“Come Home…He is Waiting”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
March 14 – 15, 2020
Scripture: John 4: 5-42
Scripture 101: Ladies, can you tell me what screams out in the gospel today? The hour was noon, and there was a woman by herself drawing water at the well. What’s wrong with that? The woman was drawing water at the well alone which was just not done in her culture. Women travelled in groups and never by themselves. Also, it would have been a balmy 120 degrees at midday. Just a wonderful time of the day. Nobody goes out at noon except for the American Army while very overdressed. It’s hot, and you have 50 extra pounds of Uncle Sam’s equipment while taking a little nature walk. It’s a bit warm. It opens the pores…really refreshing. Because of the heat, most people drew water in the morning or the evening. Another thing that stands out in the scripture is that Jesus spoke to her. Even today, men in that part of the world never touch or speak directly to women. This was a fallen woman, and Jesus called her on it. He went there, despite being hungry and tired, to search for her soul. She was His child made in His image and likeness. She had wandered away from His love with five husbands and a live-in boyfriend. She was a lost woman who nobody wanted to associate with…she was shunned. But He went out to search for her anyway and to bring her back. Did Christ condemn the woman at the well by saying, “By the way, I see you have had five husbands and live with a boyfriend…you are going to hell.” Did He say that? No. Did He throw a penalty flag? No. Did He condemn her? No. We do not condemn anybody. Everyone is open for salvation. Instead, He said, “what you are looking for is a Who not a what.”
Christ came for the salvation of all souls…not just for Jews or Gentiles, but for everyone. Each soul has a cost…the cost is what you see on the crucifix. That day at the well, Christ was hot and tired. But this is what He came to do…to seek the lost, even the greatest sinners. He came to search for all of His children who have wandered away from Him. It is interesting that He gives us the precise way in which to reach out to others even when we are tired, hungry, or we just don’t want to do it. We are called to share the love of Christ by virtue of our baptism. Some of the most fruitful times to share His love is when it is the most inconvenient or uncomfortable. All the stuff I did for Uncle Sam was me just doing my job. Also, I have a lot of street credit at Hospice and at the hospital, but I’m just doing my job. It’s Christ that gets the real street credit…I’m just the instrument. Christ heals them…not the doctors or nurses.
Sometimes, when I’m talking to people about the Faith, I lose my patience if they start playing the quiz game show and try to out-lawyer me. They try to engage me in intellectual discussions. You know, I spent four years studying theology, I think I’ve got it. When you tell them about His love and the fullness of the Church, they will, by and large, start intellectual discussions with you. “Why do you call priests Father?” Because Saint Paul said so. “Well, you Catholics make women wear doilies on their heads.” Those were the old ways, and it’s no big deal. Come on, Dude! Stop playing the quiz show with me. They will make any excuse. But, it’s a delay tactic…an attempt to obscure their own sins…look, squirrel!! “I don’t go to church because you have sinners there.” Yes, and I’m happy about that. We are trying to change them. Where else would you like sinners to be? Yes, they do terrible things…that’s why they are in church. How about you, Chuckles? I know Someone who can save you from your sins.
If Jesus only called those who are perfect, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus would be the only people here. The Church would be empty. We are men not angels. We are a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. Our Lord came for us so that we could be transformed. We are called to do the same by seeking those who have strayed away from the Faith. Will we always get results? Yes! “But it didn’t work; they didn’t come back.” You don’t know for sure; they’re not dead yet. Even though you may not see results in the people you’ve been sharing His love with, you’ve planted a seed that may grow inside them. And, look at what it did for you. Look at how it has expanded your own heart.
When I first arrived in Iraq during the first Gulf War, I approached the Colonel who said to me, “What are you doing here?” Well, you told me to come. This is where my soldiers are, so this is where I’m supposed to be. When I go into a hospital room wearing Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), I’m breathing in and out like Darth Vader with a mask and gown. “What are you doing here, Father?” Well, I’m your priest; I’m supposed to be here. Besides, they give me free parking and I write off the mileage. When people are in failing health, and they do not want to come back to the Church, I just wait and wait and wait some more. Sometimes when I’m in Hospice and the nurses have just bombed patients with drugs, I will ask them again if they would like to receive Last Rites. I thought so! I’m persistent…I keep going after them. Never give up on anyone. Never give up trying to bring them back to the love of Christ. Each soul has its own worth. Each soul is worth the sacrifice…whether it is convenient or not. It was neither convenient nor comfortable for our Lord that day at the well.
One day, while I was at the VA Hospital and making my last rounds in Hospice, one of the nurses asked me if I could see a patient who wanted to talk to a chaplain. I had met this patient once before when he was in-processing, and we had talked for a few minutes. He told me that he had cancer, and it was his fault. He had been scheduled for a colonoscopy previously that didn’t work out, and he was supposed to come back two weeks later for another one…but he never returned. When he finally came back, the cancer was terminal. Before I went into the patient’s room, the nurse told me it wasn’t pleasant. I said, “Yeah, I know.” His cancer had become external which has a particular aroma. If you’ve ever been in a patient’s room whose cancer is external, it’s a real treat for the senses. It will bring a tear to your eye. I sat there listening to him for about 20 minutes. He wanted to talk, but the cancer had metastasized to his brain. Occasionally, he would say something that I could understand. During our conversation, the nurse kept coming into the room and spraying air freshener. When I finally left his room, my clothes smelled like the cancer. Did I enjoy that? Hell no. Was it comfortable? No, but that’s what I was supposed to do. While in the military, did I enjoy all those times and places where I could have gotten myself killed? Do you think that was a lot of fun? No. They don’t print enough money for me to want to do that or make enough alcohol. But that’s what I was supposed to do. Likewise, we are supposed to seek out souls as Christ did even when it’s uncomfortable or unpleasant. We are called to share His love with them.
Christ is reaching out to others through you to share the great gift you have received …the gift of our Catholic faith…the fullness of truth. You are called to bring it to others. Maybe you won’t experience anything as egregious as I have; I hope you don’t, but you may encounter people who are very combative with their words. Why are you getting so worked up if what I’m saying isn’t true? Why are you getting your underwear in a knot? Proclaim the message anyway. Nobody wants to get involved in arguments. I know, that’s why I stay away from my family. But, Christ can save anyone, and that’s part of the message we bring, They will see in you the love of Christ.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you share the love of Christ with others even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient?