Daily gospel
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..
Thursday 24 August 2017 The feast of Saint Bartholomew apostle.
Doubt ?! God does not condemn neithet Nathanel , nor Thomas for doubting, why they do not accept His person, His veracity !! Our Master does not condemn us either if in life, we are looking for laws, orders, and we think based on logical arguments !! It is good to think that Jesus does not wait for us to fall on our knees because of command, He reasoned , gives signs , wisely, patiently convinces us of the truth !!
It’s never too late to learn , we should also search, knock , learn , but we should also let our God to convince us of His truth!!
With Love.
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : without saying a word under the cross.
Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"
Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these."
And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
John 1, 45-51
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel……
Wednesday 23 August 2017
It is good to read in the holy scripture that the “landowner” does not expect people to work without payment !! Yes, we who set out in God’s name , start work, do not do it without renumeration : "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19, 29
Who would you like to work for ? -asks God from Saint Francis at the beginning of his conversion- for the Lord, your Creator , or for some servant similar to you born out of a fistful of dust ? Saint Francis does not hesitate , gives his armament, his horse to a poor lad, he himself , giving up everything, dressed in a beggar’s clothes sets out to serve God ! The fruit of his labour is Europe, an immeasurable treasure for the world even today !
God is asking the same question from us : who would you like to work for ? I encourage you to dare and say “yes” to the call of your God ! I am sure , that no matter how much anybody would pay you , that would be incomparably less than what God intends for those who good heartedly , humbly bore the day's burden and the heat working in the harvest , in His holy vineyard . Be pragmatic , adore your lord God and only serve Him !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo . A pretty young girl carrying Christ’s cross during the pilgrimage, leading the procession somewhere in the vicinity of Székelyhíd
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 16, 1-16a
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel.
Tuesday 22 August 2017 Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
What is our aim here on earth? Are you searching for your identity, your calling ?? The rich young man did this as well, he went to Jesus , and our Lord Jesus Christ even invited him to be His partner in the preaching of the gospel, so that next to Jesus his life can become a blessing of God ! It is well known from the scriptures , the rich young man comes to a standstill, timidly he retreats, because the wealth, the possession, the consumption , the power for him are more important , than becoming God’s blessing hand through our Lord !!
Day after day we stand next to Christ and He calls us , that with Him and through Him there where we live we become God’s precious gifts , a blessing for our brethren!! I urge, encourage you from the bottom of my heart with all my prayerful love , that dare to leave the young man’s way , dare to grab hold of Christ’s outstretched hand towards you and dare to dispense a blessing , become a blessing there where you live , where you were given to live.
I profess , that to give a blessing , to become a blessing in this world is the most beautiful task that one can set as a task for oneself !!
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
"Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible."
Then Peter said to him in reply,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Matthew 19, 23-30
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….
Friday 18 August 2017.
I was having a talk with a young man , who keeps on changing, his workplaces , friends , because they are not the “real ones”! I told him if he comes along with his girlfriend , I am not going to marry them, even though he is thirty years old , he is not capable of settling down and be true to his own commitments!” Like this I cannot let him, without any basis, grounds in front of the altar to swear eternal loyalty to a girl, who trusts him naively and believes that the words of marriage wows “ for better and for worse “ mean the same for the young man as for her !
Today’s man is at the mercy of his own desires, moods, is thrust to his own pleasures like a bone to a dog ! You cannot hear anything else like : I don’t feel like it, I am not studying, I am not moving on , I am getting out of this relationship, , I am handing in my resignation ! A person has desires, feelings, moods but the person is behind all this ! In the stillness of your reflections discover yourself, like a field with flowers, admire the flowers within you , but also the wildly growing weeds as well ! By getting to know yourself slowly you’ll recognise the dark clouds weighing heavily upon your heart , the deceptive moods that come and go , you'll understand the scattering of your desires and also that you do not continuously have to feed your desires because they can become too demanding and as a spoilt child become insistent ! I encourage you that make your decisions judiciously , and then move on with perseverance , you can be only swayed by your baseless fears and silly mirages from your goal!
