Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 3 October 2017
Getting ready for the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi I greet you with great love .
You are aware that upon the recommendation of many we decided that 2018 , marking the 25th anniversary of the operation of the Saint Francis Foundation we would like to celebrate as the year of Saint Francis. This decision was not only made that by this we pay homage to the saint giving his name to our foundation, but because Saint Francis’ spirituality was the golden reserve, with which we embarked 25 years ago on the well-tread happy way of the gospel on which we would like to continue. The least repentant lesser brother of Assisi -as described by Thomas of Celano as well , getting ready for his death he told his companions not to be sad but “with a loud song to give glory to God and sing the most beautiful song of the middle ages the Canticle of the Sun. In this marvellous poem , Saint Francis starting from the precious Sun down to brother death calls on everything to glorify the Lord . He has a good word about all of creation praises the Sun, the wind, our little sister of the water and calls man as well . Saint Francis does not mention man’s greatness, wisdom , strength but the forgiving goodness, peaceful patience because these virtues can make the earthly life the anteroom of heaven :"Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.”
Today’s gospel is very beautiful, our Lord is not welcomed in one of the villages and His disciples get angry and ask Him :"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.” Then afterwards with His tired disciples, demeaned moves on and they stayed in another village ! Hoe peaceful am I ? Am I capable to forgive myself , my companions , my children ? How great it would be if I could put down those burdens that pull me down , sully my heart with accusations , judgements.
I beseech you that lets start the feast of our father Saint Francis with forgiveness coming from the heart . Lets pardon each other , and ask for the gift of the grace of endurance from our father Saint Francis on this great feast.
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.
Luke 9, 51-56
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 3 October 2017