The gifts of the Spirit at work for all
Reflections on the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 20, 2019): IS 62:1-5; PS 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10; 1 COR 12:4-11; JN 2:1-11
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that we hear today, he reminds the early Christian community that we need to recognize the gifts that the Holy Spirit offers each of us.
It is important to acknowledge them and put them to use for the welfare of our community. More than that, we must resist the very human temptations to think that we deserve such blessings or that our gifts and talents are more valuable than those of other people. “There are different workings but the same God who produces them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.… One and the same Spirit produces all…distributing them individually to each person as He wishes” (1 Corinthians 12:6-7, 11).
Certainly, this is a concern that still exists today. Sometimes we ignore the gifts the Holy Spirit has instilled in us for the service of His people if we find them inconvenient. Sometimes we credit ourselves for gifts we could never have on our own when we should simply ask God to help us cooperate with His grace. Maybe our parish church needs us to speak up as lectors or as members of the parish council. Maybe we have a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and can share it as Eucharistic ministers. Maybe we can reach out with charitable hearts and hands to those in material need. We need to turn ourselves over to the will of God and humbly say “yes” to all He asks of us.
Suggested missionary action: We can take time to spend time with friends. As we do, we thank God for the wonderful gift of friendship and the many people who enrich our lives.