Twenty-fifth Sunday of Year B - 20th September 2009

Our Gifts

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received (1 Peter 4:10)

Edith was from Sardinia. She had been blind from birth and lived in a home for the blind. The chaplain was no longer able to celebrate mass because his legs were paralysed, so it was decided to remove Jesus in the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament, from the house. Edith went to the Bishop to ask that the one light in their darkness be left them. She gained permission and at the same time was appointed an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion to her fellow residents. Although blind she was a beacon of light in their lives.

The Holy Spirit is still at work. 'Gift' (or 'charism', using the word from the Greek) doesn't mean just the graces with which God enriches those who have to govern the Church. Nor does it refer just to those extraordinary gifts that God reserves to send directly to a particular Christian for the good of all. There are also other simpler ones that many people have, and we can see them in the good they bring about. Each of us is gifted including you.

What are your gifts? How do you use them for others?

Have you ever thought of putting aside an hour or two a week for somebody who needs to learn or somebody who cannot afford to study?

Are you particularly generous-hearted? Have you ever thought of mobilizing people who still wish to work for the good to help the poor, the marginalized, and restore a sense of human dignity to the hearts of many? ...

Are you good at comforting others? Are you good at looking after the house, at cooking, or at doing practical jobs? Look around and see who needs you.

And don't you think prayer is a great gift to be made use of, since in each moment you can turn to God who is present everywhere? ..

Just imagine what the Church would be like if all Christians, from children to adults, did all they could to put their gifts at the service of others.

Love for one another would acquire such strength, such fullness, such importance that ... it would be possible to recognize the disciples of Christ....

If this is the outcome, then why not do all you can to achieve it?