Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 16 January 2019
Jesus "entered the house of Simon and Andrew,” Mark 1,29
How good it is seeing Jesus hanging around with friends !! He goes to friends, strangers alike ! He visited St Peter, St. Andrew , but also goes to the old Nicodemus or to Zacchaeus despised by all , but even visits the man chained to the tombs naked, possessed by evil spirit in Gerasene as well !!
How easily do I make friends ? Can I be called upon ? Do people’s problems, worry interest me ? Do I visit people ? Do I know my neighbours : Do I sit down for a coffee , cards , a game of rummy , a glass of beer , do I sit with my colleagues , acquaintances ? How many people did I visit last week , how many people did I shake hands with ?
May Christ be my example who looks up His friends, fellow human beings and lets visit someone tomorrow with a good word , with great, great love !! Arriving home after visiting friends ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : Visiting the children in Medgyes
The Word of God
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Mark 1:29-39
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel ….Tuesday 15 January 2019
" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. “Mark 1,21
Often I am amazed how naively, without any fear are we going around in this world ! Talking with young people , even with ones growing up in our homes as well I dismayed , that they finish with school and destination the big wide world ! I ask them : where are you going ? Do you speak the language ? Is anybody waiting for you there ? If anything happens to you , who is going to hold your hand ? They look at me and I can see they are unaware how much evil is there in the big world ! Why don’t we tell , show the generation growing up that this world is the scene of a “battle field “ ! Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians openly tells his friends that" work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” It is our duty too to warn , protect our children , each other lovingly from all evil , because as the other great apostle is also saying "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.…”St Peter 1st letter 5,7
This Sunday we were at the prison with the children from Déva in Balassagyarmat, during the sacrifice of the mass the children sang taking turns with the inmates in the chapel behind the walls! Yes the children also have to know that in Hungary this Christmas the angel visited close to twenty thousand prisoners in prison, penitentiary in an infinitely dreary, dismal cell, only a few square meters in area closed by iron bars ! How many broken dreams , suffering , sadness is there in every square meter ! Unfortunately new prisons are built in Transylvania as well , but everywhere in the world ! And children’s homes, hospitals are being built for those attempting suicide ! Not long ago I was at the Police Academy to give a told and they told me they cannot keep up with the training of enough security forces , because the need is much greater than the new arrivals ! But unfortunately the courts are not sending away neither the public prosecutors , nor the lawyers , neither the judges on the dole .
Yesterday I visited such an institution , where such people are placed who are brave enough already to ask for help in their battles against alcohol, drugs ! Grown up , respected people who crying , praying over periods of weeks are trying to get back on their feet , because somewhere , sometime along the line they were not careful enough and got onto thin ice !
During the holy time of Christmas several mothers , in trouble rang me up , one because her husband beat her and their three nice children, another one who is afraid of her husband at night because he is threatening to kill her !
Should I continue ? We took in and 18 year old expectant mother who is due in two months, and the child’s father last month hung himself ! I was looking at this dear, young expectant mother , who with red eyes , dressed in black stood in front of me , I just embraced her I had no words !
My dear brethren, lets take seriously the dangers ahead , huddled together , holding onto each other’s hands lets look after ourselves and our beloved children , so that her in this world but also up in heaven we can rejoice in each other in peace and love !
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : the incarcerated , for a period from 20-30 years, during the holy mass .
The Word of God
When the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching - with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel …. Saturday 12 January 2019
"He must increase….."Says Saint John the Baptist of Jesus Christ ! ! In truth it is not only the prophet’s task but that of all of us to proclaims the greatness of God , to praise our Creator ! To get people know the beauty, the wonders of the world created by God !!At the same time it is also our duty to bring to the surface of our fellow human beings to the surface their precious, beautiful features , those mental, spiritual , physical qualities that they maybe unaware of ! Our goal is , that seeing the beauty, perfectness of this world , experiencing the goodness , virtues of the Christians people will praise the greatness of our Creator God .
