Daily gospel

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….for Tuesday 21 August 2018 

‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’

Only Jesus knows the way into the kingdom of heaven , into eternal life ! Our Master not only knows the way but He Himself is the way and at the same time He is the goal as well !! Without Him nobody can be saved , because the One obtaining salvation is the Salvation Himself !! The kingdom of heaven is not only a gift , but the Giver Himself ! The living personal community of love the Holy Trinity ! Salvation is nothing less then ,  sitting at the one table with the Infinity , and immersed, absorbed into this welcoming, heart opening community of love ….

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Matthew 19:23-30

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 20 August 2018 The feast of Saint Stephen.

Regnum Dei ! 20th August is the feast of Saint Stephen, the day of the Foundation of the Country , for me the national feast dearest to my heart ! On this day we are not remembering that we had to fight  the Tartars, the Turks , the Austrians,  or the Russian arms, but about that we joined forces , sat down to one table , and together we decided that our common homeland will become a wonderland  , the Carpathian basin! The celebration of the Foundation of the Country ,the day of the reconciliation , trust , unity , our most important Christian feast ! 

Jesus Christ on the first day of  His public ministry , does not start with the development of infrastructures, does not write applications necessary  for the redemption of the world , but neither does He start to even building a church , but trustingly addresses the young people loafing around in the vicinity of the river Jordan : “ Come , see where I live !”Andrew and John went straight away to Jesus’ simple home in Nazareth ! According to the internet the journey from the river Jordan to Nazareth over 50 kms must have taken the young men 10-11 hours ! What could they have been talking about during the journey ? I like to imagine as the three young men arrive, tired, covered in dust to the simple quiet home in Nazareth ! Jesus lets out a cry of joy : “ My dear mother , come, and greet my newfound friends , together we are going to save the world! Would you mind preparing us dinner we are starving !” Lets imagine sitting down with them at the roughly carved  wooden table by St. Joseph, lets watch as Mary is busying herself in the kitchen , preparing a nice dinner , in the meantime Jesus brings out a carafe of wine : “Come let us drink a toast , to your health ! “Then Jesus explains His big plan :” We go to every man , we’ll tell them it’s much better to live together in peace and harmony , than driven by sinful , selfish desires, to wage wars , to argue , to be enemies!! We go to all and teach them the commandment of love , in one word we redeem the world ! Are you with me ?!” The apostles answer is clear : “Yes we’ll go , to build the wonderful kingdom of our creator God of love and peace !” In the meantime Mary is also finished with the preparation of the delicious  scrambled eggs , happily they talk and as it is written in the Holy Scripture , that night they slept there at Jesus’ place !! 

It is this simple ! Laying  bricks , stones wisely a wall will be made , a house , a home , a homeland ! A house built on rocks, a community even in a storm will still left standing , because every community that is built on love, trust can count on God’s powerful help , blessing ! Saint Stephen believed that a country built according to the commandment of love of Jesus Christ will survive ! I am going to Budapest with this same faith to take part in the celebration of our great king’s dream of the founding of our country! His dream , his plan, is my dream , my plan as well ! I believe that if all of us living in the Carpathian basin can put aside our differences in national, religious , political outlooks , patiently we join forces then in reality we can make our common homeland into a wonderland ! If we not only ask with prayerful love , that God’s kingdom may come , but through wise , trustful dialogue , we build it with loyal hard work then our common homeland , the kingdom of Jesus Christ God ,  our king Saint Stephen’s wonderland despite all hailstorms , wind, storm will still remain standing !! 

I wish every inhabitant of the  beautiful Carpathian basin a jubilee blessed by God .

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’

Matthew 7:24-27

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 19th August 2018 …20th Sunday of Ordinary time

To Mary’s “yes” the second divine person, Jesus Christ became man, became incarnate in Bethlehem and came among us !! In the sacrifice of the mass to the priests’, worshipers’ “yes” , who gathered in the name of Christ , the same living God becomes the Holy Eucharist , becomes incarnate , comes among us !! We believe and profess that the same Divine person who addressed Abraham, Moses , like the One who came among us on the night of Christmas and the One who appears in every sacrifice of the mass is also present in the Holy Eucharist! One and the same infinite, living Love turns towards us His blessing, life-giving , kind-hearted face , to which , like the faithful of all times with living faith, we adoringly and joyfully answer our God !!

