Visit to Humpolec

Mass at Humpolec,Domov blahoslavenè Bronislavy

Zdislava,Irena,Samy and Dominika

It was great joy for me to visit Domov Blahoslavenè Bronislavy,Humpolec where many old brothers and sisters live. Premonstratky sisters are doing great service to them. Sr.Dominika is the superior,sisters Irena and Zdislava are members of the community. I also said mass for the old people and shared with them a few reflections on how to grow old gracefully. I encouraged them to celebrate life with christ and not funeral. They were all very happy. Magdalena translated my talk from english to Czech language. Thank you dear sister for your great service.Mgr.Jan Vyborny is director of home for aged house. He is very cordial and friendly. God bless them all. I also thank all sisters and Director for their kindness and hospitality. Wish you all the best. God reward you.

Director Jan Vyborny,Eva Suobodovou, Samy and Antonin Bobek

"Lazarus died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom"

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man Jesus paints a dramatic scene of contrasts — riches and poverty, heaven and hell, compassion and indifference, inclusion and exclusion. We also see an abrupt and dramatic reversal of fortune. Lazarus was not only poor, but incapacitated. He was "laid" at the gates of the rich man's house. The dogs which licked his sores probably also stole the little bread he begged from others. Dogs in the ancient world symbolized contempt. Enduring the torment of these savage dogs only added to the poor man's miseries and sufferings. The rich man treated the beggar with contempt and indifference, until he found his fortunes reversed! The name Lazarus means God is my help. Despite a life of misfortune and suffering, Lazarus did not lose hope in God. His eyes were set on a treasure stored up for him in heaven. The rich man, however, could not see beyond his material possessions. He not only had every thing he needed, he indulged in his wealth to personal excess. He was too absorbed in what he had to notice the needs of those around him. He lost sight of God and the treasure of heaven because he was preoccupied with seeking happiness in material things. He served wealth rather than God. In the end the rich man became a beggar!

Brno -Fraternity SFO

Samy met the local Fraternity of SFO in Brno and participated in the their meeting and shared a few reflections on how to live the Franciscan Charism in the Secular World. He also met the Guardian of Brno community Fr. Pavel Uhrik OFMCap He is also the spiritual assistant of the fraternity

"You will see heaven opened and the angels of God"

Scripture: John 1:47-51 (alternate reading: Luke 9:43-45)

When Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus, Jesus did the unthinkable! He brought revelation to Nathaniel – revelation of how God sees each of us individually in the deepest recesses of our hearts where no visible eye can perceive the deepest thoughts and longings we have for peace, happiness, and spiritual fulfillment. Nathaniel was very startled that Jesus knew him so intimately even before Nathaniel had the opportunity to meet Jesus. Jesus knew Nathaniel's deepest thoughts and his hunger and longing for God.

Jesus' response to Nathanial's new faith is the promise that Jesus himself will be the "ladder which unites earth with heaven". Jesus proclaims that he is the fulfillment of the promise made to the Patriarch Jacob and his descendants. Jesus is the true ladder or stairway to heaven.

The Lord Jesus opens the way for each of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives.

The Pastoral and Fraternal visit to Rep.Ceca

The National Council of Rep.Ceca with Tibor and Samy





Tibor and Samy have done the pastoral and Fraternal visit of Rep.Ceca from 20 -23 september 2007. The National Council gathered in Svaty Hostin. It is a place of Pilgrimage of Mary. We met the National Council and each individual members of the National Council talked with us and we found the SFO in Ceca is functioning well and almost all fraternities have spiritual assistant.

"As Jesus was praying alone the disciples were with him"

Scripture: Luke 9:18-22

Many in Israel recognized Jesus as a mighty man of God, even comparing him with the greatest of the prophets. Peter, always quick to respond whenever Jesus spoke, professed that Jesus was truly the Christ of God. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter, but only God. Through the eyes of faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to publicly recognize Jesus as the Anointed One whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world as Lord and Savior (Luke 2:11, Acts 2:36). Christ is the Greek word for Messiah, the Hebrew word which is also translated as the Anointed One.

"Which of them will love him more?"

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Why did Mary approach Jesus and anoint him at the risk of ridicule and abuse by others? Mary's action was motivated by one thing, and one thing only, namely, her love for Jesus and her gratitude for forgiveness. She did something, however, a Jewish woman would never do in public. She loosed her hair and anointed Jesus with her tears. It was customary for a woman on her wedding day to bound her hair. For a married woman to loosen her hair in public was a sign of grave immodesty. Mary was oblivious to all around her, except for Jesus. She also did something which only love can do. She took the most precious thing she had and spent it all on Jesus. Her love was not calculated but extravagant. In a spirit of humility and heart-felt repentance, she lavishly served the one who showed her the mercy and kindness of God. Jesus, in his customary fashion, never lost the opportunity to draw a lesson from such an incident.

Jesus makes clear that great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed. "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), "for love is of God" (1 John 4:7).

"To what then shall I compare this generation?"

Scripture: Luke 7: 31-35

The children in Jesus' parable react with disappoint because they cannot convince anyone to join in their musical medley. They complain that when they play their music at weddings, no one dances or sings; and when they play at funerals, it is the same dead response. This refrain echoes the words of Ecclesiastes 3:4 — there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is a proclamation of good news and of great joy for those who will listen; but it is also a warning for those who refuse. Why did the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus meet with resistance and deaf ears? It was out of jealously and spiritual blindness that the scribes and Pharisees attributed John the Baptist's austerities to the devil and they attributed Jesus' table fellowship as evidence for messianic pretence. They succeeded in frustrating God's plan for their lives because they had closed their hearts to the message of John the Baptist and now to Jesus. What can make us spiritually dull and slow to hear God's voice?