A boy was taken in , in our home there were lots of problems, difficulties with him. He had to repeat year 5 three times , of course not because he was stupid, but because he did not want to cooperate with his teachers ! His father passed away , he finished up in a home and he was rebelling against this , he was angry with the world , and he also showed this anger very harshly. they scolded him at school, he was given bad marks , they downgraded his behaviour and finally he was failed in several subjects ! To be honest I also, others as well spoke with him, but we could not get through to him , he did not want to communicate with anybody !The years passed we did not let go of the child’s hand and the way I see it he slowly understood that we are not satisfied with the world either , but the world won’t become a better place by that neither more liveable if we annoy , scold, mock one another! This boy grew up nicely , he studies well and he became the pride of our home , he sings, plays the guitar, acts in plays , I see him that he has understood that only love, goodness , honest work are capable of making our world as well as our fate better too ! Our world created by God can only be made better, more , richer by love, goodness , enduring work!God and all that He represents has to grow, and then our world will become more habitable , nicer and better !
Come lets join together and make our world created by God with patient work nicer, the people living in it better truer and lets proclaim the greatness of our Creator God audibly, may all the beauty, value hiding unnoticed in all of us shine ! I believe that with this we are going to we are going to brighten the greatness of our Creator God on this earth. !
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: The children of Déva proclaiming the greatness of God.
The Word of God
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him." John answered, "No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:22-30
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Friday 11 January 2019
“..he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” Luke 5, 16
With the help of God I am also going to withdraw to Szentkút to present a three day retreat ! The sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Szentkút is Hungary’s National Shrine , a place for retreats ! It is good to be there , because it is quite certain that in such a blessed, sanctified places heaven and earth are closer together ! Certainly, that Jesus was with the Heavenly Father , prayed but see our Master still spent time for quietening down , introspection , for prayer in a secluded place !
Lets set time aside consciously for fulfilling God’s first commandment !” Worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve Him only.’”According to the catechism “ Recognising God our first duty is our faith in Him , the worshipping, paying homage and glorifying , the recognition of the absoluteness of His reign .”
I am happy , because in the that in the following days I’ll only have one task to do that in one of the most beautiful and sacred places of the Carpathian basin : worshiping God , praising , glorifying , exaltation of Him !
Lets give ourself the gift of this blessed time with the praising of God !! Lets give ourself time for body, mind but also our soul as well !
With the love of a lesser brother,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them." But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.
Luke 5:12-16
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Thursday 10 January 2019
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. "
Joyfully , spread the good news , all of us who have been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity received this vocation , the Church anointed me for this mission in the name of God but so did She anoint you ! Joyfully spreading the good news in the world this is our calling , this should be our everyday work wear , but also the purpose of our everyday work !!
Am I going the right way ? Lets ask the people living around us whether I really mean joyous news for them ! How do I grade myself as a joyous one carrying good news from one to ten ?
Today a lovely young couple visited me , with two beautiful children . What is common in the young people is that they both grew up here in Déva named after Our Blessed Lady of Hungary this was there home they left their nest from here ! It was good to meet up with them, it was good to take delight in their two beloved children ! Back in those days the difficulties of life brought us together , but for me they also meant happiness when as small children they came to us, and it was a joy to meet them today as well, because back the, as now as well they are God’s precious gifts ! I would also like to live in a such a way that for them also I can become our creator God’s gift , blessing till the last moments of my life !
Joyfully carrying joyous news so that we also become joyous news , it is this simple , God entrusted us with a wonderful work , praise to Him for this!!
With love ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : Three children and two grandchildren , this picture is right as is ….
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
Luke 4, 14-22a
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Wednesday 9 January 2019
"When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. “Mk 6,45
We can see the struggling of our fellow human beings who are in trouble , but unfortunately we get bogged down at lamenting , listing the reasons for the development of the problems !! Lets be honest we often accuse as well : why did they have to go there ? Why did not they look after themselves ? Why did not the get ready for the “storm” ? Etc.
Jesus seeing people in trouble gets going on the water. We should learn this from our Master : whether there is a way , or no way that leads us to to a man in trouble we have to go, help our brethren in trouble . I experienced that even if seemingly the way is unsurpassable, we could say we are a world apart from a drifting man, but the goodwill , the readiness to help are capable of bridging every precipice .
