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Sermon Notes – February 18, 2024 – “Someday Tomorrow Will Begin Without Us”

“Someday Tomorrow Will Begin Without Us”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

February 17 – 18, 2024

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

Occasionally and according to my physician’s wishes, I have to go to the local pharmacy to get prescriptions filled.  They always ask for my date of birth.  I say, “It’s 7-11-53, and yes, I’m on the waiting list for Hartsell’s Funeral Home.”  They all laugh.  But it’s true.  Now I’m not much, but my two brothers were geniuses, and both had Mensa cards to prove it.  The cards each cost $500.  You paid $500 for a card?  I’m smarter than them . . . I’m going to save 500 bucks!   But I can read a calendar, and I watch the pages turn.  I know my time with you on this Earth is limited.  So, I try to use the time that God has given me to improve what teachers used to call my permanent record.   Remember that?  “This is going on your permanent record!”  Where the heck is this so-called permanent record?   But God sees all.  The Season of Lent is the time for us to work on our permanent records because we don’t know when our time will come.  Many people who have been given a terminal diagnosis outlive the prognosis.   Some live way beyond it and others even get discharged from hospice – not a celestial discharge – they go home.   So, we don’t know.  But someday, tomorrow will begin without us.   I am very fortunate to have made it this far because I traveled with a rough crowd.  I didn’t know any better – yes, I did. 

On the day that begins without me, I will see my Savior come to take my soul from this world to Himself.   So, I would like for my soul to be as beautiful as it was when He first gave it to me.  To that point, especially during this Season of Lent, I try to refresh my soul and make it beautiful again and unmarred by my sins and the sins of others.  I do that with prayer, almsgiving, penance, practicing the Sacraments, and confession.  I went 10 days ago.  I don’t ask you to do something that I haven’t done.  His coming for us should make us happy.  You all love God because you are here.  I’ve been here long enough to know the magnitude of your love and generosity to God and His people.   All the improvements to the church happened because of you.  That’s all you.  Grow in that love so you will not be afraid when God comes to take you home.   

I was over at the criminal university (prison) the other day, and I talked about almsgiving to my felons.  Of course, they don’t have wallets because they have no money, and they are limited as to what they can do outside.  They are monitored and rightly so.   So, they looked at me like I was stupid and said, “What can we do?”  There is plenty you can sacrifice.  Just think about what you are going to eat tonight.  Square fish.  They call it sewer bass and sewer trout.  I swear I can smell it from the parking lot.  I thought the gas chamber was bad, but that’s just not fair!  Some of the ladies who work there said, “Yeah, we can tell when any of the women are pregnant because they smell that and go bleagh!”   Breakfast is at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning.  “But I like to sleep in.”  Not anymore.  The State does have a sense of humor.  You can offer that up and all the other irritations you endure.  You know, some folks in this institution are not as nice as you.   Offer it up as almsgiving because that is what you have.  Give what you have. 

Tax season is coming soon, and we must tell the Federal Government how much we made which could be true or maybe not depending on whether an Italian did your taxes.  Some of us were blessed with great finances and have been very good to the church and charities.  This is not an appeal for money.  I don’t do that.  That is why there’s no collection on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  There are no second collections, period.   I know that not everyone is well off and has obligations.  I know very well, especially in my own life and I’m no different than you – well, you are better looking, I’ll give you that – but I know that we all have crosses.  Many crosses.  Heavy crosses.  And they hurt.  They frustrate. They irritate.  But they can all be used for good not only to mortify our souls to keep us humble but also to be offered for someone else.  Saint Paul said, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church” (Col 1:24).

You can go in and pay someone’s court fines.  The court doesn’t care as long as you have the cash.  Likewise, you can pay for other people’s sins by your own sufferings.  You can pay for the sins of your family, friends, souls in Purgatory, and especially for those who do not like you.  They may not have anyone to pray for them.  This is how wonderfully rich we all are.   This is the almsgiving that we can all give, that we are rich in and that we can give up for others.  We are all rich.  All that suffering that we bear can be offered up for others.  Use those riches God has given us wisely while we have time for an interior beauty treatment.  Scripture tells us that giving alms covers a multitude of sins.  By giving alms, we refresh the soul and make it beautiful.  Through penance, confession, prayer, the Sacraments, and almsgiving we can begin to restore our soul to its original beauty when Christ gave it to us.  This is so that when Christ comes for us whether it is tomorrow or many years from now, and I hope it is many years from now, we can run to Him with our arms around Him and His around us and be in paradise forever. 

Father’s Reflections . . . To the child in the audience who wants her mother – I felt the same way when I received my draft notice.  Mom!! 

I may have gotten a compliment the other day.  One of the nurse practitioners at Hospice said, “Father, you should have gone to medical school.”   Thank you!  That was very nice.  As I walked away a thought occurred to me.  Did she mean as a student or a cadaver?  Either way, I get to take the Gross Anatomy class, and it really is gross.

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” 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.”

