Daily gospel

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ..The Second Sunday of Advent ….10 December 2017

Saint John the Baptist is a great example for Advent ! The prophet not only waited for the Redeemer but he himself sets out , he is certain that the One he is waiting for will come , and with a heart full of hope goes towards Him in the desert. John is asking us that we don’t only wait passively for the emanation of God’s love with glazed eyes , accepting our fate , timidly but with living faith lets set off,  get going towards Christ to meet Him !" A voice of one crying out in the desert:

"Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths.”Mark 1,2

What is our plan for Advent ? How can we let Christ know unanimously , that we are here, we are ready to meet Him ? How can I show the Lord of Life that I am prepared to accept His graces, His gifts that determine my life ? The stillness of Advent is the time to retreat into the desert . Unfortunately nowadays our churches became deserted and this is why I am encouraging you to immerse yourself into the quietness in front of the altar ! Lets fill up the abandoned places in front of the Holy Eucharist lets  create the fraternity of the Holy Eucharist ! On this road I am also offering you a crutch as well ! 

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

You can join as well into the Fraternity of the Blessed Eucharist ! http://www.magnificat.ro:8187/calendar1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;

he will prepare your way.

A voice of one crying out in the desert:

"Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths."

John the Baptist appeared in the desert

proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

People of the whole Judean countryside

and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem

were going out to him

and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River

as they acknowledged their sins.

John was clothed in camel's hair,

with a leather belt around his waist.

He fed on locusts and wild honey.

And this is what he proclaimed:

"One mightier than I is coming after me.

I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water;

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 1, 1-8

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 9 December 2017

He…..went around….taught…proclaimed…healed the sick..looked around ,His heart was moved with pity..so He said…..

How many verbs in one sentence ? Our Lord Jesus Christ is God who is active , a doer , not a wallflower but One who initiates , asks you for a dance and leads you !  He has strength, drive , courage ! He does not just talk ,makes promises but He Himself is the active, wise love , the Creator of the world , the Life-force in the further creation , the Way, the Truth and the Life ! 

We are all His children , the priests, the prophets, the kings of a new world ! I was baptised in Christ, is Christ’s beautiful feature shining on my face ? Do I want to, do I dare to walk in the footsteps of my Master , to embark on His way, to love courageously , to recreate our world or else am I just enumerating , listing the problems lamenting morning till night !?

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : The lively dance of the young people in Canada at a charity ball organised for our children in Toronto.

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,

teaching in their synagogues,

proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,

and curing every disease and illness. 

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them

because they were troubled and abandoned,

like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples,

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;

so ask the master of the harvest

to send out laborers for his harvest." 

Then he summoned his Twelve disciples

and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out

and to cure every disease and every illness. 

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,

"Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 

Cure the sick, raise the dead,

cleanse lepers, drive out demons.

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Mt 9,35-10,1. 6-8

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel  Friday 8 December 2017  The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

How much time could have Mary and the angel talked for in Nazareth ? There is so much unnecessary  riding on an idea to death , I wonder how many hours, days, years we waste , everybody has an opinion on everything , we mull over it but then nothing happens !! A girl in her teens and the angel of God exchange a few words and the great work of the redemption of the world starts smoothly!! There are no contracts , subsequent additional documents, Mary goes ahead with determination on the road, to which she said “yes”!!

How seriously do I take my promise, agreement ? How good it would be if following the example of Mary , if I say ‘yes”to something I would really mean “YES”! ! How many years, centuries ago did Mary say “YES”and right up to now She stands by the side of Her Holy Son in the redemption of the world !! She appears here and there , She is a Companion of our Lord Jesus Christ in the building of God’s Kingdom, for Her even today it is important what She accepted there and then ! 

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Picture of our Blessed Lady in Washington.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,

"How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1, 26-38

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….1 December 2017

The world is crying out for prophets! Many are willing to undertake this calling and are bravely saying , without  any scruples most dreadful , fearful , outrageous  predictions ! I am not a prophet , yet trusting in the mercy of God I dare to say , that the tomorrow even though everything is continuously changing ( even until now everything has been continuously changing), yet everything will be more exciting, more beautiful , more interesting than we could ever have imagined !! God is great enough to bring out the good from evil , wicked things ! The dawn of Easter , the resurrection burst open from the horrific events of Good Friday! I have confidence in the tomorrow , in mankind, in the divine goodness of God !! Of course this does not mean that there won’t be any wars , that branches won’t break off mankind’s big trees ! I would just like to say it simply that I trust in the tomorrow , in God’s merciful love , in a beautiful, blessed tomorrow , I believe that the golden age is still yet to come !

