Daily gospel

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday  16 March 2019

" Love your enemies “Mt 5, 43

We were praying for all the fallen soldiers, civilians of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution and  War of Independence with our children!! Friend or foe ? Or perhaps victim ! The people killed there were the victims of lust for power , arrogance, human stupidity !

May they rest in peace! 

With heartfelt sympathy ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel  Wednesday 13 March 2019

It is Lent !! Why don’t I convert ?? What am I waiting for !! A miracle, an applause , a rise in my salary ?! The world is below you , the heaven is above you , within you the ladder , says one of our great poets ! Lets get going, in the land of miracles Christ is awaiting us !!

With love, 

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : On the way to the Congo

The Word of God

When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!"

Luke 11:29-32

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel  Thursday 7 March 2019

"What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?" Luke 9,25

Greed ! In the quietness of Lent lets think about how much are we affected by the rust of sin ?! It is important that we realise ourselves , that it is not only the desire for gaining , getting of material objects , that we have to curb , but we also have to put a stop to our sickly desires for wanting to be in the limelight , creating a sensation!! Apart for the hoarding of material goods often we would like to win the whole world’s admiration, recognition ! This is why we spend more-or less time in front of the mirror , distributing all sorts of images , writings of ourselves, building often not even noticing our own image , that we would then like to imprint on our surrounding as well!  Our nature inclined to sin eager, greedy , often insatiable , we would like to win the whole world , but lets stop and think, whether what we achieve , gain does that benefit us ?

Jesus is urging us for a healthy self-love in this preaching ! Lets pay attention to ourselves , lets not keep folding the wrapping paper  , lets not search for the glittering material resources visible to all or the fleeting fame , limelight, but in the holy time of Lent lets gather such treasure that are not eaten away by rust, or consumed by moth … Fulfilling our duties , lets do humbly all that , that is good , nice what God expects from us ! Lets bear fruit , lasting fruit , according to the will of our loving God !! Lets use the ephemeral  possessions for getting Eternal treasures !

With love ,

Father Csaba

translated by dr k.e.

Photo: A classroom for the children in Kenya , in a school run by Franciscan Sisters, where close on forty children are studying. 

The Word of God

Jesus said to his disciples: "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?

Luke 9:22-25

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ….6 March 2019 Ash Wednesday 

What are your intentions for Lent ?! Lets think of Jesus’ everlasting words :"your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6, 18 

Politically correct speech ?? What I think, what I say and mostly what I do ?? How much are my thoughts, words and deeds in harmony !! A bad old habit of mine is a cynical remark , that often oversteps the mark  of cracking  a joke !! Caustic remarks at the expense on somebody ’s account , solely that we can have a laugh !? It is good to crack a good joke , but lets also think about the fact that our heavenly Father can also see what no-one else is able to do , He can see into our hearts !!

The time has come to cleanse my thoughts , my vocabulary , but even my uncontrollable movement should also be zeroed !! Yes the time is here , to give up those thoughts, words , deeds with which I would not like to appear in front of neither God nor my fellowman !! Our lenten objective  should be akin  to an inner spring-clean to align my thoughts, words and actions so that I am not a hypocrite in eyes of my Creator and fellowman .

With love,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

'And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Tuesday 5 March 2019

"Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age - houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life. "

Like a wise wine owner who savours his good wine drop by drop , I do the same with Jesus Christ’s wonderful promises word by word ! I read these holy Words over thirty-years ago, but I still cannot get enough of them !!The gospel , if we take it seriously , develops its own independent life , and starts to transform our lives!! In the atheist communist regime a priestly, monastic  vocation  was like a blind alley and not only in the eyes of the authorities but in the public mentality as well !!I gave over my life to Christ in 1988 in the Cathedral of Gyulafehérvár ! I knelt in front of my ordaining bishop, I knew that the elderly prelate spent on close to twelve years in prison, under house arrest for his faith in Christ and yet within me there was tranquility and peace , such a peace that in the previous 30y years , of my life then, I have never experienced yet ! As a sign of my abandonment of my  placing of my hand into the hand of the elderly priest’s hand I totally surrendered everything to God and I was filled with an unbelievable feeling of freedom , endless peace that is still my most precious possession !! 

