Forgiving those who have hurt us is a challenging call. Fr. Mike explains what it means to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We learn that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing and that we can transform our hurt into intercession with God’s grace. We ask the Lord to soften our hearts so that they may remain open to loving and forgiving others. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2838-2845.
At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to pray through his own prayer to the Father. As we watch Jesus pray, his prayer becomes our template for our own prayer. Fr. Mike emphasizes that our prayer should not just be external, but rather should be an internal conversion of heart. This internal conversion of heart involves many aspects such as, reconciliation, loving our enemies, praying to the Father in secret, and prayerful forgiveness. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2607-2615.
I don’t know if today’s sermon will be as good as last week’s, but I’m going to give it a shot. What is the key element needed to grow in the spiritual life? It begins with a “C.” Change. We have to change. We are always changing. I can no longer bend steel with my bare hands, leap tall buildings, or run faster than a locomotive. Those days are over if they ever were. I can no longer do those things. My mind says, “Sure! You can keep up with that 18-year-old.” Yeah, like that’s going to happen. I made that mistake once while I was in the military. One of the officers said, “Father, let them do it. You are the senior officer present.” I said, “I am not going to let those twerps, those young soldiers, outwork me.” It’s a guy thing. When I went back to the hooch at the end of the day, I was in a world of hurt even after a hot shower and taking Motrin. But I wasn’t about to let someone outwork me – that wasn’t going to happen.
The key word is “change.” But the trouble with change is that we always try to change the wrong things. I’ve been a priest for over 30 years, and I have people come to me with addiction problems. Nobody gets to choose their crosses. “So, what can I do about it?” Well, you’ve got to change. “Well, I think if I move to Florida, Alaska, Rhode Island, or Oakboro, I would be better. Or maybe if I had a different spouse or a better job, things would be okay.” That’s plausible. But, in all that, there is one glaring fault. “What’s that?” Well, in all those scenarios, you are bringing you. You aren’t changing. You’re just taking the mess somewhere else.
We have to change. This is what our Lord said: “Leave all things behind and come follow Me.” He doesn’t mean physical things. He is referring to our attachment to self . . . our whole will. Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3). A child is dependent on their parents who are the source of life. We are called to change, but we always seek to change the wrong things even in the Church. People say to me, “Father, I sit in the back of the church, and I cannot hear you.” Well, move up to the front row. There’s plenty of room there. “Father, I do not like Latin or Latin hymns.” Well, I don’t hear you singing the English hymns either. “If we had reconciliation rooms where you could go in and talk to the priest like in a therapy session, it would be better.” So, thousands of dollars was spent on reconciliation rooms, and confessions continued to take a nosedive like a Kamikaze pilot. Then the Roman Rota, the highest court in the Church, said, “You know, that’s illegal because the priest and penitent must be separated by an immovable barrier.” Oops!
I was in a brand new church, a beautiful church, and I was talking to the pastor. I asked him if he had thought about installing an altar rail. He said, “Yes, I really wanted one, but I ran out of money.” Okay, I understand that. One of his parishioners, a staff member, said, “Oh I hate altar rails. It’s so old-school.” So, you are offended by an inanimate object? It’s not like you have to have one in your house. We change all the wrong things. During your lifetime, we have had Mass in every conceivable language. If you want to hear every language spoken on the planet, come to the 12:15 Mass. I speak Spanish with a French accent, and sometimes I break into Latin just for grips and grins. “We should have Mass in all these languages so that people will come.” They still don’t come! “Well, if we have the Vigil Mass at 5:00 on Saturday and Mass on Sunday night, people will come.” Mass attendance is still down.
My grandfather was a police officer for 38 years in the city of Taunton, MA. Family history has it that he never drew his side-arm. I also have it from someone who had a close encounter with my grandfather that he did use his foot. Those are the old days when you could provide guidance without the cameras rolling. This guy said, “You know something? I deserved it.” He never did that again. My grandfather never missed a Mass. “Oh, we can’t have the dreaded Latin Mass.” Oh, my goodness! It would make it so easy for me. I would only need to have one Mass for the entire United Nations in this church.
I have a book in my office entitled “Chaplains of WWII.” In the book, there are stories about two priests one of which was an Army chaplain. He followed the same Mass during the Battle of the Bulge, in the snow, with the soldiers kneeling. “That was in the war?” Yes, a big one. The Germans and Americans were negotiating real estate. It was pretty brutal, but they held Mass, and the soldiers were all on their knees. Another story from the book that I thought was moving happened in Iwo Jima. A Navy priest was saying Mass with the Marines, and the Marines held up ponchos so that the wind wouldn’t blow everything over. You know what? They were all kneeling during the Mass. The average age of a Marine there was 19 years old. We don’t send old men to fight wars. Jim Dawson was 19 years old and disarmed bombs in Vietnam which is a zero-defect kind of job.
We need to change ourselves. That’s what Jesus said, “Leave everything behind you, and come follow Me.” Come to Him like a little child. Change is not always pleasant. The day I had to stop eating bacon and start eating Moby Dick was very traumatic. I still whine and moan about it. That’s alright because it extends my warranty a little. We must change if we want peace in our souls and all the joy possible in this life. Do not try to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Do not work on the peripheral stuff; instead, work on the hole in the soul.
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 effects of the Anointing of the Sick are numerous and deeply transformative. In times of great need and temptation, this sacrament brings us strength, courage, peace, and the forgiveness of sins. Fr. Mike explains that these effects aren’t only for the individual recipient but for the whole ecclesial community. We learn that when a person approaches the threshold of death, joining this anointing with Reconciliation and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute “the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1520-1525.
If God is the one who forgives our sins, why do we need priests as confessors? The Catechism teaches us today about the role of the priest as the minister of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We learn that priests ought to be “servants” of God’s mercy rather than “masters” of God’s mercy. Fr. Mike invites us to pray for all priests’ hearts, encouraging gentle, loving, and truthful confessors. Lastly, Fr. Mike clarifies the purpose of excommunication and the sacramental seal. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1461-1467.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we continue our examination of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Specifically, we explore the origins and structure of the sacrament that we use today. Fr. Mike emphasizes that although some of the ways we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation have changed, the essential elements have always remained the same. He also explores the importance of understanding the differences between perfect and imperfect contrition. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1446-1454.
We continue our examination of the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that sin, above all else, is an offense against God and his Church. It damages our communion with both. He also unpacks how important it is that God has extended his ability to forgive sins to his apostles and their successors. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1440-1445.
We continue our examination of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike explores that interior conversion, or conversion of the heart, is a radical reorientation of our whole life. Conversion is so much more than just going through the motions or checking off the boxes. He emphasizes that interior conversion and repentance requires an active hatred for sin. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1427-1433.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we begin the chapter on the sacraments of healing, starting with the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that Christ has given the Church the power of the Holy Spirit to continue his earthly ministry of healing and redemption with the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. He also points out that through Reconciliation, we not only receive God’s forgiveness, but are also reconciled to the Church. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1420-1426.
The Catechism introduces the seven sacraments that Christ offers the Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The Catechism highlights the fact that the sacraments are “by the Church” because the Church is “Christ’s action at work”, and they are “for the Church” because they “manifest and communicate to men…the mystery of communion with the God who is love.” Fr. Mike focuses on the fact that while ministerial priests administer many of the sacraments, their priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood, into which all of the baptized are ordained. Today’s readings are from Catechism paragraphs 1113-1121.
