//Clergy Coaching Network//
Only Then Can We Have Mercy and Compassion
Sermon Notes – October 8, 2023 – “We Do Not Know”
“We Do Not Know”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
October 7 – 8, 2023
Gospel: Matthew 21:33:43
While I was proclaiming the gospel, I thought about the servants the master dispatched. They were cursed at and thrown out. I can empathize with that. I’m glad you are sitting down because I’m sure you will be stunned when I tell you that sometimes I have not been treated very well by people. Shocking, isn’t it? Blanch and John’s little boy has been mistreated. I’ve been cursed at and thrown out of patients’ rooms. My cousin yelled at me one time while I was attending my aunt’s funeral. She said, “You still believe in this stuff?” to which I replied, “Yeah, what happened to you?” Our Lord created us out of love, sustains us in His love, and wants us to respond to His love so that we can be with Him for all eternity. That’s why He not only sent prophets, but He also sent His Son to remind of us His great love. People treated them not so well. He begs us to respond to His gifts. He begs us not to grow weary or to become jaded. He begs us to continue the walk to salvation. He tells us in the Gospels, point blank with no grey area or ambiguity, what we should do and not do. And if we happen to stumble, He gives us the means by which to pick up our cross and follow Him. He continues to show His everlasting love because He doesn’t want anyone to be separated from Him for all eternity. That’s not His plan. That’s our plan, not His.
We are called to judge people for we will know them by their fruits. I do not want to eat a sandwich made by someone who just came from the bathroom without washing their hands. Call me fussy, but I do not like that, and I’ve been to some pretty disgusting places. So, you will know them by their fruits, but you can never judge them for eternal salvation. You can never judge people beyond God’s mercy. About eight years ago, I was making my rounds in Hospice and a nurse came up to me and said, “Father, the patient in Room 3 has a statue of Buddha in his room.” So, I went into the patient’s room, and we talked for a while. He was a Marine during World War II. He had three island landings, and the second one hit him badly. It took him out of the game, but they fixed him up and sent him back in. The third one hit him so badly that he could no longer be a Marine. So, we were sitting there talking and he said, “I’m Buddhist.” Now it was time to talk about the elephant or the Buddha in the room. We take people where they are. The patient asked me if I knew anything about Buddha, and I said not much. I mean I know if you rub the fat guy’s belly it’s supposed to bring you wealth. But that’s about it. What did Buddha say to the hot dog vendor? Make me one with everything. The patient loaned me a book about Buddhism, and I took it home and read it. The next time I saw the patient, I told him that I had read the book and that it was very interesting. Then he told me why he became a Buddhist. After his tours of duty during World War II, he was sitting on an island, and he looked down at his left arm where he was wearing a silver ID bracelet. There were 28-29 notches on the bracelet which meant he had personally put the whack on 28-29 Japanese soldiers. Marines get up close and personal. When he came home from the war, he tried to be a good husband and father. He talked to the clergy to find help for what was going on inside him. But he could not find the answer for the damage the war had done to him, so he found peace in Buddhism. I can live with that. I came out of the room and told the nurses not to worry about the Buddha. The Buddha is fine. The upside of the story is that this patient got better and left Hospice although not in the usual way. He actually walked out of Hospice and moved to Florida to live with his daughter.
We had this woman come into hospice at the VA. She was acting very ugly and was throwing staff members out of her room. If she was in a good mood, she would let one nurse and one doctor enter her room. Finally, one of the chaplains went in and talked to her. Know why she was in Hospice even though she was only in her early thirties? She put herself there by living a very bad life. She was self-medicating because of the severe abuse she experienced as a child. Some might say, “She doesn’t know Jesus, so she’s not going to Heaven.” You know, I wouldn’t be so sure about that considering the crosses she has had to carry. That’s why we don’t judge other people.
