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Sermon Notes – March 3, 2024 – “The Mass is Not a Celebration”

“The Mass is Not a Celebration”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

March 2 – 3, 2024

Gospel: John 2: 13-25

13 When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 and in the Temple He found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. 15 Making a whip out of cord, He drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and cattle as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over 16 and said to the dove sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop using My Father’s house as a market.’ 17 Then His disciples remembered the words of scripture: I am eaten up with zeal for Your house. 8 The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can You show us that You should act like this?’ 19 Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20 The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple: are you going to raise it up again in three days?’ 21 But He was speaking of the Temple that was His Body, 22 and when Jesus rose from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the scripture and what He had said. 23 During His stay in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover many believed in His name when they saw the signs that He did, 24 but Jesus knew all people and did not trust Himself to them; 25 He never needed evidence about anyone; He could tell what someone had within.

One of today’s readings is from the Old Testament, and I was reminded of this one gentleman I was helping prepare for death.  We were going through the General Confession and when we got to the Fifth Commandment, I asked him, “Have you ever killed anybody?”  He said, “That didn’t need killing?”  Okay!  He’s got a point.  I forgot that he had worked in Special Operations.   The correct translation of the Fifth Commandment is that “You shall not take a life unjustly.”  You have the right to protect yourself and others if someone is about to be killed.  In fact, you have a moral obligation to protect yourself and others.   “But He said, ‘Do not kill.”  No, no, no.  He said, “Do not take a life unjustly.” 

Today’s Gospel says that there were sheep and oxen in the church.  I’m thinking that Abigail who cleans the church is lucky we don’t have sheep and oxen.   She’s got enough to deal with already.  You would be shocked at the stuff people leave in the pews like fingernail clippings, dirty Kleenexes, and the worst of all – sparkles from dresses.   Sometimes she has to wear a hazmat suit to clean the church.  This church is just as precious as the temple.  Where you are sitting, like God told Moses, is a holy temple because it contains the very presence of our Lord – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Here we have presented the Holy Sacrifice of Christ which is always before the Father in Heaven pleading on our behalf.  His holy sacrifice is made present during the Mass.  That is why we ask for reverence and silence.   I’ve been trained by professionals in hurting people’s feelings.  Because of how sacred this is, if someone walks away with the Eucharist, I will stop them and embarrass them if I have to.  I vowed to protect the Blessed Sacrament with my life.  It’s one of those vows we take that most people don’t know about.  That’s how holy this is.  

When I was a young priest, people wanted to celebrate Catholic Schools Week during the Mass to which I said, “On its face, that’s blasphemous and at its worst heretical.”  We don’t celebrate anything at the Mass.  “Woohoo!  We’re celebrating somebody’s life!”   It’s not a party followed by dinner, and with my family, the police would show up after that.  The Mass is the prayer of Christ.  During Catholic School Week they would bring up books and basketballs.  No – no – no.  Did you see that at the foot of the Cross?  No.  Did you see that at the Last Supper?  No.  So, they are not a part of it. 

Nobody but the servers and I should be inside the altar area.  None of the junk from Hobby Lobby should be inside the altar area.  This is a sacred spot, and nobody but the sacristans and the priest are supposed to be here.  Nobody but the sacristans and the priest are supposed to touch the Sacred Vessel.  That’s how sacred this is.  The Mass is not a high school play where everyone runs around doing stuff.  That is foreign to our tradition.   In documents on the liturgy, someone said, “The faithful could participate in the Mass where each fulfills their proper role.”   That is correct to a point.  Your proper role is to offer yourself to the priest who functions In persona Christi (in the person of Christ) and to be emulated on the altar in the sacrifice.  It is not your role to run up and down the aisles doing stuff.  No.  Nada.  I have had Mass in a lot of different places, and we didn’t have all that.  Know what?  It worked just as well. 

Some of the Masses have been interesting.  I was doing a Mass at the hospital and one of the vets who was under-medicated said, “I’m a saint.”  Not yet, but soon!  Another vet said, “My wife died.  I’m going to be a priest.”  Alright.  I’ll write a letter for you.  You have to be flexible when you are offering Mass in hospitals and nursing homes.  Active participation doesn’t call for physical participation.  Active participation is interior participation . . . it’s the sacrifice.  When I say Mass at nursing homes, most of the people are snoring.  Are they actively participating?  Yes, interiorly.   Maybe not exteriorly.  Active participation is interior devotion. 

Saint Pierre-Julien Eymard wrote a wonderful series of books on the Eucharist.  His books were filled with such beautiful meditations on the Eucharist and our Lord’s presence at the Mass.  Saint Eymard wrote about there being four elements of the Mass; however, I remember five elements:  adoration, worship, petition, expiation, and thanksgiving.  Those are the elements of the Mass, and that is what we do here.  Adoration before God, worship, expiation, sacrifices offered for forgiveness of our sins, petition – asking for forgiveness of our sins, and thanksgiving which is probably the most overlooked one.  The Mass is not our prayer; it is the prayer of Christ.  Each of us, according to our vocation, can be made part of that sacrifice.  I, as the priest, become In persona Christi (in the person of Christ) and offer the sacrifice.  You, as the people of God, become part of the sacrifice just like the Blessed Mother, Mary of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and John the Apostle.

