Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 4 February 2018 5th Sunday in ordinary time.
Christ’s love is urging us on ! He Himself gets up at dawn and collected, after His prayer , He is urging His companions , calling them to get going ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ Mark 1, 39
Jesus not only sees as His own task in consoling , encouraging, teaching, healing , carrying out good deeds for people but He gives this task to all of us :19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6, 19-21
All of us were born to be good, to do good and to put a smile on the face of the world! Here in Transylvania at the end of the first half year of school the children were given a week’s vacation . I went outside our house in Déva and straight away I ran into some sad children whose mother did not ring them , is not taking them home during the vacation . They latched onto me , we walked around the yard, the monastery playing a game and had a great time laughing together !
Life is so simple, we don’t always have to think of great deeds all the time, Jesus is not preparing plans for "saving the world “, He simply goes and loves ! Peter’s mother-in-law is ill with a fever , goes and visits her , speaks to her kindly , affection produces love , the elderly woman gets up and serves Jesus’ dinner , then they move on with kindness and love ! Where the Master is not welcome they just move on smiling , Jesus is not looking for tasks , He patiently solves the tasks coming His way !
How great it would be if I dared to embark on this simple, natural , joyous way of Jesus Christ , if I also dared to love always where I happen to be , just the one , who turns his/her face towards me , in a manner in which I am most needed by my brother/sister !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Mark 1:29-39
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 4 February 2018 5th Sunday in ordinary time.