Daily gospel

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Thursday 9 November 2017

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

After what kind of pleasures do you stretch your hands out for ?? The ones offered to our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness by the devil , consumption, possession, lust for power ? Or for the eternal joys offered by Jesus ? " I  want that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”- says the Lord ! God wants to share with us the joy of being, of life, of love, of creation, of wisdom ! Yes our Creator wants to share with us the joy of the continuing creation of the world ! He wants us to feed the hungry, with our developed resources , our agricultural knowledge to multiply the grain of wheat so that everybody will have bread on their table . He sends us today as well to console the grieving ones, to heal the sick in our hospitals , that we teach  the ignorants in well-prepared schools , universities ….

Ou Master would like to keep away from us the “pleasures” destroying , degrading our world, but He rejoices even today seeing  all that is to our advantage ,  stemming  from our real successes and blesses the Father who saw it fit to share it with us His children out of goodness , mercy , wisdom the pure God-given joys .

Do not only see the prohibitive rules my brother, but also the wide opened door that is in front of you ! Trust in your God and embark on the royal road of the eight beatitudes !!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : God’s joyful people in the Saint Imre church in Cleveland worshipping together our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Trinity !

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,

Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,

as well as the money-changers seated there.

He made a whip out of cords

and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,

and spilled the coins of the money-changers

and overturned their tables,

and to those who sold doves he said,

"Take these out of here,

and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,

Zeal for your house will consume me.

At this the Jews answered and said to him,

"What sign can you show us for doing this?"

Jesus answered and said to them,

"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

The Jews said,

"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,

and you will raise it up in three days?"

But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,

his disciples remembered that he had said this,

and they came to believe the Scripture

and the word Jesus had spoken.

John 2, 13-22 

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..Wednesday 8 November 2017

"everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14,33

What is renunciation, giving up !? It is quite certain that our Master is not talking about an emptiness  a void but about the freedom of the gospel ! Jesus wants to lead us to a pure life free of desires . This stern thought of the gospel can only be understood in the light of the God’s first , most important commandment:" YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.”

Unfortunately in today’s world a very large number of children young people are left to their instincts , sinful desires , bad habits ! These instincts , desires are dragging, pulling people and are driving them in such situations that cause a lot of physical , spiritual damage ! Thi is idolatry , even if it is not conscious !!

How free am I ? What are those ties that hold back my soaring , and again and again from the blue sky pull me back into the muddy soil ? What should I give up, what should I be free from , so that I could lead the free, joyful , peaceful life of God’s children, building successfully the kingdom of love ?

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Picture: Árpádházi Szent Margit in the church in Cleveland . 

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and he turned and addressed them,

"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, 

wife and children, brothers and sisters,

and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple.

Which of you wishing to construct a tower

does not first sit down and calculate the cost

to see if there is enough for its completion? 

Otherwise, after laying the foundation

and finding himself unable to finish the work

the onlookers should laugh at him and say,

'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' 

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down

and decide whether with ten thousand troops

he can successfully oppose another king

advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 

But if not, while he is still far away,

he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 

In the same way,

everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions

cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14, 25-33

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel.. Tuesday 7 November 2017

God does not only invite us to the great heavenly banquet , but day after day calls us to church , to the sacrifice of the mass to meet with us ! I believe and profess together with my mother the Church , that the sacrifice of the mass is preview of the heavenly banquet , since as good brothers celebrating together can we only meet not only with our Lord Jesus Christ , but with the Holy Trinity and the community of saints as well ! A holy mass is not only a remembrance banquet , but a real , living meeting, as the same God who at Christmas became man , in the sacrifice of the mass becomes incarnate in the form of bread and vine , and comes among us in the holy Eucharist ! 

In the Saint Imre church in Cleveland close to 400 people heard to calling voices and came to the festive meeting , the attached photo was taken with the “altar servers “ on the 5 November 2017 at the conclusion of the holy mass . It was good to meet , to be together with prayerful love and  take delight in God’s big, local family . After the church celebrations , 320 people attended dinner, sitting at a table in the crypt of the church not only enjoying the nice food , but we also enjoyed the local scouts' beautiful national costumes , festive program as well !

