Don't Waste What You Have Been Given!

second reading
1 Corinthians 12:4-11

The Spirit distributes gifts to different people just as he chooses

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. One may have the gift of preaching with wisdom given him by the Spirit; another may have the gift of preaching instruction given him by the same Spirit; and another the gift of faith given by the same Spirit; another again the gift of healing, through this one Spirit; one, the power of miracles; another, prophecy; another the gift of recognising spirits; another the gift of tongues and another the ability to interpret them. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes different gifts to different people just as he chooses

I can remember only one time in my life that I was certified as a "Hotshot."  That was in eighth-grade graduation.  No, I wasn't the valedictorian of the class, far from it, actually.  No, I was the only member of the class that had a copy of the song that was selected for us to present to our proud parents on the day we left grammar school.  They didn't call it middle school back then, just ordinary grammar school.  Anyway, I was the only class member that had a copy of The Ballad of the Green Beret.  No kidding, that was our outgoing audio tribute to Davis Elementary School that hot June morning so many years ago.  Having that record, for a time made me a hotshot at least in my own mind.  For a few moments in my life, I was the center of attention.  It didn't last long.  Everyone hated the song and that is why no one else admitted to owning a copy. I still have that original copy in my 45 rpm record collection but I don't have a record player.  But you never know when someone might need a copy of Barry Sadler's tune to brighten their day.  (Four years later, the mighty Kelly High School class of 1970 would amaze attending parents with a rendition of "Age of Aquarius" which upon reflection went against my Catholic beliefs.  But let's get back on track here.  It was nice to be a hotshot and for a moment be the object of admiration and esteem (right!).  

For every one of us that attains public acclaim or fame of hotshot status there are nine hundred and ninety-nine that do not make the cut.  I think that this is one of the things Paul was addressing in his letter to the Church at Cornith.  He reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to those around the community as He wills.  Some can do this and some can do that and some can do the other. We should not take Paul's list as an exhaustive list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit's list of gifts is infinite and He adapts them to the circumstances He sees.  The gifts Paul is listing are the "hotshot" gifts, the ones that are the most visible to the world which of course, are useful, very important, and very public gifts. 

For the rest of us non-hotshots who do not have any of the gifts that are listed, what about us?  Paul could have just as easily said some of us have the gift of feeding the hungry.  You know, quietly donating food to a food pantry, making it a point to have proper nutrition in your life so that you do not waste food.  Or he could have mentioned the gift of sheltering the homeless, you know those who work anonymously at PADS or those that advocate for decent homes for all. Or he might have mentioned clothing the naked, which includes donating clothes and running or participating in a clothes drive.  He might have mentioned caring for and visiting the sick, volunteering at a hospital or nursing center or bringing communion to the sick in nursing homes or homebound. Visiting the sick can mean sending a get well card to a friend or even sending a card to an institution with instructions to give it to someone who does not get cards or visitors.  Paul, who spent a lot of time as a prisoner, would have probably if he had thought of it at the time mentioned visiting the imprisoned. There are many opportunities to step outside yourself and help those who are incarcerated.  For example, you can be a pen pall for someone in the pen.  You can advocate for an end to the death penalty and for decent conditions for those in jail and just wages and benefits for those whose job it is to guard them for the guards are just as much in prison during their work day as the prisoners are! Paul could have mentioned that some might even have the talent for burying the dead. This would entail not wielding a shovel or the tools of the dismal trade but rather attending funerals for parish members you might have known, sending a sympathy card to families that have experienced the death of a loved one.  Maybe you can make your world famous casserole for a bereavement luncheon or volunteer to help set up, take down and clean up after one.  

Yes, it's great to be a hotshot in front of other people.  Imagine yourself doing the things Paul mentions but then remember, there are things that are just as if not more important to do for others.  Remember, the Holy Spirit distributes gifts and talents of all types to all people, even you have some unique ability or talent that is meant to help others.  Do not waste the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you for you will certainly have to account for them on that day when your sunset happens and you stand before God.  That is how important this is.