Father Csaba’s reflection on today’s gospel….
Saturday 14 January 2017
Straight talk is the shortest distance between two people ! I admire our Lord Jesus Christ as he addresses Matthew whom He seemingly met accidentally , encouraging him to give up his work and follow Him by joining Him on the bumpy road , leading through Good Friday as well. It is awesome how this man really gets going with Jesus and faithfully following his Master writes his beautiful gospel at the twilight of his life !
We are the followers of Christ , today’s gospel encourages us to dare to approach, call each other so like this with trust together we can carry out satisfactorily the tasks entrusted to us! Praise be to God I embarked on this road several times and I can joyfully declare Jesus never mislead me because people can really be approached ! Knowing my own weaknesses , I called on people in the name of love and and asked them to help bringing up children , look after the poor , proclaim the gospel in the XXI.st century and I can joyfully say that God gave me companions ! The most precious gifts of my life are the men and women who stood by me and side by side they accepted the work that God entrusted our community with !!
Let us dare to look one another in the eye and sincerely ask for help from each other !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: One of my dear colleagues Pál Mária.
Jesus Calls Levi
He went out again beside the sea, and dall the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw fLevi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2, 13-17
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…
Friday 13 January 2017
My Lord today those four men are my ideals , who brought their paralyzed companion trustingly into Your presence!! I pray today with loving prayer for the soldiers who have been ordered to the front and have fallen ! In those days I was also conscripted into the Romanian army , they placed a weapon in my hand and took me in winter in the big snow to dig a trench ! We did not have a choice either, just like the people who were sent onto the battle fields between 1940-1945 , during world war II , to kill, to die !! Many young people were taken against their will to the Don kanyar , just as the troops fighting on the other side in the Soviet army!!! The “greats” of the world have not learnt much from all the bloodshed , today as well many people, among them innocent children are forced onto the battlefields to kill or to be killed ! Our Lord we bring with pure heart into Your holy Presence the fallen young soldiers , although it may be possible that their hands may be stained with blood, we still pray for them , grant them in Your mercy and love, peace , eternal rest in Your kingdom !
With hope in the eternal life,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2, 1-12
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….
Thursday 12 January 2017
Let us pay attention to Jesus Christ ! Reading the gospel we can see stunned , how many people storm Him , some seeking healing, others only just want to argue with Him. People are just about tearing the Master apart and He is patient, helps calmly with goodness , He does not care about the consequences , He walks on tiring path of mercy and love , come what may !
The leprosy of our world today is whinging, complaining , lamenting on seeing the work to be done ! Jesus is not afraid of the work , does not try to steer clear of tasks to be done , with Him every person knocking at His door will find admittance, be it a pauper or a high ranking person ! Our Lord takes everybody seriously, Nicodemus knocking on His door at night or the beggar He meets in the street of Jericho , He is not afraid of the sick , the devil, the possessed , He has a good word for everyone , He dares to touch the leper with healing love in today’s gospel as well !
How big is my endurance ..stamina ? Can I undertake my everyday tasks joyfully, accept them gladly and carry them out satisfactorily ? The task to be done can be studies, any kind of work or even just a talk with a complaining person in trouble , can I accomplish that without whinging, whining , feeling sorry for myself ?
"If you choose, you can make me clean.” Let us cry out trustingly with the leper to our Lord Jesus Christ ! Let us ask Him to cleanse us from the continuous dissatisfaction , the belittling of myself and my surrounding and ask Him to mould me in His image and likeness, cleanse me from my wounds causing me distress, give me strength to carry my burden , without complaining standing straight as a tree in the storm !
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
A leper* came to him begging him, and kneeling* he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity,* Jesus*stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy* left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus* could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Mark 1, 40-45
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..
Tuesday 10 January 2017
The evil spirit does not like God’s beautiful world, it cannot believe in mankind, in the future, in that what the Heavenly Father started, to bring that to a good ending ! That is why it continuously frightens , causes fear and panic , tries to spoil, deform all that it touches and turn our daring soaring into a lame writhing ! Unfortunately today there are too many prophets advocating the futility our work, the unstoppable falling apart of our world , the invincible destruction of it , they are the living mouthpieces of the evil spirit!
I am quite aware that , I am only a stumbling man , claiming the end of the infinite outer space where the incredibly quickly spinning , hurtling, the egg-shell like spiteful transient material world exists, but I still believe in my Creator , I believe in His power to reform our world , gladly advocating His invincible greatness , wisdom, mercy ! I refuse that the evil spirit’s sour, panicking despair , like an ugly bird to build a nest in my heart , my loved ones’, our children’s lives ,in the homes of the Saint Francis Foundation! I do not know the future , I can only see my own weaknesses , but still with trust in my Creator , following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ even in my darkest moments of my loneliness that He experienced on Good Friday I would still like to offer my soul and my beloved children’s into the hands of Providence !! God is the light at the end of the tunnel and I deliberately go towards Him , trustingly I lead my loved ones to Him as well !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
the photo depicts our nice daughter’s from the Saint László children’s home , in Tusnádfürdő, looking into the future with trusting eyes.
