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The Lord Is My Chef Christmas Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 09 January 2023 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 ><}}}}*> Acts 10:34-38 ><}}}}*> Matthew 3:13-17
God our loving Father, thank you for this most wonderful Monday when we close the Christmas Season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we also celebrate the feast of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo which is the most popular devotion in our predominantly Catholic nation.
As you opened the heavens with your outpouring of love and life upon us today like what happened at the baptism in Jordan, open our minds and our hearts, Father, to recognize Jesus as your Anointed One; most of all, may our double celebrations this Monday remind us of the need for us to mature in our faith in you.
Fix our eyes on your Chosen One, Jesus Christ, upon whom you have put your Spirit who brought forth salvation to us all, not crying out, not shouting, not breaking a bruised reed nor quenching a smoldering wick; let us imitate the gentle humility of your Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ in whose person you have made your covenant, a light for the nations, healing us of our infirmities of body and most especially of soul, not yielding to anyone nor anything because you and him are one (cf. Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7). Let us continue the teaching of Peter in the house of Cornelius with our own experiences and meditations, with our own witnessing "of how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him" (Acts 10:38).
God our loving and merciful Father, let us see Christ's presence and coming in our lives daily, his coming out of Jordan with your mission to save us, to journey with us in this life; most of all, let us heed your voice, Father, to be one in Jesus in all sufferings and trials, standing and fighting for truth and justice even to the point of death on the Cross because he is your beloved Son with whom you are well pleased (Matthew 3:16, 17).
Lord Jesus Christ, our Nuestro Padre Nazareno, make us realize that more than the devotions and panata, more than that lovely robe of your royalty as King of kings, help us penetrate your dark skin in Quiapo to realize your being called "Nazarene" does not only mean your origin, Nazareth, but most of all, from the Hebrew word "nezer" or shoot - that you are, O Lord Jesus is the "shoot from the stump of Jesse" (Is.11:1), the one completely consecrated to God from your mother's womb until your death on the Cross. Make us realize this, Jesus Nazareno, that we too, in our baptism, are consecrated to God: let us manifest your love, your justice, your humility, your healing, your mercy in our lives. Amen.
