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Transcripts of weekly sermons in English

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Sermon Notes – December 25, 2023 – “He Did Not Leave“

“He Did Not Leave“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 24 – 25, 2023

Gospel: John 1:1-18

 I thought we would have a bit of scriptural study today.  Joseph “had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus” (Matthew 1:25).  You might think, “Joseph could have had relations with her afterward.”  But you are presuming facts not in evidence.   Just because it didn’t happen before the birth doesn’t mean it happened afterward.  You are reading into scripture to prove a point. 

What is love?  Love is our Savior in the manger.  It is also our Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle.  But the greatest act of love happened on the Cross.  These are the three greatest acts of love by God.  About Christmas Day, Bishop Sheen said, “On this day, a man no longer has to look up to Heaven to see God.  He can look down at the manger to see Him.”  The Wise Men and shepherds came so that they could look down at God.   You could today, and every day you come to church, replace their faces with a picture of yours because you come here to be in the presence of God Himself. 

Now, you keen observers in the parish may have noticed that we have new figurines for our crèche (manger scene).  The idea of a crèche was created by Saint Francis over 800 years ago.  Here’s a fun thing you can do when you see non-Catholics with a crèche.   You can say, “Oh, I see that you are Catholic.”  “I’m not Catholic!”  “Well, that’s a Catholic symbol.  Saint Francis of Assisi is the guy who came up with the idea.  You know – the guy who liked birds.”  Oops!  So, what is a crèche?  It is visible scripture. When Saint Francis came up with the idea, many people couldn’t read but they could see.  In our creche, we have beautiful, hand-carved wood figurines.  Notice that everyone has their attention on the Savior.  A short distance away, we have the three Wise Men.   They aren’t at the manger yet but will finally arrive in a few weeks to see the infant Jesus.  Have you ever noticed that a lot of people are late for church?  

Who do you find around our Lord whether it’s at the manger or the foot of the Cross?  You find the very holy – the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph.  You also find those who know that they don’t know anything.   The Wise Men were very educated and had achieved the fruits of their education.  What are the fruits of an education?  You discover that you don’t know everything.  The Wise Men had learned that.  The shepherds already knew that they knew nothing.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been in pastures walking around sheep dung in the middle of a Palestinian night.  I’ve been there, and it is very, very cold.  You don’t want to be out there.  It’s 40 degrees, but when the temperature drops from 80 to 40 in a couple of hours, you freeze.  So that’s who you will always find around our Lord.  And when you come here to be with our Lord, you have a choice of which to be…educated or uneducated.  But either way, we come to adore our good Lord.

Christ is coming into the world and made manifest to us all.  But Christ has never left the world.  “Father, didn’t He ascend to Heaven?”   Well, His human nature which He took from the Blessed Mother and with which He taught, healed, suffered, and rose from the dead went to Heaven.  But He has always been in the world.  He is there in the Blessed Sacrament.  His divine nature in the form of consecrated bread and wine is in the Tabernacle.  He did not leave.

At Christmas, Jesus is made manifest to the world in human form.  He was already in the world nine months before that in the womb of His mother.  Now He is made manifest to the world so that all can come see the beginning of the greatest gift of all.  This is the beginning and not the end.  That comes 33 years later which shows the fullness of His love.   I am sure that I will be meditating today on all the gifts my parents gave me.  I’ll meditate about their love, patience, and all the wonderful things they did as parents by God’s grace.  This may be why I became a priest. 

Catholics can celebrate Christmas all year long.  Every day is your Christmas.  Every day you are the shepherds and the Wise Men who came to be in the presence of our Lord.  When you are here, you take their place.  Our Lord shows the greatness of His love, not by taking a human nature upon Himself, but by suffering at the hands of His own creatures and being put to death by His own ungrateful creatures on the Cross.  Mary Magdalene, Mary of Clopas, Saint John, and the Blessed Mother stood at the foot of the Cross.  You take their place at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by being with Christ during the Mass.  As they were there during His original suffering which is always before the Father and made present during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, you take their place.  So, when you come to Mass, when you come into the presence of our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, you are a part of that. 

God is with us and not just in the spiritual sense.  He is physically here.  But it was not enough for Him to come into the world; what He wants most is to come into our souls.   We can experience His incarnation.  Today, if you catch me in a good mood, I’ll hear your confession so that Christ can come into your soul and remove your sins.  By the way, I’m running a 3 Hail Mary Special from now until New Year’s Day. 

I hope you all have a crèche at home.  If not, we have them in the bookstore.  Put your family’s faces over the faces of the shepherds and Wise Men.  That’s what we are called to be and what we will be in Heaven.  

Father’s Reflections . . . I was thinking back on the Christmases that I’ve enjoyed.  Some of those overseas, I wouldn’t want to repeat, but that’s the roll of the dice you take.  The gift of love that was given is still unfolding.  I’m still a young man – Hah! –  and I’m still working to understand the gifts of love that were given.  They all have a deeper meaning, not only on a human level that includes your family and friends but also on a spiritual level. 

“Father, we should have a Mass at dawn.”  Really?  I want to see the guy who can get up to do the Mass at dawn after doing the Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. and then the Midnight Mass.  That ain’t me.  I’m getting too old for that.  We have priests in the diocese who are in their 80’s, and I don’t see them celebrating Masses at midnight.  My days are getting shorter on that too.  But like any real man, my mind writes checks my body can’t cash.  I still think I’m 18 with a big red “S” on my chest and able to bend steel with my bare hands.  Uh no. 