This is why we don’t change things like having eulogies at funerals.  There are no eulogies in the Mass.  None at all.  Ah-Ah-Ah.  Not allowed.  The Mass is a prayer of Christ.  This place is sacred.  When you go to the cemetery in Salisbury near the hospital, it’s all on camera.  So, if you start doing something stupid, you are going to meet a couple of big guys with a gun and a badge.  They are not going to be amused because that place is sacred.  The bodies of heroes and heroines are buried there, and they are not amused with people acting stupid.  So, if we can be so particular about behavior in a cemetery, how about during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?  People are in the very presence of God Himself in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  This is our faith.  That’s why you are all here, and it’s why so many others come to Mass and behave with such devotion.  It’s inspiring to me.  This is God’s house, and we are all His children.  We have a lot of non-Catholics here, and they are God’s children.  They belong here.  This is God’s house, and you are all His children. 

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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Sermon Notes – February 25, 2024 – “A Glimpse of Heaven”

“A Glimpse of Heaven”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

February 24 – 25, 2024

Gospel: Mark 9:2-10


2) After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, 3) and His clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4) Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5) Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  6) He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.  7) Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.”  8) Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.  9) As they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.    10) So, they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

We learn what Heaven is like by the transfigurations in the Gospel.  I could preach for hours on that subject.  Would you like me to preach for hours?  Before you respond, the pious answer is “Yes, Father.”   But I know what you are really thinking: “Come on old man.  I’m starving here!”  So, what is Heaven like?  Heaven is being in the presence of Jesus.  It’s not a place.  It’s a Who.  It is the presence of God.  Moses and Elijah were in the presence of God.  They talked about what would happen in the future, so they had knowledge of the future.  Remember that in Heaven everything is in the present.  God is always in the present because He is not subject to His own creation of time, the past, or the future.   Everything is present to God at once.  All time is present.   

How did the Apostles know they were talking to Moses and Elijah?  There was no Facebook back then.  There were no cameras or photographs.  So, like Moses and Elijah, their minds had been enlightened by a gift from God.  They knew Moses and Elijah.  They knew they were talking to Jesus.  So, what does that tell us about death?   It tells us there is forgiveness after death.  What did God say to Moses after he struck the rock three times?  “Because you did not believe in me. . . therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:6-13).   Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, but where was he that day?  He was in the Promised Land.  So, there is forgiveness after death. 

Purgatory is the full expression of God’s love and mercy.  The Apostles wanted this joy to continue; however, Heaven is later and not here on Earth no matter what any bishop or Church deacon tells you.  “If we have just one more collection or one more ministry, we’ll have Heaven on Earth, and everybody will be happy.”  No.  We will never have Heaven on Earth.  That’s akin to a government official saying, “If we pass these great budgets and everything else, we’ll be all set, and everybody will be happy.”  Ahh, no.  You won’t have Heaven on Earth.  Heaven comes later.  If we are holy, we will have as much happiness as possible in this life.  However, full happiness does not come until we are with our Savior forever. 

Holiness has its own crosses.  Bishop Sheen had a television show.  He was a handsome man, eloquent, learned, and gave a great presentation.   Do you know what his daily diet consisted of?  Boiled chicken, graham crackers, and milk.  His stomach was that bad, but nobody knew.  Saint Theresa of Calcutta experienced “interior darkness,” but she was joyous.  Never mind all the crosses Saint John Paul II had as the Holy Father, but he was also shot.  Doctors say that the blood transfusions he received caused his Parkinson’s disease.  However, he suffered joyously for the salvation of souls.  One story about the Holy Father . . . he was a huge lover of classical music.  So, they had a world-renowned orchestra come in with some of the best maestros in the world.  After they finished playing one of his favorite pieces, the maestro turned around to look at the Holy Father and hoped that he liked it.  “Please like it!”  His Holiness was shaking and drooling because of his Parkinsons, but he gave the maestro a thumbs-up. 

Ten days before the Passion, God gave Peter, James, and John the great gift of consolation to prepare them for the scandal of the Cross.   God has given us consolation many, many times to help us endure our sufferings.  Consolations are a glimpse of Heaven.  Some consolations He gives us before we have great trials and some after.  And some just because God likes to give them to us because He loves us.  During that time when we are experiencing great trials and suffering, we don’t experience the consolation of Christ.  That’s hogwash.  “Oh!  I’m struggling!  My goodness!”  Grow up!  Just because we don’t feel the consolation of God and His presence, doesn’t mean He isn’t with us.  You cannot prove a positive with a negative. 

This is our opportunity to respond to His great gifts with acts of faith, hope, and love knowing that He is always with us.  Our guardian angel is always with us.  Mine is tired.  Just because we don’t feel consolation doesn’t mean anything.  This, indeed, might be a chance for us to console God.  How many of us have sinned so grievously against Him and don’t care?  We do not enjoy the times between consolations.  I would love to have them all the time.  But that’s not reality, and it’s the danger of a lot of spiritual programs.  “Pray this way while holding your mouth just right and standing on one foot, and you will receive consolation every time you pray.”  But that’s not true at all.  Look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  God is never, ever away from us.  Between consolations, we make our act of faith that God is with us; our act of hope that He will bring us safely through our trials; and our act of love by turning our trials into acts of love for others.

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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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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Sermon Notes – February 11, 2024 – “Forget as God Forgets”

“Forget as God Forgets”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

February 10 – 11, 2024

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

Today’s reading is from the Old Testament in the book of Leviticus, and it’s about leprosy.  Anyone who had leprosy was required to shout, “Unclean, unclean!”  This reminded me of the pandemic a couple of years ago when people got hyped up if someone contracted the disease, “Covid, Covid!”  It is not terminal.   

