Easter Monday Lk 24.13-35

Posted on 9. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

What does an ostrich do when it gets scared? He hides his head in the sand and waits to see how the situation develops, no matter what. He does not realize that he may lose his life. We also react in this way in some life situations. We don’t want to or are afraid to face the truth. Even if we realize that we will have to do it one day. No one will do it for us. And yet we save it for the last minute, like this animal. We underestimate the spiritual life, which forms an essential component of our life.

Is it stupidity, desperation, or audacity on our part? To wait for your salvation at the last moment, when Jesus shows us the way of salvation with his resurrection, the truth, which is pure, unadulterated, and without fear.

Jesus preached the truth, but the chief priests and elders questioned it. Jesus’ resurrection was and can be disputed by assumptions and rumors. Saint Matthew the Evangelist writes: “They took the money and did as they were instructed” (Mt. 28:15). Who are they? These are the ones who wanted to remain faithful to lies, half-truths, and darkness, because they benefited from it. They did not want to open the door of their heart to the resurrected Christ and let themselves be penetrated by the brightness of his light. But at the same time, they are so far-sighted that they did not let the brightness of this light even into the hearts of others. People were kept in half-truths, fear, and darkness. Therefore St. Matthew emphatically emphasizes that such accusations against Christ are false.

We too desire the truth, but we often let ourselves be seduced by half-truths, and they negate the truth in us. This causes darkness, pain, and fear. This fear manifests itself in different forms: what will others say about me when I differ from the established custom? I may suffer from an inferiority complex – I don’t accept myself as I am. After all, they are better than me. Or I’m afraid to show my limitations and weaknesses. Another manifestation of fear is aggressiveness. I am aggressive when the other person is interested in me and I imagine that they want to control my actions. Or sometimes I pretend to be a perfect individual and I don’t even realize that I am showing a lack of my freedom. The last manifestation of these most common fears is the fear of failure, everyone sees me in a bright light, but only I see myself in black colors. These forms of fear express only one thing, that we have not accepted ourselves and are afraid of ourselves. We believed half-truths about ourselves. Why? Because we benefit from it. And it doesn’t even occur to us to look at our own life with open eyes, because if we did that, we would have to give the truth many times to our neighbors and not to ourselves. This untruth about us also has several other advantages: e.g. financial and material security, career… These cause us to become comfortable not only in this material world but also in our spiritual life. In a word, we become frivolous egoists who have stopped seeking, receiving, and giving. We always desire to have more and always to be less. We become children and not adults. Only words come out of us: give, give, give, or I, I, I, but not the ones that should: you, you, you, or you, you, you. We don’t want to become responsible people who give ourselves entirely to love. Let’s not be surprised at the young that they are what they are because today’s time is full of perversion. Let’s start with each other first, open our hearts to God and our neighbor, and let the light of Christ’s resurrection penetrate us. Only when we accept Christ into our lives, we can accept ourselves, we can accept our neighbor, we will not believe in half-truths and we will not be afraid of the darkness, i.e. death. After all, Christ conquered death! He broke the chains of death! The shackles of our weakness, sin, and fear of it. Only through dreams are we able to live this early life in joy, even if not without suffering. And with him, we will also go into eternity, where we will rejoice together that we have reached the ability to see God face to face through the risen Christ. After all, that is our goal here on earth. and let us be penetrated by the light of Christ’s resurrection. Only when we accept Christ into our lives, we can accept ourselves, we can accept our neighbor, we will not believe in half-truths and we will not be afraid of the darkness, i.e. death. After all, Christ conquered death! He broke the chains of death! The shackles of our weakness, sin, and fear of it. Only through dreams are we able to live this early life in joy, even if not without suffering. And with him, we will also go into eternity, where we will rejoice together that we have reached the ability to see God face to face through the risen Christ. After all, that is our goal here on earth. and let us be penetrated by the light of Christ’s resurrection. Only when we accept Christ into our lives, we can accept ourselves, we can accept our neighbor, we will not believe in half-truths and we will not be afraid of the darkness, i.e. death. After all, Christ conquered death! He broke the chains of death! The shackles of our weakness, sin, and fear of it. Only through dreams are we able to live this early life in joy, even if not without suffering. And with him, we will also go into eternity, where we will rejoice together that we have reached the ability to see God face to face through the risen Christ. After all, that is our goal here on earth. of sin and fear of it. Only through dreams are we able to live this early life in joy, even if not without suffering. And with him, we will also go into eternity, where we will rejoice together that we have reached the ability to see God face to face through the risen Christ. After all, that is our goal here on earth. of sin and fear of it. Only through dreams are we able to live this early life in joy, even if not without suffering. And with him, we will also go into eternity, where we will rejoice together that we have reached the ability to see God face to face through the risen Christ. After all, that is our goal here on earth.

But this requires us to let ourselves be penetrated by Christ’s life and to stop believing in half-truths, superstitions, and all the lies with which we justify our actions. If we don’t do that, we will never move forward. We will always languish in lies and fear.

I would like to share an experience I had on Easter Monday last year. After St. mass on the way home, I stopped at the cemetery, where I wanted to pray in silence for the deceased residents of my native village, relatives and acquaintances. As I was walking, a grieving man was sitting by one of the graves. So I thought, at least I’ll greet him. And so I directed my steps towards him. I approached him and said hello. He looked at me and asked me: “Father spiritual! Can I ask you something?” I was taken aback because I’m only a theology student, but when he addressed me like that, I left it at that. I answered: “True.” He looked at me and said: “I don’t believe in the afterlife, there is no life after death!” Everything ends with death!” I was at a loss as to what to say now. Lord God, help now, because that person has lost hope. After this question, I thought about it and tried to bring a little light into his life from the joy of the resurrected Christ, because I knew that he goes to St. mass and approaches St. reception. I told him not to despair because man is a being created by God. We came from him if we return to him after our journey here on earth. Our body must return to the grave because it was created from the earth. But a person does not consist only of a body, he also has a spirit, which will return to the one who breathed it into him – to God. There we will see God face to face with our glorified body, which was glorified by the precious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our bodies will be conformed to his glorified body. However, this requires us to use all the means we possess as a gift from God to improve ourselves. In order to better understand ourselves, why we are in the world and where our path leads. Our journey should be a journey of service to our dear ones in the family, at the workplace, friends and enemies. That should be our sanctification and goal, nothing else. When we build our existence on something else, everything falls apart and we start to despair. Our goal is to be the resurrected Christ, who destroys all our half-truths, lies, so that we are not afraid, but believe and have hope for eternal life. When I finished, the gentleman smiled at me and said thank you. I also thanked him, we greeted each other and I went to thank God. who destroys all our half-truths, lies, so that we do not fear, but believe and have hope for eternal life. When I finished, the gentleman smiled at me and said thank you. I also thanked him, we greeted each other and I went to thank God. who destroys all our half-truths, lies, so that we do not fear, but believe and have hope for eternal life. When I finished, the gentleman smiled at me and said thank you. I also thanked him, we greeted each other and I went to thank God.

