“Re-Gift Your Blessings”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
July 18 – 19, 2020
Scripture: Matthew 13: 24-43
Last week, I was talking to you about faith. Faith is a gift asked for by our parents, given to us by the Almighty God at our Baptism, and increased by reception of the Sacraments. He gives us the gift of faith as well as the various talents we all have. Now, in this parish we are blessed with abundantly talented people…far more than other parishes in the diocese. To do what? To make us feel good? No. If they make you feel good, that’s a side effect. Your gifts are meant to be used to witness to the world and to bring people to the light of truth and the light of love…to make His presence and His love known. The talents and abilities God has given you, no matter how insignificant or small, no matter the field, whether it’s like Frankie with music, law enforcement, or Felix with drugs (he’s a pharmacist…he really is) are to be used to manifest His love. You may be thinking, “Well, Father, you have an important job.” But, this is what God assigned me to do. Whatever your field, bring that message to people by using your talents. Why? The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy come to mind. God gives us faith, because He wants us to come to His salvation. But, He also wants us to cooperate with Him and work for salvation of the world. If we have faith, it must be brought forth in works to testify about His glory and the love that God has for us. If you look in the Epistle of St. James, he says “show me your faith without works, and I will show my faith to you from works.” You may be thinking, “But Father, you’re a priest, it’s easy for you to do that.” No…sometimes, I don’t feel like doing it…I’ll tell you the truth. But, whatever talents you have… whatever vocation God has assigned to you…whatever your stage of life…whether you are a brain surgeon or street sweeper; husband or wife; mother or father, elderly or young, bring your love and let it manifest. Even the suffering and inconveniences we have can be offered up for the salvation of souls. Because of her gift of faith, Saint Theresa de Lisieux was able to do the smallest actions with great love.
There will be an accounting of how we used our gifts. Look at Matthew 25:35-36 for the final exam. What does it say? “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.” Well, good news – you’re not in prison or they just haven’t caught you yet. Being in prison means you didn’t have a good lawyer or you did something incredibly stupid. But, you have the gift of freedom. So, go visit someone…not now while we’re in this hotbed of COVID…but after. If you are healthy, that is a gift from God, so there should be some gratitude on your part. How is gratitude best demonstrated? By visiting the sick. If you have extra clothing, that means you have a job and an income, so give to someone who doesn’t. This is how you will be judged…by sharing the love that He has given you. God gave us the gift of faith for a reason. He wants us to bestow that gift of faith, to manifest it, by using whatever vocation or talents we have. Use them prudently, spend a lot of time in prayer, and receive the Sacraments frequently. This is how we will be judged…by the gifts we received and how we used those gifts. This is how we show our Faith.
I broke the law the other day. As I was walking through the Geriatric Unit at the VA Hospital, I recognized a patient who had been a Navy nurse in Vietnam. She’s in solitary confinement. That’s real suffering, especially during this time when solitary confinement means total lockdown. I said, “How are you, sweetheart!” She had this beautiful smile, so I looked both ways and gave her a kiss on top of her head through my mask (a COVID kiss). She just smiled, and when I told her that this never happened, she laughed. This is how we show our faith and share His love. It’s also how we will be judged. God will say, “I gave you this great gift. I gave you the gift of Myself. I gave you the gift of My love. I asked you to share My Love with other people so that their souls might be saved. So, what have you done with this great gift I gave you?”
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you use your faith and talents to help others in need? Will you show them His love?