Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…. Thursday 1 November 2018 All Saints Day.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15, 11
God does not want us to live our lives as fakirs , He as our loving heavenly Father would like to take us in to His trinitarian community of love! Jesus not only wants to share with us His joy , but as a good teacher He is also showing us then way leading to happiness! It may be that this way is narrow and steep , but many have travelled this road ahead of us , and it is worthwhile reading the list of the saints ! The Church has no two saints who are identical , they were all individual characters , journeying their ow way as the creator God lead their steps ! What is common in all of them that only only the Church calls the blessed , but indeed they were blessed in their life-times as well , and we profess with faith , that after their death they all were rewarded by eternal happiness ! At the bottom of our hearts we also are yearning for joy, to be blessed , trustingly lets set out on the way that Christ showed us , on the road that is well trodden by God’s saints who went ahead of us ! As we can see from the Holy Scripture, that the evil spirit would also “like” to make Christ blessed and using the same tools us as well , but he is not offering real happiness when he wants to convince us to consume, possess and try to seize power ! These “ joys “ that satan offers us have never made people happy yet ! The way of the evil one , no matter how attractive it seems , is a dead-end street , that leads nowhere , only causes suffering , peril to those naive people whom the tempter can trick!!
Let us decide by the side of Christ , lets stretch out our hands to towards the pure, permanent joys that He offered , and lets get going in the way of the Saints leading to joy, happiness!
With hope,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : The beautiful Madonna of Portugal.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:1-12
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…. Thursday 1 November 2018 All Saints Day.