“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Taking a look at the first commandment, we see how we are called to love and worship God above all else. The Catechism also lists the ways in which we may potentially fall into sins against faith, hope, and charity. Fr. Mike elaborates on these violations and reminds us that while it may seem overwhelming, God loved us first, and we must trust in him. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 2083-2094.
Today Fr. Mark-Mary shares a challenging word for us about excusing our sins while being critical of other’s sins. We need to grow in docility to follow God’s commands for the moral life instead of making excuses for our sin.
The Catechism provides an overview on how Jesus grants the Church the ability to forgive sins through both Baptism and the sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Mike doubles down on the revelation that there is no sin that Jesus can’t forgive—and no one is disqualified. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 976-987.
If you read the Acts of the Apostles, you learn that the Church is to evangelize by using prayers, the Mass, and the Breaking of the Bread. Further along in the Gospels, Saint Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, which is what we always seem to do because we think we have a better way. But it never quite works out, does it. And it is painful and expensive on your part. I had confirmation of this on Friday while I was having breakfast at a restaurant. This man came up to me and said, “Excuse me. I have to apologize because I didn’t know how to properly address you, so I asked someone, and they said to call you ‘Father’.” Well, thank you! That man was a Marine who was awarded two purple hearts in Vietnam because he was wounded in combat. I was really impressed. But the compliment wasn’t to me . . . it was to my Boss. So, we must be doing something right here.
We also want to pass all sorts of laws about inanimate objects. Really? How did that work out during Prohibition? Not too well. The problem is not an inanimate object; it’s a person. Do you know what the most common murder weapon is? A knife. So, unless you want to gnaw on your food instead of using a knife, don’t ask for more laws. You have to change the person and not the inanimate object. That’s why we must pass along the Faith.
Now because it is Divine Mercy Sunday, I will ask you a question and it may frighten you. What does our Lord want most from you when you come to church? Don’t reach for your wallets. Churches always say, “We need your time, talent, and treasure.” When you hear that, it’s fertilizer and I’m being really, really nice. He can do without all of that because He is God. You know what Christ wants? He wants the worst you have . . . He wants your sins. He didn’t come down from the Cross and say, “I want your time, talent, and treasure.” But He cannot forgive our sins unless we say, “God, I’m sorry. This is what I have done.” He will ask you to tell a priest who, according to the Gospels, acts in persona Christi. God is all-powerful, but the one thing that He will not do is take your sins from you until you give them to Him. He will not violate your free will.
God gave the power to priests and bishops to celebrate the Mass and the Sacrifice of Christ which produces the Sacraments. The apostles were told, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven” (Matthew 16:19). But how do we know the difference? It’s a good question. Well, what are the three conditions for repentance? Contrition, amendment, and the avoidance of sin. Sin will find you. So, if you don’t want to drink, don’t go into a bar. There is always someone who will hand you a beer. You cannot prevent everything but that’s the purpose of amendment. If you are shacking up, you can’t be forgiven unless you say, “Hey, I’m moving out.” Otherwise, you are just wanting permission. But our Lord won’t take your sins unless you agree with Him.
Now, the morals course I took consisted of two volumes of textbooks which we were tested on. I also go to FU (Felon University) for refresher courses. So, if you have committed a sin I haven’t heard during all my years of hearing confessions, I will name it after you. You will be famous! You’ll become an “influencer,” get on You-Tube, and make some bucks. But you’re not that original . . . none of us are. That’s the guilt, shame, fear, and remorse that sin does to us. But once we get rid of all that garbage we hold so dear, God will give us His Most Precious Blood that flowed from His pierced side on the Cross and which fills the chalice at every Mass so that we may have peace in our souls. During the Sacrament of Penance, the priest anoints our soul with His Most Precious Blood for the forgiveness of sin. Our Lord came to reconcile us to Him so that we may have life and have it to the fullest. He didn’t come to so that He could use our time, talent, treasure and all that propaganda doodoo. He wants your sins.
Take advantage of God’s love. Give Him the worst that you’ve got . . . give Him your sins. I cannot force you although I’d like to, but I can’t. The greatest experience of God’s love is His mercy. God is always offering us His great gift of love. So, take advantage of it. We make our lives a lot harder than they need to be, which makes the lives of those around us a lot harder than they should be.
Father’s Reflections . . .
An interesting thing happened to me yesterday. I did a baptism and the mother and godmother asked, “Father, do you remember us?” Um, would it hurt your feelings if I said ‘no’? Nothing personal. They said, “You baptized both of us.” Oh God. I’m getting old. I baptized the parents and now I’m baptizing the kids. I’ve been here a long, long time. With therapy, you’ll get over it. People ask, “Father, when you retire, will you move back north to be with your family?” My family is in the cemetery, but I’ll be there soon enough.