I’m going to give you some philosophical continuing credit.  What is a primary virtue?  The primary virtue is justice.  Why justice?  Because justice is the virtue that orders all the other virtues to their necessary and proper end which is Almighty God.  So, when we are talking about the budget and how we have billions and billions of dollars to allocate, we are talking about real money.  “We’ll allocate this much here and this much there.”  Now think about justice.  I, Stump, and many others in the parish are combat veterans.  We don’t get free medical care, and I even retired from the Army.  Un-uh Un-uh Un-uh.   If I tried to get a benefit, I’d have to prove it was connected to my Army service.  It’s easier to go before the Supreme Court than it is to get the VA to recognize a disability due to military service.  So, we don’t give justice to our military service members, but we are giving away billions and billions of dollars to people who enter the United States illegally.   But those of us who are citizens not so much.

One thing in the spiritual life that most of us don’t think about is that we are called to be like God in all things.  That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it?  But that would be tough because God is perfection of all attributes and virtues.  That would be kind of difficult for us to attain.  But we try.  There is one aspect of our lives which is very important for us to concentrate on and that is our memory.  Now I don’t mean you have to remember every password on every device you own.  The memory of a spiritual person needs to be both good and bad.  “Okay Father, explain that.”  I’m glad you asked.  Your memory has to be bad like God’s memory is bad.  “How is God’s memory bad?”  Well, He says in the Old Testament, “I will put your sins behind you.  Your sins are remembered no more” (Ezekiel 18:22).  So, God forgives and forgets.  We are called to forget our sins that have been forgiven and to let them go.  And, to not remember the sins that others may or may not have committed against us just like God does. 

We also need a perfect memory so that we can remember the love and mercy God has shown us by forgiving our sins, giving us the gift of His very Self in the Sacraments, and the promise of eternal life.  We are called to show that same mercy and love to His people.  A perfect memory manifests itself in the Prayers of Thanksgiving.  Be grateful for what you have.  My theme for Lent this year is, “Someday, tomorrow will begin without us.”   The other morning, I was hearing first confessions from children at Saint Luke’s.  They are so young, so I don’t make them spend a lot of time in the confessional.  A lot of them said that they had hurt their parents, brothers, and sisters.  I told them, “Remember, your time with them is so small.  Cherish the time you have with them, because you will miss that time when they are gone.  They may be difficult at times, and if you had a brother like mine, you would understand that.  If you had a brother like me, you would also understand.  But cherish them as God cherishes us.”

God promises to be with us as long as we don’t throw Him out of our souls through mortal sins or repeated venial sins.  We have our Lord’s protection, and we get pretty upset if something happens to us that we didn’t expect, and it ruins our plans.   Saint Teresa of Avila said to our Lord, “If this is how You treat Your friends, no wonder why You have so few of them!”  But we will never know how much evil God has protected us from for ourselves, our families, and our loved ones.  We will never know until we see Him face-to-face when all things will be made present and known.  We do not know but God does.  Just think of the things you have been protected from, and you haven’t died yet, have you?   A lot of my classmates did not reach my age nor did my twin brother.   I always thought I’d be the first to go because I’ve been to some bad places.  To my own credit, it seemed like a good idea at the time.  We do not know the threats God has protected us from, how much love He has given us, and the gifts He has given us as a result of our prayers.  Perhaps they were not the ones we asked for but were better ones.  This is how we must work on our memory.  The most important part of a bad memory is forgetting oneself for the love of God.  We must forget ourselves.  Our Lord said, “Leave everything behind and come follow Me.”  The most important thing in spiritual life is memory.

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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Sermon Notes – February 4, 2024 – “Stop Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic!”

“Stop Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic!”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

February 3 – 4, 2024


Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

Today, I want to talk about “change.”  When I’m making my rounds at the VA hospital, I see veterans who have a problem with the bottle.  They are hooked to a banana bag which means they are being weaned off alcohol.  I ask them how they’re doing, they usually say “Good.”  Uh-Huh . . . you look it.  Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  “Yes sir.”  Okay, do you want to be happy?  “Yes sir.”  Well, there’s only one thing you have to change.  “What’s that sir?”   Everything.  “Oh.”  And that’s true.  “Well, maybe things would be better if I moved.”  No, because wherever you live, you’ll be there.  Things are not going to be better unless you change. 

That’s what our Lord asks of us.   “Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Do you want to experience the fullness of My love and joy in this world instead?”  Yeah!  I’m in.  “Then leave everything behind, forsake everything, and come follow Me.”  Now that’s hyperbole and doesn’t mean leaving your parents on their deathbed.   It means a full renunciation of the will and following Him.   We might think that some of the things our Lord asks us to do are stupid.  So being the bright people we think we are, we always try to renegotiate the contract.   “What do you mean I can be married only once?”  That’s what Christ said.  “Marriage is between a male and a female.  I wrote that down for you a long time ago.  Apparently, you skipped school that day.  You need to learn it.”  “What do you mean I have to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Eucharist?”  “Yes, that’s what I said.”  “What do you mean I have to go to Confession?”  “That’s what I said.  The Apostles were given the power to forgive sins, and they can only forgive what they hear.”  “What do you mean I have to suffer?  Come down from the Cross, and we will believe You.  We don’t want any suffering.”  No, no, no.  We are always trying to renegotiate the deal.   Renounce yourself instead of trying to change everything.  “I’ve given you the means to change through the Sacraments.  I’ve given you my teachings to watch over and to reassure you that I am with you always.” 

