Daily gospel

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel.. Feast of the Blessed Virgin.

Saturday 5 August 2017

How few trustworthy prophets can one find and how many Herodes live in this world ! How many people will die today as well through violence in the world today ?? 

In reality it was not God who created hell , it is man’s doing with their infinite stupidity, boorishness ! How right is our Lord Jesus Christ praying on the cross ! “ Forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing !! “ Yes the victims are are suffering but how much more is the one suffering who raising a hand wounds, murders !

What a great need we would have in today’s world for more John the Baptists , who endangering their lives , bravely stand up, so that with their wise words , lives, free mankind from the greatest captivity the domination of sin !!! I met a man who was serving nineteen years in prison ! At the bottom of his heart a horrendous felony , a murder , that nobody knew about , but he made a full  confession to his judges ! He did this out of his own free will , for his action he was convicted for nineteen years in prison  , he was freed not long ago and now living his life proclaiming the greatness of God !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Matthew 14, 1-12

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel..

Friday 4 August 2017   Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

I am on my way still several hundred kilometres to my destination ! I am driving , I feel peace inside me, the nice,regular purring of the car engine fills me with tranquility! How awesome the flaming fuel encased by the steel casing do not extinguish the flame but ensure maximum performance ! These forces propelling us are born not only from the flammable fuel but from the rigidly fixed  hard sides, not giving even a millimetre , of the cylinders ! In the dust of the street poured out , the burning gasoline only gives rise to soot , filth , while the same material here between the steel enclosure , according to the plans of the wise engineers ,disintegrating , flaming are happily hurling us towards our homes !!

Only strict boundaries taken on by your own decisions can give your life a meaning ! Where there are no strict limits , there there is no strength, drive , life !

That is why I encourage you be not afraid to take out from the outstretched hand of your redeeming Christ , towards you,the commandments leading to joy, happiness! Establish a family , accept the gift of a child , plan your undertakings , and with the compass of God’s commandment in your hand , dare to embark on the way of action ! Honour your Master and you’ll win !

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo: The late Father Antal on his way celebrating the 75th year of his ordination in the car of the late great Bishop Márton Áron.

54 He came to his home town and began to teach the people* in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ 57And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.’ 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13, 54-58

Father Csaba’s reflections on the gospel….

Thursday 3 August 2017

"Thus it will be at the end of the age.

The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous

and throw them into the fiery furnace,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Matthew 13, 50

Heaven and hell !? About the existence of hell and heaven we only know from the revelations of our Lord Jesus Christ, because so far authentic opinion was ever given as nobody walked in these places !! It is worthwhile here and now to take out the holy scriptures , read the teaching of the saints that is why I share with you the Catholic lexicon’s description of hell, it is a worthwhile read LEXIKON

As far as I am concerned , I believe in God’s infinite mercy, but since I also see that here on earth what infinite pain can free will lead a man into , that is why with my Church I also testify , that through ignorance, foolishness , disobedience man can condemn oneself to damnation!! For all of us happiness, joy is open to all on this earth , that most certainly has its continuation into eternity , but unfortunately we also see that the man ruled by sin is suffering even though the house of suffering has the handle on the inside , yet they are capable perhaps even for eternity to be mummified by their sins , without those giving them any joy!!

Merciful God grant all of us after a peaceful earthly life the eternal happiness !

With the hope of eternal life,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Jesus said to the disciples:

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,

which collects fish of every kind.

When it is full they haul it ashore

and sit down to put what is good into buckets.

What is bad they throw away.

Thus it will be at the end of the age.

The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous

and throw them into the fiery furnace,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."

"Do you understand all these things?"

They answered, "Yes."

And he replied,

"Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven

is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom

both the new and the old."

When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

Matthew 13, 47-53

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….

Wednesday 2 August 2017

What do we make good use of ?

You are not only what you see looking into yourself , believe it , that in your body enclosed within the walls of your existence there are great treasures hiding ! Yes, in the ground , in your life God has hidden such treasures that perhaps you don’t even dare to dream about! Within you exists the expert , the mother willing to bring down the stars from heaven for her children , family , the  vigorous father fulfilled by his creations !! Believe it there are many , many miracles in your heart ,such precious treasures in your head that can 

 make you a valuable . rich , esteemed person in the eyes of your family , your people if you bring to the surface, accomplish with determination that is within you! Just as in the young sportsman the world champion is there who is cheered with standing ovation by the world , but who has to spend countless hour with enduring training to become a reality, the same way all this is within you that makes you unique , irreplaceable , valuable ! Dare to take on the everyday march, struggle , because by giving all that is yours, your free time , your energy and the treasure that God hid in your heart will be yours ! Nowadays people living from salaries find it hard to imagine that God can surprise us free of charge  as well with  loving giving.! Even though all that is  really important our health, a relation or a suddenly opening door , a new opportunity are all God’s precious gifts ! God , our heavenly Father has placed one or more crumbs of the  creative force in all of our satchels, I encourage you to take it out making yourself, your surrounding richer by your treasures!