What do I base my faith on ?! Two things : God’s promises ! For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the LORD, who has mercy on you.  Isaiah 54, 10. Our Creator won’t change , He does not turn away sulking , turning His back on His children  offended ! I can always count on God !

Also on the other hand : Human nature ! Wherever I went I always met with the same kind of people ! Man, God’s child loves his companion, child, the beauty , order, peace ! No matter how conflicting the situations are man always tries to be good! Let this not surprise us , because it’s good to be good, it’s good to do good , all in all it’s good to be good ! Man is good if for nothing else but just to feel well , does everything to have a good outcome ! Another war can be triggered like Korea, Vietnam or now in Syria but people will get tired of this and a new dawn, peace will always come ! Yes Truth , Life, Love can be killed but on the third day triumphantly Resurrection will come , because Christ Himself is the Way, the Truth and the Life ! 

This is why I light the first Advent candle in total confidence ! I can sense my sins within myself and also around me, but I can feel the loving call of God a thousandfold more , the warmth of the merciful love, the sweetness of grace , the sparkling light of the gentle wisdom in our world ! I light the first Advent candle on the wreath , because I believe in Christmas , the Incarnation of the living Love, God and I believe in the coming of a new Christmas as well, the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ , in the realisation, fulfilment  of the Kingdom of Heaven !

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Jesus told his disciples a parable.

"Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.

When their buds burst open,

you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;

in the same way, when you see these things happening,

know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Amen, I say to 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.”

Luke 21, 29-33

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 30 November 2017 The feast of Saint Andrew Apostle

Romania looks upon Saint Andrew as her Patron Saint , therefore today it is a national feast day in Transylvania as well ! I pray for the intercession of Saint Andrew for this country and all her inhabitants, I pray for the blessing of the Lord of the apostles , Jesus Christ !

I admire the way how Jesus dares to call people ! Saint Andrew is doing his own work as a simple fisherman and Jesus calls him ! Andrew leaves the net behind , gets going and within three years he gains such strength , impetus, courage that behold today a country of twenty million people celebrate , the children are off school, the workplaces remain closed , and  in the churches the  tolling bells are calling people for prayer ! 

What is the secret of the apostles ?!Why are most of the preachings of the Word of God unsuccessful ? Because we write wth a pencil with a broken lead.! God’s love, adoration can be the only tip of our pencil ! Lets put aside everything , lets begin to love, adore God and you’ll see , that we leave visible, readable signs behind us even if written with trembling hands !

For Saint Andrew but for the other apostles as well our Lord Jesus Christ became the most important , the goal, the object of their  love is Christ ! Lets renew in our love of God and quite certainly the world around us will also renew! The love of God is the nucleus of the seed , the filament in the lightbulb , without it is  useless to fall into the ground , because there won’t be life , a bud, we are in vain under a live electric current, because we won’t shed any light ! The world needs God and not us , lets dare to proclaim Him, singing His  greatness , goodness just like in the Saint Andrew’s cross as well!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,

Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,

casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

He said to them,

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

At once they left their nets and followed him.

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,

James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.

They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.

He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father 

and followed him.

Matthew 4, 18-22

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel for Wednesday 29 November 2017

" I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking

that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” Luke 21, 19

My Lord, my God with trust in Your promise we speak to  and approach You, and ask You to send prophets into the world, who in the sight of Your Holy Presence quietening down hear Your message and humbly show the way for this close on 8 billion people in this world ! There are lots of problems , poverty, sin in the world ! Without You we are likely to be at each other’s throat , and everything will be raised to the ground in our big cities , villages ! We need You , teach, shape , lead us your priests so that we really proclaim Your Holy Word with resounding force to our brethren ! It is certain that there is a future , there is a way that leads us to a peaceful , happy, fertile life ! We ask you to show us and grant us such eloquence , that as a result of our words , the scales fall from the eyes of our brethren, that they may be freed from their greedy, vain, sinful  yearnings for pleasure and embark on the road of unselfish love, merciful goodness, carefully considered action!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : Father and son in front of the alter of the martyred wife, mother.

Jesus said to the crowd:

"They will seize and persecute you,

they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,

and they will have you led before kings and governors

because of my name.

It will lead to your giving testimony.