Let’s realize that rising from the dead means accepting Christ into your heart. Let’s get rid of the gods in our lives. We all have many of them in our lives. These are our half-truths that lead us astray, so we lose hope and fear death. Let us believe that Jesus rose from the dead. When we believe, only then will we be able to be His witnesses to this world. So that we and others can say about us, like Blaise Pascal: “I believe in the witnesses of the risen Christ.”

Let’s not be like an ostrich that waits for the situation to develop. Let’s try to witness the resurrection, that is, life and truth. Let’s believe the truth, let’s get rid of fear, and be people of hope. A hope that is needed in today’s age of sin and half-truths. Hope that will help our neighbors with whom we come into contact to rise so that they believe in Christ through us. So that one day it can be said about us: I met a witness of Christ’s resurrection.

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Jesus’ resurrection is a guarantee of new life.

Posted on 7. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

The greatest miracle of Jesus Christ brings a new light for eternal life to every believer. If so, there are more of us who, at the empty tomb of Jesus, do not dream of the impossible but of the absolute, even certain: a life without end, a life where natural laws will no longer apply, where we will live in a glorified body, in a state of absolute peace, perfect harmony, the greatest happiness, in the certainty of seeing God face to face. Through his resurrection, Jesus guarantees a new life for

We no longer have to dream of infinity under the starry sky. We don’t have to despair in illness. We don’t have to lose hope in fear. When our dearest ones leave us in the hour of death, faith in the risen Christ assures us that we will soon be reunited, where there will be no more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more parting.

St. Paul, who met the resurrected Christ at the gate of Damascus, writes from his own experience: “So if you have risen with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God!” Think of what is above, not what is on the ground! After all, you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, your life, appears, you too will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:1-4).

The certainty of a new life began quietly and still in the dark on Sunday morning at the empty tomb of Jesus. Although Jesus spoke about his resurrection several times, they did not understand what he was talking about because they could not understand what “rising from the dead” meant. A new era of human history begins on Sunday morning. Humanity in darkness receives light. The women who approach the tomb with fear find a stone rolled away and an empty tomb. Then Mary Magdalene runs to tell the apostles: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (Jn 20:2). Mária Jakubová and Salome have an experience. The angel in white robes tells them about the most significant event that humanity can experience: Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: “He rose as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him” (Mt 28:6-7). And when they run away from the tomb, filled with fear and equally with joy to announce this message to the apostles, they meet Jesus, who makes himself known to them and confirms the angel’s words. The message of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus triggers an unforeseen and unexpected sequence of events. After the words of Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter rush to the tomb. John modestly writes about himself that “the other disciple ran faster, overtook Peter, and came to the tomb first. He bent down and saw the sheets laid there but did not step inside. Then came Simon Peter, who followed him and entered the tomb. He saw the sheets and the scarf Jesus had on his head. But it was not with the sheets, it was rolled up in another place. Then the second disciple also entered, the one who came to the tomb first, and he saw and believed” (Jn 20:4-8). On the other hand, the deception machine,

At Christ’s empty tomb, humanity began to realize a joy to which nothing can be compared. Today, this is confirmed by the two-thousand-year-old tradition of Christ’s resurrection. “Death has been swallowed up by victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting” (1 Cor 15,54-55). Christ has won over death, and a new eternal life opens up for everyone who believes in Christ’s resurrection and shows devoted loyalty to God in his life.

Easter morning drives away sadness with its “hallelujah” and brings joy. As in nature, spring comes after winter; even if winter does not want to give up its power, it must give way to spring. From the empty tomb comes new fire and light, the water of baptism, and a radically new life of love. The baptism by which we were incorporated into the Church and by which we became branches on the vine, which is Christ, is the joy of Easter morning. “Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him in death by baptism, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have grown with him and become like him in death, then we will also be like him in the resurrection” (Romans 6,3-5).

We already know today what every person will have to accept one day, even if only at the hour of death when they meet Jesus, their Judge. He indeed rose from the dead. When we have this certainty that we will be resurrected in Christ, let us respond with our “hallelujah” by singing and the deeds of life. Just as Christ’s resurrection changed the first witnesses, so today it is our turn. It is not enough to know about the resurrection of Christ and to understand the teachings of the Church, but this morning we are offered to adopt the reality of Christ’s resurrection in our own lives. As the women left the tomb to the apostles with the message that the tomb is empty and Christ has risen from the dead, we are called to go to our brothers and sisters and prove our faith in the ascended Christ with our lives.

Even today, faith will bring us personal difficulties, questions, uncertainty, doubts, and fear. We have an example in Peter and John. Let’s hurry to the empty tomb! The Church has taught the same thing about the resurrection for two thousand years. They say time will tell where the truth lies. Two thousand years is a long enough time to get right about our own life of faith. Today, we create a spark in the chain of trust, and we have a responsibility both to those who came before us and to our contemporaries, but also to those who will come after us so that we do not break the chain of faith, truth, teaching about Christ’s resurrection. We should also take this task as an honor towards our brothers and sisters of all times. When we betray, God will find another way for the resurrection to be proclaimed and lived until the end of time, but we would be excluded from eternal life by our wrong approach. It is up to each of us to benefit those around us with our faith. We cannot say that it is harder for us, nor that we have it more accessible. Today, God has placed us to fulfill his will under these circumstances. If we are the Christians we are meant to be, we will ignite our surroundings with true faith. Jesus believes in us. Let’s place the candle of life modestly on the candlestick. May our life always be light and salt of the earth.

