Category: Sermon Notes

Transripts of weekly sermons

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Sermon Notes – We Ask for Gifts That Are Too Small

“We Ask For Gifts That Are Too Small“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 9-10, 2021

Gospel:  Matthew 1: 7-11

During the Christmas season, our good Lord shows us remarkable signs of His love.  He reveals His essence at Christmas in what we call the Economy of Salvation and how He brought about our salvation.  It shows He is love and that love is humble.  He shows us that humility is a part of love.  He became what He was not.  He was God and became man so that He could pass on to us the fruits of His love through the Sacraments.  The creator now became subject to His creatures.  In the Gospel according to St. Matthew, at the baptism of our Lord, Jesus had to tell John “You must do this,” because John didn’t want to baptize Him.  Such is His great humility.  This is how He will affect our salvation…with great humility and subject to His creatures.  The ultimate revelation of the depth of His love was at the crucifixion.  He gave Himself to us out of love.

I hear people in the church say that they want power.  I say, that’s kind of a short-term goal.  You have power over God.  “What do you mean?”  Well, you know, God is subject to you.  Out of His great love, He hears your prayers and answers them.  You can read in the scriptures that He did not refuse anyone a miracle.  He didn’t ask, “Do you know who you are talking to right now?”   He didn’t ask, “Are you tithing?”  “Are you supporting the Priest Retirement Fund?”  He didn’t ask if you are supporting the Diocese.  He didn’t ask if you have sinned.  He didn’t ask if you blah blah blah.  He didn’t ask any of that.  He doesn’t ask if you are worthy of His gift.  When we present ourselves for Holy Communion, He gives of Himself freely.  He gives the gift because He loves us.  He answers all of our prayers.  You may say, “Well, Father you have been a priest for a long time, and you are still not a Monsignor.”  Yeah, I’ve been praying for that for quite a while.  I don’t think it’s going to happen.  Maybe, it’s my personality…I don’t know.  But, we ask for gifts that are too small and for things that might harm us.  God wants to give us the greatest gift which is the gift of Himself.  He wants to give us what our hearts desire.  He wants to fill our hearts with joy…a joy that nobody can take from us. 

We had a case in the parish a few weeks ago.  A woman from the parish had been praying for quite a while for her nephew who was dying.  She called and asked me if I would go and give him Last Rites.  He was Catholic, but it didn’t seem to take for a long time.  So, I called his wife and then went over to their house.  His wife wasn’t Catholic, so the Last Rites confused her a bit.  Right after I had finished giving him the Last Rites, I noticed a change in his breathing.  I told his wife that they needed some time alone, and I left.  He was dead a few minutes later.  God answered the prayers of that woman.  I’m not always around, but I happened to be in town that day.  This happens so many times.  I walk in and the family asks if I will give the Last Rites and when I finish, boom, they are gone. 

We ask for things in our prayers that are too small. We have power over God.  “Well, Father, you have power over God.  You make Christ present on the altar during Mass, in the Tabernacle, and in the Sacraments.”  Yes, I do, but it is you who can say yes or no if He enters your soul.  No matter how many times you come for Holy Communion, properly disposed I certainly hope, you can receive God Himself into your souls.  When we come to the Sacrament of Penance, He enters our souls and washes away our sins with His precious blood.  You can receive God by calling Him through your prayers and inviting Him into your soul.

You have this immense power of love over God, because He loves you.  He humbles Himself at Christmas and each day at the altar.  He humbled Himself to John the Baptist, and He humbles Himself to us each day in our prayers.  He loves you so much that He wants to give you the best gift of all which is the gift of Himself.  You have great power.  You have the power to draw God down into your soul.  Realize your power and use it.

***

How will you apply this message to your life?  Will you use the power of God’s love for you and draw Him into your soul?

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog.”

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Sermon Notes – Why Did He Do It?

“Why Did He Do It?”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 2-3, 2021

Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12

“ Why Did He Do It? During the Christmas season, our good Lord continues to offer His love to us. His love is unending. Through all the miracles in the Old Testament, He reveals His love to prepare us for the promise of our Redeemer. On Christmas, we mark the anniversary of our Redeemer coming to us in the flesh. The Feast of the Epiphany is His manifestation to the world. Did He have to do it? Of course not. But, He did it out of love. He continues to show what that love means. Love is a universal. We love all members of our family. We may not like them all, let’s be fair, especially members of my family – but I love them all – they are all family…and spare body parts.

Our Lord wants everybody to come and share in His love. His love is not just for some, but for the entire world. All people are created in His image and likeness. God doesn’t like me best because I say Mass in Latin. God doesn’t like me best because I say Mass in English. And, God certainly doesn’t like me best because I say Mass in Spanglish. God loves everybody, and He wants everyone to have salvation.

One of the things He reveals to us is who He is, and the revelation of who He is continues. Christ was a priest, prophet, and king, so the gifts the Magi presented to Him reflected God. They gave the Savior gold because He was king. Does a king need gold? No. But, the Magi acknowledged Him as God…as a king. They gave Him frankincense which was used in worship. You can read about the altar of incense in the Old Testament. The Psalms also talk about incense. The use of incense is scriptural worship. Incense is found in the book of Revelation and is a symbol of our prayers going up to God. So, the use of incense is scriptural worship, although some use a military grade of incense….it’s a little too much and can make it look as though there is a London fog in the church. Some is good…more is not better. But, it is scriptural worship. The reason Jesus came in to the world was revealed with the gift of myrrh which is basically an embalming ointment. The fullness of His love was revealed on the Cross.

There is so much to meditate on, and it all has to do with God’s love for us. That love reaches its consummation on Cavalry. His love is revealed to us each day in the Mass. We experience it every time we receive Holy Communion. Every time you receive the Sacrament of Penance, you experience the revelation of His love. This is why our good Lord came in to the world…to show us the fullness of His love.***How will you apply this message to your life? ***

Father’s Afterthoughts….I received a message from the VA the other day. I was in my office reading over the notes they send to the staff. I have 1a priority to get the COVID vaccine which reminds me that I also had 1a priority in the draft. Lucky me! Look at where that got me. Mom & Dad, they are trying to perforate your little boy!

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by clicking on “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.”