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Stations of the Cross

+++ The STATIONS OF THE CROSS by ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI +++

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

Opening Prayer

My Lord Jesus Christ, you have made this journey to die for me with infinite love. So many times I have sinned, but I repent sincerely because I love you. Pardon me, my God. I will love you all my life.

——- FIRST STATION: – JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: — Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the Cross.

PRAYER: — Jesus, it is because of my sins that You are going to die. Through the merits of Your sorrowful journey, help me in my journey to Heaven. I love You. Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love You always and to do Your will.

——- SECOND STATION: – JESUS IS MADE TO BEAR HIS CROSS ——-

V. We adore You, Christ, and we praise You.

R. Because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Meditation: — Jesus, in making this journey with the Cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us, to His Father, the death that He was about to undergo.

Prayer: — Jesus, I embrace all the suffering that you send to me. Through the merits of your pain in carrying Your Cross, help me to carry my cross with patience and resignation. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- THIRD STATION: – JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: — Jesus fell for the first time under His Cross. He had been scourged and had a crown of thorns on His head, and the soldiers hit Him. He was in so much pain He could barely walk, but He had to carry the heavy Cross.

PRAYER: — Jesus, the weight of my sins adds to your suffering and makes it infinitely worse. Through the merits of your first fall, deliver me from falling into mortal sin. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- FOURTH STATION: – JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – Jesus met His Mother Mary along His journey. They loved each other so deeply.

PRAYER: – Jesus, through the sorrow and joy you had in meeting your Mother Mary, help me to be truly devoted to her. Mary, help me to remember in my heart the suffering your Son underwent for me. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- FIFTH STATION: – SIMON HELPS JESUS CARRY HIS CROSS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – When the Jews saw how weak Jesus was, they feared He might die on the way, before He was crucified, so they forced a man named Simon the Cyrenian to carry the Cross behind our Lord.

PRAYER: – Jesus, I accept the cross you give to me, and I accept how you want me to die. I offer all my sufferings and troubles to you. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- SIXTH STATION: – VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – A woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus suffering so much, and sweat and blood dripping down His face, gave Him a towel to wipe His face. By a miracle, He left an image of His face on the towel.

PRAYER: – Jesus, your face was once clean and good to look upon, but blood and sweat disfigured it, and Veronica wiped Your face clean. My soul was once clean and beautiful when I was baptized, but sin disfigured it. Through your suffering, wipe my soul clean. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin

again and to love You always and to do Your will

——- SEVENTH STATION: – JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – Jesus fell the second time under the Cross. The fall renews all the pain in His body and makes His head throb.

PRAYER: – Jesus, so many times you have forgiven me, and so many times I have sinned again. Through the merits of your second fall, help me and preserve me in your grace until I die. Help me to call on you every time I am tempted. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- EIGHTH STATION: – JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – These women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus walking to His death. But Jesus said to them, “Weep not for me but for your children.”

PRAYER: – Jesus, I am sorry for all my sins, because of the pain and sadness they cause you, who loves me so much. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- NINTH STATION: – JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – Jesus fell for the third time. He was so weak and the soldiers pushed Him to walk faster, but He could barely move.

PRAYER: – Jesus, by my weakness in temptation, you are going to Calvary. Give me strength to conquer temptation. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- TENTH STATION: – JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – The soldiers snatched Jesus’ robe off Him.

PRAYER: – Jesus, help me to strip my soul of bad habits so I can give all my love to you, who are so worthy of all my love. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- ELEVENTH STATION: – JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – Jesus was thrown down onto the Cross. He stretched out His arms and offered His life to the Father for our salvation. The soldiers nailed Him to the Cross and pushed the Cross to stand up.

PRAYER: – Jesus, keep my heart. Keep me always close to you. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love You always and to do Your will.

——- TWELFTH STATION: – JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – After suffering for three hours on the Cross, Jesus gave up His life to the Father and died.

PRAYER: – Jesus, through my sins, I deserve to be punished, but your death is my hope. Through the merits of your death, give me the grace that when I die, I will die as you want me to. I entrust my soul into your hands. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- THIRTEENTH STATION: – JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – Two of Jesus’ disciples took Jesus down from the Cross and Mary His Mother held Him close to her heart.

PRAYER: – Mary, sorrowful Mother, pray to your Son for me. Jesus, you have died because you love me. Help me to love you always. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- FOURTHEENTH STATION: – JESUS IS LAID IN HIS TOMB ——-

V. We adore you, Christ, and we praise you.

R. Because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.

MEDITATION: – The two disciples and Mary laid Jesus in a tomb.

PRAYER: – Jesus, You rose on the third day. Through your Resurrection, make me rise glorious on the last day, to be always with you in Heaven, praising and loving you. I love you, Jesus. I repent of my sins. Help me to never sin again and to love you always and to do your will.

——- CLOSING PRAYER: — Jesus, I kneel before you and ask you: fill my heart with faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm desire of amendment.

CLOSING MEDITATION: — God has loved us from all eternity. Before we existed, before He created us, before He created the world, He loved each of us already. From all eternity, God loves us.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.