Many Christians indeed have an opinion, hold the idea that it is difficult to believe, that the commandments cannot be wholly fulfilled, and that the teachings of the Church prevent a person from living fully. Let us realize right now that the most important Christian holiday was not when God gave the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, nor when he gave the commandment of love. Still, the day of Christ’s resurrection is the opportunity to establish contact with him. Our life does not end with death, but we also have hope for a new life with Christ’s resurrection. It is necessary to accept and live Christ’s resurrection. Learn to cooperate with Him, and then with Him, we will be able to fulfill even those commands that we consider problematic and impossible and accept those that seem to prevent us from true happiness and joy on earth. Jesus is our security. If he requires something, he only wants it for our good. Even though it requires the greatest sacrifice, our own life, we are to believe and accept,

John Paul II., in 1994, declared blessed Gianna Mollová, who was born in 1922 and who, as a 40-year-old doctor, was faced with the decision. She was expecting a second child, and her colleagues – doctors stated that she would decide for her or the child’s life. Gionna has no illusions, but she will not allow abortion. He chooses the life of the child. A beautiful and healthy child was born. Before her death, she and her husband give him the name Emanuel – God with us. She was happy. Tíško fell asleep in God’s hands. She died in the faith of the resurrected Christ. She died for her dedication. At the beatification in Rome, her husband, her older son, and her daughter, for whom she chose life and not death, were present. At the same time, however, she decided on eternal life for herself.

For the world to receive the light of Christ’s resurrection, none of us who have received baptism can escape difficulties. We must always look at our life with a view to eternal life. Then things and events take on clearer outlines, and we recognize the will of God.

Carl Zuckmayer (1896 – 1977) describes a scene in the drama The Rat: A religion teacher who discusses the problem of death with his students. Then one student asks if it is not the same with death as with birth. Before a child is born, the child is surrounded by their mother, but the child does not know about it. Birth is a shock for the child, but only then can he see his mother for the first time. Thus, the omnipresent God surrounds us during our earthly life and receives everything from God, but we cannot see him. Only after death will we see him face to face.

Today, on Easter Sunday, we realize that even such an image, perhaps more biological but suitable, on which we can recognize the imperfection of the image comparison and, at the same time, inspiration how to understand and accept Christ’s resurrection. God leaves us the freedom of decision and reason, which makes us similar to God, a kind of partner with God, in that we can and wants to accept the resurrection of Christ to participate in eternal life. Especially today, on the day of resurrection, we are more aware that only in God can we find eternal life. And so is the fact that “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Romans 14:8). And we genuinely want to belong to God.

Man often dreamed and dreamed of a new life, eternal life. Today’s Easter “hallelujah” fulfills our desire for true eternal life. Let us rejoice that Christ rose from the dead. Let us ask each other for grace so that we may all share in eternal life with Christ, our Redeemer and Savior, and ask for forgiveness for our sins, which are the only obstacle to our eternal life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Good Friday.

Posted on 6. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Jesus gives himself to us on the cross as a gift of love (Jn 18,1-19,42)

Cross – a sign and hope until the end of time

We are living an extraordinary day. Today is the only day of the year that we do not celebrate Holy Mass. The world, at least the Christian world, fell into silence. The organ fell silent and so did the bells. The cross dominates before us. He became a symbol and a sign. Christ’s death on the cross opened a new era for humanity. Jesus didn’t write anything, and today entire libraries are written about him. He did not paint his portrait, and his likeness is depicted by the world’s greatest painters. He was not a musician, but his person inspired the most famous musicians in the world. He did not found any state, but his ideas influenced the constitutions of many states. The paradox of this man continues. His biography is summarized in such a small book that it is suspicious, but his name is still known throughout the cultural world. His name is associated with our counting of years, and even more so, with the view of eternity. He lived and died in a small country, and today he is known all over the world. They silenced him when he died on the cross, but today his words are alive in the mouths and hearts of millions. He died and lives.

He is the only one who declared about himself: “I am” (Jn 18:5,6), and what those who came to capture him recoiled at. He alone knew why he came into the world and as a conqueror could say: “It is finished” (John 19:30).

The mystery of the cross, which the human mind is unable to fully understand. And yet, looking at the cross and thinking about the cross becomes the starting point again and again for familiar and new views. In the cross, the truth of sin can be seen, which cannot be taken as just some fungus on the soul. Man’s sin brought God’s Son into the world to become like us humans in everything except sin. He came to reconcile mankind to the Father. Equal to the Father could only give hope to people in human flesh. His death is a sign of forgiveness. Jesus’ obedience to the Father gives us hope that we can regain what we have closed to ourselves through sin. The Son’s obedience to the Father is a call to fulfill the will of God. Christ’s death on the cross brings to the world a new form of love towards sinners.
Under the cross, everyone stands as a crowd and individuals on that afternoon when Jesus died not for himself, but for all of humanity. A deluded crowd that looks on, in which unchecked rage has taken its toll. People’s curiosity – what will he do who raised the dead, who restored freedom to others, who spoke like no one before him, becomes a reminder, a warning of the calculation, cowardice, naivety or stupidity of a person who does not take the attitude towards his own life that his God asks of him . Soldiers still have fun, because the cross is stupidity and a sign of unreasonableness for them. The representatives of the High Council scoff. Where is their humanity? They resent each other. The cross is one of the scandals for them. They do not see the logic of the cross. They do not realize that the loser is the winner and they who consider themselves winners are the losers. They forgot the words of Christ: “He who has ears, let him hear” (Mt 11:15), and also: “He who can understand, let him understand” (Mt 19:12). And so Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled on them: “You will hear and not understand, you will look and not see” (Mt 13:14). They did not understand the cross of Christ, they did not understand death, the greatness and need of his sacrifice, the meaning of all this. The opposite of their behavior can be seen in the repentant rogue. His request: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42) becomes his gain, which they renounce. God uses the cross – a sign of humiliation – for glory. which they renounce. God uses the cross – a sign of humiliation – for glory. which they renounce. God uses the cross – a sign of humiliation – for glory.

Today we know that the symbol of the cross is our hope. The cross becomes a joyful sign. We decorate ourselves with crosses, the cross finds an honorable place in our homes, offices, schools, hospitals. We build crosses at crossroads, at places where something extraordinary happened. We raise the cross to the heights of church towers, hills and mountains to give ourselves and others a reminder that in this sign our salvation was born and in the cross we have hope for eternal life. Nothing happens in the Church without the cross. With the sign of the cross, we are accepted into the community of brothers and sisters at baptism. The sign of the cross in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a reminder that we are forgiven. The bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of those who receive the Holy Spirit. We begin and end the sacrifice of the Holy Mass with the cross. The sick find strength in looking at the cross. The priest blesses the rings of the newlyweds and also blesses people, events, blesses things, which are meant to help souls. And when our life’s journey ends, the cross over the grave is a sign for the living that life does not end with death.
The cross is a support. Those who lose stability tend to throw out their hands to grab onto something. A person who is aware of his insecurity is looking for something to hold on to. Archimedes once exclaimed, “Give me a fixed point in space and I will move the earth.” And we realize that everything is in motion and uncertain. We are looking for our fixed point, something to hold on to. And such a point is the cross of Christ. His expression and proof of lasting love. He calls us: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will strengthen you” (Mt 11:28).

