Daily gospel

Let’s  hold on tightly to the cross of Christ . He protects us from evil, He shows us the way !!

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

Jesus said to the disciples, 'And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.'

John 17:11-19

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 28 May 2019 

Lot of people say it that Christ died in vain the world has not changed at all . See, two thousand years ago in one of the most developed country , belonging to the Roman Empire “ The Holy Land “ a controversial question in the middle of the day is solved by crucification . Who could list that over the last thousands of years , centuries how many controversial questions they tried to solve by violence , bloody wars and well in the past days during the election of the members of the EU parliament there was no bloodshed even though in every member country of the Eu the stakes were very high . Over the last few days governments fell here and there , longstanding reigning powers were eroded , meant their fall.

It was not in vain that after the passage of two thousand years , slowly, with bloody head , but we learnt from history and nowadays people are departing without murderous wars from power and pass onto others the presidential chairs ! I get on my knees with my heart filled with gratitude in front of God and give thanks to my Creator that He is leading mankind with strong hands towards wise maturity .

Arguments existed and will continue to exist , but it is great that everybody has the opportunity to present their views, their opinions -just as I am doing now are able to share these few thoughts-in the public media , can gather friends , companions , form a party and according to democratic rules of the game can get that power by which they realise their plans . In the recent elections groups, parties that started with lots of money but with an empty world of ideas , that were deeply rooted for decades lost . There were also such communities that started to become organised recently , but because they found the answers to the problems, fears  of people living around them and they took on those bravely , that is why triumphed and society pays attention to their words .

Where did we start out from and where did we get to ….Certainly we have not reached our goals, nobody can put their feet up, because we have not reached God’s kingdom yet , but I believe that the direction is good and it is good to proceed with you in this direction !!

With gratitude and love .

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e. 

Photo : the young people and the politicians 

The Word of God

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

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 26th May 2019 6th Sunday after Easter 

Freewill is one of God’s most precious gifts that He offers to all creatures !!  Which way the roots of a fern tree grow in a rocky soil is decided by it, which way the little fawn runs in a forest is also its little hearts decision ! On the dawn of creations our ancestors were given by God the chance of choice and their decisions He respected . The whole of the Old Testament is a chain of events of the good and bad decisions of  human freewill . With the night of Christmas when God came amongst us the human freewill did not end ! Jesus again and again puts His disciples into a situation when they have to make decisions and respects man’s decision . Mary’s “yes” , the rich young man’s ‘no” are not overwritten by divine power. 

In today’s passage of the gospel there is a beautiful sentence :"‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. “ John 14, 23 

What is Jesus saying ? The one who decides to keep my teaching , that person loves me and the Father ! Your love gives us the right to step into your life , and not just for a short visit but to make our dwelling place with you . How awesome  freedom is really an opportunity that we love God , and that we sit at the same table with Him . In reality that man is really free who is not hindered by his fears, of little faith , sins , stray desires , by temper clouding his judgement , so that in the stillness of his conscience he is able to recognise what is the best for him , the will of God. The one who can freely love God , will meet with God , his life will be fulfilled and no matter how stumbling, small he maybe , he can still count on the Holy Trinity bending down to him and lifting him into that community of love where at the bottom of our heart we all desiring to be. 

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e. 

Photo: Marika next to the  Christ Child .

The Word of God

Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

John 14:23-29

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Friday 24 May 2019 

Does the mother of the youngest prince baking scones in ashes love her child ? Yes , it is quite certain that she loves her child as well as the one who mollycoddles her child, takes her little boy to school ny car , does everything in place of her child and gets infinitely  upset why the teacher during class pesters her offspring with homework !!

There are lots of different types of love , lets see how Jesus loves His disciples ! He invites Andrew , John to Nazareth , a journey of 52 kms from the river Jordan and that night the boys even slept there ….that I can understand after such a long walk . He asks Peter to row out into the deep water , then throw the fishing net and only after He sees what his work is like does He invite him to be His disciple . He does not treat His friends with kid gloves , He asks Peter in front of everybody to set out on the stormy sea ! He sends them out in pairs into the big wide world and ask them to perform miracles then when on mount Tabor they cannot cure a sick young boy He asks them angrily : “how much longer should I put up with you ?” Jesus continuously overburdens them with work , He likes it that way ! Jesus is not raising milksops but sturdy, tough men and women , people who will cope with the difficulties  amidst the storms of life ! Jesus is not waiting upon the good-for-nothing people , but with infinitely gentle love involves all His disciples in the extremely trying work of the redeeming  of the world , He invites them to an extremely hard life, culminating in martyrdom! No matter how harsh this sounds we have to love our children but each other as well according to the example Jesus Christ , so that the child  living by our side will grow up into such an adult who can  weather all difficulties , will not become a diffident , stumbling adult , but a saint who will have his wits about him , being able to always manage the situation ! Lets love in such a way that my child will become a human cathedral , and not some sort of deserted , unwanted by all, ramshackle shed !