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,

which a person finds and hides again,

and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant

searching for fine pearls.

When he finds a pearl of great price,

he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Matthew 13, 44-46

Photo : Our grown up daughter from Kovászna, Xénia  getting her degree in Kolozsvár.

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel

Tuesday 1 August 2017 

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

"He who sows good seed is the Son of Man….”Matthew 13, 36

God does not observe our struggles passively , however with His life-giving blessing , His graces , values,  good seeds, thoughts continuously sows , enriches our lives ! He does this with infinite love not once, not twice , but continuously on every day of our lives ! Just as the sunbather , getting out of the cool foam of the lake lies on the green grass and gives himself over to the blessed rays of the sun, somehow this is how we should give ourselves over on the field of prayer to the love of our heavenly Father , the deluge of His graces filling us , He carries out His work with infinite tenderness!

My brother/sister you are more than what you got to know about yourself , you rambled over, you are a fertile field callable of accepting the Word of God, such extrinsic values may spring up in you that you never even believed their existence ! Let God with curious trust , the Sower to carry out His task , because He is the One who knows what , how much we need so that we can take delight in the beautiful flowers of our souls !

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e. 

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.

His disciples approached him and said,

"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."

He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,

the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.

The weeds are the children of the Evil One,

and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.

The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,

so will it be at the end of the age.

The Son of Man will send his angels,

and they will collect out of his Kingdom

all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.

They will throw them into the fiery furnace,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun

in the Kingdom of their Father.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Matthew 13, 36-43

Father Csaba’s reflection on today’s gospel….

Friday 28 July 2017

"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but rthe cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Matthew 13, 21

Weeding, hoeing should  not only be done in the fields, but in our own lives as well ! The wise ploughman knows how close should be the corn and other plants   in order to maximise the crop and no matter how beautiful the cornflower or the poppy is , a good farmer will resolutely cut out , even without sparing the intended crop that grows unmanageably but will hoe it out with the weed! A spiritual person is aware that one not only has to make a choice between good and bad , but often even between good and good , because our time is finite and paying attention to the will of our God we have to choose the task , that we feel is ours and we have to bring that to a satisfactory conclusion ! Yes the wise man knowingly focuses his time , energy just like a lense the rays of light , concentrates as to what his duty is , what are God’s expectations of him, and everything else he regards as a dangerous “thorn” in his life and cuts it out it from it !

I really like it as our Lord clearly proclaims  that the "deceitful riches choke” the growth of the God given holy grain of wheat in our lives ! The wise tourist  removes all that is unnecessary from his backpack before a long journey, so that he does not have to carry them . We also have to wisely look at our lives, possessions but even our relationships and  the”superfluous thorns” choking our lives , tasks, people  and let go of them without  a second thought!

Good gardening,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 k“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of lthe kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.2 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but rthe cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case va hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Matthew 13, 18-23

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….

Thursday 27 July 2017

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,

and your ears, because they hear.

Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people

longed to see what you see but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13, 17

It is a big question for me why is it so difficult for some people to find themselves ? Even amongst the so called thinking men unfortunately very few of them wake up to consciously acknowledge the blessed presence of our ever loving God who loves us infinitely and is present everywhere ! We are living, moving and existing often without quietening down and being able to turn within ourselves and embark on the road of awakening that brings  joyfulness ! It is not necessary on this road  that the holy scripture guides us, we could hold onto the hands of the scientists of today , who state that all that is around us was born 13.7 billion years ago without expansion , an infinitely enormous amount of energy produced  by the big bang . In the beginning nothing existed , not even matter , not even the most basic particles of matter , only the infinite creative force , that started expanding with a speed unimaginable for us ! According to the scientists everything , the tiny particles of matter , the light but even space itself as well, even time were born out of this vast energy ! 

According to the greatest scientists of our time till the creation of the most elementary particles of our world after the big bang close to a billion years must have passed ! Yes according to physicist it is a miracle in itself that the nucleus of an atom that is about a hundred thousand times smaller than the atom itself is capable to keep on track an unexpanded electron , for billions of years in an orbit travelling close to the speed of light ! I am writing these lines and I am trying to comprehend the words of our scientists who state that a full stop at the end of a sentence has roughly the same number of atoms as the oceans have teaspoonfuls of water in them ! How many atoms are in me then ?

I am sitting in my room , me, who was also put together from tiny particles fitted together by our Creator that came from that same infinite energy just like you or the space between us , the time , or light itself and in my thoughts I start praising , glorifying the One whose children we are . With open arms , infinite respect , owe I turn my face towards this loving Existence and I let Him to fill me , to carry me along just as the girl swept off into the dance , my adored God !

I am praying that the person who finds himself confidently turns towards his Creator .

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Picture : our students in Szentsimon performing in a horse-show.