A short time ago I married a young couple . The girl I got to know at the time when she was 10 years old , living in a state orphanage . We took her in, in the name of God she was lovingly raised by the carer Mónika , and now she came from far away to promise everlasting loyalty to her sweetheart . After the ceremony I was sitting in the dining room opposite my grownup daughter, laughing at old stories and my heart was filled by an infinite calm, pride and joy . We set out many years ago on the sea of of officialdom of the child protection agencies , towards a drifting life without parents and behold , we the little stumbling people could help realistically ! Our daughter grew up , stands on a rock solid foundation , calmly, happily smiling by the side of the love of her life . The husband, my son-in-law , squeezed my hand when we parted and all he said , that he thanks us for raising Giulia for him . And I thank Jesus for the good example ! It is good to be good , it is good to notice the person in trouble and set out apprehensive , on the continuously stormy sea , to help ! It is good with mercy and love to bend down to the one in trouble and with our own limited resources to do day after day what we can do..
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo : the cheerful little helpers of Saint Nicholas here in Déva.
The Word of God
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Mark 6:45-52
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…Monday 7 January 2019
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 4, 12
Visiting the jails, hearing the confessions of prisoners, talking to the parents of our children living in the orphanage , knowing the inhabitants of slums I have to say that these days the many-many worries, problems can be remedied not with money, financial support, donations but by the commandment of love , by teaching the basic Christian principals by the conversion of people . I live among the poor , I know what I am talking about and aware of my responsibilities that nowadays there is no more poverty in the Carpathian -basin ! Even at the risk of being severely criticised I am willing to state that nowadays it is not the destitution that is in our homeland , but laziness, impotence, drunkenness !Yes, misery only exists where there is no joining of forces , where people go off the way of love, divine commandments , where work is a “four letter word “ ! That is why today in the Carpathian basin it is not the grants that should be distributed among the young people , but proclaim audibly the same message that Jesus Christ proclaimed two thousand years ago : “Repent !” Not social projects have to be announced , but the Gospel has to be taught clearly , audibly !
Repent and paying attention to each other , live your lives in peace, love as good brethren ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
The Word of God
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.'
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Sunday 6 January 2019 the Feast of Epiphany. 2nd Week -God-Holy Trinity-Love
People said, are saying many, many wise things about God, however on this beautiful feast let us not look at what us people think and say about our Creator but lets reflect upon what God saw fit to tell us about Himself !
The people of the Old Testament knew that God exists , He is our kind hearted Heavenly Father , revered Him with religious devotion, followed Him by keeping His commandments , but knew very little about our Creator’s inner life !! We celebrate on the feast of Epiphany that the great God comes among us and introduces Himself as the Holy Trinity !! Three persons in the one God !? The created world , the stars, the wise men of the Orient pay homage in front of Christ! The holy people of the Old Testament in the church in Jerusalem , the just and devout Simeon, the widow, prophetess Anna greet the Messiah ! Saint John the baptist in the river Jordan baptises Jesus, and the Heavenly Father Himself testifies about His Holy Son with the Holy Spirit : “ At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3, 16-17
For us , Christian believers of God the central truth, the doctrine, is the revelation of the Holy Trinity ! We have all been baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ! God saw it good to share this secret with us , that is why Christ died on the cross because He called Himself God, and His Jewish contemporaries did not want to accept , believe this ! But why is the most important truth of our faith that our only Creator God in reality is the Holy Trinity !? Lets reflect at some length about the relationship between the Divine persons! The 12 year old Jesus upon His Mother’s question who searched for Him for three days answers surprised that : “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Later on as well Jesus retreating into quietness as the Holy Scripture states : "12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” Luke 6, 12 With His last breath as well on the cross He calls His Heavenly Father :“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] Luke 23, 46 ! The heavenly Father speaks lovingly of His Holy Son whom He glorifies on Mount Sinai : “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17, 5 If we read the gospel attentively every step of the way we can see how the Holy Trinity, God , Jesus , the Holy Spirit are in unison with passionate love work together glorifying and carrying out the commandments of love.