Our place is under the cross and on our knees. Surviving the event of Golgotha ​​means for us a moment to be with the suffering Christ. Take up your cross of life. Only a fool seeks what he can never find: paradise on earth, life without difficulties, crosses. The Christian winds with confidence to the cross of Christ. When we call ourselves Christians, it is right that we can also accept the cross and crosses. Christ is never more with us than when we are at the bottom of the abyss. It is everywhere where people are humiliated, overlooked. Let us remember that our daily small cross helps nations find a place to lay their heads. We will survive that the Son of God hangs betrayed, sold, abandoned, ready to lose everything, nailed to the cross between heaven and earth. It is there, on the cross, where his torment culminates, that his love is greatest and most powerful. He prays for everyone, recommends life to the Father’s hands for everyone. He sees his life’s journey from the height of the cross. From the Bethlehem manger to this Calvary. Every step is marked by a divinely perfect love for the Father and for humanity. Darkness has come, but Jesus is light. He dies, but he gives life. And he cries triumphantly: “It is finished!” We too will die. What testimony will the years of marriage, family, childhood give us? Blessed is he who will be able to exclaim: It is perfect, it was perfect according to the will of God, in piety, diligence and self-sacrificing love. Let us prepare for death so that we are not surprised. Let’s not let our loved ones die without the sacrament of the sick, without Holy Communion, God’s food for the journey to eternity. This is one of the main family responsibilities. When we fulfilled it, we became our dearest benefactors. From sudden and unexpected death, deliver us, Lord! Darkness has come, but Jesus is light. He dies, but he gives life. And he cries triumphantly: “It is finished!” We too will die. What testimony will the years of marriage, family, childhood give us? Blessed is he who will be able to exclaim: It is perfect, it was perfect according to the will of God, in piety, diligence and self-sacrificing love. Let us prepare for death so that we are not surprised. Let’s not let our loved ones die without the sacrament of the sick, without Holy Communion, God’s food for the journey to eternity. This is one of the main family responsibilities. When we fulfilled it, we became our dearest benefactors. From sudden and unexpected death, deliver us, Lord! Darkness has come, but Jesus is light. He dies, but he gives life. And he cries triumphantly: “It is finished!” We too will die. What testimony will the years of marriage, family, childhood give us? Blessed is he who will be able to exclaim: It is perfect, it was perfect according to the will of God, in piety, diligence and self-sacrificing love. Let us prepare for death so that we are not surprised. Let’s not let our loved ones die without the sacrament of the sick, without Holy Communion, God’s food for the journey to eternity. This is one of the main family responsibilities. When we fulfilled it, we became our dearest benefactors. From sudden and unexpected death, deliver us, Lord! it was perfect according to the will of God, in piety, diligence and self-sacrificing love. Let us prepare for death so that we are not surprised. Let’s not let our loved ones die without the sacrament of the sick, without Holy Communion, God’s food for the journey to eternity. This is one of the main family responsibilities. When we fulfilled it, we became our dearest benefactors. From sudden and unexpected death, deliver us, Lord! it was perfect according to the will of God, in piety, diligence and self-sacrificing love. Let us prepare for death so that we are not surprised. Let’s not let our loved ones die without the sacrament of the sick, without Holy Communion, God’s food for the journey to eternity. This is one of the main family responsibilities. When we fulfilled it, we became our dearest benefactors. From sudden and unexpected death, deliver us, Lord!

A sick man in his prime in a hospital bed says to a nurse: “Please inject me with something, I don’t want to live anymore. I can’t do it anymore, I can’t control it!” The nurse will return in a moment, holding a cross in her hands. “Please take it in your hands.” The man looks surprised at the sister, at the cross and closes his eyes. Tears are streaming down his face. “Thank you, nurse!”
She takes him in her hands. They are shaking. After a while he gets satisfied. The pain didn’t stop. The sight of the cross told him more than anything else.

How many of us have the cross given hope, certainty, strength to suffer, endure shame, misunderstanding, rejection, failure or personal downfall. We understand that Christ on the cross is given to us as a gift.

Let’s look at the cross. Let’s accept him. Let’s learn what Jesus wants to tell us. Even those who do not know or cannot speak can understand his speech. The sight of it will calm even those who have forgotten about it. The cross of Christ is a sign of salvation for all.

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Holy Saturday Night of Easter-Easter Vigil

Posted on 6. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Jesus rose from the dead! (Mt 28,1-10)

Our testimony of life is based on the resurrection of Jesus.

Has anyone told you that they need you? How did you react? Surely now you are thinking that it depended on who said it and what they required, whether you had the desire and courage or willingness to help, and so on. And now let’s ask ourselves a different question: Have you already told someone that you require him? The reactions were different. Whether he was disappointed or pleased, complied or not… It is always important to respect a person’s freedom.
God has needed each of us since the creation of man. God created us without us, and he also redeemed us without us, but we each decide freely: how, when, and in what way we will give an answer to God. We also have the experience that we needed God. Have we experienced disappointment?
For almost two thousand years, the Church has been commemorating the greatest event of humanity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and even today one can hear questions: Why do most people today not know everything about Christ? Why, when Christ is God, are there disproportionately more people who do not accept him and do not believe in him? Jesus said to the women who came to his tomb at dawn on the first day after the Sabbath had passed: “Go, tell…” (Mt 28:10).

