Tag: heroes

“There are Heroes and Saints in Our Midst”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

 July 9 – 10, 2022

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 

You’ve heard me say that if you study scripture, you need to study with a rabbi or take some Jewish courses, because you need to read scripture in the proper context.  I took two courses with a rabbi, and it was fascinating.  In today’s gospel, the priest and the Levite were clergy, and they did not take care of someone who laid hurt on the side of the road.  You know what?  They didn’t have to.  According to the law at the time, if a hurt person was on your side of the road, you had to take care of them.   However, if the hurt person was on the other side of the road, the law said that you didn’t have to help them.  So, the priest and the Levite were justified in not caring for the hurt person according to the law.   But Jesus said, “My love goes beyond the law.”  People say, “Father, I’m a good Catholic…I go to Mass every Sunday.”  Being a good Catholic goes beyond not robbing banks and not committing murder.  Okay?

We tend to see people without really seeing them.  We see them as they are now and not in the way they were.  By the way, I watch all of you.  That’s why I was a good Battalion Chaplain.  I got to know my troops, and I could look at their faces and tell if something was wrong.  Our small parish is about the size of a battalion.  At church, people tend to sit in the same seat.  And if someone happens to sit in your seat, you stand there and stare at them.  “Hey! I always sit there, and I am not moving!”  It happens all the time.  So, when you are not here, I know it.  You can’t pull a fast one on the old man. 

Over the past few Saturdays, I have noticed that someone was not here.  He was a little guy who you wouldn’t give a second look at on the street.  His name was Ray Mikol, and I always called him by his first name.  Know what his first name was?  Sergeant Major.  He earned that.  He was in the Knights of Columbus.  He spent 29 years in Uncle Sam’s Army.  Ray suffered from a heart attack and went on to his rest.  Ray was an overachiever.  He earned the award that nobody wants to get – the Purple Heart.   They usually give that one to dead people.  He got the Bronze Star for valor.  He did a couple of tours in Vietnam.  He had all these good conduct medals and a Paratrooper Badge.  That’s like a Marine getting a Good Conduct medal.  It just doesn’t happen!  A paratrooper with a Good Conduct medal flies in the face of everything I know about paratroopers.  But think of all the sacrifices he made.  He loved God, and he loved his family.   He did the right thing and sacrificed for them.  And I am sure there are a lot of soldiers who have families and grandchildren because of him and his teaching by example.   That just goes to show you there are heroes and saints in our midst. 

How will you apply this message to your life?  ________________________________________

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You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.”  Cell phone: click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories”

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