It is good to say “yes” to the call of God here in this world as well , happily as good brothers rejoice in the blessed presence of God ! I encourage my dear brethren lovingly to take the opportunity and every single time upon hearing the church bells calling to get going to the holy mass to meet with their sisters and brothers , and with our Lord Jesus Christ present in the holy Eucharist talking to us through the Holy Gospel ! We should get our spirits accustomed to the Infinity , here in the “earthly paradise !

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

One of those at table with Jesus said to him,

"Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."

He replied to him,

"A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.

When the time for the dinner came,

he dispatched his servant to say to those invited,

'Come, everything is now ready.'

But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.

The first said to him,

'I have purchased a field and must go to examine it;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have purchased five yoke of oxen

and am on my way to evaluate them;

I ask you, consider me excused.'

And another said, 'I have just married a woman,

and therefore I cannot come.'

The servant went and reported this to his master.

Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant,

'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town

and bring in here the poor and the crippled, 

the blind and the lame.'

The servant reported, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out

and still there is room.'

The master then ordered the servant,

'Go out to the highways and hedgerows

and make people come in that my home may be filled.

For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’"

Luke 14, 15-24

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 6 November 2017

Our Lord Jesus Christ believes in the creative power of the spoken word ! This is the reason why He goes into the house of the leading pharisee , that is why He starts a dialogue to disclose His thoughts with the intention of teaching them ! How much trust do I place in my own thoughts , words ? Do I dare to share my opinion with my loved ones , acquaintances ? Can I , dare I, put into words that what hurts me , that what I would like to change , what I see differently ? Jesus said : "“Ask, and it will be given to you”  the reverse is true as well.

I encourage you lovingly , retreat into a quiet place , try to gather your thoughts and to compose them ! Be willing , dare and know to say your feelings, your thoughts, your expectations nicely, calmly, clearly and you’ll be happy ! The lack of communication was always  at the roots of my life's greatest failures ..either I did not take the trouble to say what and how I would like things done, or it was not clear enough how I presented the thoughts going round in my head ! Before anything else learn for yourself how to compose the essence of what you want to say , then present your message clearly ! 

Speak up if you want to be heard ! Present your case, your thoughts stylishly , dressed in poetical, formal expressions . The same way as you yourself dress fitting the occasion do not let your thoughts run away , presenting them carelessly to people ! Learn to be master of your emotions , your words, learn to express yourself , to make yourself understood  either in words, writing , with a nice drawing, music, an artistic creation and you yourself will be most surprised how many people will get your message !

Talk, so that I can hear you , 

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : you can even “talk” to the animals .

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.

He said to the host who invited him,

"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,

do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters

or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,

in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.

Rather, when you hold a banquet,

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 

blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 14,12-14

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Sunday 5 November Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Glad tidings for every day….

...You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. ….

On the feast of Saint Imre let’s raise our gaze onto our Master , and may our hearts be filled with joy that our the Saints are our brothers !!! Our Master condemns hypocrisy today ! The same way as the gardener in one swift action removes the weed for from his garden , let’s also wipe out all sins from our hearts ! Let’s remove the “make belief “, pretence life  of ourselves and let’s not "role-play “ but live our own lives ! Two ways are open to us : the way of Cain , the way of a man who has a “role-playing” , making false sacrifices , or Abel’s way whose thoughts , deeds are in equilibrium , whose life and sacrifice is pleasing to God ! 

Let’s look into ourselves, how would I rate myself on trustworthiness, honesty ? How often does it happen what we condemn in others, that we magnanimously allow ourselves to do , since one cannot be so  “rigid “ ….How ugly is this hypocrisy,pharisaism, this feigned “ I am alright “! I do note have to pretend to be a happy wife, a normal family man , an obedient child but I should really be one ! Because one can get caught out very easily and then all our words become meaningless , and just like a bowl of soup, with a fly in it, we become disgusting ! Why do I only play-act the happy saint , when in reality I can become truly happy ?!

