“Blessed by Gifts Divinely Bestowed” by Beth DeCristofaro

Illustration:  Ed De Guzman, “Pentecost,” used with permission,
no copyright infringement is intended,
 http://www.touchtalent.com/painting/art/PENTECOST--257540

“Blessed by Gifts Divinely Bestowed” by Beth DeCristofaro
 

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Brothers and sisters: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." … Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. (John 2:3-5, 11)

Piety

May God favor and bless us and give us the wisdom to wonder at God’s great love. Amen.  (From the Morning Office for the Day)

Study

Ever thought about what superpower you would like to have? Too many to choose from for me:  Reading minds? Ability to provide instant conflict resolution between people and countries?  Healing of any wound or disease?  Changing water into wine seems like a good one. Instead, most of us have mundane abilities and some have even these “taken away” by illness, accident or birth defect.  We struggle with our worth and the meaning of our lives in these instances, veering between outrageous go-fund-me donations for a baby’s cancer treatment to defining some people as “collateral damage” thus we are unable to respond to their needs.

But God doesn’t see us in terms of abilities.  In fact, God not only graced us with the basic fact of living but graces us further with spiritual “abilities” or gifts, which manifest God’s very self.  No matter one’s financial status, ethnic origin, cognitive ability, or life expectancy, God presents God to the world through the gifts we are given.  And one is not more mundane nor more awesome than another in God’s eyes – although clearly a gifted preacher is very appreciated by the congregation.  

Far too often I find myself focused on the superficial, those abilities which I do or don’t have.  And too often I underrate the spiritual gifts I have been given and fail to appreciate the gifts of others.  Perhaps attentive gratefulness would be a superpower to consider.  But no radioactive spider is needed for it is God who produces all of them in everyone.  And if not this spiritual gift, then another, gifted by God and to the glory of God.  After all, if Mary were not an observant and perhaps over-involved mothering neighbor, Jesus might not have moved at this moment to reveal his glory and begin his journey to being believed as Son of Man.

Action

The Gospel Alleluia verse for today reads:  God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are called and we are gifted.  How are we glorifying God through our gifts?  Are there ways that we are acting for our own glory instead?  Pray for a turn of heart.  First, seek an opportunity to see and hear then, "Do whatever he tells you."  God has already given you the gift you need. 

Illustration:  Ed De Guzman, “Pentecost,” used with permission, no copyright infringement is intended, http://www.touchtalent.com/painting/art/PENTECOST--257540