Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 26 May 2018
"And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them." Mark 10, 16
We live under evil conditions we normally say ! Yes, wherever we look around , we see that “unfortunate” people are searching anxiously for their place, causing each other pain with disputes , also themselves !
We were born to follow our Master , to bless our smaller -bigger children!! How many of my “children” did I say a blessing for even if only in my thoughts today ? Do I pray for the ones living around me ? Lets not condemn people , but following Christ’s example I should also say a blessing, become a blessing for the children , for my brethren !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:13-16
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..Friday 25 May 2018
In our tangled, swirling world , if you look for hope, you want to see with your own eyes our Heavenly Father’s caring goodness , then gaze in wonderment at a father’s , mother’s caring, protective love towards their child!! I received this photo from a dear colleague ! Robi grew up with us, I baptised him , I know him from early childhood, he was in my arms many times !! I know him and yet I cannot understand him! Where does this great fatherly love towards his child come from ?!
Lets stop in our fast paced world , lets make a cup of tea and gaze in wonderment at this picture ! Lets ask ourselves the question , where does so much affection, goodness come from in him, in us ? How can we without even thinking go against our own comfort, our everyday interests to take on and carry the conceived , born fragile life ? How much sacrifice, effort, time , patience is needed for the acceptance , raising of one or more children, and yet a father , a mother undertakes this smiling, without complaining , joyfully !? Where does this immeasurable fatherly, motherly love come from, that just fills the heart of the young people , like an endless torrent and is capable of changing, sanctifying two grownup teenagers ? For themselves, for making progress in their studies , for anything it is so difficult to bring a big sacrifice , but well it is good to get up for a small child crying in his sleep , for the flickering tiny life , to put everything aside and serve it with a caring, protective love ! We all feel within ourselves the weakness, the selfishness that pulls us down , but how wonderful it is, that we still can bend down , humbly serve , be at the beck and call of the tiny life !! The fatherly , motherly love sanctifies , I believe that somewhere here , through the service of life does God’s beautiful face shine in us and through us !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.
Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’
Mark 10:1-12
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..Thursday 24 May 2018….Feast of Mary ,help of Christians .
Your being given to you as a gift you yourself have to also live through , experience as a gift , but kindheartedly you also have to change every moment of your existence into a gift !!
I arrived home safely to Déva ! I arrived and going around taking into consideration my duties! What are my tasks in the days to come ?? My job description is very simple always the same, but never boring : To worship God and to love my “neighbours" living here as myself ! Yes, to love, consciously making our children, colleagues and naturally all those knocking on our door nicer, purer richer!! It is very important to make ourselves aware that when we arrive after a long journey : “ you came for , you exist for that you love , to do good , to heal wounds, to console , to encourage, to give strength , momentum , emitting light you shine like the lamp on a holder for everyone !!”
My Lord , my Master , I am here ,
tired but ready for immediate action , for love , so that what is bent I can straighten , what is torn , quietly before anybody notices it to sew together , to sharpen the blunt knife , so that things may work better in the house!! I am here my Lord that following Your example by dispensing blessing I become a blessing, that by sanctifying my brethren in my own insignificance I also become sanctified ,that being a true, lesser brother of all I can become their all! I beseech You my Lord, help me that all the tasks I have received from You , with Your help I can carry to a satisfactory solution!
On Your marvellous road Your stumbling child,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture: yesterday I was still in Szárhegy.
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’
Mark 9:41-50
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 23 May 2018
"For whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9, 40
God shared with us His omnipotence! We can create not only something good , but also the bad! We can bring out from each other the good, the saint , the just man, but unfortunately with the guidance of the evil spirit we can bring out not only from ourselves but from each other as well such base, sinful , evil things about the existence of which we have not even heard before ! Man is not this or that , man is a continuously changing dynamically changing entity , which are affected not only by the forces deep below the surface , but by the powers raging in their surrounding also have a forming effect !
In this changing , swirling world , for us only Jesus Christ is the only secure point, the quiet haven, I seek refuge in Him, I would like to live in His shining, calm presence , to learn from Him ! Our Master is encouraging us not to seek the evil , the confrontation in each other but with kindhearted gentleness , wise , patient talk, with good example -just like the blessed sun in the sky- lets try to bring to the surface , to draw out from each other the values, the life, the love ! What do you bring out from your wife, your husband , your colleagues to the surface , in every living being the good and evil are present ?
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 22 May 2018
"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9, 35
Jesus is not saying , that we should not try to be great, first, but that whoever wants to become really great , should be the servant of all !! Because whoever wants to be the greatest , that person should be deliberately the least , the last in the house!! You can be a champion, with a Christian phrase saint, but only if you undertake the work , the tasks on behalf of others as well, if you shoulder others” burdens, worries , cross without a word, smiling, lovingly!
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Mark 9:30-37
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 14 May 2018
"I have conquered the world!’” John 16, 33
May our hearts be filled with hope upon the words of Jesus!! Lets get hold of Mary’s hand and let Her to lead us out from the land of fear, sin, violence , into the Kingdom of Her Holy Son, into the city for the God Loving people!!
With trust ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus' disciples said, 'Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.' Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!'