Saint Imre was regarded by his contemporaries as a saint , and not removed from the world , or in the thick of political power , but he lived in bustle of real life , even on the battlefields he proved that it is good to live with Christ !! Not based on his writings or for the sake of appearances , but based on his life , deeds was he canonised and made a role model for the young people of all ages ! Living in a great royal court , in wealth , a young man could have indulged in anything , but he loves and follows our Lord Jesus Christ ! Saint Imre just like all our the other saints of all ages were made saints by their infinite love towards Christ !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : trees and shadows ….

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,

"The scribes and the Pharisees

have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,

but do not follow their example. 

For they preach but they do not practice. 

They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry

and lay them on people's shoulders, 

but they will not lift a finger to move them. 

All their works are performed to be seen. 

They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 

They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,

greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'

As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'

You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 

Call no one on earth your father;

you have but one Father in heaven.

Do not be called 'Master';

you have but one master, the Christ. 

The greatest among you must be your servant.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;

but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 23, 1-12

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 4 November 2017

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14, 11

God hid a lot of treasure in our world , and just like for a pearl fisher it can mean an immeasurable wealth for us as well to look for and find these treasures . The saints , very wisely look at  humbleness  as the birthmother of virtue.! Humbleness is the only one gate through which we can enter the Kingdom of God . It is quite certain that without the virtue of wisdom or courage we can still be dear to God and our fellow human beings , but arrogantly , without humility we can be glittering in all our physical beauty, with  intellectual  abilities , we may even amass spiritual values yet we will face rejection!  In the kingdom of heaven one can find thieves , murderers , fornicators , many accused of grave sins , let’s think of the right thief, or Mary Magdalene , who is honoured,  by the Church as a saint, but it is quite certain that there will be no haughty/arrogant ones !

In Gyulafehérvár  as a novice we studied and stayed all day in the theological college but at night we all went over to a large dormitory , situated in  the former episcopal stable. Every evening I went past the ancient cathedral! I always stopped for a prayer or two , but on one occasion I knelt down on the snow-covered doorstep and straightaway a beautiful red light flashed into my eyes ! The entrance of the ancient walls was always closed off by old doors an through the keyholes and the sanctuary light above the altar, somehow or other appeared at the same height . I know this was just a fluke an unexpected coincidence , but in reality it was there and then that I really understood , that there are secrets that are only revealed to one on their knees ! I prayed a lot there kneeling alone , during the dark winter evenings , into the hopeless nights of the communist dictatorship ! There I understood the message of Mary’s most beautiful name ! Our blessed Lady is called by the saints and the Church as well, Mary, Virgin Most Powerful ! The Infinite Love , the Almighty God also yields to the request , at the wedding in Cana , of His Mother beseeching  Him !! God for us, faltering , stumbling people is a great mystery , an unconquerable castle, the only way how we can approach Him is by child-like love as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said it :"whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." John 15, 16

Deliberatly, just as we practice swimming , reading cycling let’s practice the virtue of humbleness as it can be learned, attained , mastered and slowly it becomes part of you ! Think often about what do you have that you were not given, how long can you keep it, if it comes to that, even your life if your Creator takes His blessing hand off your health , your work ? Embark on the path of humbleness and you‘ll see slowly the little “sisters” of this beautiful virtue, modesty, , kindness, piety, attentiveness , tactfulness and many , many such features that are shining on our redeeming Lord’s face  will follow you closely   Slowly you’ll understand that it is not the clothes you wear that will give you your dignity , but these beautiful God-given virtues , “wearing” these you ‘ll not only feel great , but they will also make you in the eyes of your Lord God and your fellow human beings as well beautiful, precious ! This wedding garment is what we’ll all have to put on !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

photo : A sweet little girl for our home in Szárhegy !

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine

at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,

and the people there were observing him carefully.