Professing the great mystery of incarnation, 

Father Csaba

translated by dr e.k. 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."

John 6:51-58

Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel….  Saturday 18 August 2018

We took in the first children in Déva 25 years ago ! As a spiritual leader for the youth , I organised several camps , meetings for the young people, children. At the end of summer , after many successful programs we still had a little money left, and with my colleagues we organised a camp for the  poor, begging children who were hanging around our presbytery ! We took in between 25-30 children to the presbytery where we organised many cheerful, witty programs …Already on the first day armed with a litre of shampoo and lots of soap we went to a nearby river, the Strigy, where the battle of Piski took place as well, we  scrubbed the children well, dressed them in nice , clean clothing , and from that moment on the little street-smart , timid street-kids became wonderful, happy friends! In the light of our love , just as the fruit tree , in the spring sunshine bursts into flowers , they were laughing, playing , they were beautiful ! The summer was great with them ! At the end of the camp I told them, that this was it , the play has ended , I blew them a kiss , you can go home ! The children were looking with big, widely opened eyes ,then one of the little girls spoke with a teary voice : “but why can’t we have a camp for a whole year ?!” We had a good laugh , the after a great pillow fight , that seemingly solved the weepy mood , the children fell asleep ,but   I was tossing and turning in my bed ! The ideas were swirling in my head …why should we not have a camp lasting for a year  ?!…After all the children did not go to school last year either , neither will they go this year , so why would not I take them in , they could attend school from here… Of course the thought also occurred to me , that we live in Romania , where the authorities want to have control over everything , where there are no laws , but we have no financial resources either …. As I was tossing and turning  in my bed , it became clearer and clearer to me that God’s will is to share my bread with the hungry , to take the children into our home ! The following morning we set out to fulfil the will of God!! On 15 September 1993 we were standing there at the school year opening ceremony of the largest Romanian school close to us with twenty sweet  , nicely washed and dressed  street children! There were no parents but I took the members of the women’s association of Déva , who following the example of the parents gave flowers to everybody there ! The close to two thousand children, teachers were very happily listening to the speeches at the opening ceremony of the school year , we also clapped  nicely , then at the end of the celebrations the school principal came to me asking who we were ? I told her that  the children were enrolled into the Hungarian section of the local school ! “ But there is nothing like this here “ replied the principal very angrily … So this is how 25 years ago the child protection started in Déva ! There were a lot of anxious moments, threats , even crying but..all is well if it ends well ! Those grubby little children grew up, became taxpaying citizens , established families , a by now they are parents of 2-3 children ! It is good to sit down with them and reminiscing about the good old days over a beer ! Yes we started a new life in 1993 and today there is plenty to talk about !

We open the door to those knocking !!!During the 25 years we took in close to 6000 children , close to four thousand have finished their studies and “flew the nest” ! The Saint Francis Foundation right from the start wanted to be like a big tree on which the birds of heaven can land , they can make their nest on its branches , prepare a hollow in its trunk , and if they so wish can fly on any time ! I would not want to build a cage for anybody ! The nearest blood relative , or guardian selected by the state , can look me up any time and if they have problems , in the name of God  , in writing can ask us to take, accept the child into our care. Naturally we will look into the situation , the reasons, the  problems  , and if the physical, mental, spiritual  integrity of the child is endangered , then we will take the child in with love . Naturally if the circumstances , problems , illness that were the reasons for taking the child in , change for the better then we gladly return the children to their parents or guardian who asked for our help ! 

To move on ! Our work is  infinitely simple ! We are trying to take over the role of the parents partially or totally ! In cases where there is either a grandmother or an uncle , there its simpler on weekends , or during the vacations , we visit them, try to keep in touch ! In any case during the school year our children also go to kindergarten , school ! Of course the multiplication table and the other challenges of the school are “avoidable” for our children as well, soccer , playing , a popular grape harvest festival, or a new year's eve party are much more exciting , popular “occupations “ ! There are times when we praise  happily our children , but there are also times when with a sad heart we have to chide them just like any other parent ! During the school year our time is mainly filled by studying , however during vacations excursions, camps, bathing/ swimming make the lives of our homes more colourful ! At present we  are getting ready with around 2000 children on 83 different locations for the 2018-2019 school year ! 