There is always something “bad" in our lives but if at times like this we quit we’ll be like a windmills that moves in every weak breeze ! A man will look for his place, will weigh things up, will decide and will stick by his decision, promise ! You have to be aware , that in the world of honest adults there is one measure : one man, one word !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: A child you took responsibility for, has to be brought up !
Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,
"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"
He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning
the Creator made them male and female and said,
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, man must not separate."
They said to him, "Then why did Moses command
that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?"
He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts
Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,
but from the beginning it was not so.
I say to you, whoever divorces his wife
(unless the marriage is unlawful)
and marries another commits adultery."
His disciples said to him,
"If that is the case of a man with his wife,
it is better not to marry."
He answered, "Not all can accept this word,
but only those to whom that is granted.
Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage
for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.”
Matthew 19, 3-12
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel……
Wednesday 16 August 2017
In our world slashed by guilt, sins we are struggling many times in our pain accusing, hurting each other and harming even those who were good to us so far !! I have seen so many broken up, destroyed souls, families and unfortunately I have to say that most of the time we are our own greatest enemies ! Yes with our own thoughts, deeds we are causing that terrible destruction to ourselves and our surroundings , from which we are suffering the most !! If our bodies are unkept, filthy we yearn for bathing and it feels good, cleansed to put on nice clothes ! Most people desire to clean their teeth daily , take care of their bodies then I ask why don’t we take care, look after our souls as well ? Why do I carry with me often my sins from my younger days , and all that filth that willing or unwilling I collect, gather from the world !! Our priests’ most important tasks should be the sacrament of reconciliation, to wash our world clean in the waters of spiritual renewal , because without sin , to live in the dignity as a child of Christ is good, magnificent ! Lets immerse ourselves in the cleansing water of the act reconciliation , lets dare to accuse myself in the eyes of God and the honest repentance cleanses , raises one up and leads one into the arms of God !
I believe in the sacrament of restarting , the cleansing power of reconciliation that purifies body and soul ! I believe that the first step towards happiness is the act of contrition for my spiritual cleansing, facing up honestly to my sins and the confession of those !
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church.
If he refuses to listen even to the Church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18, 15-20
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…
15th August 2017, Tuesday... The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
Mary is called by God and she embarks on a journey !!
The rich young man is called by God and he departs sadly!! You are also called by God , do you dare to embark on the way of serving love , with a resounding hymn of joy , carrying Jesus in your heart ?? Mary gave up everything and is soaring freely according to the will of God , the rich young man is very wealthy , he already has a “private life “ and this is why he is unable to follow our Lord Jesus Christ !! At least on this beautiful day lets be like Mary and let the God of love goodness lead us , decide in our decisions , lets celebrate our blessed Lady like this !!
Totally yours,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Picture : How did Mary walking on the road of serving love , carrying Her child could have possibly look like ? The photo depicts my dear daughter Laura , aged 16 on a pilgrimage !
Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."
And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever."
Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.
Luke 1, 39-56
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…..
13 August 2017, 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time..
Many people are willing to do everything for power!! The well-fed , satisfied people want to proclaim Jesus king , and it seems like that even His apostles seem inclined for the new challenge , that is why "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd..Mt 14, 22
Our Master not only says that whoever wants to be the greatest amongst you, should be a servant to all , He himself rejects power and humbly washes His disciples’ feet!! How great it would if we would contemplate on this wonderful teaching and life of our Redeemer and would be freed not only from this gnawing desire of power , but also from the compulsion of the continuous compliance , staying on a certain level as well !! Our greatest dignity that we are the children of God , the heirs of the kingdom of heaven, what earthly recognition , title could be even approach that !? Lets take on courageously any serving tasks given by God, but lets not ask for power from people ! Not the great acts of love , but the great love in our actions will lead us into the presence of God !!
Your lesser brother ,
Father Csaba.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14, 22-33