He told a parable to those who had been invited,

noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,

do not recline at table in the place of honor.

A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,

and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say,

'Give your place to this man,'

and then you would proceed with embarrassment

to take the lowest place.

Rather, when you are invited, 

go and take the lowest place

so that when the host comes to you he may say,

'My friend, move up to a higher position.'

Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14 1.7-11

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Thursday 2 November 2017 All Souls Day.

On All Souls Day , holding Jesus’ hand lets look death in the face and let’s look at what our Master is saying about the final matters of human life ? 

1. Jesus took death very seriously ! Not only did He forbid , murder, extinguishing someone else’s life but He Himself is overcome by grief at the tomb of Lazarus , even when He knows that soon He will resurrect His friend ! Jesus is serious about life and death ! We should not dismiss this question by the shrugging of our shoulder, pass it off with a stale joke ! Our children like most boys like “war-games “, to conquer the enemy by the use of guns, swords to kill them ! At the start of our child-protection service there was a lot of who-dunit taking place in the  home , the children brought a lot of aggression , roughness with themselves . In the beginning I tried to convince them that they should not kill anybody either by words nor by  “play”! Of course this “make-believe" killing returned again and again ! I was trying to work out how could I make them understand that one should not wish the suffering , death of anybody . I confiscated the guns , swords and I made them do pushups even when I caught someone just using verbal aggression but I never really achieved a breakthrough . Finally on one occasion as a parish priest I had to attend a funeral I gathered the most aggressive sons of the home to come as altar-servers ! In Transylvania burials are carried out with the coffins opened , the elderly woman was languishing under the shroud , the relatives were crying and we carried out the burial ceremony . I got the older tough guys to do the reading and the general entreaties , then we accompanied the body to the grave, that we consecrated, and on our way home I asked the boys :” what do you think, is it proper to joke , play with death ? They snuggled up to me and they told me they never even thought about what a funeral, what death is like ! Ever since then , thank God, the children from Déva don’t play war-games anymore , somehow the generations tell each other in this house we don’t “murder “ even out of fun, or as a joke , so like this there is no halloween , there are no skulls on T-shirts nor on posters stuck on walls ! Life is sacred , and not only the precious gift of our Creator but God Himself as our Lord Jesus Christ said : I AM the way, the truth the justice and the LIFE !

2. Jesus teaches us that there is worse than the death of the body "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body ……. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10, 26 Yes Jesus Christ on Good Friday can give His life for something bigger, more valuable He accepts death what is more death on the cross ! The body can be resurrected by God, but the one in eternal damnation cannot be saved by God as the door handles of hell are on the inside and the one , who sunk into hatred, self-destroying sin is unable to accept God’s mercy , unable to be resurrected to love , to life ! Yes the one sinking into sin creates hell for himself , with his deeds, life and thrusts himself into damnation . Jesus protects us from this final death, and so that we can see for ourselves the power of hatred, animosity , the sin in our life He accepts the agony of Golgotha, accepts physical annihilation ! Because no-one has a greater love than the One who gives His life for His own !

3. Jesus’ teaching is very clear about the resurrection and  the eternal life . Our Master not only talks about these very important truths , determining our whole earthly life , but with His own death, resurrection as the first fruit of the resurrected proves it to His disciples , to all of us that resurrection really exists ! I truly believe that on the dawn of Easter Jesus did not show us a cheap trick but in reality showed , what awaits all of us after our death and that is the glorious resurrection ! That is why He appears again and again to His disciples , asks to eat something and calls on them to feel the wound in His side , so that they can see and accept it with faith that there really is resurrection, eternal life ! Even though we can feel the fallibility of our earthly life , the limitations of our existence of a fistful of dust , yet in the bottom of our heart we all have the desire for eternal life , and even though we are wicked , yet for our dearly departed without giving it a second thought we would grant the chance, possibility  of resurrection if we could! Would God be worse than us ? He certainly is not !God loves us with an everlasting love, and if the whole world awaits longingly the fulfilment of their being, existence as God’s children then it is quite certain that our Creator will grant this to His children , creations with great-great love ! As to what will this be like ? We do not know only that what our Master has revealed to us :"“What no eye has seen,

    what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived—

    the things God has prepared for those who love him!”I Cor.2,7….

