Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…. 33rd Sunday Ordinary Time 18 November 2018
In the land of Australia sitting underneath a huge wild fig tree I was thinking about mortality ! With my eyes closed I could feel the more than hundred years old tree, the huge foliage peacefully covered me as the the evening quietly descends and fills the surrounding , the same way my spirit was filled by infinite calmness ! How fragile is a small tree , and it is using using all opportunities by life , does what it has to do day after day , grows , sprinting new leaves , slander branches trying to embrace the sky ! Years, decades, centuries come and it is carrying quietly every blessed day, its many , many leaves just like a mother her child nourishing it with goodness , gently carrying it and glorifying its Creator by its existence, life-giving work !
"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13, 32 We do not know when the whistle will sound that the match called life will be called off , but whilst we are on the playing field we have to keep on trying ! Thi tree is not frightened by the sight od the axe but till the last moments of its existence it is carrying its vast foliage ! I am convinced that we should be doing the same in the time given to js ! To love each other as brethren , raising our children up high , worshipping God praising our Creator with our existence day after day !! We should live without fear in harmony , carry out our duties quietly and when the last trumpet sounds , then we can put down our tools from our hands and grasping the hands of our Creator we will get going , where the One leading us is the One who gave His life for us on the cross !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
'But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds" with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
'From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
'But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:24-32
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Wednesday 14 November 2018
How grateful am I ? For all that I have received , for who I am ,am I capable to give heartfelt thanks with satisfied heart !! Here in Australia, thanks to a kind woman from Nagyszalonta who dedicated her life to a a Wildlife Protection Centre , and because of her invitation I managed to get to a wild life sanctuary for koalas! Here I made the attached film about this sweet creature , that has nothing to do with bears but the first white settlers of the country called it mistakenly like that! The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a native of Australia a marsupial that is a “vegetarian” animal , the only representative of the family of koalas . The word koala comes from the language of the Aboriginal people, meaning “non-drinker”.
Looking at this little hairy creature , fur ball wearing its warmest outfit by the way here where there is no snow and I was thinking about God’s caring goodness !! This animal only eats a certain type of eucalyptus leaves , getting the necessary water from it , a little energy that is enough for it to be awake for only four hours a day. The digestion of these fibrous hard leaves need about 10 days , whilst on the tip of the branches they are capable of sleeping 20 hours a day in the little shade !!
God’s caring goodness marked a path in the life of all of us ! How different is the course of life of other creatures than for us human beings , and yet visibly they are happy , joyous , quietly living their own simple life ! And how much can I accept all that Providence saw fit to offer me ? Do I have gratitude and thanks when I sit down at a table ladder with all that tasty, well prepared food ! I tried eating the eucalyptus leaf , but how can I scythe little koala’s diet did not quite work out , I could not eat one single leaf !
I believe that we not only to be grateful for , if we recover from a serious illness but every single minute of our life the flower of happiness should be blooming ! Joy, gratitude should be our everyday wear , so they should recognise us Christians , that we glorify with glad joy our loving heavenly Father !! Day after day doing our work we should return to our Redeemer with heart filled with gladness , Jesus Christ and with prayerful love glorify God !
With my heart filled with gratitude ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? "Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Luke 17:11-19
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….13 November 2018
In Sydney we went to the local botanical garden. We were amazed by the beauty of the various plants, bushes, and trees. Each was different and wonderful in its own way, fulfilling its duties according to the laws coded into it: it grows, blooms in a pageantry of colours, produces flowers and fruit; then it sheds its petals which slowly decompose in the soil. As lowly servants, they all complete their tasks quietly, without seeking applause, pay, or gratitude – they simply live… until they die.
How many colours and forms delighting the eye are shining below God’s blessed sky! How good it would be to learn from these plants and flowers, with roots planted in the ground to reach up and hug the blue heavens, proclaiming our Creator’s majesty! And then, when the time comes, to gently surrender the field to those who would come after us, so they too may proclaim in their own mass of colour and form, and in their own way, God’s infinite love for us.
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"
Luke 17:7-10
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 12 November 2018
"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea", and it would obey you.” Luke 17, 6
In Sydney I was able to visit The Australian National Maritime Museum , where one can find for instance the sailing boat of James Craig from the 19th century, as the original replica of Captain James Cook’s ship the Endeavour in her original size as well.
In all the boy’s adventure books the ships appear , and the series of the action packed voyages !! The sailing boat appearing in the picture was made of wood -according to the museum’s data - it went around the world twelve times ! How much faith was needed that during long months , years alone, without internet connection one crosses the infinite ocean ? How many storms, difficulties happened to this ancient vessel , that nowadays nicely renovated, lacquered is swaying on the peaceful waters of the bay , whilst its companions are quietly resting in their watery graves !? I was standing in front of these respectable, beautiful sailing boats and I was pondering whether the faith of the man of today , his enterprising spirit , his endurance, stamina , stubbornness can it be measured compared with that of our predecessors ??