Yes the Holy Trinity is a Community of love where we have been invited to ! The goal of our life is to rise up to worshipping God with a passionate love to Holy Trinity’s the wedding feast where we have been invited to !! Jesus in Himself by His glorified body forms a bridge between heaven and earth , not because we deserve it or we are worthy of it but because with His giving love He saw it good to bend down to us ! It is great to follow the God of the Old Testament , but it is immeasurably greater to get to know to get to love and worship the one God Holy Trinity !! The Image go God determines how we picture ourselves, our world as well .If God is not a lonely heavenly Lord , who directs us with a stretched out hand , strong arm , controlling "the little men" born of a handful of dust , but an infinitely tender loving Holy Trinity with outstretched arms , then we have to change to the image, likeness of our Creator , our communities have to become communities of love ! If God is a Community of Love , then the beautiful features of our Creator giving and receiving love have to shine on our faces too!! We will only become perfect if in this world already we try to live with our Creator , each other as well and all the creatures of our world in a community of love ! We believe that these efforts, attempts God will fulfil , with merciful love in His Kingdom !
Glorifying the Holy Trinity ,
Father Csaba.
translated by dr k.e.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
In Latin:
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
The Word of God
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel".
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew 2:1-12
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel Saturday 5 January 2019 the feast of Saint Simeon the Stylite
"Follow me.” John 1,43 Jesus is building the world consciously , deliberately . He initiates , addresses, approaches Mary, Saint Joseph , Philip, calls the apostles , giving, providing them with tasks, missions , work. God also calls the greats of the Old and New Testament by name . Lets think of Abraham , Moses , the prophets , but we can also think of the saint celebrated today , Saint Simeon the Stylite as well.
Saint Simeon the Stylite lived around the beginning of the year 400 next to Antioch . He comes from a small village , spent his youth in the field grazing the sheep . One day in the church he heard the Lord’s voice and from this day onwards his life was changed for ever. They read the "Sermon on the Mount “ that day in which the Lord called blessed the “pure in heart “ . Simeon leaving everything behind becomes a monk .. Because of his too strict , ascetic life after ten years his fellow monks advise him to leave . Finally he lived for close on forty years on a twenty meter high pillar, column , on which there could not have been more than two square meters of room . He had an exacting daily program , during the night , in the morning he prayed , in the afternoon he listened to th people who gathered there. The pilgrims confessed their sins, asked for advice , consolation from him , many were just plain curious . People of all different ranks, background of that big world as it was then went to him ! The ascetic put up with illness , hunger , the heat of the day , rain, wind , storm , but even the crowd of those driven by curiosity, and the large crowd seeking help, without a word of complaint from day after day, year after year . His funeral resembled an emperor’s triumphant procession.
What could have driven this man , more than one thousand seven hundred years ago to this extraordinary, cruel lifestyle ? Nobody can persistently stand for a period of over forty years on the top of a column, one needs extraordinary self-discipline , thinking of himself the world’s greatest sinner ! He stands steadily and in the meantime he teaches, gives wise advice to the simple folk and the educated teachers , priests and laymen alike , very- very humbly . Back in those days as well there were curious people , investigative journalists who provoked , wanted to uncover Simeon’s secret.Simeon’s secret is the same , as every saints' who listen to God ! Saint Simeon the Stylite’s secret is the same as that of Abraham, Moses or Philip sitting under the fig tree , or God’s all saints . God called them and they followed their God ! Simeon’s life, the saints’ lives speak that beyond the desire of the body and blood , the calculating, weighing up sober human thinking ,there is such a force that is not only capable to address , guide us but one that makes the man sitting at the one table with Him infinitely happy as well . What could have driven this man , more than one thousand seven hundred years ago to this extraordinary, cruel lifestyle ? Nobody can persistently stand for a period of over forty years on the top of a column, one needs extraordinary self-discipline , thinking of himself the world’s greatest sinner ! He stands steadily and in the meantime he teaches, gives wise advices to the simple folk and the educated teachers , priests and laymen alike , very- very humbly . Back in those days as well there were curious people , investigative journalists who provoked , wanted to uncover Simeon’s secret.Simeon’s secret is the same , as every saints' who listen to God ! Saint Simeon the Stylite’s secret is the same as that of Abraham, Moses or Philip sitting under the fig tree , or God’s all saints . God called them and they followed their God ! Simeon’s life, the saints’ lives speak that beyond the desire of the body and blood , the calculating, weighing up sober human thinking ,there is such a force that is not only capable to address , guide us but one that makes the man sitting at the one table with Him infinitely happy as well .
