Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..

Monday 20 February 2017

"'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Master you have left the saints  in the magnificence on the mountain of transfiguration , so You can find the child suffering in the dusty valley !?  You renounce the security of the kingdom of heaven, the unimaginable happiness of the Holy Trinity , just in order to help us embracing us , saving us from perishing ?! 

Like the warning flames , flames of fire are  from within the bush in front of us !! It is quite certain that it is Your will , that following your example like Moses we embark on the road to lead our families, people, mankind from the slavery of their own sin and lead them to the land of love, goodness, mercy into the heavenly Canaan ,to where ,at the bottom of heart , we all desire to be!! You do not want that we leave anybody behind , that lonely they get lost in sin, suffering!! I beseech You to have faith in the Christian teaching, education , that with a good word, wisdom, patient reasoning a person can be reared as is the best for them !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Picture: Just  one child is worth ,to leave the saints in the magnificence on the mountain of transfiguration !!

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John and approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed.

They ran up to him and greeted him. 

He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"

Someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.

I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so."

He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?

How long will I endure you? Bring him to me." 

They brought the boy to him.

And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.

As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around  and foam at the mouth. 

Then he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" 

He replied, "Since childhood.

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Jesus said to him, "'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."

Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"

Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:

come out of him and never enter him again!"

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.

He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!"

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive the spirit out?"

He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer."

Mark 9, 14-29

Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel

Saturday 18 February 2017

Impetus, initiative force ! Jesus is always on the move , He is in “action” ! Next to Him the apostles will not be covered in dust ! After all Jesus could have met on the shore of the sea go Galilee with Elijah and Moses , yet He still goes up on a high mountain with His apostles . The apostles would like to remain there , calmly set up tents , but  "looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.” They get going into the valley where work awaits them , a sick child has to be healed ! 

God is the Lord of time , but it appears that He does not spin out by over-organizing or moving at a snail’s space events , He does not make long term plans but nicely , resolute, at a quick pace makes great strides on His own way ! He knows what His mission is and caries out His duty purposefully , we could say that within 3 years He completes the great work of the redemption. I admire Jesus’ drive , His initiative strength and His determination by which He carries out the Heavenly Father’s will ! It is awesome how He can get the apostles ,the disciples involved from whom He asks  "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”! Reading the holy scriptures we get the feeling that neither does  Jesus  get flustered  nor does  He not stand still , simply He carries out His work at a good speed like someone who knows that He does not have much time ! Admiring our Master lets consider how are we progressing , what gear are we in , how far did I put my foot down on the accelerator? Is my life a meaningless going for a spin or a purposeful ride with my foot flooring  the accelerator flitting among the obstacles? 

I am concluding my reflection here , because I have work to do , I am going ! There is no stopping ! Christ’s love is urging us on! 

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

picture:be like the children.

The Transfiguration

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,  and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one1 on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.  And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,2 it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  And va cloud overshadowed them, and va voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son;3 listen to him.”  And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.  So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.  And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”  And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?  But I tell you that Elijah has come, and ithey did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Mark 9, 2-13 

Father Csaba’s  reflections on the gospel …..

Friday 17 February 2017

"Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”Mark 8.

Shall I never have a child ? Shall I be closed up and not given the chance to explore this beautiful world created by God ? I had these two concerns going through my mind before I started theology. Then I decide to take the “death-leap”  and let go of my present life with a trusting spirit in God and I buckled down to do the entry exam and I applied for the priesthood , somersaulted  into the unknown and God caught me with His strong arms to hurl me even higher !

Praise God, today I have over 5000 children I can call my own , I accepted them and I can honestly say, without self-importance, that I love them all like a father !! I feel that they have also accepted me , love me and their large family!! Traveling was not a goal in my priestly life , I always only went where I had something to do , but for the sake of my children I travelled practically every village, town in Transylvania and also in their interest I also went around the world !! 

I can honestly state that God does not joke with us , our Creator cannot be surpassed in generosity and His love in giving us gifts ! I believe that if we give Him something generously , in His infinite goodness He repays us a hundredfold !! Lets dare to loose our life for the sake of Jesus Christ!!

Praise to you my Lord for everything ! 

With a childlike love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

picture: one of the 5000. 

Jesus called the people and his disciples to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

What gain, then, is it for anyone to win the whole world and forfeit his life? And indeed what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?

For if anyone in this sinful and adulterous generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'

And he said to them, 'In truth I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.’

Mark 8, 34-9,1

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..

Thursday  16 February 2017

Blessed are you Peter…...‘Get behind me, Satan!…

Jesus Christ calls Saint Peter , who recognizes the Messiah , blessed, because he thinks , talks according to the will of the Heavenly Father !! At the same time , when Peter with goodwill , but from a human perspective looks into the future , grabbing his sword  ,shouting meets with Jesus’ judgement:”Get behind me Satan !”

We would like to believe that there is a great distance between heaven and earth , a sanctified life and a man wallowed in sin  but this is not the case !The wall is thin and if we do not watch out very easily our life can swing over to the wrong side !! Yes, the bad news is that the door of damnation is open in front of all of us even if Christ Himself calls us blessed, the good news is that the way to salvation can never be closed off before us once and for all. Lets dare to take hold of our God’s hand ! Lets search  in prayer for our God’s holy will , and in our everyday life let us be guided by our conscience , in peace and love in the light of the gospel by the only One who alone knows the way to eternal life !

With love

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Picture : a little angel from Déva in the snow .

