Means of Grace II: living into our gifts

20 January 2019 – Human Relations Day

1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Matthew 22:34-40

There are many popular and biblical references to the idea that our relationship with The Lord through Christ is the single, most important relationship we can have.  It is primary; it must come first but also cannot be “last” if it is to inform other relationships.  In that broad context, then, this primary relationship cannot be exclusive. 

Just as St. John expressed in his epistle, “If you say you love God but hate your brother, you are a liar” (1 John 4:20), we understand the way by which we may fully express our love for The Lord is found in how we relate to and treat others, “loving our neighbors as ourselves” as our Lord commands – even (maybe especially) those we don’t really like.

I will grant there are those whose mere presence in our lives can be downright toxic, pure poison.  These are the ones who can tax our patience and test our religion.  These can be detrimental to our spiritual, emotional, and even mental well-being.  Yet even these relationships, challenging though they may be, can be redeemed and restored – even strengthened – when we understand and embrace our Spiritual Gifts; these talents and strengths given by The Lord “as He chooses” (1 Cor 12:11) – and for His purposes.

When we last gathered, we talked about the Sacrament of baptism as a means of grace; a profoundly sacred moment when Heaven directly interacts with humanity.  Baptism, as a means of grace, is the way in which we can experience our Lord’s mercy – as we are welcomed into the Holy Covenant, confirmed in our faith, or serve as witnesses to this Sacred Moment.

Today we will share another means of grace in another Sacrament – Holy Communion – by which we experience yet again His mercy in His means to feed us and strengthen us in our Journey of Faith, affirm our faith, and connect us to one another and to Christians around the world to the One Body which is Christ. 

For both Communion and baptism, there is also the requisite “sending forth” with a strong sense of conviction and sacred purpose.  One does not merely leave worship!  We are given much more than we often realize so we have much to give; to go into the world to love and to serve The Lord – by loving and serving one another … even those who will not love nor serve us in return.

The late Christian author and redeemed atheist, C.S. Lewis, once wrote, “Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”  Remembering Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan as answering the question, ‘Who is our neighbor?’, then, we hear in Mr. Lewis’ observation that what we see and serve as holy and sacred is the one who is in distress – that equally sacred moment when we most resemble Christ Himself by giving fully of ourselves for the sake of another.  It doesn’t matter if we know them or even like them.  What matters is whether we are willing to love them as The Lord loves them – and us.

The Spiritual Gifts we are endowed with are given for this very reason.  We are not gifted from Above so we can make a living; we are gifted by His Spirit so others may find a life worth living – and living well!  It is, as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, that we are so endowed by these gifts “as the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7).  That is, we find yet another means of grace in a profoundly sacred moment when we come to know our gifts, embrace our gifts, and put our gifts to good use in the lives of others in the Name of The Lord and His Church.

I’ve shared before that the Roman Catholic Sacrament of “holy orders” had been taught in my childhood catechism classes as that Sacrament of giving oneself fully to Christ and His Church through the priesthood or becoming a nun or a monk. 

Yet over time I have come to believe there are many sacramental, very sacred moments in our lives which must also be given a) to remind us He is always with us, and b) to discern those moments for where they will lead us next.  In that period of discernment, then, we become more acutely aware not only of His Presence but of His Gifts – AND – His call; not necessarily to pastoral ministry but certainly to ministry nonetheless.  It is as so often expressed: the pastor is the pastor, but the congregation becomes ministers in and through baptism and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

But where to go from baptism or confirmation or even Holy Communion can be anyone’s guess – and even personal desire (or lack thereof) – if we fail to discern our particular Gifts which will go a long way toward directing us; for having the Gift, whatever it may be, is not about the Gift itself.  It is entirely about where the Gift will take us.  Spiritual Gifts are means to a greater end, like baptism and Communion, prayer and fasting – so why should these not also be considered means of grace?

Identifying our Gifts, however, is no easy task.  Nothing worthwhile ever is.  Our Spiritual Gifts are not – ARE NOT – our impulses!  I don’t think they come to us easily or naturally; and if what we think are our Gifts serve as means only to our own ends, we are either not using these Gifts properly or we have completely misread what The Spirit is calling us to.

When Jesus turned water into wine, as St. John wrote, and “revealed His glory” (John 2:11), it was no impulsive, magic-trick-moment only for the sake of the moment.  The ministry of our Shepherd and Teacher would move from that moment and into the lives of The Lord’s people – further revealing the Holy Father whose desire was – and still is - to reveal Himself in our lives. 

The Spiritual Gifts with which we are each endowed are intended for no less.  So failing or refusing to discern and acknowledge these Gifts cheats not only ourselves but those whom our Father means to touch.  We cannot “love The Lord our God” or “our neighbor as ourselves” with anything less than what He has entrusted us with – “as He chooses”. 

I dare say, dear friends, He has chosen you – and He has chosen everyone we will come into contact with beyond this moment.  And He has done so to the glory of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.  Amen.