“Stop Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic!”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
March 9-10, 2019
Scripture: Luke 4: 1-13
1) Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2) for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3) The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4) Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.” 5) Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6) The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7)All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8) Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” 9) Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10) for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11) and:‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12) Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13) When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Many times we get so caught up in acquiring the material things in life that we neglect our spiritual lives. We spend way too much time on unimportant, trivial things and neglect what is most important…our spiritual lives and what’s on the inside. Christ has come to change us on the inside…the outside is not important. When we fix what’s on the inside, everything will work out. Doing anything else is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
People are not evil because they don’t have enough stuff. But, wouldn’t giving them computers and cell phones help them be holy? No. If they just had a great place to live, could they then be holy? No. Is everyone who is rich, holy? No. In fact, there are rich people in prison right now who had all of the material possessions they could possibly desire. You see, it’s not about having stuff. It’s about what’s inside us. Christ gave us the Sacraments to help change what’s on the inside.
It is very difficult to watch a family member die; it is also hard watching people all around us die on the inside, because they’ve turned their backs on Jesus. Preach to others with your life….use words if necessary. Tell them the truth. But…be prepared for some to rebuff you. People don’t like the truth…especially, when the truth hurts.
I have a degree in Philosophy, but I have never understood the statement “We speak truth to power.” That statement has no meaning…it makes no sense. The truth is the truth regardless of who hears it. If we had the “right” people in office, would our country be in better shape? Do we really need more laws to govern our morality? Do we actually need a law that makes murder a sin?
Elijah was not a patient man, even more so when he was desperate and running for his life from his enemies. As he prayed to God for help, Elijah may have been expecting God to answer with thunder, lightning, or perhaps even an earthquake. Instead, He responded to Elijah with a whisper in the wind. Be careful that you aren’t missing His whispers while waiting for a lightning bolt.
The Church is not here for your entertainment. Am I required to put on a show? No. Do sermons need to be endless? No. I mean…even Moses told the Pharaoh “let my people go” (Exodus 7:16). Sometimes, after Mass, people will tell me that they enjoyed it. But, here’s the thing…we don’t participate in Mass to get pleasure…we participate so that we can give ourselves to Him. It’s not about a show….it’s about His death.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you stop rearranging the deck chairs and focus on what is most important?