Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….
Tuesday 29 August 2017…….. The memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
All my life despite the fact that I am aware , day after day ,of my own limitations , as well as that of the people living around me , there was just one thing that I would have liked to prove and that is that God does not Create rejects !! In all my reflections, writings I wanted to point out, shout it to the world , that we are all our Creator’s precious children , valuable , precious not only in the eyes of God, but we can also become our heavenly Father’s blessing for each other !!
Of course I am dismayed at seeing evil, lets take even today’s gospel passage , that speaks of Herod’s unbridled wallowing, the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist !! What can that person say , who sees it, that certain people day after day only would like to prove one thing , that apart from them, everyone else is bad, a sinner, good-for-nothing , unacceptable , destroyable and in spite of all this with a living faith want to embark on Christ’s way ?
Seeing people’s ignorant baseless accusations , hatred I cannot do more then keep repeating our Lord Jesus Christ’s words heard on the cross : “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”( Luke 23, 34) Herod and his family with their sinful act , raised John among the martyrs for eternity, to become one of humanity’s examples , they repelled themselves into unmeasurable contempt , suffering !! Darkness, gloom cannot be dispelled by hatred, revenge , murder, and this also is why our Lord is not thirsting for revenge , is not leading people in a revolt against Herod , but goes and carries out vigorously the deeds of love, teaches, heals, consoles, multiplies the bread feeding the hungry !!
This is why I profess that my only task here in this world is to free people from the prison of ignorance, darkness , and lead them into the light of trust and love shining through everything, there they will see it for themselves and know what is right and good , the direction leading them to happiness, joy !
I ask you lovingly to come and help prove to our Lord Jesus Christ that our beloved Heavenly Father does not create rejects!!!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias' own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
"Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."
He even swore many things to her,
"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother,
"What shall I ask for?"
She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."
The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,
"I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist."
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6, 17-29
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….