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 17, 2023 – “Christmas is NOT the Season for Giving“

“Christmas is NOT the Season for Giving“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 16 – 17, 2023

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

 A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So, they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”  And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”  He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is One among you whom you do not recognize, the One who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Do you know what the two kinds of people in church are?  Well, there are saints and sinners – we are all sinners, so that’s us.   Some are ordained and not ordained.  There is no second class.   In Rome, they are saying, “Oh, we make the decisions.”  “Women need the power to make great decisions.”  Really?  Did you grow up in a hole?  Women always make decisions.  Are you kidding me?  There is also chatter in the Church about who wants to lead or who wants power.  How about John the Baptist?   He said, “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals” (John 1:7).   In those times, do you know who unstrapped people’s sandals and washed their feet?   Slaves.  John said he was beneath the slaves.  Know what Jesus said about John the Baptist?  He said, “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).  So even as great a man as John was, he was not worthy to untie the sandals of our Savior.  We have to remember our state.  Even as a priest, I must remember my state.   I was given this gift for you and not for myself.  I am a better priest when I am more humble as I try to be holy.  So whatever gifts we have been given are for others. 

Have you ever heard that Christmas is the season for giving?   Do you know where that phrase originated?  Walmart and all the stores before them.  Christmas is NOT the season for giving.  Christmas is the season for receiving.  What is Christmas?  It is the reception of Christ coming into our world.  The first Christmas was when we received our dear Savior in a stable in Bethlehem.  We received Him into this world so that He could fulfill His promise to come, suffer, die, open the doors of Heaven, and give us the means to achieve our salvation.   Christmas is the season for receiving.  We are called to prepare ourselves for the reception of Christ not only at the anniversary of His birth in this world but also for that time when we experience our perfect Christmas which is when we get to see Him and enter Heaven. 

Holy Mother Church stresses that we should prepare our souls to celebrate His coming.  He is our true peace and happiness.   We are called to prepare ourselves for all the little Christmas we experience when we receive Him in Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance.  We can receive Christ every day.  How often can you receive Holy Communion?  Do you know?  Once a day?  Actually, more than once a day.  Twice if you receive Holy Communion at a daily Mass and then go to a wedding or a funeral.    You can go to Confession once a day too.  Popes and the great saints went every day to receive the grace of our Lord in the Sacraments. 

So, Christmas is the season of receiving.  When we receive, we can give.  Only by the reception of our Lord and welcoming Him into our souls and our lives are we able to give that love to others.  You cannot give what you do not have.  We cannot give love if we do not have the Author of love inside our souls.  We just can’t.  So, this is the season to prepare ourselves to receive our Savior not only on the anniversary of His birth into this world but before every Mass and every time we receive the Sacrament of Penance which could be every day . . .  just trying to drum up business.   When you receive Holy Communion, you receive Him spiritually and physically into your body.  So, for Catholics, every day can be Christmas. 

This is the season for receiving.  I am not telling you to skip giving gifts to your family and friends.  Don’t do that.  I don’t want to make your life harder than it needs to be.  But all that is just an expression of what should be inside.  If it’s not there, you need to receive our Lord a lot more often. 

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 10, 2023 – “Oh, the Sorrows I’ve Seen!“

“ Oh, the Sorrows I’ve Seen! “

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 9 – 10, 2023

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Here’s a little quiz from the Gospel: What do grasshoppers taste like? Chicken? No. They taste like grasshoppers, and the best dipping sauce is honey mustard. Just putting that out there for you. I’m hearing eye-rolls out there.

In the second reading of the Divine Office, there are writings from Saint Charles Borromeo who wrote that Holy Mother Church prepares the faithful for Christmas and the coming of Christ through hymns, readings, and liturgies. And that’s true. They all focus on the great mystery of His love.

During the Christmas season, we think about our past Christmases. Some were really good, and some were maybe not so good. We wish we could have Christmases like in years past. But all of those are temporary, although very teachable moments. The fulfillment of the joy of Christmas will come later. This is just a taste. All of those that disappointed us with all that pain, sorrow, and regret will be gone and transformed by the love of Christ. Christ is love Himself.

Some people ask me what my best Christmas was. I don’t know. I’ve had a lot of nice ones. Growing up, I had a great family despite me. One not so good Christmas happened when I was overseas, and I ran out of Spaghetti’Os. Oh, the sorrows I’ve seen! “Father, how about when you came home from overseas?” Well, it was quieter; I’ll give you that. It was also nice to have fresh plumbing; I’ll give you that too. “But don’t you have a favorite Christmas?” Well, I haven’t had it yet. My favorite Christmas will be when Christ comes to take me from this world and, hopefully, I will be found worthy to be possessed by Him. That will be my favorite Christmas. All the other Christmases are a foretaste, an encouragement, and mere teaching moments. So, keep your eyes fixed on the last Christmas to come.

Father’s Reflections . . . The Christmas parade yesterday was very nice. It was a long one, lasting over an hour, and continued during the Mass. People from our parish were volunteers. They did a fantastic job, and I want to thank them for that.

