Blog

“God is Not a ‘Snowflake’”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

October 15 – 16, 2022

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

¹ Then He told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ² ‘There was a judge in a certain town,’ He said, ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for anyone. ³ In the same town there was also a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” ⁴ For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Even though I have neither fear of God nor respect for any human person, ⁵ I must give this widow her just rights since she keeps pestering me, or she will come and slap me in the face.” ‘ ⁶ And the Lord said, ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to His elect if they keep calling to Him day and night even though He still delays to help them? ⁸ I promise you, He will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on earth?’

I’m going to save you some time and money. There’s no need to go to a conference or buy a book to learn how to pray. So, what is the secret to prayer? The secret to prayer is praying. You have to do it. That’s it. That’s the whole thing. What is prayer? It is “cor ad cor loquitor” or heart speaking to heart. That’s what your prayer is. I’ve been in some interesting places, and I have prayed that He get me the heck out of wherever I was. Your prayers don’t have to be Shakespearean, but they have to be from the heart. Sometimes during prayer, our minds drift off. . .”Oh! Look, squirrel.” Just bring your mind back. Prayer is an act of love. Prayer is an act of faith because you believe that Someone who loves you will hear you. Prayer is an act of hope because you believe that Someone who loves you will give you what you ask. So, you are exercising three theological virtues when you pray.

I remember talking to this one lady who was praying in one specific way. She was going to claim it, she was going to pray in the right name, and she was going to do this and that. I said, “Really?” Do you think that all the parents waiting outside the children’s hospitals in Charlotte and Concord didn’t pray correctly, and therefore God killed their kids? Do you think, “Oh, you didn’t mention the correct name. Your kid is going to die because you screwed up.” Do you really think so? Love is over time. God is not a cosmic gum-ball machine in which you can flip in a quarter and “Boom” get whatever you want anytime you ask. That’s called “name it and claim it, love it and grab it.” Now, we may not have gotten what we wanted, but lots of times we get something far better. That’s what our Lord does. So never feel defeated or disconsolate by prayer. If you are thinking, “It’s all the same and I’m talking to a wall,” that’s a temptation from satan. God always hears our prayers. God always answers our prayers in His own time and in His own way.

Prayers do not change God. . .prayer changes us. It makes us more receptive to the Will of God. Maybe we are asking for something too small. Sometimes though, we have to take “no” for an answer. Now, I have been ordained for 38 ½ years, and I’m still not a Monsignor. I think I’m going to stop asking and move on to more important things other than my personal prestige. But prayer changes us and draws us closer to God. By the way, if you happen to get very upset with God and use some very earthly, Anglo-Saxon words in your prayers, it’s okay. God is not a “snowflake.” He does not take offense; rather, He adores your passion. You can only get mad at people you love because you expect better. As Saint Teresa of Avila said, “Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few.” The secret to prayer is what? Doing it.

How will you apply this message to your life? ________________________________

“His Gifts Can Have Many Forms”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

October 8 – 9, 2022

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

¹¹ Now it happened that on the way to Jerusalem He was travelling in the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As He entered one of the villages, ten men suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to meet Him. They stood some way off ¹³ and called to Him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ ¹⁴ When He saw them He said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. ¹⁵ Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice ¹⁶ and threw himself prostrate at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him. The man was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ This led Jesus to say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? ¹⁸ It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ ¹⁹ And He said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

Do you know why the Good Lord gave the gift of healing to the ten lepers? Because they asked for it and because He loved them. He made them out of love and sustained them out of love. When they asked for the gift of that love to cure them, He didn’t ask if they had tithed, given to the Priest Retirement Fund, or volunteered at the church. He gave it to them freely because He loved them and He wanted to show His love. One of the lepers was a foreigner. . .a Samaritan who the Jews hated. But love gives without regard. Love gives outside of itself never seeking reward. Our Lord blesses us with so many gifts when we ask for them and even when we don’t. Some of those gifts are very good and some are even better. In some, you recognize the good and in others not so much.

Do you remember Bishop Fulton Sheen? He was that very handsome man on television with grey hair. Bishop Sheen was very photogenic . . . the camera loved him. He had a series on television, he was a wonderful speaker, and he was very talented. He had two doctorates – I mean the guy was a genius! He was really blessed. But do you know what his diet consisted of? He lived on boiled chicken, milk, and soggy graham crackers. That was his diet because his stomach was so bad that was all he could keep down. That was all he could eat, but you would never know it. That was one of God’s gifts to him, and it was a blessing because it kept him small. Indeed, some of our crosses are our greatest blessings. It kept Bishop Sheen humble and relying on God. I say that because he’s about to be canonized as a saint.

The same thing is true with all the gifts God gives us. There are so many gifts beyond counting. While you are saying your nightly prayers and the Act of Contrition, it is a good spiritual habit to think of at least five or ten gifts God has given you. And the next night, think of new ones. Also think of the gifts that are your crosses and infirmities. He gives us those so that we can share in His Passion and become more reliant on Him than on ourselves. They are a great blessing because they keep us humble and small. They may seem like a punishment for our sins. . . and they could be. I’m not God, and I don’t know why God allows it, but He does. It’s also a chance for us to give gifts of love to others and to God. We can offer them for sacrifices and penance for our sins and those of others. Through our sufferings we can reach out to others who are suffering and give them the same hope we have. As Saint Paul said, “I make up with my body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.” We join our sufferings with Him on the Cross. Those sufferings can be His greatest gift to us. Our sufferings can be not only physical ailments but also mental and spiritual sufferings. We all have them. Usually, the most gifted people have the most crosses so that God can keep them humble.

God does not give us gifts because we have earned them. Do your children have to earn your love? You still love the ones who have gone off the reservation. It happens in every family. You don’t give your children gifts because they’ve earned them. You give them gifts because you love them. That’s what God does for us. God loves us and He will never stop. He hopes that these gifts of love will cause people to turn their hearts back to Him. That’s what God does. He will always give us blessings, but His blessings can have many forms.

How will you apply this message to your life? _______________________________

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories”