Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 23 January 2019
"Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” Mark 3,1
Jesus Christ could have asked this question like this as well : Is it allowed to place anything ahead of love ? On the list of priorities what occupies the first place for you or me ?? For the Pharisees , it was the keeping of the sabbath . God’s commandment , naturally the way they interpret it , is more important than anything else , it even overwrites the commandment of love , which also is God’s commandment , in fact this is the commandment of commandments , LOVE IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT !! That is why we refer to all those in a derogatory sense , who twist and distort the facts till they will be in the right and so they can get out , with head held up high, from under all general commandments of love that are obligatory for anyone else !!
It is not long ago that the winter vacation finished , it lasted from 21 December till 15 January . With those children who were not taken home , who were not even visited by a parent, we rang a couple of them, so that the child could wish them joyous festive season . It was very awkward for me to listen to some of them , as they tried to explain to their 5-10 year old children, why they could not come , why they did not have time to ring up their child during the holidays , whom they otherwise love very much ! After ringing 4-5 very “busy “ mother or father I stopped ringing them, I thought, it would be better if I do not cause either the children nor myself unpleasant moments !!
Lets look into myself , how much of a Pharisee am I ? Whether do I hide behind such a few “important” tasks , instead of smilingly embracing my beloved child , members of my family ?! Unfortunately many times we also have sinned against the commandment of love , at times like this lets not try to “wriggle out of something “ , but sincerely , humbly lets repent and lets step on the way of the sincere, pure love ! The root of the matter is not who is right , but that we love each other with sincere goodwill , with all forgiving mercy !
Accusing myself of trespass ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : Jesus warned him:"And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”Mark 14, 30
The Word of God
Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Mark 3:1-6
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 23 January 2019