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 3, 2023 – “ Are You Ready for What May Come? “

“Are You Ready for What May Come?“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

December 2 – 3, 2023

Gospel:  Mark 13:33-37

 Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

This week there is a Holy Day of Obligation.  We will be observing the Feast Day for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Friday at 8:30 a.m.  There will be a Vigil Mass on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.  Also, Christmas falls on a Monday this year which means the faithful are obligated to participate in the Mass once for the Sunday and once on the holy day.   Believe it or not, I have already heard the Catholic angst.  “Oh, my goodness!  I have to go to two Masses in three days!”  Really?  Are you starting your own opera here?  That’s a lot of drama over nothing.  If you don’t like the Mass, you won’t like Heaven.  The same Lord appears in both places.  You’ll be fine.  In fact, you’ll be better than fine; you’ll be fantastic.  So, please come. 

Just like Lent, Advent is a season for penance.  Because it is a penitential season, I’m wearing violet – not purple – violet.  Because this is a season of penance, we will not be saying the Gloria during the Mass.  Advent is a time for reflection and preparing our souls for the coming of our Lord in the flesh.  When He comes again it will be to take us to Heaven. 

On Friday I was visiting a man in hospice.  I asked him how he was doing, and he said, “ho hum.”  At least he didn’t say “fine.”  I hate it when they do that.  So, we were talking, and I asked him how old he was.  I found out that he had been in the Army, and I asked if he had been in Vietnam.  He said, “No.  My brother took an extra tour there so I wouldn’t have to go.”  We kept talking, and I asked him if he was ready for what may happen.  When I’m talking to hospice patients, I never use the “D” word.  If they want to talk about it, they will bring it up.  But I don’t take away that crutch from people until they are ready.  Some patients have stabilized, gone home, and lived a lot longer.   You don’t know where people are on that spectrum.  Some people never reach the acceptance stage and need that crutch.   So, I asked him, “Are you ready for whatever might come?”  He said, “Yeah.”   I said “Okay,” and we talked a bit more. 

In one of his letters, Saint Paul said, “I don’t know if I wish to stay in the body or be at home with Christ” (Philippians 1:21-22).  He wasn’t sure if he should stay in his body to continue the work of the Church or go be with Christ.  Paul was torn but he was ready for anything.  During this penitential season, perhaps that can be a good meditation for us all, as in my question to that sick man: “Are you ready for what may happen?”  Or as in Saint Paul’s statement:  I do not know whether it would be better to stay in my body to build up the Church on Earth or go to Heaven.  Are we ready for whatever may come?

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 – November 26, 2023 – “I Believe in Good Health but I Really Love Bacon“

“I Believe in Good Health but I Really Love Bacon“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 25 – 26, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to His disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit upon His glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him. And He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.  Then the king will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me, ill and you cared for Me, in prison and you visited Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit You?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, a stranger and you gave Me no welcome, naked and you gave Me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for Me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to Your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for Me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This week I barged in on a family’s Thanksgiving dinner, and I had a thought while I was there.  Why don’t they make turkey parmesan?  Turkey and chicken are both poultry.  So, why not?  I’m just thinking outside the coop.  I mentioned this to the Godmother . . . she was not amused, so I won’t be asking that question again. 

I was good friends with a chaplain I served with several times while in the military.  You never say “goodbye” to your friends in the military; you say, “I’ll see you at the next assignment.”  If you stick around long enough, eventually you will see everybody again.  She was a wonderful chaplain, but she said, “I don’t understand you Catholics.”  Why not?  “Well, you believe in this works righteousness thing.”  Now I’m probably not the most attentive student – look squirrel – but I think I would have heard of that before.  We would have gone over it once or twice in seminary and tested on it.  I never learned that because there is no such thing.  All the good works we do flow from Whom?  From God.  What is God’s essence?  His essence is love.  He is love itself.  Why did He make us?  Remember your Catechism.  He made us because He loves us.  Love is always generative, and it produces fruit outside of itself.  When we produce fruit outside of ourselves, we have proof of God’s love.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  That love now becomes external.  Keeping His commandments is fruit outside of ourselves.   Our Lord wants more than just lip service.  If you want to be like Christ, you must do what He did.  Doing the proper works of mercy as described in the Gospel are works outside of ourselves.  They are works just like God’s.  They are external signs of an internal reality of possessing and being possessed by our good Lord.   We produce fruits as God does. 

God gives His gifts to both the good and the bad.  When emergency vehicles come screaming down the highway after you call 911, do they ask if you have been naughty or nice?  Do they ask if you are worthy of them risking their lives to come save you?  No.  Regardless, they come flying down the highway to save us.  That’s how God’s love is.  We produce fruit for both the good and bad.  Sometimes that isn’t easy because we tend to be highly sensitive people.  When somebody doesn’t thank us, we get a little upset.  Sometimes people are just not nice, and it’s unpleasant to be around them.  But we do these works of love because we love God, and it is He who gives us the strength to do them.  Working with the sick can also be unpleasant.  I walked into hospice the other day, and someone was having a procedure done.  Whoa!  There’s not enough Lysol in the world to cover up that smell.   But we still must do our job.  It’s not about us.  Love is always generative.  Even if there is work involved, the work itself is love as Saint Augustine reminds us. 

