Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….
19 February 2017 -7th Sunday Ordinary time
I have read the attached writing, then Christ’s wonderful gospel and now I am filled with immeasurable sadness, pain ! “ Hussein came from from a very poor background with no future , neither money , nor work and no-one told him what is right and what is not . He is only 21 years old now, he was only 14 when he first joined an islamic militant group. The terrorist told journalists now that he raped over 200 women belonging to the Yazidi minority in Iraq between 2013-2016 until he was caught. According to his own confession he killed 500 people , beheaded many of them but he regards himself as a victim.”
I also feel that he is one! The victim of our indifference , selfishness ! I took in close to 6000 street children successfully.. There are several million teachers in Europe, many, many priests, monks , but unfortunately you seldom meet even one of them in the slums ! Last year I was invited to Rome by Pope Francis together with other priests , where it was disclosed that around the world there are 150 million children living in the streets, yes close to ten times as many “Hussein” tonight won’t be going home to snuggle up their parents , as the number of inhabitants of Romania ! They, unless we call upon them with wisdom and love sooner or later will get going to take up the arms fallen out of the hands of this wretched man and following in his footsteps to attack us !
Twenty-five years after the change of regime in Transylvania as well, but in other countries of the region everybody is caught up with their own welfare, I am watching the news and I can see that fueled by petty political ambitions the political parties are even trying to annex civil organizations ! Europe, the future of the world is at stake yet we bear grudges, we want to topple governments because of selfish reasons , we are arguing about the olympic game yet we cannot see that a global revolution can sweep away all of us !
I ask you, why is there not a single national Catholic TV in the whole of the Carpathian- basin ? How many thousands of theology , psychology degrees have they given out, yet when one goes on the internet unfortunately one finds only very few high standard news, based on Christian values , wise, calm roundtable discussions ! Us priests, monks do we dare to speak out like prophets ?? Nowadays one could publish freely any books, produce any films , one can learn languages , go as missionaries , produce broadcasting services , one could spread the gospel freely why don’t we do that !?
One can conquer, destroy Hussein by the use of weapons but unfortunately violence, murder are dead end streets, there are far too many homeless, down-and-out people, there always be someone against whom one has to wage a war , and the bloodshed will never end ! Jesus called Peter , the apostles, the disciples two thousand years ago prepared them wisely then right away sent them , like lambs among the wolves to proclaim the peaceful new world order based on brotherly love , mercy and goodness ! When our Lord Jesus Christ says, go to the end of the world and proclaim the good news , then He is not giving a meek, pious advice but such a commandment on which our earthly and eternal life depends ! The question here is not whether I have charisma but whether do I fulfill Christ’s commandment!?
If Christ would come among us today again , I believe that quietly He would again accept the death on the cross and would send us the same way to proclaim peacefully the gospel, but prior to that He would drive out the merchants, farmhands searching for their money !
With a disturbed heart,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5, 38-48.
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….