Category: Sermon Notes

“Run to Him”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

March 16 – 17, 2019

Scripture: Luke 9:28B-36

28) About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29) While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. 30) And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,31) who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. 32) Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory* and the two men standing with him. 33) As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents,* one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. 34) While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. 35) Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” 36) After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time* tell anyone what they had seen.

Lent is a great time to go to Confession. This is your opportunity to receive God’s love. People are sometimes reluctant to have me hear their confessions because I know them or they don’t want to shock me. I seriously doubt that’s going to happen. Hearing confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn. I haven’t heard a juicy one since my Army days.

The apostles suffered from short-term memory loss. Think about it….they witnessed many miracles…not all of them recorded. They actually heard the voice of God and saw what it would be like in heaven. Their minds were enlightened. But, were the apostles there on Thursday at His Passion? No. They had scattered to the four winds.

God gives us our crosses to keep us on a leash so that we don’t stray too far from him. Think about it….when our lives are going well, when our crosses are light, we tend to focus less on God. But, as our troubles multiply, when our crosses grow heavy, we turn back to Him for help. Once our crosses are light again, we lose focus again. We, like the apostles, are afflicted with short-term memory loss and must learn the same lesson over and over again….keep God at the center of your life.

I visited a man in Hospice whose family told me that his uncle had come to visit him. Now, this man was very old and no spring chicken, so I really doubted that his uncle was still alive and had actually visited him. Anyway, his uncle had appeared and told him that death is not that bad and that it’s an easy passage. When people are about to die, I tell them to run to Him; His arms will be wide open, and you will have fulfillment in God love. God’s consolation happens when He draws us closer to Him which fills our hearts with joy and peace. God’s consolation is eternal in the next life.

We all expect good things from those we love. But, when people tell me that their prayers are always answered, I’m skeptical. That’s just not normal. Some people think that when God does not respond to their prayers that maybe they aren’t doing them correctly. Not true. Your prayers are not in vain. God hears you and will bestow His consolation upon you when you need it and least expect it.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you keep God at the center of your life and not just when your crosses are heavy?

“It’s a Choice”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

March 2 – 3, 2019

Saint Paul was a teacher of the Gentiles. He asked them: What can separate you from God? The answer is not “what” but “who.” We are the only thing that can take us away from God. We choose to turn ourselves away from Him. We choose whether or not to honor Christ.

My grandfather was a police officer, but he never missed Mass…he went every Sunday. We can make up all kinds of excuses for not participating in Mass. A few examples I’ve heard are I’m busy on Sunday mornings, I have a family function to attend, I cannot find a Catholic Church, or my child has soccer practice. If you can find a Walmart, you can certainly find a Catholic Church. And, why would you risk your child’s soul for a soccer game? A soccer game is more important than Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins? Really? The truth is that we choose not to participate in Mass. It is offered on Saturday evenings and twice on Sundays…so there’s no good excuse.

If we are less fixated on ourselves, it will make more room for God, and we can be more in love with Him. God understands our human weakness, but He still holds us accountable. He will judge us on how we returned His Love.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you be less fixated on self and make more room for God?

“Do You Love Me?”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

February 9 – 10, 2019

The Gospel tells us many things, particularly about the power of God’s words. Priests are required to preach from the pulpit and not from the center aisle. We do not need props, or use theatrics and special microphones as if we were Engelbert Humperdinck. Jesus didn’t yell as He preached; there was no show or tricks….the power was in His words.

When Christ asked Peter to put his boat further out into the water and to cast his nets, Peter thought it was a waste of time. After all, he had been fishing all day with no luck, and who was this carpenter to tell him how to fish! But, he did as Jesus instructed and caught so many fish that his boat almost sank. After this miracle, Peter was humbled and immediately fell to his knees calling Jesus his Lord.

Disobedience was, and is, the first sin. The Lords asks us to, “Do it for love of Me.” These are acts of love and trust. But…we want what we want when we want it. We want immediate gratification. Sometimes, we say, “but Lord, you don’t understand…you aren’t in my situation…you don’t have the temptations that I have”, and the Lord says “just do as I say.” If we follow His Commandments and the teachings of the Church, it will always work out well for us. He created us so that we can have eternal happiness and share eternity with Him in heaven. It boils down to one question…..Do you love Him?

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you do as He says because you love Him?

