May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“I will take you as my people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God,” Ex 6:7.
“Teach me your wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust.” Ps 119:66.
“For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than sacrifice.” Hos 6:6.
“To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God.” Luke 8:10.
“The sheep hear his voice. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:3-4.
“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent.”
John 17:3.
“They prayed, ‘Lord you know the heart of all.’” Acts 1:24.
“For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has come in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus.” 2 Cor 4:6.
“We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,” Col 9:10.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:5-7.
God “desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth,” 1 Tim 2:4.
“All people of whatever race, condition or age, in virtue of their dignity have an inalienable right to education. This education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals, adapted to their ability, sex and national cultural traditions.” Vatican II, Christian Education.
Vatican II Council affirms its deep gratitude to those priests, religious, and laity “who in a spirituality of evangelical dedication have devoted themselves to the all important work of education and schools of all kinds and grades. It exhorts them to persevere generously in the work they have undertaken, and to strive so to excel in inspiring their pupils with the spirit of Christ.” Ibid.
“Knowing Jesus and the Church is a life long process. We are never too young or too old to come to know our faith. Blessed are those who teach the faith to adults or children. Everyday there are new ways and means to know our faith and to share it with others. Those who know the Lord use every means possible to share their faith with others.” Ibid
“Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.” Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, 4.
“The Church’s primary mission of evangelization, in which educational institutions play a crucial role, is consonant with a nation’s fundamental aspiration to develop a society truly worthy of the human person’s dignity.” Pope Benedict at Catholic University, April, 2008.
Knowledge
Scripture and our faith tell us that God wants us to know who God is and who we are. God provides the knowledge, the information and the insight into this spiritual gift. Knowledge begins with learning from schools, Scripture and the Church what is the content of our faith. Since Vatican II everyone has been encouraged to study and to pray for direction and wisdom in their faith. Evangelization is the result of knowledge because it leads people to share their faith with others. Learning is a life long process and we are blessed to live in a society where we can study our faith and update our knowledge of it.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?
May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Is 53:12.
Jesus said,” Everything you ask and pray for, believe you have it already and it will be yours.”
Mk 11:25.
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
Rom 8:26-27.
“I urge you, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in the struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf,” Rom 15:30.
“Brethren pray for us,” 1 Thes 5:25.
“We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith,” 1 Thes 1:11.
“Finally, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from the wicked and evil.” 2 Thes 3:1.
“The Church has seen the fruits of your devotion to prayer in a deepened commitment to holiness of life and love fore the word of God.“ Pope John Paul II, May 7,1981.
“Imitate the example of Jesus himself in ensuring time for prayer alone with God.” Ibid.
“The joy of prayer is reborn: a prayer that is both personal and communal, praise and intercession, and which is drawn to contemplation and is the source of evangelization.” Pope John Paul II, Dec, 1982.
“There is coming a real contribution to the revival of prayer among the faithful, who have been helped to gain a clear idea of the Holy Spirit as he who inspires in hearts a profound yearning for holiness,” Pope John Paul II, Nov 1986.
“The Church has seen the fruits of your devotion to prayer in a deepened commitment to holiness of life and love for the word of God, “ John Paul II, May, 1987.
“Recent years have seen a growth in the number of people who, in even more widespread movements and groups, are giving first place to prayer and seeking in prayer a renewal of their spiritual life.” Pope John Paul II, Dec, 1991.
“Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God: prayer of intercession consists in asking on behalf of another. It knows no boundaries and extends to one’s enemies.” CCC 2647.
“The Holy Spirit whose anointing permeates our whole being, is the interior Master of Christian prayer. He is the artisan of the living tradition of prayer. To be sure there are many paths of prayer as there are persons who pray, but it is the same Spirit acting in all and with all. It is in the communion of the Holy Spirit that Christian prayer is prayer in the Church. CCC 2672.
“Pray constantly always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This tireless fervor can come only from love.” CCC 2742.
“Transformation of the praying heart is the first response to our petition.” CCC 2739.
Intercessory Prayer
People who have the gift of intercessory prayer know how and what to pray for others. They have a rich spiritual life centered on individual and community prayers, from the Mass to the rosary. They understand the difference between people’s needs and their wants. They are able to put God’s will first and foremost. They are sensitive to what’s asked and they give a feeling of peace and understanding to all they pray with. The Bible is rich with requests and the results of intercessory prayer. Intercessors are in touch with Jesus and His Holy Spirit and are committed to praying daily for others. Sometimes there are intercessory prayer groups which focus on praying for others individually or collectively.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?
May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“And they ate and were well filled.” Ps 78:29.
