our gifts - 24th week tuesday 2014

For the past several months now I have dedicated myself to reflect and therefore study the first readings whatever will come.  Sometimes I would take the second reading if it is a Sunday.  This way I am forcing myself to study and not to get contented with the things that I already knew.  At the end of our first reading Paul wrote, Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.  Other bibles would translate it as be zealous for greater gifts.  Do not be content with what you have, with what you know, with what you could already do, but strive for greater gifts.

Now why did St. Paul said this?   What is his context?  He wrote in our reading, “You are Christ’s Body, and individually you are parts of it.”  We are the body of Christ, the church is the body of Christ, our community taken together is the body of Christ.  We are a church.  But individually you are parts of it, you are members of this body and therefore all are mutually dependent on each other.  From here Paul enumerates the various gifts.  Some he wrote are gifted as Apostles; some as prophets; some are teachers; some can do great deeds, some have the gift of healing, some are good in helping and giving of assistance, some are good in administration.  These are many gifts but all these gifts come from the same source, the Holy Spirit, and they are given with one aim, to help build up the body of Christ, to help build us up as a community. 

And so let us ask ourselves what are the gifts given us individually by the Spirit.  As a parent what is that giftedness in you that builds up your family, your children and your spouse?  As an employer what is in you that builds up your business, the people who work for you and their families?  As a government worker what is your giftedness that helps others become better citizens, that helps the nation become a better and a moral society.  In this little community of Sto. Nino how do you use your giftedness to build each other up, and strengthen this community?  Nothing is small because everything comes from the giver of gifts which is the Holy Spirit.  Each one must contribute, each one has something to contribute.  That is why St. Paul said that we should not to be envious if others have more, we should not end up despising each other because each of these gifts is essential to building up the body.  But and this is the end of our reading today, we must work for the greater gifts, Paul said, we have to strive for greater gifts, strive for greater excellence. Do not be content with what you have, with what you know, with what you can already do, but strive for greater gifts.  Tomorrow Paul will tell us what these greater gifts are.