The disciples approached Jesus and said,

"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"

He said to them in reply,

"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven

has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.

To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;

from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because

they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.

Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You shall indeed hear but not understand,

you shall indeed look but never see.

Gross is the heart of this people,

they will hardly hear with their ears,

they have closed their eyes,

lest they see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their hearts and be converted

and I heal them.

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,

and your ears, because they hear.

Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people

longed to see what you see but did not see it,

and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Matthew 13, 10-17

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ….

Wednesday 26 July 2017 The feast of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, the parents of the blessed Virgin Mary..

Listening to the parable of the sower we always think that we are the good seeds sown by the sower . We continue this train of thoughts with some melancholic gloom , that well-well how good we are but some unthinking sower put our lives in  such circumstances that we are not capable of producing a rich harvest ! 

Yes we did everything-we are washing our hands- but unfortunately we were not as lucky as the other seeds that fell into fertile ground  !! Shifting our failures  onto others for our setbacks is not nice and does not lead anywhere , this is why lets turn the parable around ! Lets be the plough land and God’s Word the good seed , that falls abundantly into our lives , but since we are not doing everything to become a rich soil , that is why God’s fertile life-giving Words in our lives cannot spring up in a stalk and bring a plentiful harvest ! Instead of blaming others , our circumstances lets endeavour to get rid of the thorns of bad habits ,  without compromise, systematically  lets get rid of the smaller or bigger sins holding us back in our lives and everything will change ! I believe that God is not tight-fisted , He gives us His graces abundantly and so the sincere repentance, the enduring prayer , the merciful love is capable to make us into fertile soil, a tree yielding plentiful fruit !

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.

Such large crowds gathered around him

that he got into a boat and sat down,

and the whole crowd stood along the shore.

And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:

"A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,

and birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.

It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,

and when the sun rose it was scorched,

and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.

But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,

a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Matthew 13, 1-9

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…..

Tuesday 25 July 2017 The feast of the apostle Saint James

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20, 20-28

God is at our service, since from the state of non- existence raised us into existence , in His infinite goodness presented us with the dignity of the children of God incomparable to none other and sustains us every day of our life, carries us patiently brings us up by giving us tasks, develops/unfolds us , by His redemption opened the door to eternal life for us !

Your children , your people you can also lift up by well-thoughtout , wise goodness, you can make them great by your honest work, with which if you carry them by merciful peacefulness then you are going the right way ! Slowly , you form to the image of your Creator , who not only raises you , but according to His promise will seat you at His right hand side in His Kingdom at the wedding feast ! 

We do not need to hunt for material wealth, the flattery of admiring people we should only seek how and where we could be the most useful , in serving the least, the most insignificant of all! The consumption, possession of material goods, the drifting moments, the power offered by people are all " only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal that moth or rust destroys”! We have to know that only the wise deeds coming from the heart , sanctifying our brethren, serving love remains for eternal life , the good deed is the only earthly good deed for what it is worthwhile to struggle , take the trouble for !

With love,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her,

"What do you wish?"

She answered him,

"Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."

Jesus said in reply,

"You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"

They said to him, "We can."

He replied,

"My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served

but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20, 20-28

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…

Monday 24 July 2017

 I can picture Jesus’ beautiful presentation on the shores of the sea of Galilee , the beautiful parables follow one after the other and all of a sudden somebody interrupts. I can almost hear that one of the pharisees, full of himself taunting the Master "we should like to see a sign from you! Mt 12, 38. Jesus’ answer is probably not politically correct 'It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”Mt 12,38 We declare many times that you do not have to fight darkness, because it cannot be broken, it cannot be shovelled out the window! Yes, we do not start wrestling the darkness , boorishness because pardon me for using a popular saying: “the one who wrestles with mud, will become muddy !”So far  this is understandable , but if darkness breaks on us and starts wrestling us, then what is to be done ? Jesus’ answer is amazing , He is willing to become a sign, a symbol  Himself, He is willing to undertake the death on the cross, the Golgotha ! Jesus does not run away , does not hide behind a lie from the hatred that is coming upon Him , He faces it bravely because He believes in the final victory of love but He also declares that as well that all those' situations are infinitely sad , the ones who do not convert  who do not embark on the road of love, goodness !

I also believe in the final victory of love and I also believe that according to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ’s work, who decline dialogue, in one word, love they will be damned , 

Father Csaba .

translated by dr k.e. 

Picture : An ancient relic made from the pieces of  Christ’s cross, according to historians in Bayern- land Saint Stephen married the blessed Gizella.

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. 'Master,' they said, 'we should like to see a sign from you.' He replied, 'It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah remained in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.

On Judgement Day the men of Nineveh will appear against this generation and they will be its condemnation, because when Jonah preached they repented; and look, there is something greater than Jonah here.

On Judgement Day the Queen of the South will appear against this generation and be its condemnation, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look, there is something greater than Solomon here.

Matthew 12, 38-42