When I had my physical last week, I sensed the presence of my guardian angel.  Know how that happened?  When I got on the scale [groan], I could see with my peripheral vision that his foot was on the scale.  Got a sense of humor that one!  Nothing personal; it’s just business with him.  So, we have to change, and it’s a long, prolonged process.  But He offers His grace through the Sacraments, prayer, and mortification so that we can change ourselves and not be disheartened by our failures.   In addition to giving us the power to change, the Sacraments also give us the power to bear the weight of the cross and to bear the damage done by our sins and the sins of others that have caused disillusionment and sadness.  He gives us that power that we may have the fullness of joy. 

There has been a lot of change in the Church.  However, we always try to change the wrong things.  If you’ve been around the Church as long as I have, you remember when the Mass was changed from Latin to English.   Instead of the Mass being said in one language, we have it in five or six languages every Sunday.  Well, that’s not working out.  We moved the confessionals to reconciliation rooms.  That also didn’t work out well.  It’s like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.  We’ll change things and make them better.  Remember the guitar Masses?  They were great, huh?   It was terrible music!   My goodness, I’m not Father Hippie!

We change the wrong things.  Do not change the Sacraments.  Instead, let the Sacraments change us.  Christ calls us to change, but He doesn’t need to.  When we begin the process of changing, is it always joyful?  No.  However, it is a progression in love.  Lasting joy will only come when we are in Heaven.  But He gives us joy and the power to change.  He also gives us the power to pick up our cross every day and to follow Him.  Change is not as frightening as you think.  The devil tries to scare us: “Oh, my goodness!  Change is terrible! You’re going to hate it!”  That’s just him trying to frighten us.  People who have addictions are afraid of change because misery is all they have known, but when they change and leave the misery behind, they praise God. 

When we begin to change, we want immediate results like turning on a light switch.  It’s like me when I got out of bed this morning and just stared at the coffee pot.  I was tempted to put my mouth under the coffee filter and drink it that way.  It would save me from having to wash a coffee cup.   Change is a slow process.   Doctors tell their patients that they didn’t get sick overnight, so they aren’t going to get better overnight.  But don’t be afraid of the process.  It always works.

Father’s Reflections . . . I worked at the VA hospital on Friday for a few hours, and it was very interesting.  Two veterans received their celestial discharge which I had expected.  Then we had another veteran who was there for rehab, and he also received his discharge . . . into the custody of the VA police.   He was arrested on three felony charges.   Bye-Bye!  After that, I looked at the roster and saw a good Catholic name.  So, I went to see him in the Memory Loss Unit.  As I was talking to him, he said he was 98 years old.  I asked him where he was from, and he said New Jersey.  I was pretty sure he was Italian because his name ended with an “i”.   Now I wasn’t racial profiling, but it was a good guess.  I asked him, “You know a guy?”  And he said, “Yeah, I know a guy.”  I know a guy too! 

I try to swing by the Emergency Room while I’m at the VA.  Sometimes I see people there whose faces are black and blue.  So, I’ll start talking to them and ask, “Didn’t the military teach you how to fight?  Which branch were you in?”  If they say the Navy or Air Force, I’ll say, “Well, that explains it!”  Sissy boys.  I swear, I have way too much fun there! 

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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Sermon Notes – January 28, 2024 – Don’t Send a Boy to Do a Man’s Job

“Don’t Send a Boy to Do a Man’s Job”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 27 – 28, 2024

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

As a priest, I have been asked to bless many things.  I have blessed homes, boats, and cars.  I have blessed women before childbirth and after childbirth.  There is a whole list of things that priests can bless.  And that’s a good thing.  Sometimes people tell me, “Father, I need an exorcism of my house.”  So, I go bless the house after which I tell them to get rid of the Buddhist statues, and if they hear anything else, let me know.  Also, if you start spitting up pea soup and your head starts spinning around, call me.  Occasionally nurses will ask me to bless hospital rooms, and I always ask why.  The reasons can be interesting.  “Well, the call light has been going off a lot recently.”  So, that means somebody needs a nurse.  I realize our veterans can be real pains in the butt sometimes but come on!  “But Father, there’s no patient in that room, and some weird stuff has been happening.”  So I go into the room, bless it, say a prayer, and sprinkle holy water.  A couple of weeks later, I asked the nurses if they were having any more problems in that room.  They said, “Oh, no problems at all.  Thank you, Father, for what you did.”  No problem.  I was happy to do it.    One of the nurses had a sheepish look on her face and said, “Father, we asked a Protestant chaplain to bless that room.  He went into the room and said some prayers, but it didn’t work.”   I said, “Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job.” 

The Church has power over satan through the grace of Jesus Christ.  He gave bishops and priests the power over satan to expel demons.  It’s called the Rite of Exorcism which is not as uncommon as you might think.  I cannot confirm or deny that I’ve done any of that.  If I told you, I would have to kill you.  Remember the movie “The Exorcist” where the girl spits up pea soup and her head spins around?  I met that exorcist, and it’s all true.   Satan is very real and can take possession of people.  If you have to go somewhere that is sketchy and you are concerned, arm yourself with prayer.  When I visit very sick people, I go in with gloves and a mask like Darth Vader.  “I am your father, Luke.”   It’s not as if after the first century satan said, “Okay I’m done.”  He is just as active now as he was then.  But so is Christ.  And that’s the good news.  Stay away from things like Ouija Boards, horoscopes, and all that stuff.   “But I want to see what my future is.”   Well, your long-term future is at Hartsell’s Funeral Home.  What happens to your soul after that is up to you. 

