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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Thursday in the Third Week of Easter, 27 April 2023 Acts 8:26-40 ><))))*> + ><))))*> + <))))*> John 6:44-51
Lord Jesus Christ, teach us to listen more intently to you speaking to us in the most unusual manner, often when we least expected like in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch… who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with the chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
Acts 8:27, 29-31
What a wonderful and amusing passage of how it happened! But that is beside the point because that's the way it is with you, Lord Jesus and your Holy Spirit working in most extraordinary ways; what matters is first of all Philip showing us the importance of listening and obeying your promptings no matter how difficult or funny it may be! Listening to you, Lord, means listening to others, too! Teach us to see this important relationship of listening to your voice in our human voice. Many times, we are afraid to obey you because we doubt your voice jibes with the human voice. Give us courage to express your words by listening to what others are saying like Philip when he asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading.
Likewise, keep us attuned with your words and teachings, Lord so that when people ask us to explain things for them, we would always be ready like Philip to confirm your voice others hear. When we know and appreciate these dynamics of listening, then it becomes so true that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day" (John 6:44). Amen.
