Tag: Love

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Sermon Notes – The Good Shepherd

“The Good Shepherd“

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

April 24 – 25, 2021

Gospel:  John 10:11-18

I have been meditating on the Gospel of the Good Shepherd.  Where in the Gospel do we first hear about the Good Shepherd?   You’ll find it in Genesis when God went looking for Adam and Eve.   They had sinned and were trying to hide, but God looked for them to bring them back.  Why did they run from God?  They were “necked.”  That’s naked for all you Yankees.  They hid because they had sinned.  They ran away from God, but God went after them.  God goes after sinners, because He does not want us to succumb to the evil one.  Adam and Eve were afraid, because sin causes fear.  They were afraid of the One who loves us.  Sin makes us stay away from the One who has the power to heal sin.  “We’re going to be punished!”  But, this is a great act of love as we see on the Crucifix.  He asks us to partake of His love by receiving and asking for His forgiveness.  If we run from God after we have sinned, it is an offense against God. 

I have heard this statement from a number of priests and others:  “I have to forgive myself.”  Excuse me..WHAT??  That’s a sin right there.  The sin wasn’t against you.  You egotistical jerk!  The sin was against God and no one else. That statement is blasphemous. It’s pop psychology, and it’s blasphemous.  It’s your own fertilizer excuse…you know the word.  It’s a fertilizer excuse justifying the act.  “I have to forgive myself.”  You cannot bring healing to yourself. That would require penance and divine forgiveness.  Only God can absolve sin, and only God can heal it.  Sin in this world is made manifest by fear.  What do people do when they are afraid?  They try to hide.  They lay down conditions for coming back.  “I’m not coming back to the Church until priests can get married.”  Do you ask any of the professionals in your life if they are married?  “I’m not coming back until Mass is in English, until Confession is face-to-face, or until people can marry whoever or whatever they want.”  Really? 

Sin causes fear and anger which distorts reality.  So, people try to deny that they did anything wrong.  “I didn’t do anything!”  “It wasn’t that bad.”  “You cops are all crooked.”  “You priests are all perverts.”   They try to deny what they’ve done by lashing out.  When a dog is afraid, it may snarl at you. People try to deny their sin and will do anything but say “I’ve done wrong, and I’m sorry.”  That fear changes your perspective and it changes your attitude.

I was driving up to the VA hospital the other day, and I always try to find the State Troopers and the Sheriff’s deputies.  It keeps you aware, and it’s kind of fun to see where they might be hiding.  I appreciate the art form.  But, I can always tell where they are just by watching people in front of me slam on their brakes.  Why are you afraid?  Just do the speed limit. Come on!  But, they are afraid.  What are they afraid of?  They are only afraid if they’ve done something wrong.  But, God’s love casts out all fear…not self-love… but God’s love. 

God is love itself.  We see His love when we look at the Crucifix.  We see that love portrayed at every altar, at every confession, at every hospital visit by a priest, at every marriage ceremony, and at every baptism and confirmation.  This is God’s great love manifested.  I’ll give you some homework for tonight.  Read the poem, “Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson.  Francis was a drug addict and alcoholic.  He had fear, and he kept running and running afraid a great beast was going to kill him.  Finally, he ran out of energy and said, “Fine, kill me.  I don’t care anymore.”   When he stopped, he saw that the beast was actually a puppy that wanted to kiss him.  The last part of the poem is:  “Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, Save Me, save only Me?”

God is the Good Shepherd.  But, we have to be willing to be led.  Remember what the first sin was?  It wasn’t by Adam and Eve, but by Lucifer who would not serve.  It’s the same thing when we want to be led by God.  We have to say, “I will serve.” “I will follow.”  It is sinful to say, “I will not serve.”  “I will not listen to you.”  “I know what’s best.”  We are all sinners, that’s why we are all here.  He is the Good Shepherd and brings us home if we want to be led.

How will you apply this message to your life? Are you running from God?  Are you fearful and angry?  Stop running and let God lead you.

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.  From a cell phone, click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories” (located at the end of page).  There is also a search box if you are looking for a specific topic.