We don’t judge people because we don’t know the crosses they carry. We don’t know what the heck has happened to them or to those they love. God judges that. The Gospel says, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold” (John 10:16). We don’t know, so we pray for them, and we implore the merciful judgment of God’s mercy upon them. In the future, I will probably be thrown out of more rooms. Will it hurt my feelings? Maybe. But that’s what I’m supposed to do. Before HIPAA rules, which every hospital and nursing home has, the staff would let me know when someone was dying, and I would go in and say the Prayer for the Departing Soul. I’ve told the funeral directors here that if someone doesn’t have anyone to pray for them at their graveside, call me and I will come and say the Prayer of the Dead. Because we are all children of God created in His image and likeness. We all deserve that. We don’t wish for God’s judgment on anyone. If we do, we are wishing it for ourselves. We don’t know the agony other people have endured, so we implore God’s mercy on them.
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.”
Saint of the Day – October 5 – Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska’s Story (August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938)
Saint Faustina’s name is forever linked to the annual feast of the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy chaplet, and the Divine Mercy prayer recited each day at 3 p.m. by many people.
Born in what is now west-central Poland, Helena Kowalska was the third of 10 children. She worked as a housekeeper in three cities before joining the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in 1925. She worked as a cook, gardener and porter in three of their houses.
In addition to carrying out her work faithfully, generously serving the needs of the sisters and the local people, Sister Faustina also had a deep interior life. This included receiving revelations from the Lord Jesus, messages that she recorded in her diary at the request of Christ and of her confessors.
At a time when some Catholics had an image of God as such a strict judge that they might be tempted to despair about the possibility of being forgiven, Jesus chose to emphasize his mercy and forgiveness for sins acknowledged and confessed. “I do not want to punish aching mankind,” he once told Saint Faustina, “but I desire to heal it, pressing it to my merciful heart.” The two rays emanating from Christ’s heart, she said, represent the blood and water poured out after Jesus’ death.
Because Sister Maria Faustina knew that the revelations she had already received did not constitute holiness itself, she wrote in her diary: “Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to a soul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul with God. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist in the close union of my will with the will of God.”
Sister Maria Faustina died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland, on October 5, 1938. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993, and canonized her seven years later.
Reflection
Devotion to God’s Divine Mercy bears some resemblance to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In both cases, sinners are encouraged not to despair, not to doubt God’s willingness to forgive them if they repent. As Psalm 136 says in each of its 26 verses, “God’s love [mercy] endures forever.”
The Catechism in a Year – Day 266 – The Gift of Grace
In this summary of the Catechism’s teaching on holiness, justification, and merit, we briefly consider the work of God’s grace and mercy. His grace moves us from sin and toward him, making us his sons and daughters and bringing us into the very life of the Trinity. This gift of grace invites us to respond to his promptings and invitations freely. Finally, God offers “all the graces needed to attain eternal life.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2017-2029.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/thnwUFdtSAA?si=DVVzpWlHmaR3dmPY
Sermon Notes – September 10, 2023 – “Hey Homey, You’re in a Minefield!”
“Hey Homey, You’re in a Minefield!”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
September 9 – 10, 2023
Gospel: Matthew 18: 15-20
Because we are all baptized, we are called to carry our crosses each day on the road to Calvary. All of us will pass from this life and see God. Some of us will stay only for a cup of coffee while others will get to stay longer. If we are faithful, we will have a graduation ceremony in Heaven. There are a lot of other people also on their way to Calvary. We are called to encourage one another on the way to salvation. It is important that we are not too sensitive when someone says, “Father, you are a real pain in the patootie.” I already know that, and I’ll try to be better. Sometimes, we are blind to our own faults, and we may start wandering off the path Christ has set for us. We are called to warn others, “Hey homey, get over here. You are wandering off the path and into a minefield. Don’t go there. Bad move!” Saint Paul said, “I make up with my body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.” So, we help one another by our prayers, sufferings, and works to help them carry their crosses. And conversely, they help us carry ours.
Instead of the terms “admonition” and “correction,” I prefer the term “encouragement.” You don’t know anything about the crosses people are carrying and whether their crosses are their own fault, the fault of their parents, or the fault of their siblings. We have no idea of the life they have led. So rather than admonishing or correcting someone, I prefer encouraging them because it goes a lot further. Sometimes a correction or threat is just an attention-getter. But once you have their attention, encourage them. In religious life, we call that fraternal correction. However, it is usually infernal correction. Our Lord said, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” We tend to think of ourselves as superior because, well, we are us. I like to use fraternal encouragement. Most people know they’ve made mistakes, so you don’t need to remind them. They need encouragement to try to do the right thing to get back on, and stay on, the path Christ has set for us. It’s hard to take up our daily crosses. So, we need to encourage one another. That’s why God gives Himself to us in the Sacraments.
I remember once running a Physical Training (PT) test. The Army has since then changed the rules, but before when someone was failing – and you don’t want anyone to fail – when nobody was looking, you would pick them up and run with them. Their feet would barely touch the ground. And if an official was around, we would set them down and say, “Now run.” We were running this one PT test, and I had my assistant run back to encourage the stragglers because nobody wants to take the test again. This one soldier said, “I can’t do it, Sir! I can’t do it! I’m going to be sick!” Shut up! You can do it. She made it, and she made it within the timeline. And true to her word, she was ill. Oops! Later, she came back to me she said, “Thank you for helping me.”
We are called to encourage one another with our crosses on our way to salvation. A couple of things about our crosses and encouraging others with theirs is that we all have them, and we are no more holy than anyone else. Even if someone is at fault, and even if it approaches the level of Civil Law, you cannot make it public because doing so would be scandalous and sinful. Bishops are very good at scandal. They really are. You have to give people a way back and a way to regain their good name. It is very hard for some people in the Church to do that even though, according to Civil Law, you can have your record expunged. We have to allow people a way back because we are men, not angels.
A priest once told me he had been suspended. Now, I’m not a Canon lawyer, but I’ve seen one on television. I asked this priest if he had received a letter. He had not. I told him that once he received a letter, it would tell him what he had done and what he needed to do to come back. This is a medicinal remedy and not a punishment. We are not in the punishment business; we are in the helping people obtain salvation business. Remember, the amount of mercy we show is the amount of mercy we will receive.
Father’s Reflections . . . Monday is the anniversary of 9/11, and it reminds me of a quote by George Orwell: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And having worked with some of them, yes, we did.
I had an interesting phone call the other day. Usually, the calls I get go like this: “Father, yada yada yada, blah blah blah.” And my response is, “Oh not again! Please, just leave me alone!” But this call was really nice and interesting. The person said, “Father, I’m not a member of your parish, but I have Covid, and it’s terrible. Would you please pray for me?” Thank you! I love messages like that. It was a really nice phone call which is better than the ones I usually get. And yes, I did pray for the caller.
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 Catechism in a Year – Day 246 – Mercy and the Mystery of Sin
Jesus reveals God’s offer of loving mercy to sinners. To accept this gift, we must identify and admit our failings. Recognizing our sins enables us to further cooperate in our redemption. Sin can be understood and categorized in several ways, but every sin wounds our nature and damages our relationships with God and neighbor. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1846-1853.
Click on link: https://youtu.be/2Mr4na4vOGc?si=Uy1Z3LOgWEZ8SJtt
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
Daily Reflection – Jesus is Never Far
Minute Meditation – One Who is Mercy
Without the true sacred, we are all at one another’s mercy and subject to one another’s whimsical judgments. Under the true sacred, we are at the mercy of One Who Is Mercy. No wonder Jesus gave all his life to proclaim such a monumental liberation! Humanity has been waiting for such freedom with Messianic hope. It is the only way out of our revolving hall of mirrors, our own war of all against all, and is rightly called salvation. For Jesus, God’s judgment is good news for the nations—and for the individual too. How different this is than how most of us think about judgment.
—from the book Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount
by Richard Rohr, OFM
//Franciscan Media//
Minute Meditation – Entertaining Angels Unaware
We are encouraged to welcome strangers, for by doing so, many people have entertained angels unaware (see Hebrews 13:2). As Jesus put it in his only description of the final judgment, “in so far as you did this to one of the least of these, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). I wonder what else could save us from our fear and accusation of one another, except one whose judgments are both upside-down and true—and whose mercy is everlasting. Fortunately, they are one and the same, a God who is both sanctuary and stumbling stone (see Isaiah 8:14).
—from the book Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount
by Richard Rohr, OFM
//Franciscan Media//