I’m ticked off at my cousins.  They called to torment me by telling me about all the delicious food they had for Thanksgiving Dinner.  They had mashed turnips and carrots, which I love.  It’s a New England thing.  They also had stuffing like my mother made.  Oh my gosh!  Turkey always tastes better cold, so I always go for the fixings.  The little things like the way the table is set up, the presentation, and all the other things that go into preparing Thanksgiving dinner are all fruits of love.  It’s not just filling the trough as my mother would say.  They are all signs of love scattered about which come from what’s in the soul.  This is how God knows that we love Him because He knows us by our fruit.  Some people say, “I believe in God, but I don’t go to church.”  Well, I believe in good health, but I really love bacon.  Others say, “Well, I love God.  I go to church, and I participate in the Sacraments.  God knows that I love Him.”  No, He doesn’t.  Well, actually He does because He’s God.  But you’re kinda rewriting scripture.  If you love Him, then do something about it.  Love makes itself external, and this is how He knows we love Him.  If you say you love someone, but you never want to be with them, do you really love them?  All these good things we do, we do because we are loved by God, and we love Him.  These are external acts of an internal reality, and we cannot help but do them.  You can tell how much the Just in the Gospel were in love with Him because of all the things they did.  They weren’t doing it for something in return.  They did it because it was the right thing, and they didn’t even think about it.  It was a natural kind of spiritual muscle memory because of Who they possessed and Who possessed them.

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 – November 19, 2023 – “Mom Always Liked My Evil Twin Brother Best!”

“Mom Always Liked My Evil Twin Brother Best!”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 18 – 19, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 25:14-30

In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Father Brian Cook.  Father Cook was a retired priest in our diocese, and he passed away this morning.  In the past two weeks, we have had two retired priests die which tells me I shouldn’t retire.   This retirement thing can get really dangerous!

The weather was nice the other day, so I took a walk and actually found my way back. . . shocking!  I went by Will’s Place, and they were having their grand opening that night.  Before the renovation, the building was in such rough shape that it needed a match.  It was a horrible place.  But they did a wonderful job with the renovation, and now it is a beautiful, beautiful place.  There is a treatment area for substance abuse including alcohol and drugs.  It is a place where those who suffer and carry that cross can get help carrying it.   I was given a tour, and they even have a puppy there. 

I was thinking about the Knights of Columbus and the help they provide to the Pregnancy Resource Center.  That’s what I like about our parish.  I won’t tell you how to spend your money whether it’s on Catholic Social Services or the Campaign for Human Development and all that stuff.  Because when your money leaves the parish, everybody takes a cut here and a cut there for shipping and handling, know what I mean?  Buy this product for just $20.95 plus $35.00 shipping and handling.  Yeah right!  The good news is you get a lot of packing material in a box from Amazon.  Everything we do here goes to our friends, families, and neighbors.  There are so many organizations in Stanly County that help people in need.  The Stanly Foundation at the hospital provides free mammograms to those who cannot afford them.  Stanly County Christian Ministries has a Clothing Closet, a Food Pantry, and a Community Table that the Knights of Columbus help.   There is also the Pregnancy Resource Center and Will’s Place.  There are all sorts of wonderful organizations to help people.  We take care of our own, and that’s what is so wonderful.  We take care of our poor and sick.  So, I want to thank you all for that. 

My undergraduate degree is in Philosophy.  One of the best courses I ever took was Philosophy 101.  I even loved the final exam although it took me three hours to complete it.  But it was a fun course because it taught us how to argue, create positions, and defend them properly.   We learned how to pick out words and throw the “BS” flag.  One idea that has crept into theology, which should never have happened, is “We have to be inclusive.”   You hear that in the synod of synodality which is an oxymoron term.  One thing about the synod of synodality is that people have positions, and they speak using big fancy words.  “Wow! You are really educated.”  No, because the words they are using don’t make sense.  “The Church needs to be more inclusive.”  That sounds like a really great bumper sticker.  The trouble with that statement is that on its face, it is blasphemy, and if you really believe the statement is true, it is heresy.  “The Church must do this.”  Well, what is the Church?  Good answer.  You’ve learned well.  The Church is not a “what;” it’s a “Who.”  What does Paul say in the Book of Acts?  The Church is the body of Christ.  Our Lord said, “Paul, Paul, why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4).   So, if the Church is Christ, are you telling me that Christ is not inclusive?  Does He have conditions?  Yes, He has conditions.  So, you are trying to tell Christ what He should be.  Good luck with that.  Some people are educated way beyond their abilities, and our Lord talks about them in the Parable of the Talents.

Christ called everyone.  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).   However, He did set some ground rules: “Take up your Cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24).  Turn your back on your mother and father (Genesis 2:24-25).  Sell your possessions, theologically speaking (Matthew 19:21).  Eat My flesh and drink My blood (John 6:54).  One man and one wife, male and female . . . He made us, so He knows what He is talking about (Matthew 19:9).  Anybody who says, “The Church must be more inclusive” is trying to change the Deposit of Faith, a gift from God Himself and our means of salvation.

I was supposed to go to the Bishop’s Advent dinner, but I had other plans that precluded my going to Charlotte for the dinner.  It’s distressing for me personally to see all these priests who are so talented, and I think, “My God, how talented they are!  I’m not.”  One priest, who is about to retire, speaks five languages and has two Ph.D.’s.  Show-off!  I speak five languages at the Spanish Mass.  I can’t tell you which ones they are because they are all mixed into one language.  Another priest has built two churches, one was a missionary, and another was a professor at seminary.  I don’t visit other priests very often because I hate Charlotte almost as much as I hate fish.  When I go there for my dental appointments, I wish I had a few of my friends in the back seat locked and loaded.  Albemarle Road is terrible.  We left pieces of Iraq in better shape after we bombed the you-know-what out of it.                 