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Meditation of the Day – When Our Souls Leave Him, He Feels the Loss Keenly

“Do not suppose that after advancing the soul to such a state God abandons it so easily that it is light work for the devil to regain it. When His Majesty sees it leaving Him, He feels the loss so keenly that He gives it in many a way a thousand secret warnings which reveal to it the hidden danger. In conclusion, let us strive to make constant progress: we ought to feel great alarm if we do not find ourselves advancing, for without doubt the evil one must be planning to injure us in some way; it is impossible for a soul that has come to this state not to go still farther, for love is never idle. Therefore it is a very bad sign when one comes to a standstill in virtue.”— St. Teresa of Avila, p.99

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Loving Mean People

We can expect people to be mean sometimes—especially on social media. But what we don’t always expect is for people who claim to be Christians to be those mean people. It’s always difficult for us to react in a charitable way when people are rude or mean to us, but what we must remember is that—as Christians—we are examples of Christ by bearing the name of his people. Today, Jackie gives some advice on dealing with mean people.

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Minute Meditation – Weaving Prayer and Work

Sustaining them in these trials was the work of prayer. To such communities the church entrusted the “office” of praying the liturgy of the hours. The day—and night—was punctuated by formal prayer. In this way hymns, psalms, and prayers—recited or sung—would continually rise from earth to heaven. In this way the glory of God never ceased to be celebrated and the needs of humankind never ceased to be a source of trusting petitions. If those first sisters did, indeed, count the insults and privations as “great delights” what would explain such joy but the exaltation that flows from a love that “surpasses understanding.” It was through the daily cycle of prayer that such “blessed assurance” grew in them. The rounds of hours of the breviary brought the richness of psalms and Scripture texts into dialogue with their daily tasks. Meditation upon the Byzantine Cross, the adoration of the Eucharist, attending Mass, hearing sermons—all gave new meaning to each day’s trials or triumphs. Weaving prayer and productive work created the balance within their hearts and minds that allowed them to keep moving. The poor sisters lived filled with consolation, with assurance. They dared to believe that promise of Jesus. They were learning that he was true to his word and their joy was, indeed, full and free. They learned to reverse their own standards of judgment in favor of the riddle that calls one to lose life in order to gain it. That women could live without the safety net of approved monastic vows and ample endowments and follow Christ in such literal fashion was news indeed. And the women themselves were the first to understand that.

— from the book Light of Assisi: The Story of Saint Clare

by Margaret Carney, OSF

//Franciscan Media//

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Morning Offering – Look After Your Spiritual Well-being

“I earnestly admonish you, therefore, my brothers, to look after your spiritual well-being with judicious concern. Death is certain; life is short and vanishes like smoke. Fix your minds, then, on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, he came down from heaven to redeem us. For our sake he endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He himself gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient in adversity.”— St. Francis of Paola

//The Catholic Company//

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Meditation of the Day – Have You Really Met Jesus?

“I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus—one to one—you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in the chapel—but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus—not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Ask for the grace; He is longing to give it. Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying ‘I Thirst’ in the hearts of the poor. Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person—not just the idea.” — Saint Mother Teresa, p.129-30

//The Catholic Company//

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Minute Meditation – Hope Blossoms in Mercy

“So many people ask to be listened to and to be understood. The Gospel of mercy requires generous and joyful servants, people who love freely without expecting anything in return. ‘Peace be with you!’ (John 20:21) is the greeting of Jesus to his disciples; this same peace awaits men and women of our own day.… It is a peace that does not divide but unites; it is a peace that does not abandon us but makes us feel listened to and loved; it is a peace that persists even in pain and enables hope to blossom. This peace, as on the day of Easter, is born ever anew by the forgiveness of God which calms our anxious hearts.” —Pope Francis

The story of Thomas in the Upper Room is a clear example of Jesus meeting us in those wounded places in our lives and wordlessly offering us whatever we need to move beyond the hurt into a place of healing, trust, and peace. He doesn’t scold Thomas for needing proof; he doesn’t condemn him for a lack of faith. He holds out his hands and gives Thomas what he needs. We each have our own struggles with faith, with trust, with love, whether in our relationships with others, our connection to a church community, our responsibilities at home, at work, in school. As we place our needs before God’s loving mercy, we open ourselves to receive whatever gesture of peace he offers us. Mercy is the sign of God’s ongoing presence in the world. Few people have made this more clear and compelling than Pope Francis. And it’s not just about realizing that God is merciful to us. It’s realizing that we are now called, compelled, even commanded to be merciful to all those people we meet. 

In his preaching on mercy, Pope Francis often emphasizes the importance of listening compassionately to people who are wounded, struggling, searching for God’s love. So often we want to rush in to fix other people’s lives. The next time you feel this urge, take a step back and first simply listen to and love the person before you. God’s peace passes all our human understanding. And often it lies beyond our limited human words. 

— from the book The Hope of Lent: Daily Reflections from Pope Francis,

by Diane M. Houdek

//Franciscan Media//