With a christlike love , 

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo:My dear friends the six nice  children of Nagy Zsolt and Kata , their eldest is studying theology wants to become a friar.

The Word of God

‘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 15:12-17

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel …. Tuesday 21 May 2019 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you"

I admire God’s peace, there is so much unrest, unruliness , quarrelling , war in this world and yet our Redeemer is still capable to come amongst us on the night of Christmas and He is still calm when they have to flee , when His mother is searching for Him anxiously in Jerusalem . He is not in a hurry, He plays with the children of Nazareth , growing peacefully in kindness , wisdom . His public work is also characterised by this divine peace. He walks 52 km from Nazareth to the river Jordan , get baptised by Saint John the Baptist , kindly calls His apostles to be His companions and systematically roams over His homeland ! Calmly , patiently teaches and when His apostles loose their patience and send away the children then He even then with gentle peacefulness chides them and ask them to let the children come to Him . Jesus Christ’s peace in unperturbed , even  by the suffering on Holy Thursday , Good Friday . He prays gently asking the heavenly Father to forgive mankind for the sin of the murder of the Son of God , since they do not know what they are doing . How much peace is there after the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well , how good it would be if in reality His peace could be ours too !? It does not depend on Him , He offers it to us lovingly !!

On this nice day lets become still , lets look within ourselves how much peace is there within us ? If I would rate the peace within me on a scale from one to ten how would I grade myself ? Whether the peace within me is it Christ’s peace ? Of course I have to take count of the sources of my lack of inner peace , what is it that makes me uneasy, what disturbs me , causes tension within and around me ? How real are the causes of these tensions ? What did I do or am I doing that these tensions within and around me stop , get solved ? 

Together with Saint Francis lets ask Jesus Christ to make us the instruments of peace in our families , in society - that looks as though it wants to be torn apart to thousands of pieces by the fear arising from unrest, ambition , lack of faith - so that I can bring peace .

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.                                                         

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; 

Where there is darkness, light; 

And where there is sadness, joy. 

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console; 

To be understood, as to understand; 

To be loved, as to love; 

For it is in giving that we receive, 

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. 

Amen.

Photo : Our children  with Pope Francis under the bright skies of Rome 

The Word of God

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you." If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

John 14:27-31

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 16 May 2019

"Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” John 13, 16-20

Jesus speaks several times of the Good Shepherd !! He describes what the true good shepherd is like , how he has to behave so that the sheep should listen to his word and follow him . In the passage quoted above Jesus identifies Himself with His colleagues , the priests , friars consecrated to Him . When I first read these words I was shivering with cold , as on the one hand I feel my own insignificance, fallibility , weakness , on the other hand I feel , that I as a servant of God in reality I have to be  Alter Christ ( the replica of Christ). We have to implement  what Saint Paul puts so beautifully when he says :” I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”Galatians 2, 20

Let us pray for vocations , so that the rich young men, the boys and girls hear the call of Christ and with a great spirit get going on the narrow and steep way of the adoration of God, love of mankind . God does not only want to speak to us through the Holy Scripture , would not only like to be among us in the Holy Eucharist , but with the everyday serving love wants to be present in the lives of the women and men consecrated to Him. 

With the love of a lesser brother ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : With Father Pál Feri 

The Word of God

Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’

John 13:16-20

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 15 May 2019

Jesus again and again testifies about the community of love of the Holy Trinity, from which we are not locked out either ! “Come to me all of you “ -says Jesus and this is not just like a poetic invitation , but a real one into the divine community of love ! The tragedy of Europe and the developed world is that we are not looking for a living, personal relation with God , but we are satisfied with the joys of the material world , the many worthless junk, clothes , expensive food , cars , houses rising high like crypts , empty boasting in front of each other !! We believe we can do everything , we can try everything , but our topsy-turvy rummaging , our idiotic behaviour does not make us joyful , but more like an ape, a missing link  , similar to the evil spirit ! 

