Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 11 July 2018 the feast of Saint Benedict , the Abbot , Patron Saint of Europe .
" everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19, 29
Today nobody wants to give up anything , in fact we do not even understand the meaning of sacrifice ! Many are asking when is Pope Francis going to abolish the out of date celibacy ?
Big question : if we do not set out on the way of the enduring, sweaty, honest work , then as being the barren fig tree ,we can count on Jesus’ judgement , the divine curse meaning destruction, ruin ?I think that "yes ", because without sacrifice there is no life ! If in spring you do not sow the precious seeds into the ground then there will be no harvest in autumn, if with enduring hard studies you don’t make a sacrifice there will be no successful result, knowledge, diploma ! If you do not place on the altar of marriage your faithfulness that can cut you to the bone , then as a totally burnt up sacrifice you drift away from your family !
The priest does not step towards the altar with the blood of the rams or bulls, but his own bridled blood ! This is the infinite sacrifice that Christ places on the altar with great humility ! For a priest to give up, renounce from making a sacrifice is the same as if the ploughman saves on sowing the seeds in the spring, or the student instead of studying chooses to have a good time, or the married person to become unfaithful. ! We can say anything , but we Roman Catholic priests feel that the one who gives up celibacy , that person also gives up, renounces the priesthood ! Anybody can do anything in secret , but we cannot lie to ourselves !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: The Franciscan monks of Damascus in the shadow of martyrdom
Then Peter said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life."
Matthew 19:27-29
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 11 July 2018 the feast of Saint Benedict , the Abbot , Patron Saint of Europe .