Tag: Drop the Rock

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Sermon Notes – November 23, 2025 – “Drop the Rock”

“Drop the Rock”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

November 22-23, 2025

Gospel: Luke 23:35-43

I have been told that there is a day this week called “Black Friday.”  I always wear black on Friday, so I am fashion forward.  But that’s probably not it.  Black Friday is a day when people go absolutely crazy trying to buy things on sale.  But if they can buy things at such a good price on Black Friday, my training in Philosophy tells me that those items must be overpriced on all the other days of the year.  Just saying.  People go crazy on Black Friday perhaps because it’s a reminder that there are only five weeks left until Christmas.  You have a list of gifts to give family and friends who may have told you what they want, or you may know what they need.

Gifts are expressions of our love.  Now, you all love God because you are here.  So let me ask you a theological question.  What are you giving God for Christmas?  What does God need?  What does God want?  God wants the one thing He did not create.   He wants our sins.   God did not create sin.  We did when we refused to love Him and serve Him.  But our sin is what He wants, and only we can give it to Him.  He wants all those secret sins that we take to the grave and that make our lives much more miserable than they have to be.  Who wants that?  
God wants to come and dwell in our hearts.  There is a principle in Newtonian Physics which states that two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.  Likewise, God cannot dwell in a heart that is full of sin.  He cannot do it.  He will not do it.  “Can’t God just take away my sins without me?”  Yes.  Will He do it?   No, because that would violate your free will.  To love is an act of the will.  It is not an emotion.  We choose to love.  When we choose not to love Him, God will not violate our free will, no matter how much He loves us. 

God wants us to give Him our sins in the Sacrament of Penance.  You would be surprised at what that does.  If you want to be happy, joyous, and free, and if you want to give up the cost of low living, give God what He wants most – your sins.  There is a book counselors use entitled, “Drop the Rock” by Bill Pittman.   When people are trying to swim out to the lifeboat, but they keep sinking, it’s because they are carrying a big rock.  Dude, what are you trying to be, a Navy Seal?   “But I don’t want to give my stuff up!”  Well, you either give that stuff up or you are going to be miserable and die.  Take your pick. 

It is amazing the stuff we hang on to, whether it’s the sins we have committed, or the sins others have committed against us.  But you must save your soul.  So, drop the rock!   God asks for the worst we have and for some reason, in our fallen state, we refuse.  We refuse to give God the worst we have.  But that is all He wants.  He wants our sin so that He can give us the best gift we could ever hope for – Himself.

Father’s Reflections: I want to thank everyone for their kindness while I was sick.  If I needed anything, it would show up like soup, pie, Jello, cyanide (some days were worse than others).   * I went to Chic Filet for lunch the other day, and the young lady who took my order asked me, “What’s a good name?”   I said, “Fred.”   I have always liked that name, Fred.  I’m feeling much better now!

How will you apply this message to your life?  ________________________________________

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to AnnunciationCatholicAlbemarle.com, clicking on “Blog,” then “Categories,” and 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

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Sermon Notes – July 9, 2023 – “Life is Tough. It’s Tougher When You’re Stupid”

Life is Tough – It’s Tougher When You’re Stupid

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

July 8 – 9, 2023

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

One of my favorite spiritual maxims that I try to follow, and I pass onto you, is that life is tough; it’s tougher when you’re stupid. And I think we can all agree on that. I really should have that translated into Latin because if I were to ever become a bishop, I’d have it placed on my Coat of Arms. Life has been tough, and we have struggled ever since our first parents ate us out of house and home in the Garden of Eden. Their sin and the sins we have committed since Baptism make life a lot tougher than it has to be because we don’t ask for spiritual help. Some famous last words are, “I’ve got this.” How are you feeling? “I’m fine!” Some people are always angry and upset. “Oh! The Church did this and did that!” When and where? “Well, it says this.” I’ve never been told that, and I think I would have gotten the message. Saying that “I’m going to do this my own way” is a sign of pride. Let me know how that works out for you. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Not you and not me. If we do as He asks, life gets better. Our Lord promises us peace and a joy that nobody can take from us, which is Him. But we have to do first things first.