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,

for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking

that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

You will even be handed over by parents,

brothers, relatives, and friends,

and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name,

but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Luke 21, 12-19

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel……Tuesday 28 November 2017

During the past weeks I travelled over there continents , met many-many people , from  Capital Hill in the United States , to the infamous town of the waste-sorters of Egypt I travelled to many places ! I  had the opportunity to shake hands not only with a senator from Washington , but also with the homeless of Cairo . I managed to talk with people living in incredibly rich , amazing places , but also the with the “sons" of Saint Anthony the Great or Saint Anthony of the Desert, giving up everything living even today in the desert ! I arrived home at dawn today to Déva , and now I am also opening my parcel curiously . I am looking at what I brought back with me , wondering what is the answer to the big questions ? After what I saw, experienced what can I say about what tomorrow has in store for us ?! 

Getting out of bed  , as a first step like always ,I open the holy scriptures at today’s gospel . We are nearing the end of the our Church’s year at times like this our Mother the Church is drawing our attention to the final events this is why we read our Jesus Christ’s prophesies about the final times in the everyday gospel! Jesus Christ does not only identify Himself with our Mother the Church in His discourse with Saul “ Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts of the Apostles ,but in many other places He also makes it clear that whatever you‘ve done for one of the least , you did it for me , because I and the Church are one ! This on the one hand is beautiful , but on the other hand another parallel presents , that the prophecy of Jesus suggests that all of us , even the Church , our world will be transfigured through the suffering of Good Friday ! If Christ’s way is our way as well , then today’s gospel is clear  and even if with fear , but also with hope can we face the Golgotha ahead of us! 

And this really is true because either like this or like that but for all of us , our way leads us through Golgotha !! I was standing beside my dear mother’s death bed , and also by the side of many others dying whom I knew , respected as well , and all of them left us with their suffering , plunging into death with their infinite loneliness in Christ’s way on Good Friday , waiting for the transfiguration ! I believe that if we cry out to Christ , even if foul like the right thief , we will meet with Christ “ before the day is out " in eternal life ! 

After the weariness of this long travel, the way I see it the Church and the world walks the way of Jesus as well ! I believe that Jesus on Palm Sunday offered a realistic, peaceful redemption for the world !! There and then we could have  all decided by His side , but we decided by choosing the way of suffering ,on  Golgotha ! The people living there and then, unfortunately chose by sin, Barabbas ! I am convinced that for mankind it is Palm Sunday ! During my journey I saw that today humanity still has a realistic chance for a peaceful transition walking on the way of love and consciously accepting God’s Kingdom! We have every chance to build a world based on peace, justice as this old globe is well provided for, liveable , the desert as well , there is money , technology , knowledge for building a new world !Talking to people I saw that all were good willing from the greatest, richest people to the orphans living in the orphanages in Egypt , everybody is capable ready to decide by love ! However  unfortunately during my journey -if I want to be honest-I have to admit , because thousands of signs show , that we are also facing  a great question mark in the prophecy of today’s gospel as well :"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." 

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Luke 21, 5-11

What is our duty ? It is very simple ! Our place is amidst the happy singing, dancing children surrounding our Lord ! I call upon you lovingly , I encourage you , come an loudly exclaim : Hosanna to You, the Son of David , happily singing, waving and call today’s chief priests, Herod -s , governors come as well and trustingly greet our Redeemer , who would like to free us from our selfishness, sins,  burdens ! Christ does not want to rob us , oppress ,lord it over us , but He wants to free us , present us , with the dignity as children of God to lead us to the way of mercy love , unselfishness, goodness , wisdom for an open dialogue ! Lets inspire each other , lets present our lord Jesus Christ with a crown ! lets place the  crown of our own freewill in front of Christ’s Christmas manger ! Let Christ be the  King , let Him guide us by our conscience , since inside all of us in the  inner sanctuary does heaven meet with earth ! God touches, calls us with infinite tenderness through our conscience ! This is where our decisions are made where tomorrow is born, if Jesus Christ will be the  King here , then not Good Friday will dawn after Palm Sunday but a glorious Easter dawn ! 

Is this possible ? Having been in Egypt  praying in  the cave of Saint Anthony of the Desert , at the farewell of the Coptic Christian Martyrs , seeing and hearing the prayer said I feel that we are capable even seven billion of us to cross the ocean of hatred with dry feet and decide by the God of love ! 

I think with love of all those who welcomed me on my long journey , accompanied me , answered my questions , lovingly became my brethren!

With eternal gratitude,

Father Csaba .

translated by dr k.e. 

Picture : A Coptic Martyr moments before his execution! 