Years passed , I have been serving Christ for 30 years and step by step it was proven true , that I made a good choice , if we give over everything , because even in the midst of persecutions , difficulties , we can still receive everything from the One who made this wonderful promise two thousand years ago..

With love, 

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

Peter began to say to Jesus, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age - houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."

Mark 10:28-31

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Monday 4 March 2019

"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ Mark 10, 27

How many rich young men and adults are running around in the world ! Perhaps you yourself are a rich young man as well ?! I believe that Jesus could solve all the world’s squalor , problems, but He would like if on our faces as well His kindhearted , beautiful features would also shine ! This is why without exception  is He encouraging all of us to :go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.!” Come my child , take hold of my hand and I’ll will guide you step by step , so that you do good , you be good , you become a blessing for your brethren !! Come to Africa, Asia , but even at home in Europe dare to live in fraternal love , become the symbol of love  in the life of your brothers , because this is the only way to become united with Me !!

With love from the Congo .

Father Csaba .

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother."' He said to him, 'Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.' Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, 'You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.' They were greatly astounded and said to one another, 'Then who can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.'

Mark 10:17-27

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel 3 March 2019 Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time 

It is easy to notice the splinter in others’ eyes , but very difficult to discover the plank in our own eye !

We are in the Congo, this morning starting at 6.30 am ,  Dr Richard Hardy a  missionary monk took us to the local Franciscan Father , into a huge church , in  Mbuyi Maji , a big town of two million people ! This is how early the Sunday holy mass starts here, so that in the morning dew , under cooler conditions the people gather for the holy mass and pray ! In this large city of two million , the same as in other parts of the Congo with 70 million people in most parts there is no electricity , drinking water , government organised health cover , provision of medical services , road systems , removal of garbage ….People gathered in the breaking dawn only by the light of two flickering candles ! Walking through the town we were dismayed to see this huge poverty , that afflicts  people right in the vicinity of one of the world’s biggest diamond mines ! Everybody is poor here , even the police are obviously hungry begging for food and still in the early hours of the morning , at sunrise , in the beautiful beautiful glittering light everybody , dressed neatly comes to the holy mass. The ceremony lasted close on three hours, the cantor , the choir wit drum ,zither were praising the Lord of Life and together with the altar servers , including the main celebrant of the mass almost continuously was dancing , singing ! The young local Franciscan father was giving his sermon with great dynamism , happily inter native tongue , from which we could not understand much , but we were amazed the way the very many young people , adults and children trustingly were shouting , expressing loudly their likes upon hearing a good thought, a punch line ! Everybody came forth at the time of taking up the collection , and after offering of the donations everybody received a personal blessing ! With Father Szabolcs we personally blessed every single member of the congregation filling the huge church ! It was touching to see , the way the young people, children and adults one by one came forth in a long ,packed queue and bowed their heads in front of the priests of God . Here the babies in the women’s arms are almost universal,  the child is part of the local folk costumes , just like high spirits , gaiety , the dance and the song ! 

Splinter and plank ?! In Europe many, many things have been put in place , it works more or less , but the zest for life , gaiety, but  the many , many  laughing , smiling children are missing from the young mother’s arms and not only from our churches , but form our families, society the children are missing also ! We are not giving thanks in the morning, that we managed to survive the night, because it is almost given that we live in peace , security , but here you yourself are responsible for safeguarding  the public order for yourself, your family ! 

We made huge sacrifices for material wealth, in the schools, at the workplace it is not easy to live up to expectations of everybody in everything , and at times like this , the gaiety , high spirits wilt in our lives and it is easier to live up to  the expectations unfortunately without a family, children! Seeing my singing, dancing fellow men at the  holy mass at dawn I feel that to give up the future, to to deny, refuse the holy task of starting a family , acceptance of children is the greatest plank, compared to this plank here in Congo everything is just a fleeting small splinter !

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

The Word of God

Jesus told a parable to his disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.

‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.’

Luke 6:39-45

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Friday 1 March 2019

"what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10,11

This saying of Jesus we always apply to marriage, family ! Here in a foreign land , in a big city of 12 million inhabitants, Kinshasa, where  I met lots of lovely children , kind people , I definitely sense that God planted the love of the homeland as well, deeply within  me, within us ! ! The question is , what can we do to make this bond strong enough that in such a drifting world it will keep us in our homeland ? It seems as though the people here love their homeland very much, are proud of their heritage , but according to a local tour guide, no such person lives in this big city who if they could, would not happily go to Europe! 