Yes the love, the goodness, the wisdom , the virtuous pure life and our God’s immeasurable mercy will be capable to conquer death , and joyfully step over the threshold of eternal life where our loved ones are already awaiting us  !

My brethren this consoling faith should fill our hearts as we stand by the grave of our loved ones , let’s up hope that our Lord Jesus Christ is great enough that if He promised us eternal life then He will also grant it to us !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5, 24-29

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 1 November 2017 The Solemnity of All Saints Day.

Glad tidings for everyday ! 

It must have taken incredible courage two thousand years ago in a hedonistic society pursuing only comfort , pleasures for Jesus to look people in the eye and tell them : you’ll only be happy if poverty stricken or being gentle, hungry , thirsty you can cry as well, if in this judgemental , harshly condemning world with a pure heart , merciful goodness you only aspire for peacefulness , harmony even if you are being persecuted and accused of being evil with all sorts of lies !

I think that even today it is brave thing to confront people with this message , because let’s be honest the way of the eight beatitudes is narrow and steep !

I have a curious nature , so I put this into practice by following the instructions of our Lord Jesus Christ and believe it or not it does work , this really is the way leading to happiness the way of Christ the King ! I aim for an infinitely simple life ! I try to solve my conflicts kindly ! I experienced the limits,  my own dreary emptiness and so I really hunger and thirst for the Infinity ! Often I struggle with my tears because I continuously see my own and my world’s stumbling , we tend to struggle on so often needlessly  by becoming alienated from our kind-hearted Christ! How can I condemn the one, who just like me so often falls down and imprisoned by sin is suffering ?! The desire to give help and not being judgmental has become my aim , the intention , so that I can free my brother from the reign of the evil one , to free their body and soul from the crushing sin pulling them down! All this for what reason? Only so that as God’s redeemed children we live in peace, as good brothers , in fraternal love ! This is the essence of Christianity and I would like to embark on this road even if for this I am being ridiculed and people consider me mad !

You should try also discard from your backpack the superfluous junk, the desires from your heart that tend to pull you onto futile ways, be free , modest, unpretentious in your speech  , the way you dress , in your home , in your whole life . This endeavour to freedom should guide you in your decisions . If you are honest you’ll soon come to realise , that many, many things that  were indispensably important ,  that you gave in one word  life , energy  till now,  are idols, the golden calf , that would be the best to be rid of , thrown out as soon as possible as they will never give you true happiness ! Real happiness is the love that can fill your life , your family, your workplace , by the light of which everything will look nicer and will become workable, manageable ! If you embark on this road you’ll understand that this infinite Love lives, was embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ two thousand years ago and opened His arms towards you as well ! You can understand that us Christians we are thirsting for this , as the hunger for the infinity is gnawing within us day after day and only our Creator can quench this , He knows us and this is why He asks in the first commandment to dare, worship your Lord , God….! It is good to worship God to open your existence, your life  born out of a fistful of dust in the pounding of the waves of infinite love holding onto your brother’s hand ! Naturally you’ll see even though everybody is desiring this joy only at an arm's length from us yet still many mislead by insincerity , are suffering carrying horrific burdens, are struggling like  fish out of water and in the meantime causing one another painful wounds , committing sins ! Compassion , the desire to help surely makes you determined to act, and not by judgement but by breaking off the chains you go to the aid of your brother . What a great joy it is just to free one person out of the incarceration of darkness and leading them to the freedom of the children of God , that in peace, as good brethren sharing everything , so that together we can build that kingdom where all of us sitting with our Creator at the one table may live in peace ! No matter what anybody says the revolution of love that Christ proclaimed two thousand years ago , will win and not because we Christians try to convince  people but because we all desire this , this boundless joy , every man wishes to have a happy life , to see good days and the recipe for this was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,

and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 

He began to teach them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.”