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” then “Menu” and then “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the church Facebook page at facebook.com/ola.catholic.church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
Learn more about Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson’s Pocket Guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation: https://tinyurl.com/yhwfakge
Confession is a place of never ending mercy and forgiveness, and is one of the most beautiful parts of our Catholic faith. But for many, it can also be a very daunting experience, especially if it’s been a long time since your last confession. Whether it’s the first time you’ve gone in a year, or it’s the first time you’ve gone in your life, God is ready and willing to forgive your sins. All we have to do is let him into our hearts.
Today, Fr. Mike explains how to approach going to confession for the first time in a long time.
You may remember my sermon on Holy Thursday that was so wonderfully entitled “When a one man band gets hit in the butt with a beer truck, the music stops.” Our Lord gave the apostles and their successors the ability to carry on with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the ages so that the fruits He won through His death could be passed on. He told the apostles if you forgive their sins, they are forgiven. That happens every generation with every priest. Any priest who says the Mass has the power to give these gifts and to forgive sins. We have to hear the sins by the way. Jesus told the apostles, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” So, how do we know? Because people tell us. The sins we hold bound and do not offer forgiveness for are those you are not sorry for and those you are not going to try to stop. If you come in and say you are living with two girlfriends as husband and wife, and you are not going to stop, I cannot forgive you because you are attached to the sin. So, you have now heard part of the penance course.
Also in the gospel, and the main point I want to get at, is that the transfiguration took place about ten days before the Passion. Our Lord showed us what the saints are like in Heaven. They are recognizable, and they know the future because Heaven is the eternal now. We are in time, but Heaven is not. Our good Lord shows us what the saints would be like after the resurrection of the body and the General Judgement should we pass that final exam. The questions come from Matthew Chapter 25… I’ll give you a heads-up so you can prepare for it. He shows us what it will be like and how to get there. He shows us that we will have a body and that it will be recognizable and that it can move through walls. “It’s a ghost!” No, it’s not. It has physicality to it. Touch my hand. Touch my feet. In the gospel, Jesus asks for food, and He ate it. Now, we won’t need food in heaven, which I find quite disappointing. My mother has been gone for several decades, and I was looking forward to her apple pie. Even her sisters say they can’t bake like my mother did. Thanks, a lot! So, there will be no food in heaven, but we know that we will have our body with us.
Heaven is a place. A physical body needs a place in paradise to be in the presence of God. Our Lord also teaches us how we can get there. Probe the nail prints in My hands and the spear marks in My side. Bishop Sheen said that God will judge us by the resemblance of His Son in us. He will look at us. He will look at the three parts of man having suffered with My Son for the admission of sin for the sake of others. He will look at the body, soul, and spirit. Not everybody will have physical suffering to the extent Christ had, but everyone will have emotional or spiritual sufferings. Some suffer greatly depending upon the time, the place, and the person. This is what our God the Father will look for – to see the marks of His Son. This is how we become like Jesus, God’s resurrected Child.
We will have our body reunited to our soul. Remember, the soul and the body cooperated with Christ, therefore they both will receive the reward. The soul and body cooperated in sin, so they both need to do the punishment. Our Lord not only showed us what Heaven would be like, He also showed us how to get there. As Saint John said in his epistle, “If we love Him, keep His commandments.” A lot of people forget that one part. If you love Him, keep His commandments. After all, His commandments are not burdensome.
How will you apply this message to your life? Do you love Him? Are you keeping His commandments?
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.
Fr. Mike touches on the sins of David, and how we can see ourselves in these fallen characters in scripture. God desires a relationship with us free from sin, and although it may be painful, he brings these things into the light not out of anger, but out of love. Today’s readings are 2 Samuel 12, 1 Chronicles 16, and Psalm 51.
Day 161: The Crucifixion of Christ -The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Fr. Mike finishes the gospel of Mark by reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ. He also encourages us to reflect on the redemption of our own sins every time we see a crucifix and to return that same sacrificial love to God every day. Today’s readings are Mark 15-16 and Psalm 22. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised.
Fr. Mike explains sins of omission, and how these are some of the biggest deciding factors of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell: whether or not we did good works God called us to. He also reminds us that not all of the New Testament parables are universally relevant, recalling the parable of the talents and the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Today’s readings are Matthew 25-26 and Proverbs 19:21-24.