People aren’t bad because they don’t have stuff.  My parents and grandparents were poor, and they weren’t felons.  They didn’t steal, and they didn’t hurt anybody.  People choose to be evil.  Those people who are certifiable and do not have the free will choice to be evil or not should be locked up in a nice state institution where they can’t hurt themselves or anyone else.   People choose to be evil.  They choose satan who promises temporary happiness but never delivers it.   Saint Peter said, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).   So, unless Peter is a liar, satan is very active and looking for people.  Satan can appear under a nice cloud resembling something good like New Age Spirituality.  I read this in an article, “Father was so busy he barely had time to light the prayer candle and go to prayer.”   Really?  Father needs to get his head out of his “bleep.”  Jesus is here in the church in the Most Blessed Sacrament.   Hey Father, throw the candle out and see the Lord.  “I’ve got my prayer shawl.  I’m so spiritual.”  No, you’re not.   None of that adds to spiritual development.   Stay away from New Age stuff and anything else that appears to be evil because it is a portal for satan.  Jesus laid out very specific ways in which to return His love. 

I love shows about ghost hunting because they always ask the wrong questions.  I know a psychic back home who does this.  She once went into this house that was built before the Revolutionary War.  She went into a room that was very cold.  The homeowner asked her why it was so cold in the room, and she said, “That’s when you know ghosts are here.  They don’t know they are dead.”   Then they heard a voice say, “I’m dead?”  Nobody got the word to you, huh?   On some of the shows when they are cleansing the house of spirits, they put burnt sage all over the house.  So, the devil is powerless over burnt plant matter?  I don’t think so, otherwise he would stay out of everyone’s kitchen because something is always getting burned there.  “My house had a bad feeling about it, so I took some sage, burned it, and spread it around.”  Really?  Why didn’t you light up a toke too?  What the heck!  You might as well have some fun while you’re at it.  Burning sage to exorcise a house is sinful because it denies the power of Christ.   Instead, ask a priest to come bless the house.  Christ did not give His power to a plant; He gave it to His Church.   

Satan can come in by all sorts of less obvious means such as our entertainment, what we hear, what we see, and what we wear.  Hey, sweetheart, cover-up.  I’ve been a hospital chaplain for 40 years.  I’ve seen more body parts than you’ll ever have.  Okay?  It’s not a thrill.   The latest craze is Stanley tumblers.  You’ve got to get a certain drink cup because that’s cool.  Is your ego so fragile that your whole life will be much better because you have one particular cup?  Really?  I know a doctor who will give you some help.  I’ve got a summer camp you can go to that will give you some help, and they will even pay you to go.   You probably wouldn’t like it, but it would be good for you.  But think about that kind of thinking.  “I’m better if I have this or I have that.”   Really?  You are trying to fill an infinite hole with finite objects.  The hole in our soul can only be filled up with Christ.  

Remember, our Lord’s plan for us is peace and not affliction.  He loves you so much that He sent His only Son.  He loves you so much that He allows this sinful priest to act in the person of Christ so that you might have life and have it to the fullest; so that you may receive the Most Precious Body and Blood in Holy Communion; and so that your soul can be washed clean by His Most Precious Blood in the Sacrament of Penance.   Even if a priest who, God forbid, is in a state of mortal sin, the Sacrament is still efficacious.  Even if a priest has been chucked out of the priesthood, what we call defrocked, he is still able to give Last Rites if someone is in danger of death.  So much is God’s great love for us.  Hopefully, my time for getting Last Rites is a bit further down the road.   

Satan tempts us just as he did Adam and Eve.  We have the power over ourselves and our world.  “But if I had just one more thing, I would be perfect.”  That’s true.  You need one more thing to be perfect and that is Jesus.  Satan is always active in the world.  “Oh, women who have abortions have psychological problems.”  Really?  One of the doctors I served with was a combat infantryman, a Ranger, and a West Point graduate . . . a pretty hard-core guy and not exactly milk toast.  He said, “A baby is not a tumor.  A baby is not Pancreatic Cancer.  A baby is life.”   So, be very careful.  Stay sober and alert because the devil is roaming the world seeking the ruin of souls. 

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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Sermon Notes – January 21, 2024 – “Your Worst Can Be Your Best”

“Your Worst Can Be Your Best”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 20 – 21, 2024

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

In the Gospel, Holy Mother Church tells us how our Lord called the Apostles.  If you look at the resumes of all twelve of the Apostles, they are a bit thin.  Their CVs describing their education were even thinner.  I think our Lord could have done a little better, right?  They were a bunch of fishermen and none of them had a Ph.D.  The apostles He chose were not the brightest people in the world, and they had a hard time understanding what our Lord was telling them.  But He did not call them because of their titles or the letters they had before or after their names.  He called them for what they could become and how He would use them to bring His love to the world.  They saw all of the miracles our Lord performed; some were recorded but a lot were not.  They saw all of this, but none of them except John showed up at the crucifixion.  So, what happened?   Eleven of the twelve Apostles cooperated with our good Lord, and they were transformed so that they could bring His love to the world and make known His salvation.   They were transformed so that they could let all people know about the wonderful love of God and the way of redemption.  He transformed them.  He gave them words that could not be disputed.  He gave them courage although it is true that they all ran away when the Romans came for Jesus.  But He gave them the courage to endure their martyrdom.  The Lord gave them these gifts because they allowed and cooperated with His transforming love. 

 It’s the same for all of us.  God calls each of us by name and asks us to be His disciples.  It’s not just “Hey, you” in the plural sense of the word.  He calls you, and you, and you, and you to become fishers of men and to bring His love to the world by being lovers of Him.  Your love for Him opens your soul, and that transformative love affects others.  Remember, you are called by our Lord to be evangelists.  The gift we have been given by our faith is meant to be given to others.  “Will you bring My love to the world?  Will you open your heart to Me?  Will you allow Me to transform you so that you can be My witness and show people My love in the deepest and darkest corners of the earth?”  Let people know about His love and especially about His forgiveness of your sins which is the greatest demonstration of His mercy.  God said, “Do not worry about what you will say. You will be given wisdom.”

