Sermon Notes – You Need a Surgeon…

“You Need a Surgeon…Not a Dermatologist”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

April 27-28, 2019

Scripture: John 20: 19-31

19) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.* The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21) [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23) Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 24) Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25) So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26) Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28) Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29) Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 30) Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. 31)But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Some of the questions we often hear from non-Catholics are “Where does it say in the bible that we must confess our sins to a priest? Why can’t I go straight to God to confess my sins and ask Him for forgiveness?” Well, for the same reason when you have appendicitis, it’s best to see a surgeon rather than a dermatologist. In John 20:22-23, the Lord gave His apostles the Holy Spirit and said “the sins you forgive are forgiven.” So, for a good spiritual diagnosis and prescription, go to a priest for confession. He will know whether you have Perfect or Imperfect Contrition. Our contrition is perfect when we are sorry for our sins because we love God and sin offends Him. Our contrition is imperfect when we are sorry for our sins because we fear God’s punishment. During confession, a priest can help you understand which one you have and recommend ways to break or avoid bad habits.

Another question I’m sometimes asked is “Isn’t it good enough to get a general absolution?” Well, you still need to go to Confession afterward and as soon as possible. During my 35+ years in the priesthood, I have given a general absolution only once and that was when I was giving a Mass to soldiers in Iraq, and we began taking incoming fire.

We must preach penance for the remission of sin. We also must preach God’s love …and the mercy manifested in it. But, you cannot talk about that which you’ve never experienced. This isn’t something that can be learned by reading books; instead, it comes from firsthand experience. Priests need to be able to make it real for people. They must have the fire of God burning in their bellies that comes only from knowing and loving Him. Otherwise, priests lose credibility, and people won’t believe what they say.

As you may know, I volunteer as a hospital chaplain at the Veterans Hospital in Salisbury. The nurses often call me when they know patients are close to death. Why do they call me? Because they know that, through God’s grace, I always come so that I can show those nearing death God’s love and mercy. But, priests are not the only ones called to do this. You also have that responsibility.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you share your firsthand experience of God’s love and mercy with those who need to hear your story?

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