An unfinished idea? Not! We have known for two thousand years what he said to the women Mary Magdalene and another Mary at the empty tomb. We also know what the angel said to the women. We also know about other events, things that not only Jesus Christ and after him the apostles and the Church as a Teacher said. The words “go and announce” (Mt 28:10) want to remind us of something more. And what should it be? And why? The liturgy of today’s vigil also leads us to this.
The liturgical year, from the First Sunday of Advent to the Sunday of Christ the King, year after year fulfills the words with which Jesus addressed the apostles: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world” (Mt 28,18-20). Tonight, he especially wants to remind us of God’s love. Outside the church, after sunset, the priest lit the paschal candle, which represents Jesus Christ, from the fire. On it is A (alpha) and (omega) and a year, which reminds us that Christ is the same yesterday and today. He is the Beginning and the End, the Lord of time and eternity. To him belong glory and power forever and ever. He further reminds us, that Jesus, because of his holy and glorified wounds, protects and preserves us in his love after his resurrection and wants to banish the darkness from our hearts and minds. This is emphasized by the procession to the dark church when the priest addresses the faithful three times in a row with the words: “Christ, the light of the world,” – to which the answer is: “Thank God” and there is always more and more light in the church from the candles that are held, which they symbolize our awareness of responsibility to fulfill what Jesus asks of us. With the Easter hymn at the Easter candle in the middle of the presbytery, the priest recalls the joy of the angels and the glorified in heaven, how they rejoice over the victory of Christ. The earth and the Church on it are again to be irradiated like a temple by light when it is illuminated after dark. Why rejoice? Today we remember that Jesus, as the second Adam, canceled the sentence of condemnation for the first sin with his blood. The hymn contains the words, which we recall in the next part by reading from the texts of Scripture. Seven readings from the Old and two from the New Testaments gradually remind us how God cared for and protected people, and how he finally sent his Son as Redeemer, which Christ accomplished through his death and resurrection.
God does not force but invites and appeals to us not only to accept, but also to address his words of love towards us humans when he reminds us that he created the world, he led his people through prophets, leaders, and kings, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. He brought his people out of Egypt and led them through the sea that swallowed up their persecutors, thus proving his love and power to the nation. He cares for his people when he sends manna in the desert and causes water to flow from the rock. He is with his people when he pleads with them, even when he has to punish them with snakes in the desert. God gives many commands to the nation, especially the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. He prepared the land for the people into which he led them.
After the readings from the Old Testament, the liturgy of the Easter vigil takes on an even more joyous character. When singing “Glory to God in the highest”, not only the organ sounds, the bells ring, but also the candles on the altar are lit. Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans is like an entry into new times, which is deepened by the subsequent hallelujah, which is deliberately omitted during Lent, so that we can live this hallelujah more today, realize its meaning and need in connection with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
The liturgy of baptism reminds us of our baptism. Litany to all saints, where we remember the brothers and sisters who were able to live baptism with their lives, and therefore the Church rewarded them for their faithful life to God by being models for us on the way to God. The sanctification of baptismal water and the renewal of baptismal vows are a reminder, a call, and an address to us: “Go, tell” (Mt 28:10) to everyone how much God loves us.
Today’s Holy Mass, celebrated after Good Friday, is also a challenge and an appeal that participation in the Holy Mass on Sunday and in the prescribed holiday is a church command given by God so that we have the possibility of greater contact with God until the end of time. It is right that believers use the end of Lent to make holy confessions so that they can also participate in the Eucharist during the Easter celebration, which they receive with benefit.

Have you ever seen a Chinese rose? They say it only blooms for one day. One may ask: Why so short? Someone remarked that the most beautiful flower blooms the shortest. What are eighty or one hundred years of life? It is not a flower that cannot be replaced by anything or anyone. However, he has to fulfill his task and mission in such a way as to fulfill the will of God. We live only once. However, we live in such a way that we prove with our lives that we are aware of our responsibility for every thought, word, and deed, but also for everyone whom the Lord sends in our way.

The child asks her mother: “Why don’t we get presents at Easter like at Christmas?” The believing mother did not hesitate and gave her daughter the following answer: “We get a present at Christmas because the Baby Jesus is born. On Easter, the Child Jesus is already a man, the Son of God, and he is rightfully waiting for a gift from us. And it is beautiful when, while singing “hallelujah”, we feel the desire in our hearts to give ourselves to God the Father as a brother or sister of Jesus Christ together with him.”

Jesus died for us only once. That was enough because his love cannot be compared even if we compared it to scales when we would put the love of all people, of all time, on the second plate. That’s because Jesus is the true God. This obliges us to fill our hearts more and more with gratitude and love for His love, which He proved by His death and resurrection. His resurrection thus becomes a guarantee that when we live and die with him, we will also be resurrected with him to a new life.
One Slovak folk song sings: Where are my young days… The years fly by. Even Easter alternates with Easter. Each is a gift from God. Let’s use this year’s opportunity to fulfill what God asks of us.

They parted after the Easter Vigil. In the neighboring village, there was already fun that night, although tomorrow is the day – Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord. A friend called her: “Come, it’s not fasting anymore.” She didn’t go. When she asked her mother in the afternoon if she could go out for fun after the vigil, she got the answer: “Don’t worry, you won’t miss anything. Come home and live the biggest church holiday spiritually. Get some sleep, and you’ll be able to go to the fun in a week.” Even though she was a little upset, she knew that her friend would go, so she obeyed her mother. In the morning, on the way to church, she learned that her friend was in the hospital. They were returning on foot and someone hit them with a car and ran away.

The Church does not prevent anyone from having fun today. However, we will experience Easter Sunday more spiritually. Let the Easter “hallelujah” ring out in the spirit of Jesus’ peace in our hearts. God has prepared many gifts for us. He needs us to enjoy them more and know how to share them with others. Let us not disappoint the risen Christ.

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Jesus between two robbers.

Posted on 6. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Jesus between two robbers.

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Holy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper, Lk 4,16-21

Posted on 4. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Let’s remember how much Jesus loves us when he wants to be present with us until the end of time

The military unit has fallen into a trap. They all perished. However, one of them wrote the words on a piece of paper with his blood: Goodbye, mother! The paper with the words got into the hands of the mother, who looked at them with love every day. It was then that she felt the closeness and love of her son.

Today, Maundy Thursday, the Church remembers the events when the moment came for Jesus to leave this world, to return to the Father and decide to bestow gifts on people – the sacraments of the priesthood and the Eucharist, but also the new bloodless sacrifice, the Holy Mass. We know why Jesus did all this. To remind everyone of his love and become a source of grace until the end of time.

It reminds us of St. John, who was the closest of the apostles to Jesus that evening: “Because he loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the extreme” (Jn 13:1).

