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. (1 Cor 12:4-11)
Many of us have been there. Many of us have done it. Many would not admit it.
There have been times in our lives when we have received a gift from someone else that, for one reason or another, we did not wish to keep.
What do we do with it?
Well, the perfect answer seemed to have been: Give it to someone else.
That is all well and good.
However, some of us have also fell into “the trap.” We may have given that gift away to someone else thinking that they would like it only to find out, after the giving, that the person to whom we gave the gift was the one who gave it to us! Or, perhaps it was a family member or friend of the one who gave it to us.
Mortal embarrassment.
So, we have learned that re-gifting can be embarrassing and something that we should not do.
There is a perfect time to give a gift received, though.
That would be whenever we give someone the gift that God has given to us.
Because, unlike other people, God wants us to give our gifts to others. He does not give us gifts to hoard. He gives us gifts to share.
This may frighten some people.
They may think that, if they use their gifts for others, they will be “stuck” doing so over and over again. That is the reason some people do not involve themselves in ministries.
People involved in volunteering their time and talent will tell you that they receive over-and-above what they give.
That’s the miracle of re-gifting the gifts that God has given to us. The more we give away, the more God gives to us.
Our Re-Gifting Expo takes place after all the Masses today. I truly hope that you will take the opportunity to go to the gym and see all the different ways your brothers and sisters in the parish are using their gifts for the benefit of others.
I encourage you to take stock of all that God has given to you, to try to identify those marvelous gifts that may have been entrusted to you. What do you like to do? What are you passionate about? Consider re-gifting those people who may need what you have.
Serving the Lord is a very rewarding endeavor.
You will find great joy in it.
FAITH ACTION: Identify your gift and share it with others this day!