 Sometimes He uses our talents and abilities.  You might be thinking, “I don’t have a talent nor do I have the education that Father Fitzgibbons has.”  I don’t even have the education I’m supposed to have.  Don’t even go there.  I am not the best and brightest in the diocese.  I haven’t been made Monsignor even after 40 years in the priesthood.  I must be doing something wrong.  Regardless of your accomplishments in this life, the simple love of God can touch another person.  By being holy, the power of God within us transforms others.  It’s not a conscious act like the folks down at the courthouse who yell, “Jesus saves!”  You don’t have to do that.  Just try to live a good, holy life.  Do the routine spiritual things routinely.  People will notice and wonder what it is about you that they like.  You have a sense of peace and holiness.  You are a living tabernacle because you have Jesus in your soul.

 I have a master’s degree in divinity, but Saint Theresa of Calcutta did not.  She didn’t have a master’s or Ph.D. in theology.  She didn’t have any of that.  But look at what she did.  Look at the courage of that 5’ nothing woman.  She got right up in the faces of both the President and Vice President of the United States and wagged her finger at them.  Oh yeah!  You’re in deep trouble.  You had to do something really bad when some little old nun wags her finger at you and goes, “Uh-uh-uh-uh.”   She should have had a ruler . . . thunk!”  There are many other examples, and that could be any one of us.  Even if you think, “I don’t have that many gifts. I’m not that talented.”  Yes, you are.  “Well, I have a lot of faults.”  Even they can be your best example.  Look at every 12-Step Program.  What does it say in their “Big Book”?  “You will neither regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.  Your past can be the best thing to help others recover.”  Where did they get that?  They got it from Bill Wilson and Robert Smith, co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).  Sister Ignatia Gavin played a vital role in the founding of AA, and Father Edward Dowling was a great spiritual advisor to Bill Wilson.  Your worst can be your best.  We all have that one talent.  I don’t have many talents.  It was funny when Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and I were doing the funeral for Mike Snyder, the dichotomy was amazing.  Abbot Placid is like Pa Kettle on Valium and then there is me who is like Richard Pryor on speed.  It’s like the Alpha and Omega.  But Abbot Placid can reach people I can’t, and I reach those he can’t.   

 Whatever part of the Body you are in, all of us are equal and have the same goal . . . to bring others to Christ.  The one talent we have in common is our ability to love and to respond to love.  If we respond to God’s love, He will transform us, and we will become temples of the Holy Spirit.  We will be living and moving tabernacles of God’s presence going out to the world.  And how can that not have an effect on the world?

Father’s Reflections . . .

 I can have fun anywhere.  On Friday, I was making my rounds in the Emergency Department at the VA hospital.  I went into a room and was talking to a patient.  I asked him where he was from, and he said Chicago.  Really.  What happened to you?  He said, “I was hit by a car.”  I asked him if it was a mob hit.  Just asking.  He started laughing and said, “Please don’t make me laugh.  It hurts!”  You know a guy, right?  “Yeah, I know a guy.”  I love my job!

 You may have seen the baby bottles at the back of the church.  We are collecting money for the Pregnancy Resource Center.  They take money, checks, Venmo, and cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or whatever you’ve got.  Put it in the collection basket, and we’ll work it out. 

 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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Sermon Notes – January – 14, 2024 – “Heart Speaking to Heart”

“Heart Speaking to Heart”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 13 – 14, 2024

Gospel: John 1:35-42

 I visit a lot of different groups.  Remember the song, “The In Crowd”?  We’re all old enough to remember that song, right?  I have two different groups that I’m “in” with . . . the shut-ins and the lock-ins.  This sermon has been approved by my lock-ins at the gated community whom I saw on Wednesday.  In the gospel, Jesus said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” – which is Greek and translated as Peter” or “Rock”  (John 1:35-42).  This was a big deal.  Go back to the Old Testament when God called Abram.  What did God do?  He said, “You will be called Abraham, and you will be the father of My holy people.”  God wasn’t like me who gives people nicknames.  This was a dramatic shift.  However, He had reasons for changing people’s names.   

 What is the secret to prayer?   In the Gospel, Samuel said, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).  That is the whole secret to prayer.  I am guilty of speaking so quickly that most times my mind has to catch up with my mouth.   I don’t often see a prayer like the one to Saint Jude for hopeless causes.  Sometimes I read in the newspaper that if you pray a certain prayer nine times for nine days, you’ll get what you want.  Over the four years of seminary, I was probably sick for a day or two.   But I never heard about celestial extortion.  Really?  “I’ve got the secret to prayer. Light a candle and put on a prayer shawl.”   Why?  Are you cold?    Do you honestly think God doesn’t know what we need?  He knows what we want and desire.  But He keeps us alive by saying “no” sometimes to our prayers even if they are perfect.   If He gave us everything we want, we might not stay close to Him.  Probably the reason I haven’t made Monsignor after 40 years is to keep me humble.  Well, that didn’t work.  We come with our prayers and rattle them off.  Of course, I say mine very quickly, and I have a whole laundry list of things to tell God.  Whew!  I’m done with my prayers.  But apparently, God isn’t listening because I asked Him about this yesterday, and it’s still not done.  He has fallen down on His job.  Maybe He forgot.  I know He’s busy but come on!  I’m a busy guy too, and I have things to do!   If He would just do what I ask, things would be so much better.  It’s good to get all these things off our souls by telling Him what we need, what we want, and what we think He should do.  He laughs.  You have to admit when we tell God what He needs to do, with His divine sense of humor, it cracks Him up.  “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.  Thanks a lot; I really appreciate it.” 