Let’s try to properly understand tonight and the gifts that Jesus left us when he said goodbye to the apostles. There has never been such a person on earth who said goodbye to his own with such great and pure love as Jesus in the supper room. Jesus proves his love to people, although the apostles did not realize it at the time. Jesus redeems the world consciously and voluntarily out of love. He alone knows “that his hour has come to depart from this world to the Father” (Jn 13:1). Jesus is a man of action. The apostles are surprised. And Judas, who decided to hand Jesus over to the enemies that night. As a servant, Jesus does what slaves do: he takes off his clothes, takes an apron, pours water into the basin and goes from one apostle to another, who are disturbed by the behavior of Jesus, surprised because he is washing their feet. Only Peter objects. Only when Jesus explains the matter to him: “Now you still do not understand what I am doing, but later you will understand… If I do not wash you, you will have no part with me” (Jn 13:7,8), Peter gives his consent. Jesus is preparing those to whom he wants to hand over power that nothing in the world can match so that as priests they can continue in humility and love in the service of Jesus to his brothers and sisters. “I have given you an example, so that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).
This is how the last evening of Christ before his death began. It was the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan, when Jewish families gather at the table, where, according to the old custom, the youngest turns to the head of the family, to the father, with the question: “What kind of custom is this?” And he receives the answer that it is a memory of the events when the nation received freedom in Egypt (cf. Ex 12:26-27). John himself likely asked Jesus this question at dinner. Here begins the new era of Passover – the transition. Every year, those who believe in Jesus as Redeemer and Savior, remember the institution of the Eucharist on this day. What we are doing today is an anamnesis or a liturgy of history. It is the sacrament that actualizes the event. This mystery was not invented by man, but Jesus established it with the words: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Jn 11:24). Years, but also weeks and days, revolve around these events as around an axis. It is a Passover memorial in three rhythms. In the daily life – as noted by St. Augustine – it is the “daily Passover”. When the Church daily offers the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. In a weekly rhythm, the Church remembers the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus every Sunday. And in the rhythm of the year, when we celebrate the events of Easter every year.
Preparation for Easter has its parts where secrets, things, and events are remembered. Since the earliest times, Easter has been celebrated in the Church as the peak of spiritual life, when Lent ends as preparation and when Easter is followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit.
The Maundy Thursday event also highlights the fact that the establishment of the Sacrament of the Altar, the Sacrament of the Priesthood, and the celebration of the Holy Mass end the Old Testament, which is no longer needed. Jesus establishes a new sacrifice, his body, and blood under the ways of bread and wine. Old Testament sacrifices, sacrifices, incense offerings, bloody and non-bloody give way to the greatest sacrifice, when Jesus commissions the apostles and through them, all the priests with the words: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Jn 11:24). God’s new food transforms people into Christ himself. A new sacrifice replaces the old one, brought by a new priest. The Levites become unnecessary, they have fulfilled their mission, just as Melchizedek fulfilled it, and became the herald of the new perfect sacrifice. A new priest “sacrifice” of unification and sacrifice arose. The sacrifice of the Holy Mass acquires clearer features of connection with God. He becomes an eternal sacrifice, which is performed by priests chosen from among the people and endowed with power from Christ to transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ for all people. The sacrifice of the Holy Mass is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, where he sacrifices himself in a visible way through the priests in bread and wine. Only the priest can say: “This is my body”… “This is my blood” in the sense that the bread becomes the body and the wine the blood of Christ.
We are experiencing exactly what happened at the Last Supper for the first time. In the spirit of faith in the Holy Mass, we celebrate the death of Christ as he himself established it.
Tonight, we feel sad that this gift of love is often not received properly by many. Such an analogy can be used.

Have you ever met a homeless person? You were about to say something to him when he walked past you obliviously. He only stops at the trash can. He wallows in it until he pulls out a discarded piece of hard bread, which he wipes with dirty paper and begins to eat with gusto. You go to him, you want to give him a few crowns to buy a fresh one, but he just looks at you and won’t accept the money. Someone who watches it with you will remark: He is a sick man.

Isn’t our age also sick? He suffers from a lack of love and other natural and supernatural values. And what do we see? When the Church offers her the values ​​that we experience in this Holy Week, not only do they not accept them, but they even feel insulted. And yet we know that Jesus died for all without distinction. It is a memento for the Catholic Christian to be more aware of the meaning and magnitude of the Maundy Thursday gifts, to understand them more, and to accept them for his own benefit. This undoubtedly historic evening should open people’s eyes to understand why Jesus instituted these sacraments and commanded them to celebrate the Holy Mass.

We know that the Jews did not pronounce the name of their God. Pagans, on the other hand, give their gods various special names. We say about God: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Rightly so because he proved it with his word and deed. He is eternal, infinite, true Love.

A friend who could not come to terms with the teachings of the Catholic Church about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist came to a religious friend and asked: ”
How is it possible that the bread is transformed into the body of Christ and the wine into his blood?”
The friend tells him:
“When you’re the body can turn the food you take into muscles, tissues, blood and others, why can’t God who created man do it?” But the
friend continued: “And how can he be whole, infinite, great, and eternity in such a small piece of bread, God?”
“Look,” the friend continued to explain, “there are big trees around you, even whole mountains, and the starry sky you are looking at will appear in your eye, on your retina, which about them is so she had. Why couldn’t God, Jesus Christ, be present in the Eucharist?”
The friend took out a mirror from his coat and told his friend to look into it. Then he threw it on the ground and the mirror broke into several pieces. Then he said to him:
“When you look, you see your face in every part of the mirrors, even the smallest ones. Do not be surprised because Christ is fully and simultaneously present, wherever the Eucharist is celebrated or preserved.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus said goodbye to the apostles and once more at the ascension, not because we will never see him again. He remained present among us in the Eucharist, and we will see him one day at his coming, when he comes as our Judge. It is up to us not to betray him, not to put him aside, not to exchange him for anything… He wants us to receive him often, to visit him, to live with him.

Until then, every person – redeemed by Christ on the cross – must prove his loyalty to him. The mother not only keeps her son’s letter – written in his blood – but when she looks at it and takes it in her hands, she feels his presence. The Eucharistic Christ is a living God, and that is why even today we accept him as he wants, because we believe that at his second coming we will see him forever face to face

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Disappointing Christ? Not!

Posted on 4. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Have you experienced disappointment and betrayal? It is a painful matter. Then a person does not have to be in pain in the body and feels the pain of the soul, which is much more severe than the pain of the body. A person commits a betrayal that will never make him happy. We see it in the case of Judas as well. He leaves the supper room to the high priests and says: “What will you give me, and I will hand him over to you?” (Mt 26:15).

Perhaps even his feet, which Christ washed at the beginning of the dinner like a servant, have not yet dried properly, he still tastes the Easter lamb and bitter greens in his mouth, and the words of Christ still ring in his ears: “I have given you an example so that you also do as I have done to you!” (Jn 13:15) and Judas comes to betray his Master. Christ’s words at the Last Supper: “…woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man”.(Mt 26:24) are terrible. We understand their explanation, given by Christ himself: It would have been better for such a person if he had not been born. Judas had no reason to complain about Jesus. Jesus chose him as his disciple, knowing that Judas would betray him. However, Jesus leaves Judas with reason and free will. Jesus leaves Judas to decide for himself. And Judas cannot control himself, he undertakes what was supposed to end Jesus’ mission and fulfill his goal here on earth, so that Christ died for our sins and thus redeemed us. But Judas does this under the influence of sin.