John 16:29-33
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Sunday 13 May 2018 The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.
In Fatima today during the holy mass an African father was standing next to me . Before holy communion we embraced each other with love and we offered peace by shaking hands !! I thought joyfully of the missionaries , who in their days acting upon the words of Jesus went to Africa and converted with love one of the ancestors this young priest to the Christian faith!!
Jesus before going up to heaven repeats the missionary commandment : " He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16,15. There is no other healing balm indeed for the wounds of our world in turmoil than the proclaiming of the gospel! Jesus showed us one road that was feasible, the way of conversion , lets embark on it confidently , because it is certain that this is a feasible route leading us to reach our goal! Lets dare to come forward with our “treasure” , lets dare to proclaim the gospel in our homeland , but lets also dare if need be to set out , conquering our prejudices , our half-heartedness and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ’s healing, life-giving holy teaching !! If my thirst was quenched , by Christ’s blessed gospel, then let me not hesitate , humbly let me share with others as well this precious, life-giving source !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture: Among the knights of Mary right in front of me my African brother in Christ.
And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptised will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.
Mark 16:15-20
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 12 May 2018
"Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”John 16, 24
Through the intercession of Mary and the child prophets I beseech our Lord Jesus Christ , that our Mother the Church discovers the beautiful features of our Redeemer , and every year the 1st June with the blessing of His holiness the pope should be the feast of the Christ Child !! I am praying so that the happy , playing, mischievous , beautiful, flushed face of Jesus Christ, playing on the dusty streets of Nazareth with the other children , may shine as an example for all of us !! There is not anything in this world , worry, trouble that could be solved more successfully with prematurely old adult lamentation , than with a happy , hopeful childlike drive, that is why I am praying that the Christ Child’s cheerful, happy spirituality, trusting in the Heavenly Father may conquer my dear people and the whole world !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
"I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world.
Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
John 16, 23b-28
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Friday 11 May 2018
"you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. “ John 16, 20
Let us trust in God and let Him guide us !! Even if He is leading us towards the Golgotha , lets not be afraid as surely on the dawn of Easter He will lead us through triumphantly!!
I pray with love in Fatima in the house of the three little prophets , to dare to accept sacrifices for each other for this world gone mad !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
John 16:20-23
The Word of God
Jesus said, 'I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.'
John 16:12-15
Father Csaba,
translated by dr k.e.
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 8 May 2018…
"it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you” John 16, 5
Our Mother the Church started our preparation for the beautiful feast of Pentecost ! The readings of the mass these days open up for us the beautiful features of the Holy Spirit . In today’s gospel the Holy Spirit is featured for us as Jesus Christ’s present for us :” if I go I’ll send Him to you !”From a Wonderful Giver of Gifts , a wonderful Gift.I think , that this blessed Gift of Jesus Christ , the blessed “ package” has not been opened by very many of us . We know He exists. perhaps many of us have been confirmed , but somehow He is within us like the unstirred sugar in a teacup. The Holy Spirit is within us but He has not become part of our daily life . How could we open up , stir up for our lives this precious present giving our lives sweetness ? How could we meet in our everyday lives with the living, personal third part of the Holy Trinity ?
During the first years of the Saint Francis foundation I often said : “Lets ensure a wide space for God’s caring , kind hearted love “, what I meant was that lets dare whole heartedly to rely on God , lets dare to say yes to all those tasks in His name to which , God’s Holy Spirit calls us. One can only sit securely on a bike whilst it is in motion , because if our the two wheeled vehicle slows down , stops then we also tip over, fall off the bicycle . We can walk together with the Holy Spirit on the way of active love . Our everyday creative, fast-moving world , making it better and more beautiful , on the way of active love the Holy Spirit will be our partner to motivate, strengthen , help us and if we are partners in the further creation of the world then He will reveal His secrets more and more, before us from day to day. The timid, stationary spirit incapable to act will topple as it cannot experience the soaring that is given to those who trust in the world forming power of the Holy Spirit. In September 1993 under the ruins of the collapsed communism we were very poor and it looked very bleak from a monastery in ruins ( that was only returned to us ten years later by the Romanian state ) to start a child protection home. Not only were we short on the financial means , but the laws of Romanian state were not ready either to take a step like this. . There was nothing except the hungry , dirty children , but I could sense with incredible force, the power of the Spirit that not only moved me, but took me along the way of serving love . The taking in, accepting one or more dirty children was the triumph of living faith over fear . We were treading on sharp stones but the Holy Spirit guided us not to bash our feet against the stone . It was awesome to see Divine Providence as the protector of the orphans to take care of everything , upon the calling of the Spirit people appeared from nowhere to help us financially , with their work , lives hurrying to the aid of children in trouble . The active love undertaken humbly not only opens a wide space for Divine Providence , but also brings the third person of the Holy Trinity among us. Yes, if you desire to meet with the Holy Spirit set out humbly on the way of merciful love and He will most probably walk by your side .One can soar with the Holy Spirit, but cower frightened, sadly most certainly not!
With love ,
Father Csaba,
translated by dr k.e.
Two of my colleagues who gave everything for the service of God’s orphans.
Jesus said, 'Now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, "Where are you going?" But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.'
John 16:5-11