For me this visit at the museum , beyond the objects of the exhibition , was also an insight into the manly power of ones willing to face everything , the bravery that surfaced in life threatening difficulties , into the greatness of man pushing the boundaries of nature to its limits as well !! I admired the wise designing work of the engineers , that people almost at the level of masters exactingly carried out working with wood , iron ore , fitted out with the ropes, sails made out of natural materials , then trusting in God’s caring, loving goodness with living faith on the deck set out towards unknown territories , lands ! It is possible that the sailors drank , committed sins inconceivable for us , but with corouge, determination in difficult conditions , tenability lead these hand-built vessels , on the stormy oceans of the world guided them into the safety of the harbours of far away parts of the world and this is of such a value that I respectfully can bow my head before it.
May God grant us that the man of the XXIst century as well can solve the seemingly impossible tasks of this day and age with such determination, persistent faith, bravery , inventiveness !!
With respect ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e..
Jesus said to his disciples, 'Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, "I repent", you must forgive.' The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' The Lord replied, 'If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea", and it would obey you.
Luke 17:1-6
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 11 November 2018 32. Sunday in Ordinary time Remembrance Day.
It is not only money you can give to God , but from within yourself , from your time also to your Creator !! In the midst of running around you take out your rosary beads and in the stillness you can recite a prayer , or read part of the scripture , perhaps you sit inside a church in front of the blessed Eucharist and then you really gave a gift to your Creator from what is the most precious for you , a few minutes from your life !!
I was talking with a few young people who have been volunteers at our Foundations ! They gave a few days, few weeks to the needy children , and though them to Christ ! ! I believe that Christ is not looking at the value of the work given as a gift of your own time, it maybe that your efforts are only worth two coins but I am convinced that if you give kind heartedly, then in the eyes of God your every minute is a precious gift that will last, remain for eternal life!
Lets dare to take on voluntary service , lets want to give time, energy to the One from Whom we received everything the we are , and all that we possessed as a gif !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : Father Csaba in Melbourne in the Saint Stephen Ecumenical Church Melbourne …. on 25th anniversary of the church
As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’
Mark 12:38-44
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..Friday 9 November 2018
“ Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple” John 2, 13
Jesus’s contemporaries loved God ! In fact in the name of their great love of God they also crucified Jesus ! For their people , their church , they were ready for any sacrifice ! Even though it would have been enough nicely, peacefully to pray in a clean, quiet church !
Most of the trouble is caused , that we always want something very much , but we tend to forget about the little things ! In Dés during my first year as a young friar , after the fall of communism everything was “pliable”and after the long oppression we thought we arrived into the promised land , I could also make big statement with great dynamism . Be it said in my favour in that euphoric mood I even thought so ! Then during one lunch dear Father Hugolin as he was listening to my big plans slightly crankily told me that he does not want me to become too fond of him and this world , it is sufficient when I live my room next to his that I turn the light off and shut the door, so that the draft won’t keep on banging the door ! Then I got offended ! I thought how can one create a new world in place of a toppled dictator with such puny minded people ?
Now each time when I leave a room and try to leave everything in nice order dear Father Hugolin wise admonition always comes to mind , that a new world starts with small things ! Here I turn the light off, there I quietly close a door , over there I plant a flower , and I use the house of prayer for what it was built for : for a meeting with my Creator ! In order to reach our goal, we have to get going with small steps in the right direction ! Every knew connection, relationship , that certain new world starts with the small things, that we carry out with great-great love !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : Saint Therese of Lisieu’s thought- dressed up for our days !
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, 'Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a market-place!' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' The Jews then said to him, 'What sign can you show us for doing this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
John 2:13-22
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 7 November 2018
" What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Mark 8,36
Let us consider it how much does selfishness and unselfishness effect my thoughts, my words , my decisions , my everyday deeds !! Do our own benefits , what is good for us , our goals , our imaginations can turn us away from our family , loved ones , brethren, even our own people , our Church and push us into such an immeasurable solitude that can only sweep our spirit into damnation! The road leading to hell is paved by good intentions ! The evil one wanting to destroy the pure joy of your heart , just like the good fisherman , put a valuable, interesting bait on the hook ,but he is not interested in the welfare of the fish , but what it gets out of it leads it on. !! For this reason before you make a decision flyer your plans , decisions have to be carefully checked and once you removed your selfish desires which are for your benefit , it is only then that you should make your plans be fulfilled !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture: At the altar at Marosfő painted by Archbishop Bálint Lajos about the “blessed of Erdély "
Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, 'Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Luke 14:25-33
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 6 November 2018
I ask you with prayerful love , love each other very , very much !Why did not people attend the wedding feast ? Because their own business was more important , than the one who invited them to the wedding feast! In one word : They did not love , they were selfish ! Love is such a leaven , that makes the flour into bread , like the mortar that turns the brick into a home , love makes life , that from our own cells makes tissues , organs, thoughts, desires , in one word gives birth to man in this world!
