Category: Sermon Notes

“Ignore the Rat Droppings”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

July 20 – 21, 2019

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Banned phrases at this parish are: 2nd collection, choir practice, and crisis. For a situation to be a crisis, one of the following must be happening:

– We are taking incoming fire,

– We are suffering mass casualties, or

– There isn’t enough money to pay salaries, especially mine

Sometimes, the staff will tell me that we have a crisis. I ask them if we are taking incoming fire. Usually, the problem is that we do not have a reader or an organist. But, that’s okay…I can read. I can’t play the organ, but music is not required to hold Mass. At my previous parish, the sound system operator came up to me at Mass to let me know that her sister was in labor. Because I did not study obstetrics at seminary, we may have had a problem that day. And, I have to admit, I’ve gone to the altar with better thoughts. However, all the worries we have when we come to church are just rat droppings.

In today’s scripture, Jesus and the apostles were visiting Martha and Mary’s home. While Martha was working hard to serve their guests, Mary simply sat at the feet of the Lord. Exasperated, Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. He responded, saying “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things” (Luke 10:41). Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and to focus on Who is important. We, too, sometimes let the small stuff take us away from Him. Focus on what is important. Focus on Christ.

Prayer is heart speaking to heart. There are three types of prayers: vocal, mental/meditative, and unitive. Vocal and mental prayers prepare us for unitive prayer which is when God comes to you. This is the state we should strive for. The point of this exercise is the adoration of Christ and to be united with Him. We need to focus on who we are praying to and who is present.

Sometimes, we see messages like “Say this prayer for 10 days” or “Say this or that word just right” and good things will happen for you. But this is just extortion. It will not change God’s mind. I want to be Monsignor…but I don’t see that happening in the next four years.

Quiet reflection before Mass prepares us for the Holy Sacrifice where we die with Christ and rise with Him. We are active participants in the Mass when we give our human nature to Him in the offertory. When I visit a nursing home, many of the residents are sleeping. Are they actively participating? Yes. In fact, they might be in unitive prayer already.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you ignore the rat droppings and focus on Who is important? Will you focus on Christ?

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“Good Isn’t Good Enough”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

July 13-14, 2019

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

I meet a lot of people in my travels and, sometimes, I think my Roman collar intimidates them. They make sure to tell me that they are good Catholics who go to Mass every Sunday and keep the Commandments. I don’t have the heart to ask them if they also go to Mass on holy days of obligation. Although they don’t rob and kill, is that the standard God gave us? No!. We are not only called to be good, but to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Being good is merely baby steps to salvation. Now, some people become overly pious by praying so much that they don’t have time for their families. Likewise, there have been people who beat themselves as a penance to show remorse for sin. The Church has said that we are not to do that. Also, if someone tells me they went to confession and the priest gave them as their penance to say 21 Hail Mary’s, I will call foul. The maximum allowed to be given is ten. That’s a written rule in black and white.

Going to confession once a year and tithing are the minimum and fulfill the law. However, they are only guidelines. Love goes far beyond that. It is giving all to the one you love. On their wedding anniversary, husbands usually give their wives a card. That’s the bare minimum. Do they show their love throughout the year or just on their anniversary? Christ gives us total love – daily – in the Mass and the Sacraments. During Lent, we think it’s simply terrible that we have to give up hamburgers and tacos on Fridays. But, when we love someone, we will make any sacrifice for them. And, we don’t think of it as a burden; instead, it’s our gift to them. For example, parents don’t really relish changing diapers or getting spit-up on; but, we love our children, and would do anything for them.

When you read the parable of the Good Samaritan, remember we need to read scripture with the time period in which it was written in mind. In the parable, a man was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Both a Levite and priest passed the man on the opposite side of the road and did not help him. According to biblical law, they were not required to help the man because they were not on the same side of the road. Our Lord said “No.” We must go above and beyond the law. We must love our neighbor, and love is not doing only what the law requires. Love demands all. We must love totally and without reservation. Often, priests will say they have said their prayers and visited the sick. However, that is their job. What have they done beyond that? The answer is where their love lies.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you show your love by doing more than the bare minimum?