Matthew 5, 1-12a

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Tuesday 31 October 2017

Very often have I planted seeds into the soil, that nicely taking root grew a stalk , to grow tall and yet it is so hard to believe the miracle happening right in front of my eyes ! I take into my hand a little seed , a fragile plant I plant it , take care of it, nurse it and after that I just stare in amazement that out of this muddy soil how quickly it grows up, unfolds ! A few years ago with the relic of Saint László we travelled all around Transylvania . At every station we planted one little  sapling of oak ! By now they have grown big, and the birds of heaven build their nest on the branches of the young trees !

Let’s not be afraid to dare to dream of great things ,make plans , start them ! Perhaps today they are only a few vague plans, that I rail out  having a cup of coffee , but if you feel it that it is God’s will dare to make a decision , dare “to pull the stops out “, put the seed in to the soil and get going ! 12 years ago when I left for America,the journey resulted in a nice house , where the two young mothers seen in the picture were only small children, but we took them in, in God’s name into this house where they grew up and behold today together with their husbands they are lovingly raising their children  and like good godmothers they are helping one another as well ! A joining of forces , a house twelve years spent working and already the little  birds of heaven are coming new life springing  from the “acceptance”! I am part of this miracle as I planted the little seed but this Saturday at the baptism of little Kristóf I could hardly believe my eyes when I also put the tiny life on my lap!

It is worthwhile to make a decision , to say a definite “yes” to the will of God ! It is worthwhile planting the seed, it is good to work, to get tired , to believe that God not only gives us beautiful thoughts , wonderful dreams but He is also standing by our side when we accomplish those, He helps in everything He is great enough to bring what He started to a happy ending through us ! Christianity is not whinging but a triumphant life , and if somewhere they remove a cross from the top of a statue , we trustingly build a thousand houses , from all of their their windows happy , laughing children should look up through the gables of our homes towards the cross pointing to heaven! We received the yeast of life , not the lamenting spirit of fear, making no headway!

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches."

Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Luke 13, 18-21

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Monday 30 October 2017

"Hypocrites !” Luke 13, 10

Stern talk ! Jesus points out sincerely how things are , He does not mince His words , but He states the truth openly about a person’s fault , there in front of all ! Today we live in a" politically correct world “, we tend to be refined, we smudge the truth , we try to obscure it because what is important not to have conflicts , tension ! Unfortunately we turn a blind eye not only to our own faults but also to the faults, sins of our fellow human beings , saying “it’s their business” , “it has nothing to do with me “, even  whilst we can see that either our friend or even our own child is drifting step by step towards a precipice threatening to swallow them…..What would happen if doctors would act the same way only so that the sad truth does not shock the sick person?! Or if architects carrying out their task would only pay attention to the expectations of sensitive people and not to  laws  "set in concrete " concerning  the building’s statics !

We would like to diminish God’s commandments, the laws governing moral life to make them relative, to downgrade them to subjective truth , but the ten commandments is eternal , not even a letter can be removed from it ! Our moral lives are also determined by such objective laws just as our physical health or the structure of a building!

Like it or not sin destroys , kills, good deeds undertaken out of love will heal, give life , that is why humbly , with a desire to help we have to be open, honest ! Yes kindheartedly we have to call hypocrisy as hypocrisy , stealing as theft, laziness as laziness , fornication as fornication, sin as sin , even if people will get offended by us or even if we'll have more serious consequences in life !

Love means honesty, 

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.

And a woman was there who for eighteen years

had been crippled by a spirit;

she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,

"Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."

He laid his hands on her,

and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

But the leader of the synagogue,

indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,

said to the crowd in reply,

"There are six days when work should be done.

Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."

The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites!

Does not each one of you on the sabbath

untie his ox or his ass from the manger

and lead it out for watering?

This daughter of Abraham,

whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,

ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day

from this bondage?"

When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;

and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Luke 13, 10-17