 So, what is prayer?  Bishop Sheen said prayer is heart speaking to heart.  Prayer is not a monologue.  It is not a one-way conversation.  It is two-way communication.  You can’t communicate with someone who won’t shut up.  Hey!  Zip it!  We must listen, and listening is the hardest part.   Listening takes different forms through meditation, quietness, and being interiorly open.  We need quiet inside and out.  Do you know who is perfect at listening?  Nobody; not even monks and religious sisters.  It takes a lot of practice.  We may be sitting there with our minds racing.  Look! Squirrel.  But let the other heart speak to you on the other heart’s terms.   God speaks to us in ordinary ways at His choosing, in His way, and in His own time.  When you tell God what you want, He says, “Thank you very much, Sir.  I’ll get right on that order.”  No.  You’ve got the flow chart on how it works all wrong.   It’s a conversation.  We should sit and listen, which is the hardest part.  It takes time.  When you go to Mass at other churches, they may have a prolonged silence after the readings.  You know, they didn’t go to school, and if they did, they need to get their money back.  A good and proper meditation takes 20 minutes.  We did that in seminary.  We had nowhere else to go, so why not?  We must learn how to quiet ourselves and to listen.  It’s tough because we are all so busy.  Sometimes when we listen, we really don’t like the answers.  However, He knows what is best for everyone, and He loves us more than anyone.  When you receive an answer, be sure to authenticate it because satan will tell us stuff just to make us go off the deep end.  “Well, God told me to do this.”  Uh-Huh.  A friend of mine was a chaplain at a prison in Louisiana.  One of the inmates told him that God had called him to preach.  Really?  Aren’t you the guy who sexually abused his granddaughters?  You might want to rethink that.  You always have to make sure the answer is coming from God.  He does not contradict Himself or what He revealed in Jesus Christ. 

When you come to church, be like the French farmer.  Saint John Vianney was the pastor of a church in a small town in France.  He came to the church to hear confessions.  He saw this little guy sitting there in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  Oh good!  He heard some confessions and when he came back, the guy was still sitting there.  Priests are trained to notice the unusual.  So, Saint John asked the man, “My son is everything okay?”  The man answered, “Yes, Father.”   Saint John said, “My son you’ve been here for hours. What are you doing?”  The man answered, “I am looking at God and God is looking at me.”

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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Sermon Notes – January 7, 2024 – We Have Lots of “ologies”

We Have Lots of “ologies”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 6 – 7, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Next week the Christmas season ends. At some point in the near future, the nativity will disappear. I do not have an exact date yet. That is echelons above my pay grade. But as you heard in the Gospel, the nativity scene is not quite accurate because the Magi (Wise Men from the East) came to the “house” to see Jesus. The stable is not a house. So, when Saint Francis created the idea of a nativity, he compressed the house into a stable. In the nativity you see Scripture. You see the promises God made to His people and fulfilled (Genesis). He sent us a Savior.

The crèche is a marvelous lesson on Theology. We have all these “ologies.” There is Soteriology which is the study of redemption. Jesus came as the Redeemer. There is also Christology which is the study of who Christ is. True God and true Man. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. The Wise Men brought Him frankincense because that was a gift given only to God. They brought gold because He is a king. Lastly, they brought myrrh because of the reason He came. He came to die. How many of you ladies who have had a baby shower received embalming fluid as a gift? Thanks a lot! You want your children to live, but He came to die. The manger He was laid in became the wood of the Cross 33 years later. Our good Lord was laid upon straw in the manger which was food for the oxen. Our Lord became our bread for life. Without that bread of life, we would have no life within us. He came to die for us and to open the gates of Heaven so that we could live with Him forever.

Another “ology” is Ecclesiology which is the study of the Church. The nativity is a picture of the Church. What is a common characteristic of everyone in the nativity? They were humble. The Wise Men knew that they didn’t know everything, and the shepherds knew they knew nothing. Mary and Joseph were holy, and they always said “yes” to Jesus. With all these people gathered around Jesus, you have a picture of the Church. That is who you still find in the Church. Regardless of their degrees, titles, and letters after their names, if they are truly educated, they are here. Like the shepherds, some people have been educated by the School of Hard Knocks. The Church is Christ’s body. Remember what Christ said to Paul in Acts, “Paul why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). He didn’t say “organization.” He said “Me.” We are His body and have been throughout time. You always see Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, and the shepherds gathered around Jesus. They represent not just the Jews but all people throughout time. The nativity represents a whole course on Theology. It is not something that we trot out once a year for a few weeks and then put back in the closet. The nativity is a wondrous thing on which to meditate.

The diocese is very diverse. We have hyphenated Catholics, and there are many offices for them. That is theologically foreign and absolutely blasphemous. “Father, are you Irish-Catholic?” No, I’m Catholic. We do not have a different Savior. There is one Savior for everyone. If you took a mirror and looked out at the congregation, you would see what I see. We are all one in Christ. Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). We are all one in Christ. We each have different jobs in the Body of Christ that’s for sure. But there are no hyphenated Catholics.

Hagiography is the study of saints. Which saint was the first to hold God incarnate? Think back on your labor and delivery classes. It was Saint Joseph. My question is why we aren’t having venerations for the first human being who held God in his hands and who was the first to look down at God instead of up. I hope you will meditate on that tonight.