Jesus also select us as his disciples. You called us friends. He often shows us his love. We see his deeds and hear his words. Everything is full of love. However, Christ does not pull us behind him by force. He also endowed us with reason and free will. Christ also knows about us, and how we will decide. However, this decision is in our hands. We are gifted with freedom and reason. This will decide our eternal life or our damnation. The Gospel tells us as a serious warning: “Woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man” (Mt 26:24).

Serious words must not let us sleep in our sin. For Judas, it was money that decided these words of Jesus, for us it can also be money, but also position, career, comfort, selfishness, and the like. Let’s realize that betrayal hurts a lot. And the stronger the love, the more the betrayal of love hurts. After all, Jesus loved us above all else. When we compare Peter with Judas and look for the right path for ourselves, because we are all weak, we should adopt the attitude of Peter who repented of his sin. Peter returns to Jesus and asks for forgiveness. Judas turns away from the mercy of Christ, despises Jesus, and wants to be alone with his sin. That’s desperation, and we don’t want that.

We must realize the power of evil. This means that we must not be left alone with our sin, we must go with it to Jesus and connect with his mercy. Let us remember the repentant rogue on the cross. This is a great proof of love for us at this time, when we remember the passion and death of the Lord Jesus. Yes, there can be many disappointments in different relationships. The worst and most dangerous thing can be our disappointment in Christ when, after sinning, we do not want to find the way back to his mercy

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Anywhere under the open sky.

Posted on 3. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

Am I in hell, purgatory, or heaven today? Sin “deforms” us in the same way that a vandal does when he removes the original form of a masterpiece. The day dedicated to Dante Alighieri, in Italian Dantedì, which was established on the 700th anniversary of the poet’s death and since 2020 falls on March 25 (the probable date of the beginning of his journey to the afterlife and, not coincidentally, the feast of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, nine months before Christmas, and the symbolic date of the beginning of divine creation associated with spring), I celebrated by concluding the story of the Comedy in the theater in three evenings called  From our life: hell, purgatory, paradise.

I believe that these are not places we go to after death, but where we already are (they are the states and layers of our existence) every day, based on a more or less conscious decision.

Great literature does not cover life but bears witness to its “unceremonious” experience, that is, with the precision of words.

When the poet talks about his journey to the afterlife, he is describing his travels to the other world as an exile. He has lost everything and can never return to Florence due to an unfair sentence. His life is ‘imprisoned’, yet he still finds his way to heaven. In order to reach the sky, one must first touch the bottom without fear of crossing it..

When Dante finally reaches the frozen depths of Hell, he discovers a crack in the ice. What initially appears to be a descent turns out to be an ascent. After arriving at the centre of the Earth, Virgil helps Dante slip past Satan’s body, which is stuck in the ice, and then helps him stand upside down so that he can lead him to the other hemisphere. Dante then ascends the Mountain of Purgatory and flies to Paradise.

Dante gave me the words with which I would like to define a human experience that sooner or later happens to all of us: to touch the sky, one must first touch the bottom and not be afraid to even cross it.

Those little daily deaths and finally death itself that we encounter are transitions (the approaching Pascha/Easter means “transition” in Hebrew).

Are they just metaphors, or is it a reality?

If we follow Dante’s journey, we find that he always moves to the left in Hell, to the right in Purgatory and upwards in Paradise. This map of ‘our life’ is a spiral: point your index finger down, then slowly rotate your hand upwards while continuing to rotate your finger. The rotation will change from left to right. Dante’s path thus consists of two spirals: Hell is a funnel-shaped abyss and Purgatory is the corresponding mountain. There is a single exit from Hell to the central node, and the path is travelled in a single direction.

Like him, we too can realise ourselves by meeting others — comedy is the work with the largest number of characters in world literature — and thus subsequently with ourselves, because it is only in relationships that we discover the truth about who we are.

Dante therefore always moves in one direction, upwards (toward the Other), gradually freeing himself from the “burden” of life: “sin”.

By “sin” we translate an ancient word that meant “off the mark, off-center,” that which fails, as when a precious vase breaks or an athlete suffers a serious accident, and we say to ourselves, “Oh, what a pity! What a sin!”

I sin, I miss my goal every time I betray myself, and that is when I lie to myself.

This cry does not refer to the violation of the rules, but to the failure to do something that had a clear goal: he who betrays himself “sins”.

Each of us is called to create a masterpiece of ourselves, that is, to bring to perfection/realize our “form”.

Sin “deforms” us in the same way that a vandal does when he removes the original form of a masterpiece.

I sin, I miss my goal every time I betray myself, that is, when I lie to myself that I am not who I am, thus betraying my true desire, which is my calling that life entrusted to me, only to me: the revival principle that gives me a unique place in the world.

In his long spiraling ascent, Dante learns not to betray himself (hell), to free himself from that which leads him to betrayal (purgatory) and to fly directly to his fulfillment/realization (paradise)

In short, the spiral of ascent in the Comedy is a geometric figure that best represents each person’s journey to the center of himself, where he discovers the truth about himself: to be and do what I can be and what only I can do, to live an authentic life from which I am moving away from or approaching through many attempts, even painful ones, in which it is an effort to rise to myself.

Illusions of existence, false desires for existence, and love to decentralize us by forcing us to live a life that is not ours: “true pity/sin”.

To concentrate, gather energies and direct them towards the goal we so eagerly want to achieve, it is necessary to move upwards, i.e. to recognize in everyday experience what leads to betrayal or to “concentrate”: despair, sadness, and joy are sure signs of this.

At the end of the journey, face to face with God, it does not dissolve, but is fulfilled, completed.

Our life is hell if we have despaired; purgatory, if after finding our center we lose ourselves again in someone else (sadness); paradise, if our every gesture comes from our uniqueness (joy).

Paves already wrote this in his well-known work: The Craft of Life, “How is it possible that without knowing it you have directed everything to the center? Inner logic, providence, life instinct?’

Whatever answer we give to him, our core (that origin and inspiration: what I am in the world for and why I come more and more into the light of the world) works within us.

If we are in line with the trajectory of our core, we are in heaven, if we deviate from it, in purgatory, if we renounce it, in hell.

Life is then necessarily a journey of understanding what helps us blossom or rot, constantly fine-tuning our desire: the opposite of “sin” is then “targeting”.

However, how should we understand if we are sufficiently (con-)centered, and targeted? Simply by bearing fruit (the “concentrate” is also referred to as real juice) in a way of being that makes us original, i.e. original: the apple is the final destination of the seed, but at the same time it represents the source of new seeds.

