I’m Sorry. . . So Sorry!
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
September 4 – 5, 2021
Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37
In the Gospel, our Lord healed the deaf man. Why? Read the story. . .He was asked. A lot of us do not ask for miracles. Why does Jesus do miracles? Well, for a couple of reasons. First, it is very revelatory. It reveals a number of things about God. But, let’s put that aside for a moment. Did the deaf man ask for a miracle? No, he couldn’t. His friends did through intercessory prayer, and that’s very important. Also, did our Lord say to the man and his friends, “I’d really like to help, but have you given to the DSA?” “Have you given very good stuff to the yard sale?” “How are your Sunday collections going?” “Are you helping out at the church?” “Have you brought Father food?” Good food…no cucumbers! No. He didn’t interrogate them. Our Lord restored the man’s hearing and his speech because He loved him. Our Lord never refused a miracle to anyone who asked or to anyone who didn’t ask. He knew that the woman would touch His garment, and He used that as an example.
Miracles are expressions of who and what our Lord is. He gives us favors and miracles because He loves us. They are gifts of His love. They are meant to draw our hearts to Him and to sustain us in being. Scripture tells us that our Lord lets the rain fall on the just and unjust. It revealed to the people of Israel who our Lord was. Our Lord is God. He can heal our infirmities. Do I have my physical limitations? Oh, heck yeah! My mind writes checks that my body cannot cash. I’m 68, and I still think I’m 18. Saint Paul said that if you ask for prayers of healing, sometimes it will happen and sometimes it won’t. But, the Lord told Saint Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God does miracles all the time over at Atrium Health. When people undergo bypass surgery, the healing is very slow. First, they get the surgery, then they wake up, and then they go to therapy. Everything moves at a slow pace, but they are our Lord’s miracles.
Miracles reveal God’s nature. Do you know what God’s nature is? God’s nature is love itself. Jesus was love incarnate. He came to give the gift of His love which is Himself. There are a number of miracles recorded in the Gospel, and there are more that are not as Saint John tells us at the end of his gospel. The Lord gives us these gifts to show His love and His awareness of our needs. What does God want in return? Our love. That is what gifts of love are. They are given freely. Our Lord gives us these gifts of love to help turn our hearts toward Him and away from ourselves.
Keep praying for His gifts. Sometimes He says “No.” However, when He says “no,” He gives us the grace to handle His answer and to bear whatever difficulties it brings. I will tell you that it doesn’t seem that way. I’m still not a Monsignor after 38 years, and I’m not happy about it. But I’m humble, and I can handle it. Our good Lord gives us the gift of Himself which is the greatest miracle of all. His miracles are not just for physical ailments. The greatest miracle is not the gift that someone gives you, it’s the gift of themselves. The physical aspects of the gift are signs of an invisible reality. As Catholics, we see the greatest gift of all here in church. . .the gift of Christ Himself in Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance. He gives it freely because He wants our love. He loves us so much that He allows Himself to be handled by an evil and sinful man such as myself. God gives us these gifts not because we deserve them. You cannot earn love. He gives these gifts because He loves us. He created us out of love. He gives us these gifts of love to draw us away from ourselves and back to Him. So, keep praying for miracles.
Father’s Afterthoughts:
I have been blessed with family and friends who point out my faults. Do I have my faults? “No, Father.” Yes, I do, but thank you for that. God gives me the grace to carry my crosses. One of the great graces that God gives us for carrying our crosses and our faults is humility. He gives us the humility to go back to someone and say you screwed up and ask for forgiveness. Even I make mistakes on occasion, and when I do, I ask for forgiveness. That’s how we show God’s love. You’d be surprised when you say to someone, “I’m sorry.” It is like the old Brenda Lee song, “I’m Sorry…So Sorry.” Say “I’m sorry” to someone, and they may say, “Whatever.” There’s a big difference between saying “I’m sorry” and “forgive me.” Have you ever heard a song with “forgive me” in the lyrics? Saying “forgive me” shows God’s power working in you.
How will you apply this message to your life? Are you praying for His gifts?
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