My mother loved seafood, but it was difficult to persuade her to go all the way to Newport for dinner.  Rhode Island has only 1045 miles of land mass, and if you take away the islands, it has even less.  Going to Newport is like going to Charlotte, so it’s not a big deal.  “Mom, do we need to pack a lunch?”  That is small New England village mentality.  We wanted to get some lobster for my mom, so my evil twin brother, who was a scuba diver, went diving in the bay and brought her fresh-from-the-sea lobster.  You can’t get fresher than that, especially for the price.  He also had two Ph.D.’s.  Show off!   Mom always liked him best anyway.  Although I dislike administrative work intensely, the one talent I have is that I can do hospital work very well.  When I go to the hospital with some of my fellow priests and they see and smell the sights and sounds of a trauma center, they gag.  Want to grab lunch later?  “No!”  What’s wrong?  I’m buying.  Wanna play ball scarecrow?  It’s hilarious.

There is no need to be jealous of the talents and abilities other people have which is something I keep telling myself, and I hope to do better.  All those talents and abilities are meant to be used for one thing . . . to share with others.  The one talent we all share, and the most important one, is the gift of faith.  You all have it because you are here.  Faith is the most important talent and the one in which our Lord will judge us.  How do we bring that gift of faith to others?  By our words and example.  How do we keep it alive?  By the Sacraments and penance.  How do we bring it to others?  By word and deed or corporal and spiritual works of mercy.  All of our other talents are based on that.  Otherwise, they will never develop the way they should and be used for their proper purpose which is for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.  Every talent is given to us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.  The people in our parish, I will say with all humility, are blessed with an abundance of talents and abilities.  We are better than any other parish in the diocese regarding the talents and abilities we have here.  But the most important talent or ability, and the one that provides focus on them all, giving them meaning, purpose, a goal, and a reason to exist is the gift of faith.

So, use your talents.  As I grow older, getting up from a chair can be difficult.  My mind writes checks my body can’t cash.  That’s a talent, you know why?  Because I can offer up my suffering for the salvation of souls, the glory of God, an act of penance for myself, and an act of humility which I really need.   We all have talents, but the best talent of all is the gift of faith.  He won’t ask me if I built churches or if I can speak five languages.  I can barely speak English.   However, He does ask me to be a conduit of His love to other people.  That’s how God will judge us . . . how we brought His gift to 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 – November 12, 2023 – “Love Banishes Fear”

“Love Banishes Fear”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 11 – 12, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told His disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards, the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But He said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

In the Gospel, it sounds as if they were having a midnight wedding.  People don’t have weddings during the day in the Middle East.  Know why?  Because it’s hot!  You don’t want to look like a sweat hog coming down the aisle, do you?  No! 

Now, I’m willing to bet, without taking a poll, that you all want to go to Heaven.  I’m also willing to bet that none of us are looking forward to the trip.  According to my research and experience, you have to die first.  A while ago I was making my rounds at the VA’s emergency room, and I recognized a couple whom I had met previously.  I asked them why they were back.  Were they back for lunch?  Did they miss us?  The man said, “No, I just came in for pain management.”  We talked for a bit, and the man said, “Chaplain, may I ask you a question?”  Sure.  He said, “I want to stop the chemo.  Is that okay?”  I looked at his wife and asked her, “Are you okay with that?”  And she said ‘yes.’  So, I looked at the man and said, “It’s okay to stop the chemo.”  He’s only in his early 40s, but it was time.  He’d had enough. 

We all know we are going on a trip, but we know not the day or hour.  During the years that we are blessed with life, know that they are growing shorter.   We are not looking forward to the trip because of fear.  We were never meant to die.  The sin of our first parents caused that.  Our sins after baptism and the sins committed against us increase that fear.  But love casts away fear.   The more we grow in holiness, the more and more that fear subsides.  We can look forward to being with the Person we have loved all our lives and never to be separated again by sin.  We don’t know what is on the side.   However, it’s not a ‘what’ that is on the other side.  That’s a blasphemous statement because on the other side is a ‘Who.’  That ‘Who’ is always with us as we make our journey to Heaven.   So, we are not alone.  Now, there is a little doodoo fairy that sits on our shoulders and is always telling us that God is not with us otherwise we wouldn’t be afraid and that we would be perfect, etc.  “Oh, God doesn’t love you.”  Just like everything else he fills our heads with, that is a lie.  God is always with us.  We tend to forget that our guardian angel is always with us too. 

Will we always have some fear?  Yes.  But our fear of death will decrease as we grow in holiness, and we will look forward to going to our Savior.  That doesn’t mean we want to leave our loved ones in this life.  But we will be going home to our Almighty God.  Now when we get to Heaven, we won’t be just sitting around.   It won’t be snooze time.  As Saint Therese of Lisieux said, “I will spend my eternity in Heaven doing good on Earth.”   That’s what we will be doing in the presence of our Lord, God.  We will have God’s ear and will be able to pray more effectively than ever before for all the loved ones we left behind.  So, our dying is not exactly the worst thing that could happen to us.  But dying and being separated from God is.   