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Wow! I should’ve had a V-8!”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

July 6-7, 2019

Scripture: Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20

I like to call today’s scripture the “V-8 Gospel.” Paul had a V-8 moment while preaching in Athens, Greece. While there, he modified his preaching and used a philosophical approach instead. It didn’t go well. After that experience, he preached as God had instructed. He preached about the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection with great success. So, when Christ asks you to do something, follow His instructions! This is no fool’s errand. Think about the miracle He performed when 5000 people were fed with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Christ told the disciples to have the people sit in groups of hundreds and fifties. After the people were properly seated, He prayed over the food, and everyone ate until satisfied with 12 baskets left over.

God is hope for sinners. Everything He ever said, has happened. Go out and proclaim the gospel and the good news…that there is salvation through our Savior. Let people see His love. He gave us all the power to proclaim the gospel at our Baptism during which we were filled with grace and infused with the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Will you be roundly mocked? Sure. You won’t always get good results, but don’t take it personally. Do you know how many times I have been cursed at and thrown out of hospital rooms? Lots. But that’s okay…I am only worried about the end results. Now, if you are waiting for thanks for your good works, you may be waiting a long time. We may not be present or even know the results of our work. Also, we may plant the seeds and someone else may reap the harvest. One sows and another reaps. However, we will get our reward from Him.

A word of caution about evangelization. If you encounter anyone who may be possessed by demons, do NOT mess around with them. Only priests can do exorcisms. I can do them in an emergency, but I have Holy Water.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you do whatever He tells you instead of having V-8 moments? Will you proclaim the gospel and the good news…that there is salvation through our Savior? Will you show people His love?

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“Put Your Love Into Action”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

May 25-26, 2019

Scripture: John 14: 23-29

23) Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24) Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. 25) “I have told you this while I am with you. 26) The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. 27) Peace* I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28) You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29) And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.

While meditating today, I thought about the lyrics from “My Fair Lady.” During one scene, Eliza Doolittle tells Professor Higgins that she is sick of his words and that if he is in love, he must show her; otherwise, he is wasting her time. You see, the word “love” is a verb, and it implies action. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). In other words, if you love Him, you must show Him. Your love is expressed in action and it will draw you close to God. Is it always easy? No, sometimes it will be difficult and unpleasant.

Priests take three vows: poverty, chastity and obedience. Want to know which one is the most difficult to keep? Obedience is by far the most difficult. A good example is the difficulty our first parents, Adam and Eve, had obeying the only rule they had: they were not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, else they would die. But, we want what we want when we want it. It’s all about us. Love, instead, always thinks about others first. Saint Augustine said that work itself is love: “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”

People sometimes tell me that they are Catholic, they believe in God, and they love Him, but they don’t go to church. Really? Is it so difficult to spend less than one hour a week to show your love and gratitude to Him who suffered and died for our sins so that we might have eternal life? Is that love? Nah…that is not love.

The goodness of soldiers and their love for one another is abundant. How do they show it? Well, during long road marches, if a soldier is struggling with their heavy back packs, other soldiers shoulder and carry the packs for them. When a soldier falls, the others pick the soldier up and carry him or her. When we lose soldiers, it is our hands that take them to their graves. This is love by doing.

Father’s Afterthoughts…

Monday is Memorial Day. It bothers me greatly that people don’t observe the day respectfully by honoring soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. Instead, it is a day for “White Sales” and barbecues. How sad. Nobody loves a soldier until the enemy is at the gates.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you put your love into action?

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“It’s Your Choice”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

May 11 – 12, 2019

Scripture: John 20: 27-30

27) My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30) *The Father and I are one.”

Who has more power than God? You know the answer….You do! You are the only one who can say “No” to Him. Even Satan cannot make that decision for you. Nobody but you can leave God’s protective embrace. Adam & Eve chose to leave Him. We have the same free will to choose.

There are two kinds of Will: Directive and Permissive. Directive Will refers to the laws of physics. For example, an object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless a force acts upon it. Permissive Will refers to that which God allows to happen. For example, God allows sinful behavior, even though He does not desire it.

Jesus said we would not be comfortable following Him. Instead, He said “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23–24). This teaching is hard, because we want what we want when we want it. It’s even more difficult because of our refusal to love. God is love, but His love is not forced…it cannot and will not force itself on anyone.

The disciples left Christ alone on several occasions…during His Passion being one. Another occasion was after He had fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. When the people wanted to hear more, Christ told them that He is the Bread of Life and that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. This shocked some of the disciples and they chose to leave Him. Jesus asked those who remained if they also wanted to leave, and Peter replied, “Lord, to whom should we go?” (John 6: 54-57).