“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Ps 100:2.
“If they hearken and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness,” Job 36:11.
“He shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord God.” Micah 5:4.
“Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body.
Is not life more that food?” Matt 6:25.
“Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” Mk 5:43.
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him, but if not, it shall return to you.” Lk 10:5-6.
“In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.” Lk 10:38.
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them,” Lk 12:37.
“Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” John 21:15-16.
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the church of the Lord which he obtained with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.
“He who eats, eats in honor of the Lord since he gives thanks to the Lord.” Rom 14:6.
“Be servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord.” Eph 6:6.
“Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” Rom 12:13.
“Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Heb 13:3.
“Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Pt 4:9-10.
“Through love be servants of one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal 5:13- 14.
“Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Heb. 13: 1-2.
“The time has come for me to bid farewell to your country. These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome. It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here. It was heart-warming to spend time with leaders and representatives of other Christian communities and other religions, and I renew my assurances of respect and esteem to all of you.” Pope Benedict XVI on leaving the United States, 2008.
Hospitality
Hospitality as a spiritual gift exudes graciousness and service. There are a multitude of ways to share hospitality and many ministries that foster this wonderful spiritual gift. People with this gift welcome others as they would welcome Jesus. They serve with food, a kind word and a welcoming spirit.
They find it easy to meet new people and to find common areas of interest with those they have known for a while. Their ready smiles are matched by their open arms and kind words.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?
May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“To you the helpless can entrust their cause; you are the helper of orphans.” Ps 10:4.
“May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support,” Ps 20:2.
“Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!” Ps 30:10.
“The Lord is on my side to help me,” Ps 118: 7.
“Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you,” 1 Chron 12:18.
“They helped David and his band, since they were all men of standing.” 1 Chron 12:22.
“What help you give to the powerless, what strength to the feeble arm!” Job 26:2.
The twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty,” Acts 6:1-6.
“When he arrived there he was able by God’s grace to help the believers considerably demonstrating from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.” Acts 18:27-28.
“I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day,” Acts 26:22.
“Our helper in the Lord,” Rom 16:9.
“God has appointed in the Church, helpers,” 1 Cor 12:28.
“Well, I want you in your turn to put yourselves at the service of people like this, and anyone who helps and works with them,” 1 Cor. 16: 16.
Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, “to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting the gospel,” Phil 4:3.
Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace “when we are in need of help.” Heb 4:16.
“The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear,” Heb 13: 6.
“The desire to devote oneself completely to Christ, an openness to the Holy Spirit, more assiduous reading of the Scriptures, generous brotherly devotion, a willingness to serve the Church. Therefore, we must serve God first,” CCC 223.
“I would like to address a word of gratitude to those of you who devote yourselves to helping others. The Feast of Christ the King which we are celebrating today is a feast of service, for it is the feast of the one who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. In his earthly life, Jesus taught us the meaning of service, the kind of love in action that brings closer the Kingdom of God.” Pope John Paul II, Address to Sick and Elderly, 1986.
“The biblical account of creation speaks of the solitude of Adam, the first man, and God’s decision to give him a helper. Of all other creatures, not one is capable of being the helper that man needs, even though he had assigned a name to all the wild beasts and birds and thus made them fully a part of his life. So God forms woman from the rib of man. Now Adam finds the helper that he needed: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23).” Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love.
“The rich man begs from his place of torment that his brothers be informed about what happens to those who simply ignore the poor man in need. Jesus takes up this cry for help as a warning to help us return to the right path.” Ibid 15.
“Anyone who needs me, and whom I can help, is my neighbor.” Ibid.
Helps
Those who have the spiritual gift of helping others have a generous and sensitive heart to help others either physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way- to be a listening ear or to offer a helping hand. Just as God helps us, helping people serve Jesus with a light heart and recognize that their service gives them energy and life. Helping people have been helped in their own lives so they realize the gift of doing the same for others.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?
May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“I am the Lord who heals you.” Ex 15:26.
“O Lord, my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.” Ps 30:3.
“The power of the Lord was with him to heal.” Lk 5:17.
“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near you.” Lk 10 8-9.
“Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.” Lk 6:18.
“Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those in need of healing.” Lk 9:11.
These signs will accompany those who believe, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will heal.” Mk 15:17-18.
“A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
Acts 5:16.
Peter described, ”How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God with him. We are his witnesses.” Acts 10:38.
“This inner renewal, this healing of the very roots of life and this formation of a mentality dominated by the ‘promptings of the Spirit’ is your vocation as Christians.”
Pope John Paul II, Nov, 1986.
