“You Must Be Willing to Try”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
April 6 – 7, 2024
Gospel: John 20: 19-31
When we go to Confession we are praying scripturally. Now, this doesn’t happen very often, but I pray it happens to you because it will comfort and strengthen your faith. We kneel and say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned.” Our image of each other through the grate in the confessional is a bit hazy on purpose because I’m not supposed to recognize anyone. In the hazy light, you may think that Father is growing a beard and has hair. He has a certain glow about him, and he looks healthy because he doesn’t have that pale look he usually has. Is that the father we know?” Yes and no. It’s my human body but you’ve been given the eyes of angels because you see Christ on the other side of that partition. It is Christ who forgives sins. It is Christ who hears your confession. In His hand, He holds the chalice that is filled with His Precious Blood from His sacred wounds. When He gives you absolution, He dips His hand into the chalice and anoints your soul with His Precious Blood for the remission of your sins. As the Pentecostals say, “You’ve been washed in the blood.” All your sins are forgiven and forgotten. Your soul is infused with sanctifying and actual grace. It is Christ who forgives your sins. He uses my human nature just as our Good Lord heals you through the actions of good physicians and nurses. This is one of the gifts He gives us and the fruits for which He sacrificed Himself so that we may have eternal life and forgiveness of our sins.
I went to confession two weeks ago. I do not ask you to do what I will not do myself. Belief is proved by action. Sometimes it is frightening to go to confession. It can also be frightening to go to the doctor. “Oh, my goodness!” Going to the dentist can also be a really pleasant experience. But why do we get nervous? The doctors are going to do the best they can for you, reassure you, and make your life more pleasant. That’s what I try to do on my hospital rounds. It usually happens with drug addicts and alcoholics in the Emergency Room. They are all nervous and upset. I remember one man who served in Afghanistan as an Army first sergeant, and he was crying his eyes out. He said, “You are going to throw me out of here!” I said, “We don’t shoot our wounded.” After that, I usually take out my business card and write my cell phone number on the back. I tell them, “If you have a problem while you’re here, call me. I know people. If you have a problem, I’ll get it taken care of.” In my 13 years at the VA Hospital, I’ve never had anyone call me.
I always like it when people say, “We have scriptural beliefs.” Really. “We are a bible believing church!” Really. Scripture says that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written” (John 2:30). Not everything was written down. After three years of ministry, if that’s all He did, He didn’t do much. But the Word stayed with the Apostles which is called “tradition” and they taught it. If you believe in Scripture, then go to Confession because He gave the power to the Apostles, bishops, and priests to absolve sin (John 20:21-23). It says that in the black part of scripture not the white part.
But we are all scared to go to Confession. Why, I don’t know. Actually, I do know. It’s our pride. Because you think that you are going to tell Christ, which is me acting in His person, something I haven’t heard before. Very unlikely. Moral Theology is a class we took before the Penance course at seminary, and it consisted of two very thick textbooks. I’ve had people say, “Oh, I’ve committed every sin in the book!” Okay, let’s see. So, you married your first cousin and had relations with her? “No, Father! Okay, that’s one chapter from the textbook gone. Did you fool around with animals? “No!” Okay, that’s another chapter gone. The textbooks are getting thinner and thinner as we talk. My point is that you are not going to surprise me. It’s like when I go into hospital rooms and patients pull their bed sheets up around their chins. I wish they all did that, but I tell them that I’ve seen more body parts than they will ever have. Occasionally, I have to say that to the Spanish because some of them wear very low-cut dresses. Cover up! I’ve seen more than that in the hospital.
We have to say what we are sorry for as best as we can. I cannot prescribe something for that which I don’t know about. Doctors would never prescribe anyone pain medicine who said, “Oh, I have a terrible headache! I need some oxycontin.” The doctor is not going to say, “No problem, and I’ll make the prescription refillable too.” Nope. That would never happen. If they did that, they would be over at FU (Felon University), and I’d be visiting them there. In fact, I met a PA (physician’s assistant) at FU who was there for doing that same kind of funny stuff. The physician may want to take a little peek because the problem could be sinuses, or it could be a brain tumor. It’s the same with spiritual life. The medicine I prescribe for your soul will depend on what I know. The one thing priests cannot forgive is people who live in an objective state of sin. For example, they have a bad marriage, or they are in a relationship that they are unwilling to leave or even try. If you are unwilling to try, I cannot help you. “Hey, I’ll give you cancer treatments if you’ll stop smoking.” “But I don’t want to stop smoking.” My older brother did that. He had Hepatitis C, and the doctor said that he could cure it if he stopped drinking. My brother said, “Nope,” and he did not have a good outcome. We are all sinners, but you have to be willing to try.
I do this all the time at the VA Hospital for patients who are getting a celestial discharge. I don’t ask if I can give them Last Rites. Instead, I say, “I’m going to give you Last Rites, okay?” They usually say, “Yes. Thank you, Father.” Then I will ask, “When was the last time you went to Confession?” I never ask if they would like to go to Confession. When I ask them about the last time they went to Confession, I say it in a command-like tone, and that snaps them right back to their military days and they tell me. Then I ask, “What are your sins?” Of course, half of them can’t remember because they are usually sedated. So, I say, “Key question: Are you sorry for all of your sins, those you remember and those you don’t?” “Yes.” Right answer, and I absolve them of their sins.
There are two types of sorrow – perfect and imperfect contrition. Perfect sorrow or contrition is when you are sorry for hurting the one you love. You are sorry for offending them because you love them, and they are worthy of all your love as God Almighty is. Imperfect contrition is when you are sorry because you got caught. Ask a police officer how many people cry right before they get a ticket. “I didn’t know!” Well, here is a ticket as a reminder. Imperfect contrition is sufficient.
Remember, just because you don’t see Christ while in the confessional as I act in His person, doesn’t mean He’s not there. Likewise, just because you don’t see law enforcement officers on Highway 52 while driving to Salisbury doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
How will you apply this message to your life? ________________________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com, clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.” Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at OLA.Catholic.Church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