So many of my family and college classmates have left the church. They either didn’t like what the priest said or what he did. They say that they are more comfortable where they are. But, you know what? It’s not about your comfort. More importantly, none of the other faiths have the truth…only the Catholic Church has that.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you choose Christ or will you leave Him”

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“You Need a Surgeon…Not a Dermatologist”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

April 27-28, 2019

Scripture: John 20: 19-31

19) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.* The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21) [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23) Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 24) Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25) So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26) Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28) Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29) Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 30) Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. 31)But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Some of the questions we often hear from non-Catholics are “Where does it say in the bible that we must confess our sins to a priest? Why can’t I go straight to God to confess my sins and ask Him for forgiveness?” Well, for the same reason when you have appendicitis, it’s best to see a surgeon rather than a dermatologist. In John 20:22-23, the Lord gave His apostles the Holy Spirit and said “the sins you forgive are forgiven.” So, for a good spiritual diagnosis and prescription, go to a priest for confession. He will know whether you have Perfect or Imperfect Contrition. Our contrition is perfect when we are sorry for our sins because we love God and sin offends Him. Our contrition is imperfect when we are sorry for our sins because we fear God’s punishment. During confession, a priest can help you understand which one you have and recommend ways to break or avoid bad habits.

Another question I’m sometimes asked is “Isn’t it good enough to get a general absolution?” Well, you still need to go to Confession afterward and as soon as possible. During my 35+ years in the priesthood, I have given a general absolution only once and that was when I was giving a Mass to soldiers in Iraq, and we began taking incoming fire.

We must preach penance for the remission of sin. We also must preach God’s love …and the mercy manifested in it. But, you cannot talk about that which you’ve never experienced. This isn’t something that can be learned by reading books; instead, it comes from firsthand experience. Priests need to be able to make it real for people. They must have the fire of God burning in their bellies that comes only from knowing and loving Him. Otherwise, priests lose credibility, and people won’t believe what they say.

As you may know, I volunteer as a hospital chaplain at the Veterans Hospital in Salisbury. The nurses often call me when they know patients are close to death. Why do they call me? Because they know that, through God’s grace, I always come so that I can show those nearing death God’s love and mercy. But, priests are not the only ones called to do this. You also have that responsibility.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you share your firsthand experience of God’s love and mercy with those who need to hear your story?

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“He is Risen”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

April 20-21, 2019

Scripture: John 20: 1-9

1) On the first day of the week, a Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2) So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3) So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4) They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5) he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6) When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7) and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8) Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9) For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

God created humans with both a body and a soul. After we have fulfilled our work on earth and suffered the burdens of old age, we will close our eyes and our bodies will die. We were never meant to die; God created us to enjoy eternal life with Him. But, thanks to our original parents, we all will experience death. However, the body does not wish to die even though it participated as we committed the sin of gluttony by eating and drinking too much. Nevertheless, we will pass, or transition, from this life to the next and go before God. Our bodies will be perfected, because nothing is imperfect in God’s presence.

It is natural to fear death. But, our fear of death is lessened as we draw closer to the Lord. The more you fall in love with God and trust Him, the easier the thought of death becomes. Satan, the father of lies, tells us that death is miserable. He also promises us joy, but never delivers. These are all lies. We tend to believe the worse, because it’s so hard to believe the truth… that God has an overwhelming love for us…that He is merciful and will forgive our sins.

We know what will happen when we die…what waits on the other side. There will be no pain, no sorrow, no suffering…only perfect joy. Peter, James, and John observed the transfiguration of the Lord while He spoke to Moses and Elijah and as the veil of humanity was lowered. (Matthew 17:1-4). We, like them, will also see God face-to-face. Some will stay long enough for just a cup of coffee and others will spend eternity with Him.

I once met a man in Hospice who had been married for 75 years. When the man died, his wife said “He left me.” I told her that her husband had just left for work and that he was preparing a new place for her. Cooperate with the Lord so that you can be with Him in the next life. Sometimes, we feel abandoned by God. But, He never has and never will leave us; instead, He keeps circling and hoping we will reach out to Him. Our Lord is listening and waiting. He said that He is preparing a place for us and that we know the way (John 14:2-4). From the cross, He has given us the means to join him.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you draw close to God so that the fear of death is lessened and you can spend eternity with Him?

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