Reflection - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C


Today, I would like to reflect on the 2nd reading for this 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. It comes from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 12:4-11:


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.

To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;

to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

to another, faith by the same Spirit;

to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;

to another, mighty deeds;

to another, prophecy;

to another, discernment of spirits;

to another, varieties of tongues;

to another, interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,

distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.


St. Paul talks about the gifts we receive. God blesses each of us with our own different gifts. Not only are we encouraged to discover those gifts, but we must use them for the greater glory of the Kingdom of Heaven. 


When I go shopping for Christmas, birthday, or other gifts for family & friends, I try to put a lot of thought into my purchase. I want to be sure it is something that person will not only like, but is something they can use. Each person is a unique individual, so if I bought the exact same thing for each one, it would not only be a waste of money, but could even be an offense to them.


To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.


God has also put a lot of thought into the gifts (talents/abilities) He has bestowed upon us. Before we were even born, He knew the path our lives would take & which gifts would enable us to navigate our path. While our destination is the same, we each have different paths to reach it. Therefore, each of our gifts are different. 


Many times we try to go it alone, thinking our way is the correct one, thereby offending God in not choosing to use His gifts to us. Unfortunately, that only tends to make things more difficult for us. Our job is to prayerfully discern what gifts we have received & how God wants us to share them, then take action to utilize those gifts in a way that would be pleasing to Him. It may take some time to understand our gifts, but He will never give more than we can handle on our own. He will be with us each step of the way as we learn to use those gifts.  


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