“Jesus’ preferential love for the sick has not ceased through the centuries to draw the very special attention of Christians toward all those who suffer in body and soul. It is the source of tireless efforts to comfort them. CCC 1503.
“The Holy Spirit gives to some a special charism of the power of healing so as to make manifest the power of the risen Lord.” CCC 1508.
“Heal the sick! The Church has received this charge from the Lord and strives to carry it out by taking care of the sick as well as by accompanying them with her prayer of intercession.” CCC 1509.
“When we feel the closeness of the living Christ, there the remedy to suffering and his joy is already present.” Pope Benedict XVI, first Sunday of Advent, 2006.
“To those who are at the service of the sick, with the help of Mary, may they witness God’s goodness and fatherly concern. May the Holy Virgin comfort those who are afflicted by illness and support those who, like the Good Samaritan, soothe their physical and spiritual wounds.” Pope Benedict XVI, Sermon on World Day of the Sick, 2006.
“The next International Eucharistic Congress (2008) will be an opportunity to worship Jesus Christ present in the Sacrament of the Altar, to entrust ourselves to him as Hope that does not disappoint, to receive him as that medicine of immortality which heals the body and the spirit.” Pope Benedict XVI Sermon on World Day of the Sick, 2007.
Healing
Jesus healed many people of their sins, sicknesses and brokenness. He gave his disciples, including us today, the gift of healing. Healing as a spiritual gift can take many forms. There can be spiritual, psychological, financial and relational healing. A personal relationship with Jesus and a strong sacramental life are essential for any type of healing as is a vibrant prayer life. Some people have a gift of one type of healing or another.
Healing- Adult Day Care, Babysitting, Baptismal Prep Team, Bereavement Committee, Blood Drive, Christian Formation/Education, Christian Service & Outreach, Coffee & Doughnut Volunteers, Employment Job Search Network, Eucharistic Ministers, Funeral Lunch Program, Get Well Cards, Immigration & Refugee Service, Legion of Mary, Marriage Prep Team, Missionaries, Nursing Home Volunteer, Parish Nurse Program, Peregrine Society, Pray Chain, Prayer Group, Prison Ministry, Respect Life Committee, Retreat Group, Seniors Group, Shut In Assistance, Small Church committee, Soup Kitchen, St Vincent de Paul, Youth Ministry .
May 30, 2020 | Spiritual Gifts
“Freely have you received, freely give.” Mt 10:8.
Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you: good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over.” Lk 6:38.
With him went the twelve and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.”
Lk 8:3.
“Give for alms those things which are within.” Lk 11:41.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:34.
Paul said, “I came to bring to my nation alms and offerings.” Acts 24:17.
Paul said, “When you give, you should give generously from the heart.” Rom 12:8.
“The Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor 3:6.
“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor 9:7.
“You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. 2 Cor 9:11-12.
As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom he loves, you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility, gentleness and patience.” Col 3:12.
Those who are rich in the world’s goods, “are to do good and be rich in good works, generous in giving and always ready to share,” 1 Tm 6:17-18.
“Generosity is surely a sign of holiness. During the past fifteen years thousands of lay men and women have given generously of their time and energy in a variety of ways. Their service in domestic and foreign missions is particularly notable. We rejoice especially in the large number of young adults who devote one or more years to Church or public service. Their stories of selfless compassion stand in sharp contrast to prevalent images of private achievement and acquisition. Their stories are living examples of responding to the Holy Father’s call for young people to be signs of hope. They are not caught up in materialism, as some charge the young are, but are coming to know that Christ shows himself in a special way in the poor and in the vulnerable.” US Bishops, Called & Gifted.
“Giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity; it is also a work of justice pleasing to God. He, who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food must do likewise. But give for alms those things which are within.” CCC 2447
“Those who are in a position to help others will realize that in doing so they themselves receive help. We recognize that we are not acting on the basis of any superiority or greater personal efficiency, but because the Lord has graciously enabled us to do so.” Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love
“Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave.” Ibid.
“You must love your neighbor as yourself. This, if you like, is the program that is hard-wired into every human person, if only we had the wisdom and generosity to live by it, if only we were ready to sacrifice our own preferences so as to be of service to others, to give our lives for the good of others, and above all for Jesus, who loved us and gave his life for us. That is what human beings are called to do, that is what it means to be truly alive,” Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, 2008.
Giving
Giving is a spiritual experience when we give to another because Jesus asks us to give. We can give time, talents, or financial assistance to others. We give from what we have received. Giving persons realize that God gives them all that they have. When giving is done cheerfully and without regrets or resentment, one is humbled and gracious and peace and love are the center of the process of giving and receiving.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?