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’* And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Mark 8, 27-33

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…

Wednesday 15 February 2017

"He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village..and healed him”

“ We cannot be satisfied by changing the staff, however we have to achieve that the members of the Pontifical Commission  we”ll be renewed spiritually, humanly and professionally. The reform does not happen under any circumstances by changing the people-obviously changing of the staff will happen and in the future as well - but by the conversion of the individuals. The continuos education is not enough, but the continuous conversion and cleansing is also important and most importantly this is what is needed. Without a change in the mentality to function on a sustainable level would be an exercise in futility”-emphasized in his speech Pope Francis.

Today everybody wants to change the government, the politicians , many in our child protection centers are wating for a new era from new people! Many are expecting for me to  send away , dismiss people but before any decision it is worthwhile reading Pope Francis’ words ! The Pontifical  Commission  in Rome also needs reforms , but Pope francis is not expecting a better world by changing the people, but from the conversion of people ! Our Lord Jesus Christ is not changing His apostles but with wise speech, reasoning, teaching does everything so that they convert , to free them from under the yoke of avarice, laziness and sin ! This is our duty as well ! Not to condemn each other but lovingly, if needed even by washing our companions ‘ feet to help them to the freedom , sanctity of God’s children !

Man is not a diminishing entity !Not by trampling over, stepping across each other but by trying the “repair” by mercy and love , lovingly sanctifying is our duty to build a better world , worthy of mankind ! Our Lord Jesus Christ died for the people not for a distant utopia! He wants us here , today to be happy and by helping one another to become saints ! 

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Picture: a happy little girl in our child protection home in Déva.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into[a] the village.”

Mark 8, 22-26

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..

Tuesday 14 February 2017

'Do you still not realize?’

I laid a table for so many disadvantaged and orphaned children out of Your caring goodness my God, but despite all this I still have to confess ashamed that I still cannot understand Your infinite goodness and patience towards us ! I do admire your merciful ,caring goodness , as day after day like a parched wanderer to the spring I come back to You, but I still cannot understand , realize what is it that You love about us?! You , who at the dawn of creation with a single word brought us into existence , that the unfolding universe in space and time will grant  a home to Your children finding themselves , You are immeasurably great yet still like a gentle Father with infinite wisdom , tact , You bend down to us !?

I do not comprehend You but with trust I flee to You!!

With living faith ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

The disciples had forgotten to take any bread and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, 'Keep your eyes open; look out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.'

And they said to one another, 'It is because we have no bread.' And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not understand, still not realise? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes and do not see, ears and do not hear? Or do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?' They answered, 'Twelve.' 'And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?' And they answered, 'Seven.' Then he said to them, 'Do you still not realize?'

Mark 8, 14-21

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….

Monday 13 February 2017

"started a discussion with him.”

Lets think about our world and also about who God is?!

People are asking signs from Christ?! Why don’t we look around ?! How many unbelievable signs are around us to prove that someone is planning wisely, accomplishes, rules!! What I saw made me  kneel down and accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and God !! God’s infinite power , by which He dreamt, forms and keeps our world going by His caring love , should make me  modest, humble and lead me with infinite love towards the One from whom we received everything !!

Lord Jesus Christ You are my King ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with him; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to put him to the test. And with a profound sigh he said, 'Why does this generation demand a sign? In truth I tell you, no sign shall be given to this generation.' And, leaving them again, he re-embarked and went away to the other side.

Mark 8, 11-13

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..

Saturday  11 February 2017.

We learn from our Lord Jesus Christ that there is no impossible situation ! He teaches us that : 2Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these” (John 14, 12) 

Lets believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and take our work seriously , because it is quite certain that God does not put us in charge of a task that is beyond our strength, capability  , most certainly we are capable to do our duties well!!

The shining example is in our presence , in Christ’s name go forth !!

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, 2‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way—and some of them have come from a great distance.’4His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ 5He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ 6Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. 7They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. 8They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.*

Mark 8, 1-10

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….

Friday 10 February 2017.

Lord I know that I am not worthy , but I still  cry out to You , I would like to hear Your consoling ,encouraging voice , I beg You to open my deaf ear to hear You  ! I ask You to grant me courage and strength so I can address You ,  with prayer coming from my heart  I may embrace You with the arms of my faith , the One who lives and reigns now and forever ! With a childlike humility I implore You to speak : "“Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). “ and I will start to speak, I’ll hear Your life-giving word , and proclaim Your holy greatness and Your holy will to my sisters and brothers!

With love ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.  There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”).  At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.  People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7, 31-37

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…

Thursday 9 February 2017

Love and the boundaries !! Our world is crippled , tied  hand and foot by the boundaries of language ,nationality, religion , ethnicity!!  Our society is poles apart! The lack of trust often leads to hatred, animosity, hostility , war that unfortunately tries to bring out the beast from all of us , the evil murderer !

Jesus steps over these gulfs easily , talks with the lepers, the sinners , people of different nationalities, religions as well ! Our Lord Jesus Christ is just that lovable  with the strangers, as with His own ! He sends His apostles all over the world :” “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”Mark 16,15

Jesus’ commandment of love is universal , we have to love everybody not only our own families, nation, our Church however everybody !! In fact beyond the acceptance of all our fellow human beings -according to Jesus’ will- we have to preserve our loving trust, openness towards all creatures! Lets pray and try to step over with trust the differences separating us , because  the way of Christ’s love leads us into the land of miracles !

I believe in the final victory of love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Picture: the young  girls living in our home in Gálospetri are busily working together in the kitchen in harmony.

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.g w He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spiritx came and fell at his feet.  The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Mark 7, 24-30