Spiritual Gifts

“Spiritual Gifts” –Unity & Variety

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 16 Jan 2010

In tonight second reading, St Paul took up the topic of “spiritual Gifts” as a way to address his concern over the disunity in corinth. The Corinthian community was deeply divided over matters of titles and ministries. Instead of honoring and glorifying God by loving one another in the community, they were seeking their own glorification and inflated themselves with different kind of “spiritual titles”. Some Corinthians thought that the power of the Holy Spirit was manifested in extraordinary phenomena such as the gifts of tongues. Those who possessed this gift would distinguish themselves as the true “spiritual elites” in the community.

Paul reminded them that a truly spiritual person must be tested by his or her conformity to the faith in the lordship of Jesus Christ. It is beyond verbal calling of his name “Jesus is Lord”. It has to bear testimony in their Christian living i.e. LOVE…. God & one another.

Paul gave them these guidelines;
1. It is one and the same Spirit who grants the variety of spiritual gifts, just as it is the one and the same Lord who inspires a wide range of services; and
2. All these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit not for self glorification, but for the common good of the community.

Variety….. Every one of us is unique. There is only one in this world. Each one is gifted in the manner entirely up to the Holy Spirit who knows what is good for the community. There is a random distribution of gifts, ministries, and works, so that everyone in the community is expected to manifest different gifts, services and works.

A gift is at the same time a great calling as well as a great responsibility. It is a calling for us Christian to provide common good for building up the community. Saying Yes to that calling is like cooperating with the Holy Spirit in one’s life.

A spiritual person is one that lives a Christian life, cooperating with the Holy Spirit, manifesting the love of God to others.