Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 7th April 2019 5th Sunday of Lent
'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’ John 8, 11
Lent is the time of repentance, becoming reconciled, forgiveness ! Back in my days in the seminary in Gyulafehérvár I realised that anger , sin, and the worshiping love of God cannot all fit into one’s heart at the same time ! During our autumn work I was protecting my true or imaginary truth , I had a falling out with one of my companions. Then and there my being right overwrote the main commandment , the commandment of love ! At the end of the work we gathered for evening prayer in the chapel. I tried to lift my soul to my creator God , but had the feeling , that my prayer had no wings to soar , I was only stumbling along in the swamp of my tormented temper . My companion sat at the desk in front of me , I poked him , he turned around , I smiled at him and asked him to forgive me , lets not let the sun set over our anger ! He smiled back at me , signalled and both of us continued with the psalms ! The key turned the door opened up , the sun started shining in my heart , and at once I could “taste” the words of the prayer offered to God !
Lets dare to ask for pardon, kindheartedly forgive, forget about other’s debts , even at times when we are annoyed ,angry with someone and measuring on a human scale they do not deserve , perhaps they won’t even thank us for our goodness ! Our personal, living relation with God is worth more than anything else ! Lets believe in the final victory of love , the healing , life-giving great power and lets forgive each other from the bottom of our hearts !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : The blessed sun shines through the thick forrest as well.
The Word of God
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.'
John 8:1-11
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 7th April 2019 5th Sunday of Lent