According to many our children are much more attached to each other also, but perhaps to adults as well , perhaps they are more grateful for receiving something than children growing up with their own flesh and blood parents ! One fact is that after a serious illness we ourselves also appreciate our health much more than when everything went well ! Children before they get to us undergo a  shorter or longer period of uncertainties of existence in their lives . So its natural that they appreciate a soft , warm bed or a nice lunch , the kind word of the carer more than their contemporaries , for whom this was a natural part of their childhood ! 

God does not create any rejects ! Many are asking what did I experience in the midst of so many children ?! One thing is certain, every child is a blessed masterpiece of God , a gift for all of us !! When we take in a new child I usually say to the colleagues , who knows we maybe taking in the next centuries József Attila or Bartók Béla ! One cannot know what is present in a child , the child  does not know it either , that is why the teaching profession is so wonderful, so interesting ! The way one unwraps a gift under a Christmas tree , in reality this is what a good pedagogue is doing as well, helps the development  of the child entrusted in their care! Slowly , patiently , undoing the knots from under the many layers of the wrapping paper , to uncover those values, treasures by which our world will be more beautiful, liveable , habitable ! Yes Jesus started a dialogue with Saul driven by murderous temper, and by the end of the dialogue Saul becomes Saint Paul, the apostle of the people , who at the end of his life humbly writes the most beautiful poem in the history of the world , translated to most languages , most often published  “The Hymn of Love” ! I believe that in the heart of every child there is a Beautiful Hymn of love and, whether this comes to the surface , whether this becomes a common property , most of the time depends on us the child, the adults! 

It’s good to do good ! Within the Saint Francis Foundation over 500 employees turned up,! Together with the volunteers, our supporters I can  easily say that more than a thousand of us worked just so our children may have everything ! There were some who only stayed for a couple of years , but they were many who pledged themselves for many -many years side by side with the children ! Thanks be to God I nurture a good relationship with all of them , and all of them say that the nicest part of their lives was when they lived together with the children ! It is not easy to be on  “standby" for 24 hours a day beside the children , often it is not easy to  console a crying child  or calm down a teenager , at the parent-teacher nights to listen to the complaints of the teachers!  It is not easy to raise a child , but this is such a work that is such a challenge that is meaningful, that is about real life , that moves one out of the selfish solitude , that gives a meaning to  getting up in the morning, to the daylong work ! It is quite certain that the joy of  the honest work well done is the purest joy that we can take part in in this world ! I often say to my dear colleagues, volunteers, supporters that when the time comes and you’ll be knocking at the door of the kingdom of heaven and Jesus  Christ will call out through the door to ask you as to who you are , then answer bravely : You little rascal , how You have grown don’t You recognise me ? You know I was the one who taught You  at that time in Déva, Szászváros, Szováta, Tusnádfürdő ! Then Jesus' glance will light up and lovingly will tell you: but of course I remember , you were the one who at the time took me in in the name of my heavenly Father , now I am taking you into the kingdom of heaven , to the heavenly feast , come and sit at my right side ! 

The world is a better place with us ! Getting ready for the 25th jubilee together with my colleagues I was looking at some length at the list of names, the photos, and we were discussing was there ever or is there now such a child, colleague whom we should not have taken in ? We could say something good, something funny, interesting about everybody , and we felt that we did a good service to those who in those days when we opened the door to those who knocked at our door , because by that person we became richer , more ! I could not name any child or adult who would have not been the blessing of our creator God ! At the end of my letter I encourage you all , to dare to say yes to life, dare to share your life with the children either your blood relatives , or as we did it following the example of Saint Joseph, who not by the will of the flesh and blood became the foster father of the little Jesus but by the request of the heavenly Father ! 

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Matthew 19:13-15

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ….Thursday 16 August 2018

"You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” Matthew 18, 21

In the stillness of summer let me put myself  a question : how much running around, problems, troubles are around us and within us ?! Am I overburdening my fellow “slaves” with all sorts of tasks, work to be done, because of imagined or real debts? Are my loved ones , my colleagues living around me  wanting to live up to my expectations like driven   “brutes”?  My family, children are only the  living decorations of my expectations , whims, my unfulfillable greed or am I capable to spend quality time with them , where we don’t have to pretend to be someone else , but we are just ourselves ?! Unfortunately we are always in a rush and in many  instances we are only visible then “really” being there , and so we are not  growing stronger for eternal life ,but we are crumbling eroded  in the crossfire of the the spinning minutes of the everyday !