While some people were speaking about

how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,

Jesus said, "All that you see here–

the days will come when there will not be left

a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him,

"Teacher, when will this happen?

And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" 

He answered,

"See that you not be deceived,

for many will come in my name, saying,

'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' 

Do not follow them! 

When you hear of wars and insurrections,

do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,

but it will not immediately be the end." 

Then he said to them,

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 

There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues

from place to place;

and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

Luke 21, 5-11

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Monday 27 November 2017

How great it is, that our Lord Jesus Christ notices the poor widow’s two small coins as well, keeping it in evidence ! Very often we tend to “ devalue" ourselves , regarding as small, insignificant  what we have, what we can give, do out of love and this way we become as though the wind has been taken out of our sails, we don’t even attempt to do what we are capable of doing ! When we become exasperated seeing our own weakness, clumsiness , lets remember the poor woman’s two small coins , that Jesus not only appreciated , noticed but even set it as example for all of us !

Saint Therese of Lisieux said that there is no small or great deed , only insignificant or great love….Lets carry out the everyday small tasks with great love and all praise to God who not only grants us the growth but certainly multiplies our efforts ! The one who remains true, faithful in little things , will be entrusted with a lot ! Lets accept the tasks according to our strengths , lets embark on the way of love , lets do everything that we can and lets trust the rest to our God !

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Photo: Cairo we can only turn to God…...

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people

putting their offerings into the treasury

and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

He said, "I tell you truly,

this poor widow put in more than all the rest;

for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Luke 21, 1-4

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Saturday 25 November 2017

"Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; “Luke 20,38

Yesterday  24 November 2017 here in Egypt ,in a church out of the congregation gathered for a Muslim service more than 300 became the victims of terrorism ! The shadow of mourning and revenge is cast over the country ! I also prayed for the injured , the victims !! I quietened down in sympathy , at times like this the question of life and death becomes much more visible for us !

I am In Cairo around me here a swirling , living , pulsating big city of 23-24 million people ….The majority of them in 40-60-80 years' time most certainly won’t be alive anymore on this earth ! I so many years so many people will be buried ! Life is continuously going on in the shadow of death , and yet how proud, conceited , shortsighted are we ! How important would it be to hang onto the promises of our Lord Jesus Christ , and to spend these few years that God presents us with, we would really spend in getting ready for eternal life and not for bearing grudges , hoarding , collecting  useless junk ! Lets calm ourselves ! God is the God of the living , the God of eternal life , we are safe , on the wall of our existence only sin can spring a leak, that can only rob us from life !! Lets live with great humility in such a way if death either  unexpectedly or due to an act of senseless terrorism stretches its hand for us , we would be ready for eternal life !

With the hope of the resurrection ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

The mother seen in the photo , lost her two beautiful daughters in a terrorist attack. ! The family was present during a holy mass in the cathedral in Cairo , during the ceremony a terrorist entered the church and activated the time bomb attached to his body . It caused a huge destruction , many people died , this mother’s daughters were also amongst them .

27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man* shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless.32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’

34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’ 39Then some of the scribes answered, ‘Teacher, you have spoken well.’ 40For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

Luke 20, 27-40

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….

Big cities of the world, do you recognise the Lord’s visit, the commandment of love ?

Today in Cairo a city of 22-23 million people we were visiting one of the quarters where 70000 people live, where they not only gather  the rubbish, waste but they also recycle it , as it happens  this  is a Christian part of the city ! According to the local bishop one of the poorest areas of the world ! It is unfathomable the number of people who live their everyday , pray, work, accept and bring up children the best they can ! The many zigzag streets , the several storey high slums , shops , workshops , flats and churches !! Inscrutable chaos, people everywhere , young and old , and even in the coldness of November mountains of flies flying around ! The dramatic situation is further enhanced that this big city is on the hillside of the big city , at the top of it all is a magnificent ancient sanctuary that is decorated by enormous statues carved into the rock ! Saint Mark, evangelist, introduced Christianity here !

Jesus’ prediction knocks one back ! Is mercy lacking from God ? Is He capable of letting the destruction of such a metropolis ?! I do not know , but the fact is that the filth, the indifference of people is capable of burying such a city beneath the ruins , where people live and  are hoping  for a better future !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

As Jesus drew near and came within sight of the city, He shed tears over it and said, “If you too had only recognized on this day the way to peace! But in fact it is hidden from your eyes!

Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all around you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you, because you did not recognize the moment of your visitation.”

Luke 19, 41-44