I was doing Mass over at the women’s maximum-security prison in Troy.  That’s always fun.  I’m ready for Mass, and we played “Stump the Priest.”   One of the women said, “Father, when I get out, I’m going to visit you.”  Well, I’m looking forward to that day!  She said she was very upset, and I asked her why.  She said, “I read in the paper that everybody dies, and they all go to see Jesus.”  I said, “That’s true.”  She didn’t like that answer, so I said, “When we die, we all will see God.  Some stay for only a cup of coffee while others get to stay longer.”   How long we stay depends on how we live.  In the Gospels, from the Book of Matthew to Revelation, are the final exam questions.  We don’t know when our good Lord will come for us.  Looking at myself in the mirror, combing my hair doesn’t take that long anymore.   That’s just age.  So, my meeting with our Lord is approaching sooner and sooner. 

I went to Ms. Dottie’s 99th birthday party.  When I knocked, she came to the door holding a big glass of wine.   Cool!  Dottie is now 101.  My aunt was 98 when she pulled the plug on herself.  Time to go!  Another aunt passed at 93.  My mother was an underachiever and died at the age of 77.   I may not make it to 77, but it doesn’t matter.   It’s not about age but rather our state of love and living a perfect life until our good Lord comes for us.  I tell patients in hospice who have made their peace with God, that soon, and I don’t know when, but soon, they will see the good Lord coming for them.  He will have a smile on His face with His arms open.  Put a smile on your face, open your arms, and run toward Him.  Have that embrace which is Heaven.  You will be one with your Maker.   

Before you go to bed at night, always pray the Prayer for a Happy Death.  With that Sacrament, we will be assured, in the same way Christ assured the Good Thief on the Cross, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

Prayer for a Happy Death (Ven. John Henry Cardinal Newman)

O my Lord and Savior, support me in my last hour in the strong arms of Thy Sacraments and by the fresh fragrance of Thy consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me; and let Thine own Body be my food, and Thy Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious saints and my own dear patrons smile upon me, that, in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die as I desire to live, in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love. Amen.

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 – November 5, 2023 – “Love Is an Action, Not an Emotion”

“Love Is an Action, Not an Emotion”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 4 – 5, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 23:1-12

In the Gospel last Sunday, the Pharisees asked our Lord, “What is the greatest Commandment?”  Jesus answered, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Mark 12:30).  The second greatest Commandment is, “You must love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40).   Our Lord knows that most people, when left to their own imaginations, will screw it up.  So, in the Gospel, He tells us exactly what love is and how to manifest it.  “If you love Me, take up your cross every day and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).   “If you love Me keep My commandments” (John 14:15).   By the way, there are many others. 

Love is an action and not an emotion.  It is an act of the will and not a feeling.  Sometimes acts of love are very easy to do and enjoyable like giving your spouse a gift or making your children and grandchildren smile and laugh.  Those are great gifts of love.  But loving God can be difficult because He is not us.  Often, I think I love myself more than God does.  Some gifts of love are a little harder like taking up our daily crosses.  Most people do not like their crosses.  Do you think I enjoy walking around like a question mark?  No.  Do you think I enjoy eating fish twice a week?  Heck no!  Thank God for French dressing!   Sometimes I do not like getting up in the morning.  I’ve put a lot of mileage on this body, and getting up can be a very painful experience.  But these are minor ways to love.   Look at the Good Samaritan.  He was on a trip when he came upon a man who had been beaten and robbed.  The man was not lying on his side of the road so, legally, it was not his business, and he was not morally bound to help the man.  But love is outside of oneself.   So, even though it delayed his trip and traveling at night was very dangerous, the Good Samaritan went outside of himself to care for the man who had been beaten and robbed.   

Sometimes we don’t like what God asks us to do.  When someone is hurt or sick and needs our help, we think, “Nope.  I’m not cut out for this.”  That doesn’t matter.  It’s not about you; it’s about that person.  Acts of love may be very inconvenient.  But we are called to not only show our love but also to grow in love.  An act of love can be as small and mindless as eating fish.  Some crosses are pretty easy like mine and others are much more difficult.  Taking up our cross is not always pleasant to the senses.  Changing diapers is not bad until the smell reaches you.  That’s when you rise to a whole different occasion to love.  This is what God calls us to do if we love Him.  What do all these acts of love do?  They take us away from ourselves. 

When you work in medicine, you encounter things that are not pleasant, and the gag reflex kicks in.  Sometimes acts of love can be rather repulsive.  When a helicopter crashed, I showed Bubba, my staff assistant, how to bring patients in on gurneys just like on Mash.  Bubba, who was on the verge of being sick, said, “Sir, [Bleurgh] what do you want me to do, Sir [Bleurgh]?”   I said, “First, turn your head.  Step outside, get some fresh air, and come back.”   Bubba was doing acts of love while his organs were trying to leave his body in no particular order.  The sounds and smells were traumatizing.  Bubba was 19 years old and had never been exposed to anything like that.  But he did what needed to be done, and that was an act of love.  Bearing our crosses and those of other people including our family and friends is difficult, but they are crosses of love.  People say, “I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”  Ahh . . . I don’t care.  I don’t like going to prisons even though they allow me to leave.  As long as they don’t make me eat fish, I’m good.  “I don’t feel comfortable with that.”  Good!  Our Lord never said anything about being comfortable.  “I don’t get anything out of it.”  Great!   I’m not the world’s greatest spiritual director.  I’m like to the right of Genghis Khan. “I don’t get anything out of it.”   Don’t care.  You aren’t supposed to.  Spiritual direction is not about you.  I don’t care how you feel.  Not one bit.  We are given the grace of comfort more often than we think, but not as much as we would like.  It is not about us.  Love is a gift to the other.  When Jesus gives us these directions about how to love, it trains us to love like Him. 

