Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Wednesday 15 November 2017
Gratitude !!
Just what can you find in a woman’s handbag ? We were travelling together with one of my “ daughters" who was in year 7 in a big bus , with the other children . As we left the kilometres behind us , and in our boredom we talked about everything and at some stage I glimpsed into the girl’s handbag . Well there was everything in there ! Every single “treasure” had its own spiritual “ charge" story and I was listening attentively , trying to get to know the mysteries of a woman’s handbag , when an empty , battered chocolate wrapper came to light. I was looking at it with wide-open eyes and I asked Erzsike :Well tell me why are you carrying this around with you ?" She looked at me surprised and asked me “ Don’t you remember it ? “ Judging by her look I felt that there maybe trouble brewing here ….getting cold feet I said , unfortunately I don’t ! The young girl just swallowed and I guess all of a sudden she had her opinion of the grownups and all she said I got this from you Father Csaba 7 years ago when you took me in at Déva ! I just held her close , and nothing was said ….It was lucky like this because it would have been hard to say anything ! Yes, a naughty brat , who could have easily been born a boy ,who was right up to her eyeballs in every prank , and the reason why I actually sat next to in the bus so she would not cause more trouble , for the past seven years carrying with her that chocolate wrapper , even though the chocolate was eaten a long time ago , but it was the first piece of chocolate in her life, that she received in the child protection centre !
I am praying so that I may also be capable in my own clumsy way procure for my Creator God such beautiful moments with my grateful love , as the joy Erzsike caused me ! I believe that God is not expecting from us great pretentious , memorised, complex sentences , but that we appreciate His precious gifts , rejoicing in His gift of our existence and the daily “chocolate “ even though that is consumed , but its wrapping, memory, can remain for ever in our grateful heart !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”
Luke 17, 11-19
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Wednesday 15 November 2017