Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 21 January 2018 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Building a community is Jesus’ first task ! He does not write a tender, does not build a house or a church , doesn’t expand the infrastructure but He gathers friends, companions ! Jesus knows that not a snailshell , not the dead objects that are important , but man , a companion, a friend ! Is there a team ? There will be a house also, a church as well, everything that’s needed! Last year as far as finances are concerned the German Church closed very successfully, but this did not result in the churches being filled by congregations, praying , singing people ! Europe is filled with more and more beautiful churches , institutions owned by the Church that are visited by tourist, but otherwise very often they are empty and that is why they are condemned to be sold or demolished !
Unfortunately this does not only apply to church institutions , but to family homes , homes in general as well ! I was in Gyergyó at the Saint Margaret festivities , and we had a talk with the parish priests.! It was very disheartening to hear how many empty, abandoned houses are in the Székely villages . In huge houses one more beautiful than the other one solitary person welcomes the holy cross , where years ago in these little wooden houses with porches large families sang the more and more beautiful Christmas carols !
Lets stop and lets make a conscious decision : Lets not buy, collect dead objects but lets turn towards living , children , people with immortal souls ! What does it help if you win the whole world , but you are always on your own ? Today I baptised three sweet children, not one relative took part in the celebrations ! Total strangers came to take on the role of godparents . It was wonderful to see , how after dinner the child embraces his godfather returning to Budapest , and waving crying after him and he asks us to pray for his safe return home ! Love is capable to give birth to family, companion , and this way you won’t be a lonely drifting leaf of a tree !
Here I am standing in front of you , and looking into your eyes I am asking you: do you want to be happy ? Opt for accepting a child, a companion , by life, decide , opt for God and beside Him you will be happy!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr kalotay eszter
Picture: With our children from Kisiratos 21 January 2018.
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him.
Mark 1, 14-20
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 21 January 2018 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time