“Let Your Light Shine”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 26 – 27, 2019

Scripture: Luke 1: 1-4, 4:14-21

1) Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2) just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, 3) I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4) so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. 14)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. 15) He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16) He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17) and was handed a scroll of where it was written: 18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19) and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” 20) Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21) He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Sacrament of Baptism is a gift from God. It signifies our entry into Christian life and provides us access to true freedom. After baptism, we are cleansed of original sin, and our souls are transformed profoundly. However, with the gift of baptism comes the responsibility to become His disciple and to share the Gospel. God’s love is not a treasure to be hidden away behind lock and key. We are called to share it with others. St. Francis of Assisi said we should proclaim the faith day in and day out and to use words if necessary. In other words, our deeds must match what we say.

The truly poor are those who do not know God and who are enslaved by sin. My godmother grew up very poor; in fact, the only toys she had as a child were sticks. But, she had a strong faith in God, so she was rich and she was free, because true freedom is found in bondage to Christ. We need to teach liberty to those who are held captive by sin. Jesus said: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8: 31-34). Before his conversion, Paul hated everything that Jesus represented. But, once the scales had fallen from his eyes and he suddenly realized the truth, Paul began at once to “proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20).

Tell people the good news. They love to hear stories…so, tell them yours! Let people know what God has done for you and how He has released you from being a slave to sin. Tell them about your hopes, joys, and peace because you dwell in His love. Let people know how He gives you peace when you are troubled, courage when you are frightened, hope when you are suffering, patience with which to carry your crosses, and trust because He always keeps His promises. We experience His love in countless ways. Share it with others so that the scales can fall from their eyes and they, too, may experience the love and mercy of our Lord.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you let your light shine so that others can see His love in you? Will you tell people what God has done for you so that the scales fall from their eyes and they can experience His love?

“Listen to Your Mother”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 19 – 20, 2019

Scripture: John 2: 1-11

1) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2) Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3) When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4) [And] Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” 5) His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6) Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7) Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. 8) Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter. So they took it. 9) And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom 10) and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11) Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs* in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding in Cana where He, Mary, and the apostles were among the guests. When Mary noticed that the wine was running low, she interceded by approaching Jesus and saying “They have no wine.” The proper translation of His response is; “Woman, what is thee to me?”

Now, this statement may sound as if Jesus was rebuking His mother, but, in His native language, He was not being disrespectful. Today, many mothers would respond to that statement with “You talking to me??” However, Mary, with perfect faith, told the servants to “Do whatever He tells you.” These are the last words of Mary recorded in the Bible, and is the greatest spiritual advice ever given.

In response to Mary’s intercession, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning six stone jars each containing 20-30 gallons of water into wine. That is more than 120 gallons of wine, and this wasn’t just any wine…it was the best that could be had. That is what happens when we ask for Mary’s intercession…Christ gives over and beyond what we ask for in our prayers, and He doesn’t ask if we deserve it.

People often ask me to remember them in my prayers, and I’m happy to do it. In fact, I take all of your prayers with me to the altar. The cross on the back of my chasuble (outer garment) symbolizes the yoke of Christ, and the cross on the front symbolizes yours. But, just think how much better it would be to have Mary intercede for you and take your prayers directly to Him. After all, she is His beloved mother and has direct communication with Him. When it comes to our own mothers, we aren’t so different. For example, I once knew a man back in Rhode Island who was my mother’s friend; however, he was not mine. But, when this man asked me for a favor, I was much more inclined to help him after my mother interceded on his behalf and encouraged me to do so.

Mary is the mother of us all. She knows our needs before we do and, although she doesn’t take them away, she makes our crosses sweeter and easier to bear. So, to grow spiritually, we need to become a child of Mary. No one has run so far from Christ or fallen so low that Mary is unwilling or unable to hear them. Remember…You cannot outrun God. He is an Olympic runner. He pursues us and will be waiting for us at the finish line. Always.

Our mothers give us the advice of our lives. Dr. Mom….we go to her when we are sick, sad, afraid, needy, and thankful. We ask for her help, and she gives us the advice of our lives…Say please, thank you, apologize, wash your hands, wear a coat, etc. If we are sick, we may need to make an appointment with our doctor. Either way, we must take the medication prescribed by the doctor even if it tastes bad and follow our mother’s advice even if we don’t like it. For example: Want to stop drinking? Stay away from bars and from people who drink in bars. Want to be more holy? Stay away from pornography and people who are unholy. Want to grow closer to God? Do whatever He tells you.

St. Bernard’s Memorare (Remembrance) Prayer:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you take Mary’s advice and “Do whatever He tells you?” Will you ask her to intercede on your behalf by taking your prayers directly to God?