"When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her."

Scripture: Luke 7:11-17

In a number of places the gospel records that Jesus was "moved to the depths of his heart" when he met with individuals and with groups of people. The English word "compassion" doesn't fully convey the deeper meaning of the original Hebrew word which expresses heart-felt "sympathy" and personal identification with the suffering person's grief and physical condition. Why was Jesus so moved on this occasion when he met a widow and a crowded funeral procession on their way to the cemetery? Jesus not only grieved the untimely death of a young man, but he showed the depth of his concern for the woman who lost not only her husband, but here only child as well.

"But say the word, and let my servant be healed."

Our Lady of Grace (Gozo, Malta, Capuchin Friary)

The centurion who approached Jesus was not only courageous, but faith-filled as well. He risked the ridicule of his cronies by seeking help from an itinerant preacher from Galilee, and well as mockery from the Jews. Nonetheless, he approached Jesus with confidence and humility. Augustine notes that the centurion regarded himself as unworthy to receive the Lord into his house: "Humility was the door through which the Lord entered to take full possession of one whom he already possessed." The centurion was an extraordinary man because he loved his slave. In the Roman world slaves were treated like animals rather than people. The centurion was also an extraordinary man of faith. He believed that Jesus had the power to heal his beloved slave. Jesus commends him for his faith and immediately grants him his request.

"He laid his hands on every one and healed them"

Scripture: Luke 4:38-44

Jesus' disciples freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulty, affliction, or sickness which they encountered. When Simon Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal (right after Jesus preached in the synagogue in Capernaum), his mother-in-law was instantly healed because Jesus heard Simon's prayer. Jesus could not avoid drawing a crowd wherever he went. No one who asked Jesus for help was left disappointed. Jesus' numerous healings and exorcisms demonstrated the power and authority of his word, the "good news of the kingdom of God." When he rebuked the fever, it immediately left. When he rebuked the demons, they left as well. Why did the demons shudder at Jesus' presence? They recognized that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that he had power to destroy their kingdom by releasing those bound by it. Jesus came to set us free from bondage to sin and evil.

Mother Theresa intercede for us like you we too may serve the poor and find christ in them.

May God extent his healing power

Dear Bro.Mauro Jòhri our prayers are with you when you go for operation of your eyes. May God extent his healing hands on you. Wish you get well soon.

"His word was with authority"

Scripture: Luke 4:31-37

When Jesus taught he spoke with authority. He spoke the word of God as no one had spoken it before. When the Rabbis taught they supported their statements with quotes from other authorities. The prophets spoke with delegated authority — Thus says the Lord. When Jesus spoke he needed no authorities to back his statements. He was authority incarnate — the Word of God made flesh. When he spoke, God spoke. When he commanded even the demons obeyed. If demons, the fallen angels, have faith in the Son of God, how much more should we believe the gospel with the full assent of our minds and hearts and entrust our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ? If we approach God's word submissively, with an eagerness to do everything the Lord desires, we are in a much better position to learn what God wants to teach us through his word.
The power of Jesus word is to bring healing, restoration, and freedom from sin and affliction.

"No prophet is acceptable in his own country"

Scripture: Luke 4:16-30

It was customary for Jesus to go weekly to the synagogue to worship and on occasion to read the scriptures and comment on them to the people. His home town folks listened with rapt attention on this occasion because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in other towns. What sign would he do in his home town? Jesus startled them with a seeming rebuke that no prophet or servant of God can receive honour among his own people. He then angered them when he complimented the gentiles who seemed to have shown more faith in God than the "chosen ones" of Israel.

"If you sit in the lowest place ...you will be honoured in the presence of all"

Scripture: Luke 14: 1,7-14

Jesus' parable reinforces the teaching of Proverbs: Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince (Prov. 25:6-7).

What is true humility and why should we make it a characteristic mark of our life and action? True humility is not feeling bad about yourself, or having a low opinion of yourself, or thinking of yourself as inferior to others. True humility frees us from preoccupation with ourselves, whereas a low self-opinion tends to focus our attention on ourselves. Humility is truth in self-understanding and truth in action. Viewing ourselves truthfully, with sober judgement, means seeing ourselves the way God sees us (Psalm 139:1- 4). A humble person makes a realistic assessment of himself or herself without illusion or pretense to be something he or she is not. The humble regard themselves neither smaller nor larger than they truly are. True humility frees us to be ourselves and unbinds us from delusions caused by pride, vanity, and flattery. A humble person does not have to wear a mask or put on a false smile to win the favour and approval of others. The honest humble person is not swayed by accidentals, such as fame, talent, success, or failure.

Scripture tells us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The Lord Jesus never refuses the plea of a humble seeker who yearns for his love, truth, and help. He is the true Master Servant who washes our feet and supplies our daily bread.

"The master will settle his account with them"

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

The parable speaks first of the Master's trust in his servants. While he goes away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them.The master rewards those who are industrious and faithful and he punishes those who sit by idly and who do nothing with his money. The essence of the parable seems to lie in the servants' conception of responsibility. Each servant entrusted with the master's money was faithful up to a certain point. The servant who buried the master's money was irresponsible. One can bury seeds in the ground and expect them to become productive because they obey natural laws.Coins, however, do not obey natural laws. They obey economic laws and become productive in circulation. The master expected his servants to be productive in the use of his money.
There is an important lesson here for us. No one can stand still for long in the Christian life. We either get more or we lose what we have. We either advance towards God or we slip back. Do you earnestly seek to serve God with the gifts, talents, and graces he has given to you?