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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist, 29 August 2022 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ><]]]]'> + <'[[[[>< Mark 6:17-29
Grant me the grace, O dear Jesus Christ, to be like John the Baptist, truly your precursor in being the first to receive you and proclaim your coming in words and in deeds by being the first to suffer a similar passion and death like yours by standing for what is true and good, just and fair; let me be the first, O Lord, to disturb the many Herods of our time with your gospel's power and wonders.
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.
Mark 6:17-20
Let me first be a reminder, dear Jesus, that there is a prophet in our midst who speaks your words for the sake of the poor and marginalized; let me be the first to have courage in proclaiming the mystery of your Cross, confronting evil in all its forms, never toning down your message to please the rich and powerful Herods of today with their systematic control of lives in its many aspects; forgive me Jesus for failing to be a voice in the wilderness like John preparing your way, straightening the paths of our lives by turning away from evil and sin, embracing your gospel of life and holiness. Amen.
