“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.
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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.”