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1, 21-28
Sunday 8 January 2017
The first part of our Creator’s first commandment sounds like this : “Worship thy Lord and God….!” What does this mean ? Nothing else but that we should also look at Jesus Christ the same way as the Heavenly Father looked at His holy Son!! “ “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
To worship God is nothing else than turning with love , joyful admiration contemplate that infinite goodness, wisdom , strength by which the Creator embraces His creations in which there is a wonderful unity the Holy Spirit !! This mystical meeting opens the boundaries of our existence to a new , unimagined world ! God’s first commandment is not intended to constrain you, but it is a most wonderful gift that opens infinite horizons to the worshipper !! The man born from a handful of dust , that gained self-awareness , by the will of God not only has an opportunity to greet with love the Holy Spirit , but this commandment of God proclaimed by Moses several thousand years ago on which our earthly life is based is the most important task, goal of our loving worship, adoration of God !!
As we can see the personal meeting with our Lord Jesus Christ changes people’s lives, Saint Peter, the apostles are capable of leaving everything behind and follow Jesus , but not only them but even every sinner as well, after a meeting changes completely, let us remember the woman caught in adultery, the man possessed by demons in the region of the Gerasenes or even Zacchaeus as well….All our saints every one of them experienced something wonderful from these meetings , they changed by worshipping God and from their fragile lives mountain
moving forces came forth such springs that filled that nourished men over centuries , filled epochs with momentum!!
These few lines are really meant to awaken your curiosity towards the Christian mystics , literature ! Christ is the way , the apostles addressed Him, in the
company of Saint John the Baptist, and He lovingly invited the young people searching for enlightenment to Himself !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3, 13-17
Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel……
Saturday 7 January 2017
It is quite certain that the icy cold weather of January is not very inviting for sunbathing, swimming but for having a snowball fight or going for a sleigh ride in the big snow it is really suitable.
Many people are shrugging their shoulders and scolding our world today ! This town, today’s regime , this circle of friends are not suitable neither for this nor for that !! What is your goal and what does our Lord Jesus Christ has in mind for you ? " ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’Our world today is very ripe for conversion, our lives for re-planning, rescheduling !! We were born to be good , to love, goodheartedly to bend down to each other , to give abundantly the way our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us !! And for this purpose this world , your town , your surrounding are very, very suitable ! Jesus' intention , if it would be our intention as well then even now, today where ever you live could be put into action immediately ….What do I mean?? You’re reading this letter and yet by pressing down a key you can be on someone else’s page, perhaps somebody who has been waiting for you for a long time !! Knock and with confidence wish them a “blessed new year”, give that someone your trust, attention and the time you spend with them gladly !!
I am quite certain that any time, any town is worthy to be loved and by giving them a gift we also become one !!“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6, 19-21
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Now when Jesus* heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’*
Jesus* went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news* of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4, 12-17, 23-25
Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel ….
Thursday 5 January 2017
I admire our Lord’s informality , His easygoing nature with which He calls on people ,consciously, wisely building His circle of friends! According to the gospel Jesus can be approached by children adults, sinners , the educated Pharisees or simple people without beating about the bush, calmly !According to the holy gospel we can also state that our Redeemer goes with the same informality , knocking on people’s door !! Come all to me- our Redeemer calls all of us !! There is no selecting of people , tests, trials, exams that by passing all these successfully then one can step into God’s waiting room ! I realize that we, as priests often , like the bigger brothers of the prodigal son stand asking for accountability between our Father with open arms and our lesser brothers hurrying to Him, but let this not disturb anybody as all men have a direct line to their Creator !
Dare to embrace your God !! With our children, colleagues during January 2017 we would like to come to know the God willing to sit at the same table as us calling all men with goodness, to bathe , admire in His encouraging , brave , life-giving presence !! God’s first commandment also prompts us for this : 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” !!Come on let’s get going towards the outstretched arms of our God.!!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1, 43-51
Father Csaba's reflections.
“Rabbi” , “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
Wonderful ! How simple it is to meet, to make friends with Jesus?! Strangers address Him on the road and there is no waiting list, no protocol because whoever opens their heart the Lord enters ! The future disciples , according to the holy gospel , on that very day already slept at our Lord’s place! I like to imagine as Mary offers the young men a delicious dinner !! It is a simple, marvelous , peaceful scenery as the dinner , vine are consumed and the commandment of love becomes embodied , a new era starts , the redeeming of the world !!
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Wednesday 4 January 2017
