In recent years, we have talked a lot about the holiday that will begin in Budapest in a few days. As with everything else, many people see the arrival of the International Eucharistic Congress, NEK, in different ways. There are those who simply leave him cold, there are those who are against him, and there are those who are enthusiastic, maybe even fans of him. What are some aspects of this event that we might want to consider? We quote from the thoughts of Father Miklós Molnár.
Although for me, of course, the spiritual plane is the most important, but now let's start with a more superficial side, and then let's rise! Like all global events, the International Eucharistic Congress, NEK, can serve Hungary's reputation in the world. Yes, whether it's an Olympics, a World Cup, or a simple papal visit, if we look at it among the religious, if we look at it among the non-believers, this congress can also have an impact, through which many people can get to know our country. Beyond the material, this can also be important because relationships can be created, from which completely new perspectives can open later, with new allies, new opportunities in many areas of life, from education to investments, whether we look at it on a social or personal level.
Going further, it is good to see that NEK is not only a holiday for Catholics.
He also invites everyone to start a dialogue. In today's Hungary, communication between certain interest or principle groups is breaking down somewhere. We hear each other's words and thoughts less and less. It tears our society apart and makes us unable to use even the goods that we could exploit together. By this I also mean that as a priest I often encounter the problem that many people do not understand the intentions of the church. While we would try to help society in many areas, many people are already suspicious of our activities, so they either do not use our help, or only use it minimally. Of course, I also mean that many people only want to connect with us at the level of an esoteric show, while we want to help them connect with the living God! The congress also wants to open an opportunity for them to get to know us better and to start cooperating on the rise of society.
Source: vasarnap.hu/illustráció
What is the essence of this congress series? The purpose for which it was established was to introduce the "sacred secret of the faith" of Catholics to the world. In other words, that we are all invited to what the Bible calls the "Wedding of the Lamb", that is, to meet Jesus, to know Him and be able to respond with love to the yes He said to me. The whole meaning and purpose is that we don't just want to keep this treasure entrusted to us for ourselves, but we want to give it to everyone, because that's why Jesus called the church.
It is prayer that imbues the organization and the congress itself, so that this miracle is born among us not by human effort or cleverness, but by the "power of the Spirit".
This is also how we can interpret his motto: "All my sources flow from you", since in the Holy Scriptures this refers to Jerusalem, that is, in the New Testament sense, to our relationship with God, from which everything that the church is good for comes from.
Finally, perhaps we should also consider what this holiday means to us Hungarians! The first congress, which was organized in our country, took place before the World War. After and during many national tragedies and hardships. Actually, on the 900th anniversary of the death of our King Saint István. The current one, which would have been Trianon's 100th anniversary, was also in the midst of many difficulties. I think everything has a message for our nation: just as King St. Stephen placed us in the hands of the Virgin Mary, we became, as it were, children of Mary. This, in turn, also means that, although we may suffer many brokennesses, if we bear our pains in Christ, we ourselves can become a Eucharistic sacrifice, that is, we can join the sacrifice of the cross, which alone can overcome death.
To put it more simply, perhaps this congress can also teach us, Hungarians, how to live a self-sacrificing life and yet create an eternal work. How can we become food for the world, which is born not in deprivation of something, but in self-surrender, and therefore connects us with eternal values.
Source: vasarnap.hu
Featured image: infostart.hu