Lets stop ! Lets reassure ourselves ! There are no concerns , I am not going to miss out on anything , the only meaning of my life is not going to pass by me ! Lets make peace with my sense of vocation, since I did not create the world and I am not the one keeping in order its working ! Why would I panic ?!

Desiring mercy lets be merciful with our children as well , lets leave them to read , play with their friends , be quiet during the summer vacation ! Lets be merciful towards each other , letting go our insatiable expectations , that are tormenting , gnawing at our loved ones until they strike them down , like the hunting dogs bring down their prey ! Let me be merciful towards myself as well, lets send on holidays my other self that is always unsatisfied ! Lets lie in the sun , let the blessed sunbeam to embrace , cradle me ! Lets forget about the others' debt  and let that the newly found peace within me and around me get me accustomed to the Infinity ! This quiet peace the peace of the child as he develops in the mother’s womb be the measure of my working speed , the token of our peace made with God, and each other. 

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 'For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything." And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, "Pay what you owe." Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you." But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?" And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.' When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Matthew 18:21-19:1

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 14 August 2018  The feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe

"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “ Matthew 18,1

I am sitting in a reformed church and tears are pouring from my eyes . There is a strange feeling in my heart . As a Franciscan friar , I am trying to grow up to a new role . One of our daughters made me into the “father of the bride “! This story started over 15 years ago . An elderly Székely woman called me to Székelyudvarhely, she was raising two grandchildren , at that stage neither of them attended school yet .Her daughter gave birth to two children as a single mother , quickly one after the other , then went into the big wide world where they lost track of her.The grandmother tried to be be mother to them as well, but unfortunately her husband had a serious accident and for this reason she asked my crying , to take in the granddaughters, in the name of God so she could take care of her husband . I kissed the top of the head of each bewildered girls, then taking them by the hand we left for the big world outside. The years passed , the girls grew up and left the nest from our home in Szováta . A couple of months ago the elder girl looked me up and told me that someone proposed to her and she said yes, and she also asked me to attend  her wedding, in Udvarhely in a reformed church . Last Saturday I went as asked and I looked for the minister , and it was there and then that I found out that I was called really not to marry them . I got the role of the father of the bride. I went outside the church where my beautiful grown-up daughter blushing took my arm and we were already on the way towards  the Lord’s table , where a lanky young man was standing from one leg to another . On the way I asked my daughter : Do you know this young man ? With her eyes widely open she whispered to me : “ Of course he is my fiancé .”I also asked her whether is he a nice young man, is he not bullying you ? Upon this Edina blushed even more , and all she said was :”No, I love him very much .” By then we already arrived at the Lord’s table . I looked at the young man and asked him that what was he doing there ? Without a second thought he answered quick as a flash , that he would like to marry Edina . I asked him, do you love her ? The answer came straight away : “ Oh of course I love her very much . “ I took Edina’s hand off my arm and placed it into the hand of the young man with the beaming face, then take care of her “- I said .

Then I went to my seat in the church, allocated to the father of the bride , and the ceremony of marriage started , according to the old traditions of the reformed church . It was good to be sitting there in the pew , taking delight in the young couple squeezing each others hand! I was thinking to myself, that no matter how full my heart is with love towards our dear children and my beloved colleagues I still somehow have to find room in my heart to  squeeze this young man in as well so I can grow up to the role of being a father-in-law as well.

I can say that it is great to say yes to life , it is wonderful to take hold of a child’s hand and with  a heart trusting in God to set out in the big wide world . Every single child is a big adventure , a sweet burden and I encourage everybody that do not leave out children of your life for whatever the world can offer . Accept them either as I did it- or as a parent their  own flesh and blood - the sweet burden of fatherhood , motherhood since your children can make you into fathers and mothers of the bride or bridegroom , beloved grandfathers or grandmothers , your lives will really become a blessing in them, through them !