When you give gifts of love, you are dying to self so that you can feel what our good Lord felt.   You are imitating what happened to our Lord on the Cross.  People say, “But no one says thank you.”   Many people in my priestly ministry don’t say thank you, and I’ve been doing this for a long time.   Believe it or not, I have been cursed out, and not just by my family.   In the Book of Acts, the apostles rejoiced because “they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name” (Acts 5:41).   We get the strength to do that by prayer and through the Sacraments.  When we fail in our acts of love, as we all do, we have the Sacrament of Penance to not only heal the wounds of our failures but also to heal the wounds that other people have inflicted upon us.  This strengthens our resolve to pick up our cross and follow Him. 

In the spiritual life, love is not an emotion; it’s an action.  We have to love.  In the various stages of life, love takes on different forms.  Sometimes when people will soon meet their Maker, and I’m preparing them for their passing, I’ll say, “On this bed is your cross imitating Christ.  You are at the right hand of Christ like the Good Thief.”   So, offer your sufferings up.  You have much to offer through all the suffering you endure although we suffer much less than our grandparents because we have much better medicine now.  Still, when you are going through it, it seems like a lot.  I had a man who just passed away from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.  He couldn’t breathe.  When you can’t breathe, you tend to panic, so he was on a lot of antianxiety medicines.  In that patient’s bed, you could see the suffering of Christ.  By your suffering, you are imitating Christ’s sacrifice.

When I was a seminarian, I learned an important lesson.  I was assigned to Saint John’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.  As I was making rounds with a good Jesuit priest, all of a sudden, the door to a patient’s room opened.  The smell was so, so bad.  I went out into the stairwell retching while I tried to hold my stomach down where it should be.  I did not go to medical school, but I knew my stomach should not be up in my throat.  I told my father about it, and he said, “That’s good, son.”  So basically, he didn’t care either.  He was an Army medic before he became an officer.  My father said, “You know, it’s not about you.  You leave that room, get sick, and then go back in.  It’s not about you.”  That was one of the best spiritual directions I ever received.  Just remember that there will be occasions when our gifts of love will make us feel bad.  But there are two things we are learning:  1) It is not about us; and 2) When it’s really hard, when people are repulsive, abusive, and ungrateful, that’s when we grow in love.  It is then that you have some conception, in a very minor way, of what Christ endured.  His greatest act of love was on the Cross.  What did His own chosen people do at the foot of the Cross?  They jeered Him.

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 – October 29, 2023 – “A Change Would Do You Good”

“A Change Would Do You Good”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

October 28 – 29, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew 22:34-40

I don’t know if today’s sermon will be as good as last week’s, but I’m going to give it a shot.  What is the key element needed to grow in the spiritual life?  It begins with a “C.”   Change.  We have to change.  We are always changing.  I can no longer bend steel with my bare hands, leap tall buildings, or run faster than a locomotive.  Those days are over if they ever were.  I can no longer do those things.  My mind says, “Sure! You can keep up with that 18-year-old.”   Yeah, like that’s going to happen.  I made that mistake once while I was in the military.  One of the officers said, “Father, let them do it.  You are the senior officer present.”   I said, “I am not going to let those twerps, those young soldiers, outwork me.”  It’s a guy thing.  When I went back to the hooch at the end of the day, I was in a world of hurt even after a hot shower and taking Motrin.  But I wasn’t about to let someone outwork me – that wasn’t going to happen. 

The key word is “change.”   But the trouble with change is that we always try to change the wrong things.  I’ve been a priest for over 30 years, and I have people come to me with addiction problems.  Nobody gets to choose their crosses.  “So, what can I do about it?”  Well, you’ve got to change.  “Well, I think if I move to Florida, Alaska, Rhode Island, or Oakboro, I would be better.  Or maybe if I had a different spouse or a better job, things would be okay.”  That’s plausible.  But, in all that, there is one glaring fault.  “What’s that?”  Well, in all those scenarios, you are bringing you.  You aren’t changing.  You’re just taking the mess somewhere else. 

We have to change.  This is what our Lord said: “Leave all things behind and come follow Me.”    He doesn’t mean physical things.  He is referring to our attachment to self . . . our whole will.   Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3).   A child is dependent on their parents who are the source of life.  We are called to change, but we always seek to change the wrong things even in the Church.  People say to me, “Father, I sit in the back of the church, and I cannot hear you.”  Well, move up to the front row.  There’s plenty of room there.  “Father, I do not like Latin or Latin hymns.”  Well, I don’t hear you singing the English hymns either.   “If we had reconciliation rooms where you could go in and talk to the priest like in a therapy session, it would be better.”   So, thousands of dollars was spent on reconciliation rooms, and confessions continued to take a nosedive like a Kamikaze pilot.  Then the Roman Rota, the highest court in the Church, said, “You know, that’s illegal because the priest and penitent must be separated by an immovable barrier.”   Oops! 