Father’s Reflections: A couple of months ago, I had to get the flu vaccine. I’m not a big believer in vaccines, but I’m living proof that vaccines work. When I was in the Army at Fort Bragg, I was forced to get a series of shots because I was deployable. One of those shots was for Typhoid. It definitely worked because that night I was in the hospital with Typhoid. Perfect! I went to the doctor, and he said, “You’re sick.” No kidding! I bet you went to medical school.

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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Sermon Notes – December 31, 2023 – They Always Said ‘Yes’

They Always Said ‘Yes’

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 30 – 31, 2023

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

This weekend Holy Mother Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. Why do we call the Holy Family holy? Well, as the great theologian of this parish, I will tell you. We call them holy because they had no sin. I went to school for that! We know as an article of faith and dogma that the Blessed Mother was without sin. Now tradition, with a small “t,” has it that Joseph was too. That has not been defined by Holy Mother Church. We don’t know that as a matter of faith, but Saint Alphonsus Liguori talks about that in his book, “The Glories of Saint Joseph.” So how is it that they were without sin? Because they never said “no” to God. They always said “yes.” Some of the things God asked them to do seemed incredibly odd. Mary was told, “By the way, you are going to conceive a son without a husband, bear Him, and He will become the king of Israel. How does that work for you?” Back then, that could have been a death sentence. Great. Thanks! Saint Joseph was told that his fiancé was pregnant by the power of God, and he was going to marry her anyway. Are you okay with that? I’m sure that went over well with Joseph, but he said “yes.” His mind was not clouded by sin and the effects of sin.

Saying “yes” to God was not always easy. God told Joseph to take Mary and go to Jerusalem. So, using the Shoe Leather Express, they walked to Jerusalem. There was not a Stanly County transportation system or SCUSA back then. Nope. They had to walk. God said, “By the way, Joseph, Herod is going to try to kill the Baby. So, take the Child and go to Egypt.” So, they again took the Shoe Leather Express and walked to Egypt. Scripture never quotes Joseph. He never said, “God, I’ve got a better way.” He never said anything, but he always immediately did what our Lord asked him to do. So did Mary, and she treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:19). So, he took Mary and the Child and walked to Egypt. A couple of years later, they walked back to Nazareth. Joseph had strong legs and a good heart. He always said “yes,” never questioning what our Lord asked him to do. Mary also never questioned Him. The difference between them and us is that when God asked Joseph and Mary to do something they always said “yes.” But when He asks us to love Him and to keep His Commandments, we try to negotiate: “Uh . . . What do you mean by ‘all the Commandments?’ How about 7 out of 10 . . . does that work for You?” “Do You grade on a curve?”

God made male and female (Genesis 1:27). Geniuses think they can read Scripture. “Well, what does that really mean?” It means what it says. “But we are trying to improve things.” We always want to change things. That’s why Mary and Joseph were holy. They did what our Lord asked, and it wasn’t always easy. The Catholic opera laments, “Oh! It’s so hard to go to church! Oh my goodness, I might miss a sale at Walmart!” Really? You have a nice clean car to come to church. Joseph and Mary used the Shoe Leather Express to go to the synagogue. Joseph was a carpenter and a skilled artisan but that was before the era of Black and Decker power tools. It was bull work. We have running water while Mary had to go get the water. Have you ever pulled a full bucket of water up 30 feet? Do you know how much a gallon of water weighs? Yeah, that’s some upper-body work. There was no refrigerator and no air conditioning. It’s very warm in Palestine, trust me, it is very hot there. So, it was not easy. Saying “yes” was difficult. But Joseph and Mary renounced their will for the sake of God. And that’s how we become holy, by renouncing our will for the sake of God and saying “yes.” Even with our modern conveniences, it is difficult. We need to silence the thoughts in the back of our minds, “Yeah, I’ll be obedient, but I’m doing it anyway.” Joseph and Mary always had Christ in them, with them, around them, and at the center of their lives. Their focus was always on our Lord. You may be thinking, “Well, He was there physically with them.” Yes. He is also physically here with us. He is there in the Tabernacle. That’s why we genuflect and talk in hushed tones here in the church. He is physically here and in you when you receive the Sacraments.

Always bring something home, either the messenger or the mess. It’s your choice. It’s our choice. We are so careful about Covid, the flu, and RSV, however, but we need to be more careful about sin. If you want to be holy imitate the example of holiness. “Well, Father, Joseph and Mary were without original sin, so it was easy for them.” Yes and no. Remember, the reason our first parents, Adam and Eve, were kicked out of paradise was because they wanted what they wanted and not what God wanted. Even though they saw God, walked with God, and talked with God, they still faltered. They said “no.” They had only one thing to do, and they said “no.” Joseph and Mary dealt with the same temptations as Adam and Eve. But everything they did was for God and the welfare of the other. Joseph for Mary and Mary for Joseph. It may be harder for us because of the effects of original sin and our sins committed after baptism, but God affords us greater grace when we say “yes.” I was reading last night about the head of the Dominican Order of Priests in Portugal. He said that when a child is afraid, the child runs to his mother; but when a child is in danger the mother runs to her child.

So be holy by having Him at the center and focus of your life. When the mother of Saint Teresa of Lisieux came back from receiving Communion, Saint Teresa who was not old enough to receive it, would lay her head on her mother’s lap. Her mother asked Teresa why she was doing that, and Saint Teresa said, “Because Jesus is inside you.”

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.”