Father Csaba's reflections on the gospel.....

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” What beautiful thoughts! We were all created in the image and likeness of God, I wonder if I am searching for what is lost and do I do everything to help the salvation of my stumbling brother ? I have to practice willingly this beautiful virtue of mercy ! ! My face should also be brightened by this beautiful feature of our Lord Jesus Christ bending down to the down-and-out and lifting them up with mercy.! 

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jerichov and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-figw tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.x

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,z “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”b

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19, 1-10

Father Csaba's reflections on the gospel.

How easily is our Lord Jesus Christ making friends ! He does not withdraw into His own world but He is there among the people. He visits the good ones, the bad ones, the evil ones, just like the blessed sunshine that embraces all with its light from the flower petals to the foul-smelling swamp! Let us also learn from our Lord to be openhearted , let us visit each other , let us address each other with a Christlike trust, let us talk with our brethren wisely, sensibly ! Let us learn from our Master and follow Him with great humbleness !!!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

It happened that on a Sabbath day Jesus had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, 'When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, "Give up your place to this man." And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place.

No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, "My friend, move up higher." Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.

For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.

Luke 14, 1.7-11

Today is feast day of the apostles Saint Simon and Saint Jude 

A Novena to Saint Jude.

Holy Saint Jude......

"Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor for all who invoke thee, special patron in time of need; to thee I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg thee, to whom God hath given such great power, to come to my assistance; help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition. I will never forget thy graces and the favors thou dost obtain for me and I will do my utmost to spread devotion to thee. Amen."

It is wonderful to lift a child high up , it is good to see that pure joy the way , a bit scared , from up there they look around ! even if they are scared in the beginning , but in the end I am the one who loses out , when I flake out , the children never get sick of this game !

I really believe that in reality this is the task of every teacher , figuratively speaking , to raise up a child high , so that flying bravely they can see far ahead , and may they little hearts be filled by relieved, ringing laughter, joy and hope !!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel….Friday 28 October 2016

“My Lord, my God ! My God and my all !” Saint Francis 

“He went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. “

The masters of spiritual life distinguish four different types of prayers.

1.Prayer of repentance: Perhaps this is the form of prayer we should use most often ! The prayer of the prodigal son : "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants!” 

2.Prayer of petition: We ask the Heavenly Father with a childlike trust to hurry to our aid with His caring love. Jesus Himself encourages us for this type of prayer : Knock and a door will be opened, ask and you shall be given !

3.Prayer of thanksgiving : Unfortunately out of the ten lepers healed only one returned to give thanks and praise for his healing !! It is sad that we use this prayer that fails our spirits with joy and light so seldom ! 

4.Prayer of praise ! A prayer of glorifying, adoring God is perhaps the most wonderful way to stand before God ! Here we are no longer occupied with our own problems, needs we are only admiring our Creator’s infinite goodness, love, mercy and wisdom, we are glorifying ,praising Him! This prayer nourishes the love in our hearts , because the adoration of God tears down the barriers between heaven and earth and unifies the adoring and the Adored in the fire of love !

Our Lord Jesus Christ wild before us on the way of prayer , by saying the “Our Father “ He not only teaches us but by His personal life shows us an example ! Let us dare to let go of everything and spend an hour or so , a night or so in adoration of our God !

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:14Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

Luke 6, 12-19

We are not bad only scared . The evil spirit would like to frighten us and in our fear we close ourselves off from others, turn away from each other.

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.

The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11 , 29-32

At times you feel the world is collapsing around you but you should have trust: you are not going to be tried beyond your strength. Even if you feel a bit scared, do not come to a sudden standstill , go on, the Infinity is waiting for you.

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.