Love is that force , that by sorting out the pieces of a puzzle is capable from the rubble to form a picture ,changes people into a community, a nation , that from disorganised falling apart ruins can create a new world , from chaos order , a liveable cosmos ! Love can build from hatred , war , the valley of tears the precious Kingdom of God !
The rushing world makes us selfish , sullies us by sin , breaks up our communities , that is why consciously even morning I should quieten down and with great zeal -just like the flickering flame in the furnace- rekindle the genuine love in my heart ! Day after day one has to revive our adoring , fiery devotion towards God , and towards the creations the genuine , life-giving love in our hearts !
Stumbling in the school of love ,
Father Csaba
Picture : the dance of the children of Déva
One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to Jesus, 'Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!' Then Jesus said to him, 'Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, "Come; for everything is ready now." But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, "I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies." Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies." Another said, "I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come." So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, "Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame." And the slave said, "Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room." Then the master said to the slave, "Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner." '
Luke 14:15-24
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel.. 31 Sunday of ordinary Time 4 November 2018
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 39 ‘Love your neighbour as yourself" Matthew 22, 37-39
The basic , most important commandment of our Christian faith , is the main commandment !! The commandment has to be learnt by heart and it has to be kept !! I ask you lovingly to memorise these two sentences and may these precious lines be our only guide, our main compass in all our decisions , words , in every minute of our lives ! Whatever fits into this commandment is good, we can think , do and say it freely , whatever does not fit into it is sinful, it destroys , destructs , kills !!
It is simple, one can adhere to it , this is our way !!
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : up on the Hargita the last day of autumn and the first day of winter .
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.' Then the scribe said to him, 'You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other"; and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength", and "to love one's neighbour as oneself", — this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.' When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that no one dared to ask him any question.
Mark 12, 28-34
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 3 November 2018 …..
The decades, the centuries, the millenniums are passing , but only faith is capable of providing calming answers to the real secrets of our existence ! Science has developed incredibly a lot , man is researching the secrets of the tiniest atoms in awesome particle-accelerators , and with the giant telescopes sent into space it is studying the huge galaxies of the universe . We reached staggering results, new discoveries on a daily basis throws the world into a fever , but for the final questions of life we cannot find the answer ! It is awesome how much today’s biologists know about mankind, how our cells , genes work, we are progressing but every discovery brings with it newer and newer questions : As to who we are wherefrom and towards where are we heading ? Is there any point , purpose to all this bustling ! What’s the final meaning of our existence ?
We are standing awestruck in front of the beauty of our world , its miraculous complexity, seeing its unimaginable size , but what we can see is that facing the final things even the wisest scientists , the real great artists , or the talk of the politicians knowing the resources of the world is only stuttering ! Many many answers have been given by the greats of humanity to our questions , but amongst the dawning , inflaming and extinguishing , burning out answers only Christ’s wise teaching can calm down humanity even today by its brilliant light ! That is why I bow my head in front of my redeeming Lord , with my heart filled by hope drifting into the infinity , waiting very humbly till He calls my name and offers me a place at the foot of His table !
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : Two ducklings drifting on a tiny island made out of reed in the water of Lake Balaton.
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Luke 14:1, 7-11
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ….Friday 2 November All Soul’s Day
"for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5, 24-29
With prayerful love today, 2 November we are going to Körösbánya with the children . In Transylvania children from classes I-IV have autumn vacation. The weather is nice and we are going to this hidden little village on the slopes of the Western Carpathian mountains !!
Once they used to mine for gold here, many Hungarians lived in this land , there is a nice gothic church here and two cemeteries that are overgrown by bushes mostly ! In the nice autumn weather we would like to say a holy mass starting at 11 am with our children , for our dearly departed ! Will try to have a holy mass beamed through the internet as well, so those who would like to pray with us can do so!
We the living ones and those who have died are one people , we belong to God’s big family !! They help us , we help them with love and prayer ! Come lets take one another’s hands and ask for God’s blessing upon our world , and all who have lived here and are still living here !
With the hope of eternal life,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Truly, truly, I say to you,whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
John 5, 24-29