In counseling there is a book used in 12-Step programs called “Drop the Rock.” The story is about a guy who is swimming out to a boat, and he starts to drown. A guy on the boat says, “You can make it, but you have to drop the rock!” The guy who is drowning says, “No. I love rock too much. I love my lifestyle. I love the pain sooo much, and I don’t want to give it up!” We don’t want to give up the high price of low living. Are you doing well? Are you happy? “No, but it’s the only thing I know!” That’s true. We are afraid of the unknown. We get used to having the pebble in our shoe, so when it’s gone, we are frightened. We are used to having the pain, and when it’s gone, we think something is wrong. That’s why when people get clean or sober, they find it frightening. They’ve never been that way before, and they have to get used to a whole new style of living.

I tell people that the greatest freedom and happiness they can have in this life is to love Christ with all your body, with all your mind, and with all your soul. Who knows – you might dry out. “Oh, I don’t know if I can survive being sober.” Okay, I’ll give you a 12-month program. Go to Confession once a month, say the rosary every day, and go to Mass on Sundays – more often is better. And, if at the end of 12 months, you are not happier, your misery will be cheerfully refunded. So far, in my 39 years of priesthood, nobody has come back to me and said, “You were wrong.” Not one. You want a challenge? Here you go.

Our Lord promises us peace and happiness. Not happiness like sunshine and rainbows – oops, we can’t use that word anymore. “Oh, we are so happy and joyous!” Are you crazy? Do you know the stuff I carry around? Do you know my crosses? My goodness! Our Lord promised us inner peace when He dwells in our souls. And all the things that happen externally cannot disturb that peace. They may upset us and make us anxious, but that peace cannot be taken away. The only way it can be removed is by our driving Christ out of our souls through sin. But if we do as He asks, we will receive what He has promised, and we can have peace in our soul.

If you read the Gospel in its original translation, it says, “My yoke is sweet. My burden light.” Do you know what “sweet” means? Each yoke is carved for a specific animal and is not interchangeable because other animals are different. The Lord prescribes a yoke for us that is specifically for us. All our crosses are individual and not comparative. “My cross is worse than yours.” “No, mine is worse than yours!” Shut Up!! No, it’s not. God knows how much we can handle with His help. Each cross is sufficient to keep us humble and reliant on our good Lord. So, your cross cannot be compared to someone else’s. I’m willing to bet that no one has ever been kept awake with the thought that they will never be made Monsignor. Nobody has ever gotten worry lines like me while wondering when the next apple pie, peach cobbler, pineapple, or Jell-O will be coming. I don’t see any worry lines on your faces. No one has been as upset as me about having to give up bacon. You ain’t seen the troubles I’ve seen! “Oh, I’ve got worse crosses than that!” Well, it’s not a comparison, but our good Lord gives us the strength to carry them.

There have been a few saints during our lifetime you would know about and who had unbelievable crosses that were revealed only after their deaths. Padre Pio, the flying monk, intercepted B-17 bombers and prevented them from bombing his monastery. He was tempted by the devil a lot, yet he was full of gentleness, comfort, and hope. Saint Teresa of Calcutta, such a sweet woman, had amazing temptations. Saint John Paul II grew up in Nazi Poland. Try growing up there and let me know how much fun it is. Yet, he was the most gentle of the Holy Fathers. Bishop Sheen, who you may remember from television, had movie star looks. He had a sense of style and looked great on camera. Know what his diet consisted of? Boiled chicken, graham crackers and milk. That’s all his stomach could take. But you never knew it. We have examples right in front of us in our parents and friends who have lived through immense tragedies and kept their faith.

Our good Lord offers to help us with all our crosses. He begs us to take that yoke upon ourselves. Don’t make life harder than necessary. We can rid ourselves of the garbage in our souls at Confession. Remember my spiritual maxim: Life is tough. It’s tougher when you’re stupid. Don’t be stupid.

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 Facebook page at ola.catholic.church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”