Hear things about the Annunciation that you have never heard before and why it was the most important day in human history. Hear Fr. Chris Alar explain what we need to know about this solemnity. Includes answering such questions as is Christmas a pagan holiday? Is the Hail Mary Biblical? Do we worship Mary? and the difference between Mary and Zechariah. Streamed live on Mar 25, 2023
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So, they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is One among you whom you do not recognize, the One who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Do you know what the two kinds of people in church are? Well, there are saints and sinners – we are all sinners, so that’s us. Some are ordained and not ordained. There is no second class. In Rome, they are saying, “Oh, we make the decisions.” “Women need the power to make great decisions.” Really? Did you grow up in a hole? Women always make decisions. Are you kidding me? There is also chatter in the Church about who wants to lead or who wants power. How about John the Baptist? He said, “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals” (John 1:7). In those times, do you know who unstrapped people’s sandals and washed their feet? Slaves. John said he was beneath the slaves. Know what Jesus said about John the Baptist? He said, “Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). So even as great a man as John was, he was not worthy to untie the sandals of our Savior. We have to remember our state. Even as a priest, I must remember my state. I was given this gift for you and not for myself. I am a better priest when I am more humble as I try to be holy. So whatever gifts we have been given are for others.
Have you ever heard that Christmas is the season for giving? Do you know where that phrase originated? Walmart and all the stores before them. Christmas is NOT the season for giving. Christmas is the season for receiving. What is Christmas? It is the reception of Christ coming into our world. The first Christmas was when we received our dear Savior in a stable in Bethlehem. We received Him into this world so that He could fulfill His promise to come, suffer, die, open the doors of Heaven, and give us the means to achieve our salvation. Christmas is the season for receiving. We are called to prepare ourselves for the reception of Christ not only at the anniversary of His birth in this world but also for that time when we experience our perfect Christmas which is when we get to see Him and enter Heaven.
Holy Mother Church stresses that we should prepare our souls to celebrate His coming. He is our true peace and happiness. We are called to prepare ourselves for all the little Christmas we experience when we receive Him in Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance. We can receive Christ every day. How often can you receive Holy Communion? Do you know? Once a day? Actually, more than once a day. Twice if you receive Holy Communion at a daily Mass and then go to a wedding or a funeral. You can go to Confession once a day too. Popes and the great saints went every day to receive the grace of our Lord in the Sacraments.
So, Christmas is the season of receiving. When we receive, we can give. Only by the reception of our Lord and welcoming Him into our souls and our lives are we able to give that love to others. You cannot give what you do not have. We cannot give love if we do not have the Author of love inside our souls. We just can’t. So, this is the season to prepare ourselves to receive our Savior not only on the anniversary of His birth into this world but before every Mass and every time we receive the Sacrament of Penance which could be every day . . . just trying to drum up business. When you receive Holy Communion, you receive Him spiritually and physically into your body. So, for Catholics, every day can be Christmas.
This is the season for receiving. I am not telling you to skip giving gifts to your family and friends. Don’t do that. I don’t want to make your life harder than it needs to be. But all that is just an expression of what should be inside. If it’s not there, you need to receive our Lord a lot more often.
How will you apply this message to your life? ________________________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.” Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at ola.Catholic.Church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Here’s a little quiz from the Gospel: What do grasshoppers taste like? Chicken? No. They taste like grasshoppers, and the best dipping sauce is honey mustard. Just putting that out there for you. I’m hearing eye-rolls out there.
In the second reading of the Divine Office, there are writings from Saint Charles Borromeo who wrote that Holy Mother Church prepares the faithful for Christmas and the coming of Christ through hymns, readings, and liturgies. And that’s true. They all focus on the great mystery of His love.
During the Christmas season, we think about our past Christmases. Some were really good, and some were maybe not so good. We wish we could have Christmases like in years past. But all of those are temporary, although very teachable moments. The fulfillment of the joy of Christmas will come later. This is just a taste. All of those that disappointed us with all that pain, sorrow, and regret will be gone and transformed by the love of Christ. Christ is love Himself.
Some people ask me what my best Christmas was. I don’t know. I’ve had a lot of nice ones. Growing up, I had a great family despite me. One not so good Christmas happened when I was overseas, and I ran out of Spaghetti’Os. Oh, the sorrows I’ve seen! “Father, how about when you came home from overseas?” Well, it was quieter; I’ll give you that. It was also nice to have fresh plumbing; I’ll give you that too. “But don’t you have a favorite Christmas?” Well, I haven’t had it yet. My favorite Christmas will be when Christ comes to take me from this world and, hopefully, I will be found worthy to be possessed by Him. That will be my favorite Christmas. All the other Christmases are a foretaste, an encouragement, and mere teaching moments. So, keep your eyes fixed on the last Christmas to come.
Father’s Reflections . . . The Christmas parade yesterday was very nice. It was a long one, lasting over an hour, and continued during the Mass. People from our parish were volunteers. They did a fantastic job, and I want to thank them for that.
How will you apply this message to your life? ______________________________________
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.” On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.” Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at ola.Catholic.Church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
Diving deeper into Jesus Christ as Mystery, the Catechism describes the deep mystery in the preparations for Christ’s coming—also known as Advent—as well as the mystery of his first coming in Christmas. Fr. Mike points to one of the last sentences of today’s readings—”Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us”—and reminds us that Jesus is the star of the story, not us. Our goal is to become children in relation to God. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 522-526.