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 'Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Monday 13 August 2018

In today’s gospel Jesus Christ shows an example about paying taxes, fitting in with society ! Jesus takes His share of equality of sacrifice! From fishing He produces the prescribed contributions of those times, and not only for Himself , but also pays Peter’s share as well ! We Christians do not want to to reject the existing social rules, however we would like to make those better, more user-friendly, more perfect ! Society can count on us Christians , following the example of our Master we would like to  "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.(ΤΑ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΑΠΟΔΟΤΕ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΤΩ ΘΕΩ, Mark 12,17)

I am a dual citizen of Hungary and Romania, and I would like to be a law-respecting citizen of both countries..

With love,

Father Csaba 

Picture:Saint Peter in the main square of Rome.

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.' And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes, he does.' And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?' When Peter said, 'From others', Jesus said to him, 'Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offence to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.'

Matthew 17:22-27

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 12 August 2018 -19th Sunday of Ordinary time.

By the grace of God I got to the cave of the Great Saint Anthony ! I was sitting in the timeless silence by the light of the flickering  candle, my heart was filled by peace , tranquility , the joy of the presence of God ! I thought that I must return back here for weeks, months , to pray in the presence of my beloved God ! My thoughts were disturbed by a clear, forceful voice :” Why would you travel so far for a desert, uninhabited  place , when in your surrounding the churches became deserted , empty ?”

I was sitting on the stone in a cave only a few square meters in size, and I shuddered in this realisation ! Yes God’s house, dwelling place , our churches became empty , and Christ sitting enthroned in our midst is waiting lonely for His children ! Unfortunately for very many Christians what is of the highest importance the priests’ homily, the choir, the cantor what sort of show is put on , and not the  divine presence  filling the church ! When the church is empty and there is no ceremony, liturgy, our Lord Jesus Christ is still awaiting us in the tabernacle in the form of the Holy Eucharist ! In reality this quiet meeting, this dialogue with God is the only means renew, make fertile , joyous our lives ! We tend to criticise the young people in whose ears through earphones the music is blasting away , but am I really capable by becoming quiet , paying attention to my God , spend and hour or so in prayer in a church, chapel nearest to my place of residence ?

Sitting in silence , placing nothing in front of the altar , to let God’s love, goodness , like the warmth of the sunshine to permeate me, to warm up my icy heart . Out of the ten commandments God’s first request : “ Worship your Lord, your God !”  The church is God’s house, the meeting place of  of the Holy Trinity and man in this world ! In our churches , chapels heaven and earth touch , lets step inside this XXIst century desert, because the Lord of the house is quite certainly  waiting us lovingly , whether we come in our wedding robe , but even when we are sneaking in with the prodigal son’s fear into the Father’s house ! 

The chapel in our house in Csobánka , the quiet mountain in its grounds , are very suitable that either for a day or even for a whole week we humbly retire and spend the time in the adoration of God ! Jesus Christ again and again retired to a lonely place , and following His example we should also step out from the bustle, turmoil of the everyday , and even in Csobánka lets find that desert where God may address us , where worshipping our Creator we can give thanks and praise for everything ! 

One can knock at the door of Árvai Tamás, who is the caretaker of the house , can provide lodging but quite certainly a slice of bread to the praying man : Tamás Árvai <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

On the eve of a day spent in prayer in Csobánka ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ They were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

John 6:41-51

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel  Saturday 11 August 2018…. The Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi

"How much longer must I put up with you?” Matthew 17,14 You trusted us with simple task our Lord and yet so often unfortunately,  either partly or totally we miss carrying it out ! All day long we are rummaging, shuffling,  talking nonsense, gibberish , but we cannot show any results or have little or nothing to show for it!! I ask You humbly , the way You teach Your disciples patiently , again and again please start from the beginning moulding us, educating us don’t let us get lost in our swollen-headed , conceited in our sins ! 

In the hope of starting again,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’

Matthew 17:14-20

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..Thursday 9 August 2018 Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), virgin and martyr, the co-patron of Europe .

"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.”

It is awe-inspiring to hear these words from Jesus’ mouth , that us, beings from a fistful of dust are capable so undeservingly to enter into the furnace of love of the infinite divine love! The way as the persons of the Divinity love one another , they love us in the same way also, and Jesus is encouraging us to dare , and want to reciprocate this boundless love ! Yes the purpose of our life is , to worship God, and to love the creatures ! The measure is this unmeasurable love! "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13, 34 

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Picture : God and man sit at the one table.

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

John 15:9-17