This is also the case with Dante. At the end of the journey, face to face with God, he does not dissolve, but fulfills himself, completes himself, which means that he becomes the Dante that only Dante can be, and indeed, he “returns” to the earth, that is, to himself, as renewed: though he is still in exile and without anything, but completely concentrated, centered, restored in his authentic self as the son of God, Creator, and Love, whom he has come face to face with.

The shortest way we can get to paradise is to touch rock bottom.

Now the energies that make him fully human are released. Dante is finally free to create and love: we fulfill/realize ourselves by bringing into the world what is already in us and what has always been destined to come into the world, come what may.

Asking myself whether today I am in hell, purgatory, or paradise means asking myself whether the life in me and around me is shrinking, stagnating, or growing today, i.e., whether I have somehow betrayed myself.

When the poet was offered to return to Florence 15 years after his exile on the condition that he publicly confesses to a crime he never committed, Dante responded to this proposal in his famous letter to a Florentine friend: “This is not the way to return to the homeland, but if another way can be found that will not harm Dante’s honesty, I will gladly accept it without delay, but if I am not to enter Florence in such a way, I would rather not enter it again. So what? Won’t I be able to see the light of the sun and stars from everywhere? Will I not be able to meditate on the sweetest truths anywhere under the open sky? I’m sure I won’t miss even that piece of bread there.”

In exile, but true to himself, Dante built a homeland not only for himself but also for us.

The homeland where we can be free, wherever we are.

The shortest way we can get to paradise is to touch the bottom (pain is a life that wants to heal and sprout) and break through the layer of “sin” (lies and unloved) that prevents us from inhabiting the paradise that we already carry inside us and which only we on earth can “open”.

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Peter and Judas. A different attitude towards Jesus.

Posted on 3. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

It’s Holy Week. Jesus also wants us to be great – modest, and humble… God bent down to us people. Why? Because he loved us. We can learn from two examples in the Gospel: Judas could not handle the situation, he was influenced by the desire for money, and he betrayed Jesus – and when he saw what he had done, he hanged himself. Peter – a spirited apostle, willing to follow Jesus to Pilate’s courtyard, denies Jesus in front of ordinary maids.

Here we see that Jesus cannot save us without us. He created us without us, but without us, he will not redeem us. Judas, under the pressure of remorse, acts unreasonably and against the teaching of Christ about mercy. He goes and undertakes a dastardly deed. He commits suicide. He committed treason against himself. He did not give his life and he has no right to take it. Peter’s behavior is the opposite. Although Peter hesitated, he realized that Jesus loved him. He knew this from several encounters, most recently in Gethsemane, when he was unable to stay awake with Jesus while praying. Peter, who had become afraid of the maids, may not have even considered his offense as it was. He did not admit that he was among those who lived with Christ for three years. But there came a moment when Jesus was passing by and a rooster crowed. Here, Peter remembered the words of Christ: “Will you even lay down your life for me? Verily, verily, I say to you: The rooster will not crow until you deny me three times” (Jn 13:38). The rooster crowed and Peter realizes that he has denied Christ three times. He, the leader of the apostles, he who found an honorable place in the eyes of Christ, he, Peter – the Rock, hesitated. However, Peter does not think, but acts. His crying, and regret for the actions he committed a moment ago, are a sign that he also loves Jesus. Peter did not sink as deep as Judas. Peter regrets his actions.

Two hesitations. Informative for us, and only one of them is an example. We are weak, even if we pull ourselves up like Peter. We must realize that in difficulties when our faith costs us something, our love for Christ is shown. It is not so bad to fall into sin as to remain in sin. Judas could not rise from him. He did not believe in the forgiveness of Christ, which Christ would surely have given him if he had come and asked. Christ never reproached Peter for his actions and betrayal, perhaps he only reminded him when, after his resurrection, he asked him three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love me…?” (Jn 21:15). And Peter wept again at the third answer: “Lord, you see everything, you know very well that I love you” (John 21:17). And Peter, who denied Christ, becomes the one who is supposed to lead his brothers. Peter is entrusted by Christ with primacy.

This means for us to always believe in Christ so that even in such moments when we hesitate when we commit betrayal of Jesus and his love, we do not sink so deeply and do not allow the thought that there is no forgiveness for us. After all, Lord Jesus said in the parable of the good shepherd that there will be greater joy in heaven over one who needs repentance than over ninety-nine righteous people. 

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Be grateful for the gift of redemption.

Posted on 2. April 2023 by Peter Prochac

We are experiencing Holy Week or Holy Week. Yesterday’s memory of the Lord Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, when a cheering crowd with palms in their hands shouted: “Hosanna!” and greeted Jesus with enthusiasm. But this crowd soon changed their minds, and in Pilate’s court later cried, “Death, crucify him!”

We also change our thinking quickly. Jesus said: “No one has greater love than the one who lays down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13), and Jesus also lays down his life for his enemies. Our sins, weaknesses, and imperfections led Jesus to the act of redeeming humanity. For this, we should thank Jesus. When it is so self-evident that we can say thank you for a rendered service, it should be all the more true for our eternal salvation. The actions of Mary – Lazarus’ sister, when she anointed Jesus’ feet, should lead us to thank Jesus within ourselves. We have much to be thankful for. We know our weaknesses, mistakes, our mistakes, and falls. Let us kneel at the feet of Jesus and instead of the precious ointment that Mary used, let’s lay at the feet of Jesus our goodwill that we want to change our life. At the same time, let’s thank Jesus that he decided to do such a painful and important act for us, freely and willingly giving himself to the torturers only to erase our sins. Apologizing and giving thanks in this season of Lent is so honorable and necessary for each of us. Whoever has shown us friendly service in our daily life, whoever has helped us in need, we are grateful to him, and therefore we thank him as best we can. We realize that we humans are weak and often unstable. That is why we should thank and ask all the more. 

We can also be reminded of this idea by the comparison of the preacher Johann Tauler, who vividly points out what human errors can be used for A horse makes dung in the stable, and although it is clogging dirt, it has to be led with great effort to the field, where it grows from the fertilized earth grain. Believe me, it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the manure. Well, your dung is the shortcomings that you can neither remove nor postpone – so with the effort, you bring them to the field of God’s will in humility and meekness. Undoubtedly, a noble harvest will emerge from it.

This week, our place before the cross is on our knees… No one needs to be ashamed of this gesture, on the contrary, the more we love, the more this gesture means salvation and reward for us. We must not become a crowd that shouts, “Hosanna!” and immediately, “Death, crucify him!” Our effort must be to consciously and voluntarily walk towards our goal: Christ, and in this Lenten season thank him like Mary, sister of Lazarus.

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