God is not discriminating , He not only calls the rich, the educated , the famous, He not only wants the”good" people without sins ! Simeon was neither rich, nor educated , he started his dialogue with God in a deserted rural settlement , and this dialogue made him into a saint , and that patch of soil where he lived into a sanctuary ! After his death they built a church on the spot where he lived , that became a place of pilgrimage , whereto people even travel today to pray. Simeon was made a saint by his dialogue with God , God’s presence sanctified that place , this place of prayer became a sanctuary , a place of pilgrimage . You can also start the dialogue with our Creator God there where you are , where you live , as it is quite certain that the Lord is calling you as well , and He’ll tell you the same as He did to Philip or Smeon :”follow me ! “
Following Christ, stumbling ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: a kind godparent , who has been happily supporting a child for years because he feels that God is asking this from him !
The Word of God
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
John 1:43-51
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel….Thursday 3 January 2019
"I do not know him either “ says Saint John the Baptist about Jesus Christ !! We don’t know God either , however God would like to reveal His identity , and show us ! I believe that our Creator sees it fit to this day to reveal His identity to the little ones that is us ! This is great news , that man born from a handful of dust will be able to get to know God ! It is natural that John also got to know from Christ’s deity only very little , but that was enough for him for everything to change in his life , since he accepted the wilderness, the life of a hermit , everything just for Jesus Christ !
The other great news for us is that the last prophet of the Old Testament sees it as one of his feasible duties to make the Lord “ known” by the people !! An example for us Saint John the Baptist , our duty is to get to know God, to get to love Him, and to take the glad tidings to our brethren ! How great it would be if humbly we could also say : " And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ John 1,34 God in His infinite greatness is compatible with people , one can get to know Him, and can be made known ! Jesus was not making us chasing rainbows , as we are capable to get to know our Creator , holding our brethren’s hand to sit at the one table with Him , and together with our loved ones lovingly enter eternity !
Rejoicing in front of a door that is open wide ,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
Photo: The children from Nagyszalonta reading the word of God in a play about Saint Francis.
The Word of God
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’
John 1:29-34
Father Csaba’s reflection on the gospel…. Wednesday 2 January 2019
"Who are you?” ( John 1, 19 ) - are the people asking John the Baptist . During the first days of the new year lets ask ourselves this question : Who am I ? Because if we can give a satisfactory answer to this question , then we will also know that where, which way do we have to go!
Before we give our own answer , lets think about the reply of Saint John the Baptist ! He is being offered nice flattering titles , but the man living in the desert rejects them all . He is not a delegate of God , neither His prophet , he simply says about himself that he is the voice crying out in the wilderness If we pay attention : he determines himself regarding his relation with God : Not only does he not regard himself as the Messiah , but states that” he is not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
Thinking about John’s "ars poetica “ lets try to determine ourselves based on our relationship with God ! To get a clear picture of of ourselves our existence has to be looked at how we measure up to the Infinity !
Who am I ? Who is Böjte Csaba ? I would like to be a consoler, among my companions on the journey , walking slowly, holding up high the shining light of hope ! I would also like be a voice crying out into the world that resounds : the golden age, the land of miracles, the Kingdom of God is not behind us but ahead of us and we are not heading towards destruction, but if we persevere we are going to reach the boundaries of the kingdom of love ! Yes aware of my own weaknesses I would like to be a consoler , encourager , fortifier beside the bruised reed !
I would like to protect the light of the flickering candle with two hands so that no-one has to stumble in the darkness of the night !
In the quietness at the start of the year you should also try to make clear for yourself who do you really thinks you are , and who would you really like to be ?!
Compose it , write it down , who actually are you on 2 January 2019.
With love,
Father Csaba
translated by dr k.e.
The Word of God
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:19-28