I was in a brand new church, a beautiful church, and I was talking to the pastor.  I asked him if he had thought about installing an altar rail.  He said, “Yes, I really wanted one, but I ran out of money.”   Okay, I understand that.  One of his parishioners, a staff member, said, “Oh I hate altar rails.  It’s so old-school.”  So, you are offended by an inanimate object?  It’s not like you have to have one in your house.  We change all the wrong things.  During your lifetime, we have had Mass in every conceivable language.  If you want to hear every language spoken on the planet, come to the 12:15 Mass.  I speak Spanish with a French accent, and sometimes I break into Latin just for grips and grins.  “We should have Mass in all these languages so that people will come.”  They still don’t come!  “Well, if we have the Vigil Mass at 5:00 on Saturday and Mass on Sunday night, people will come.”  Mass attendance is still down. 

My grandfather was a police officer for 38 years in the city of Taunton, MA.  Family history has it that he never drew his side-arm.  I also have it from someone who had a close encounter with my grandfather that he did use his foot.  Those are the old days when you could provide guidance without the cameras rolling.  This guy said, “You know something?  I deserved it.”  He never did that again.  My grandfather never missed a Mass.  “Oh, we can’t have the dreaded Latin Mass.”  Oh, my goodness!  It would make it so easy for me.  I would only need to have one Mass for the entire United Nations in this church. 

I have a book in my office entitled “Chaplains of WWII.”  In the book, there are stories about two priests one of which was an Army chaplain.  He followed the same Mass during the Battle of the Bulge, in the snow, with the soldiers kneeling.  “That was in the war?”  Yes, a big one.  The Germans and Americans were negotiating real estate.  It was pretty brutal, but they held Mass, and the soldiers were all on their knees.  Another story from the book that I thought was moving happened in Iwo Jima.  A Navy priest was saying Mass with the Marines, and the Marines held up ponchos so that the wind wouldn’t blow everything over.  You know what?  They were all kneeling during the Mass.  The average age of a Marine there was 19 years old.  We don’t send old men to fight wars.  Jim Dawson was 19 years old and disarmed bombs in Vietnam which is a zero-defect kind of job. 

We need to change ourselves.  That’s what Jesus said, “Leave everything behind you, and come follow Me.”  Come to Him like a little child.  Change is not always pleasant.  The day I had to stop eating bacon and start eating Moby Dick was very traumatic.  I still whine and moan about it.  That’s alright because it extends my warranty a little.  We must change if we want peace in our souls and all the joy possible in this life.  Do not try to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.  Do not work on the peripheral stuff; instead, work on the hole in the soul.  

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 – October 22, 2023 – “The Man Who Has the Gold Makes the Rules”

“The Man Who Has the Gold Makes the Rules”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

October 21 – 22, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

15 Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Him in what He said. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him, together with some Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that You are an honest man and teach the way of God in all honesty, and that You are not afraid of anyone, because human rank means nothing to You. 17 Give us Your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ 18 But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why are you putting Me to the test? 19 Show Me the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed Him a denarius, 20 and He said, ‘Whose portrait is this? Whose title?’ 21 They replied, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then He said to them, ‘Very well, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar — and God what belongs to God.’

You all know the Golden Rule. So, what is it? The man who has the gold makes the rules. Many years ago, I entered Providence College in the fall of 1971. We had a brand-new library on campus. The trouble with that brand-new library, located on a Catholic campus and run by the Dominican Fathers, was that you could not teach a religion class there. Sounds kind of – what’s the word I’m looking for – stupid. Why were religion classes not allowed to be taught there? Because the college took government money to build the library.

So, when you take someone’s money, they get to call the shots. This is the problem with Catholic healthcare today. You have to help pay for Medicaid and all these government social welfare programs. Therefore, you have to do immoral things because you have received government money. The Church has gotten into bed with all that. They like someone else’s money. Some priests say, “You have to be nice to people. You can’t really tell them that abortion, divorce, and homosexual acts are wrong. You can’t tell people that because it will upset them, and your collection will go down.” Really? I’m not worried about the collection. I am more worried about the final exam before my Savior, especially at my age. I’m cramming for it now.

We have to be careful. Money is like a drug – it’s like crack. Is it a weakness? No. But we can’t live without it, and we want more and more of it. So, we compromise the Gospel and tap dance around other things. “Well, we aren’t really funding that. We are really doing this.” No. Now you are playing word games.

The Church hasn’t learned its lesson. Parishes haven’t learned it either. When you take someone’s money and you rely on them, they get to call the shots. So, who should be calling the shots in the Church instead?

Father’s Afterthoughts:
Because you are going to hear a lot about the horrifying things that are happening in Gaza, I want to give you a lesson on the Law of War. If terrorists hide rockets and other weapons of war in hospitals, schools, or private homes, they have made those places legitimate targets, and bombing them is not a war crime. The terrorists made them legitimate targets which is a violation of the Law of War. Some people are upset about the atrocities happening in Gaza. The terrorists are responsible for putting the bombs in schools and hospitals resulting in the loss of their neutrality and making them legitimate targets. Hamas is famous for doing that.

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.”

10 Ways to Love
1. Give without expecting in return (Proverbs 21:26)
2. Trust without wavering (1 Corinthians 13:7)
3. Forgive without punishing (Colossians 3:13-14)
4. Listen without interrupting (Proverbs 18)
5. Enjoy without complaining (Philippians 2:14)
6. Answer without arguing (Proverbs 17:1)
7. Speak without accusing (James 1:19)
8. Keep your promises (Matthew 5:37)
9. Be patient in all things (1 Corinthians 13:4)
10. Learn to let it go (Ephesians 4:31-32)