanilang musika, buhay na buhay pa rin. At habang tumatagal, lalong lumalalim at sumasarap sa panlasa. Heto sila muli sa gitna na maulan na araw ng Linggo. Ingat po, mga kapatid at magtulungan sana sa tuwina.
Lord My Chef Sunday Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A, 30 August 2026 Jeremiah 20:7-9 ><}}}}*> Romans 12:1-2 ><}}}}*> Matthew 16:21-27
Photo by author, St. Paul Spiritual & Renewal Center, Bgy. Tanyawak, Alfonso, Cavite, 19 August 2026.
In this Sunday’s readings we see a very human side of Jeremiah and Peter, of their ambivalence in their relationship with God following their calls to be a prophet and an apostle respectively.
Here we find why it is very crucial to have a personal answer to Christ’s question last Sunday, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt.16:15) because as both have experienced, it is not that easy serving God. Fulfilling the Divine mission is never a bed of roses but actually being crucified like Christ. Jeremiah and Peter give us good reasons – and very comforting ones about intimacy with the Lord in fulfilling his mission entrusted to us.
Let’s take Jeremiah first.
You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word if the Lord has brought me derision and reproach all the day (Jeremiah 20:7-8).
Photo by author, Malagos Nature Park, Davao City, August 2018.
In the older translations, Jeremiah cried “You seduced me, O Lord” or “You enticed me, O Lord.” That’s what I meant in our previous reflection on intimacy when the Canaanite woman “engaged” Jesus into a conversation to persuade him in healing her daughter.
Here in Jeremiah we find that strong engagement of God and man.
Have you ever wondered in immense awe within while examining our “yes” to God in following him, in accepting his invitation to do his mission that many times we sigh deeply, asking, “why did I say yes?” or “bakit ba ako sumunod pa?”
There is always that feeling like Jeremiah that we were “catapulted” by God without any warning at all into difficult situations in life like speaking contrary to what most people are thinking and saying and following, “All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me… the word of the Lord has brought me derision and reproach all the day” (Jer.20:7,8).
Recall those times when you have suffered while in the service of God that like Jeremiah in another part of his book cried, “should good be repaid with evil?” (Jer.18:20) when his own folks plotted against him for speaking the truth and about justice.
Many times we have experienced it to be so unfair with God that we who speak and do what is good are the ones on the distaff side of life, the ones maligned and seen as bad than those who thrive in evil. Just look at our corrupt officials and their enablers even in the church!
It is very sad and even confusing. Ako ba mali? Ako ba may problema?
But that’s nothing compared with what Peter felt after Jesus told the disciples that he shall suffer greatly in the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes in Jerusalem, that he would die but rise again on the third day:
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:22-23).
Photo by author, Petra in Jordan, May 2019.
Jesus and the disciples were still in Caesarea Philippi; Peter had just been praised by Jesus in identifying him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then, suddenly, Jesus made the first prediction of his coming passion, death, and resurrection.
If we were there, we would have reacted the same way as Peter most likely.
When Jesus called us to follow him, he knew all our flaws and weaknesses like Peter and Jeremiah.
According to biblical scholars, of the four major prophets, Jeremiah was the youngest and most sensitive of all. Maramdamin. Or, even, balat-sibuyas, onion-skinned. While Peter on the other hand was very impulsive and outspoken like in this instance.
Think of your own personality.
And there lies the great mystery: why of all people me, or I am the one called to serve, called to do this work of the Lord when we could just be plain and simple like the rest.
When we were in high school seminary, one of the movies we watched on Betamax was “Oh God!” starring John Denver and George Burns as God. John asked God who suddenly appeared inside his car why call him to preach about him and not Billy Graham with many followers.
Recall those times when you asked God the same question when there are far more better persons in the world than you to become a priest or nun or servant.
Photo by author, pilgrims waiting to enter Ascension site of Christ in Jerusalem, May 2019.
“God does not call the qualified but qualifies his call.”
Very often, the devil tempts us to turn away from God in such situations we feel unqualified to do his work. Notice that when Jesus turned to Peter saying “Get behind me, Satan!”, it was reminiscent of his temptations in the wilderness.
Trust God and his words, focus in him alone not in yourself whois weak and imperfect. Discipleship is more of thinking of God and his ways, not of our self and our way. It is not easy and will never be easy because it is about people and God and self, of being not of doing or techniques that is with things and materials.
Discipleship is thinking like God and relationships leading to eternity, of asking “who” not “what” or “how much” as humans mostly do, so concerned with solving problems and finding solutions without or little concern for persons.
Discipleship is slow process and tedious, calling for more patience and perseverance in Christ that is opposite the way of the world that has to be fast and efficient, economical and cost-effective like turning stones into bread.
Photo by author, RISE Tower, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City, 14 June 2026
Discipleship is about being fruitful, relying more on God, sacrificing and letting go, forgiving and helping while humans think about success measured in having more wealth and fame and power.
It is normal to be so eager-beaver and impulsive sometimes like Peter or sensitive like Jeremiah; human as we are, lovingly serving others in Christ can take an enormous toll on us.
What is important is that we keep that passion within, that fire burning in our heart like Jeremiah while choosing to lead a moral life as St. Paul tells us to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Rom.12:1).
This Sunday Jesus reminds us to get Satan behind us always, to think in God’s ways that is always difficult as he promises to come again “with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct” (Mt. 16:27). Amen. Let us pray for a better weather this week, pray harder for those affected by the rains and floods and those in Nepal.
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