Although I know that I don’t deserve it , I am not really expecting alms from my Creator , but that He takes hold of my hand and make me sit at His table . I am yearning for Him to raise His kindhearted gaze at me , just trust me with any little task so that I maybe useful for Him ! I believe in Jesus Christ and in the One who Sent Him , the Heavenly Father and this makes me happy , gives me strength to do my daily work , to the ability to love  the misbehaving children , if I fall to start anew , and in all my needs ! It is good to belong to the community of the Holy Trinity already here in this world , because in this big family there is always peace , here if I step into the quietness of prayer , I always feel the calming warmth of the love filled confidence , the shining hope , if I get lost , in a childlike naive rushing around , there always is where to return , if I hurt myself by committing a sin here they are not judging but healing ! 

I know that you are also small, insignificant but I encourage you , get your bits and pieces and come with prayerful love move move into our God’s abode , our Heavenly Father even awaits the homecoming of the prodigal son ……

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e. 

The Word of God

Jesus cried aloud, 'Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.'

John 12:44-50

Father Csaba’s reflection on he gospel Tuesday 14 May 2019

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me “ John 10, 22

One of the sure signs of belonging to God is if I listen to my Creator … Do I listen to my conscience ???? Every man, if they become still, calmly praying turn within themselves , will hear the Word of God . It is a fact that we don’t always like what God is telling us, so it’s better to listen to the radio , talk or go on the internet ….

Trustingly lets put our phones down and lets become quietened down , there is a wonderful world within us that is so exciting to discover !! God is good company , not boring , does not  hassle us , simply like a truly good Shepherd leads us, He takes care of everything kind-heartedly , and if we stray away even if we are the ” hundredth” He will search for us !! Lets trust with confidence our lives through our consciences , to God leading us through the Church .

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : step into the sanctuary of your heart.

The Word of God

It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

John 10:22-30

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 11 May 2019

“ A play where God builds a bridge between two worlds.”

'Do you also wish to go away?'We are not able to comprehend what we are playing with !! I was looking at children, adults and I see that they have no sense of fear at all ! Even though there are tens of thousands i the Romanian prisons , unfortunately last year close on two thousand people lost their lives in accidents and more than this number took their own lives and then we are not even talking about divorces , nor about those 57,000 children who are cared for by the state , who are crying after their parents in Romanian child protection homes ! Naturally we also have to think of the final events , happenings as well ….What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8, 36

The education system and naturally the parents as well commit a fatal mistake when they let their children believe that no matter what they do their deeds have no consequences !! The students if they do not study, do not obey , if they are unscrupulously insolent , if they play truant from school and they can get away with all this without any consequences then they will develop a very wrong impression of getting away without being wounded ! ! It is a very great problem if a child believes that “ they can get away with anything “ because nothing is going to happen ! This is why I am supporting the commander of the prison in Balassagyarmat and the inmates who wrote a play in honour of Saint Adorjan and the presentation of this production by the inmates !! The world premier is going to be on 19th May at 5 p.m. at the banquet hall of the town hall in Balassagyarmat .I saw the rehearsals and I would like if many people would be able to see this performance performed by the inmates, I sincerely hope , that even through the television the inmates of this prison can warn the growing up generation about the many, many dangers lurking around them in the big wide world . There is a great deal at stake ! Lets look out after ourselves and each other !

Csaba testvér

Photo : A rehearsal of the play about the life of Saint Adorjan .

The Word of God

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?' But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, 'Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, 'For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.'

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'

John 6:60-69

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 6 May 2019

"you are looking for me……. because you ate your fill of the loaves. “ John 6, 22

Jesus sees it clearly, that most times we are seeking for the presence of God in a selfish way looking for gifts: health, knowledge , when in reality we should be looking for the Healer, the Teacher , the Giver of gifts ! Jesus would like to give us Himself  in the Holy Eucharist , in the Eucharist He would like to meet with us . Time is passing fast , not that much longer to go till 2020 September , the time for the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest . Lets quieten down in the murmur of spring and lets think about the amount of time we spend in front of the Blessed Eucharist . The little Jesus aged 12 spent happily three days in the temple of Jerusalem praying , listening to wise priests . How good it would be even if not for days or hours but at least daily I would go into the church that comes my way just for a few minutes , to greet my Creator God with a childlike devotion ! Lets get my heart and spirit  used to the blessed presence of God, make friends with my redeeming Christ . Lets search for the presence of God, lets build diligently  His kingdom and lets trust in Him, that I’ll receive everything necessary in addition.

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : The tabernacle of the chapel  in the Saint Stephen home , in front of which the children pray day after day. 

The Word of God

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, 'Rabbi, when did you come here?' Jesus answered them, 'Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.' Then they said to him, 'What must we do to perform the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.'

John 6:22-29