There are lots of problems in the families as well , but we always say that it is God who stored up your heart for the love towards your wife, your husband , and He also wants you that solving the problems you live together happily ever after . Endure in love by  becoming refined, forming each other in love , because for him and she for you are the gift of God, his/ her life-belt . With , beside him/her you can discover your faults, your boundaries and together , trusting in each other , continuing a dialogue you unfold , materially, humanity , but spiritually as well ! By moulding, forming  you also become “formed” , by benefiting your companion , you also make yourself nicer at the same time , with the same work, patience !

One thing is  for certain , just like in many parts of the big, wide world here in the Congo as well there are lots problems waiting to be solved ! Today we went to a school , where 6-700 children are studying, but there is no electricity and in the classrooms apart from the desks there is only one big blackboard painted on the wall ! To face up to the realistic problems , perhaps to ask for help and solve those , or else to leave everything behind and go into a foreign land ? The way I see this, that more and more in many places this is the big question !?

I believe that Jesus Christ wants us to become attached more and more to our family, but to our homeland as well ! It is quite certain that He does not want our world to perish in the hell of a newer migration! That is why I am convinced that for us priests , just the same as for the prosperity, success of the families we have to do everything , to help the young people , the nations that staying in their own homeland they can create a life fit for a human being ! 

Do not part ! Do not leave your homeland ! Reading today’s gospel here in the Congo these two sentences are resounding in my heart , that I share lovingly with you ! 

Swept abroad ,your lesser brother 

Father Csaba.

translated by dr k.e. 

The Word of God

He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “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, let no one separate.’

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’

Mark 10, 1-12

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Thursday 28 February 2019…..

With a statue of the Christ Child,I am sitting here at the airport in Paris !! Whilst waiting for our flight to Kinshasa I read it joyfully Jesus Christ’s  everlasting beautiful request in today’s gospel !! “ be at peace with one another.”

Around me very “colourful “ people are waiting and I am trying consciously keep the blessed  peace in my heart alive like  the flame on a candle. !! I am looking at the faces and try to say a prayer silently for every single person , and a blessing !! For them I am asking from God the blessed peace , the peace , the lack of that peace because of it not only the people of Africa but the whole of humanity has suffered so much !

Together with Saint Francis I am asking with love and prayer my creator God!

With love ,

Father Csaba 

translated by dr k.e.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; 

Where there is darkness, light; 

Where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek 

To be consoled as to console, 

To be understood as to understand, 

To be loved as to love; 

For it is in giving that we receive; 

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  

Photo : With the Christ Child in Déva 

The Word of God

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Mark 9:41-50

Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 27 February 2019

"Whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9, 38

Very often we can manage to bring out the wickedness from each other , with tiresome , hard work we create for ourselves a hated enemy . Lets just think about this, if we are in danger , if we are being attacked , then we start to defend ourselves , very often we also become hostile as well. But if we are being ordered about ,or if we feel that we are being forced to do something, if they try to fill us full ,-this can even arise even from love as well-then we barricade ourselves , often we can turn to being offensive . Very often because of petty things, well-meaning , harmless people can also become the fierce enemies of each other , and willingly or unwillingly we can cause serious suffering , grief.  

The shortest distance between two people is the straight talk, the honest dialogue . Lets observe that the great Master Jesus how easily can address people, gets to know them, and with just a few word within a few minutes  He turns them into being His friends:

"Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” After Good Friday “ Peter do you love me ? or “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me ! “  Lets reflect at some length about these meetings ! Let us gaze in wonderment that how every smile of Jesus , word makes a friend.

Lets dare to step on the road travelled by our Master , that leads to the land of companions, good friends ! 

May God grant us , that with our sweaty, hard labour we do not make enemies  from the people living around us , but we gain  real good friends for ourselves for eternal life with happy, cheerful laughter .

With love ,

Father Csaba ,

translated by dr k.e.

Photo : two true great friends from Déva Laura and Zita .

The Word of God

John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us."

Mark 9:38-40