Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
Today’s readings are a great reminder that each of us has been given particular gifts and talents, and we are called to use these to generously serve others. God supplies the gifts and the abundance, but we must discern what blessings we can share with others through prayerfully listening to God’s voice. Using these gifts of service often requires sacrifice, and it is through our imitation of Jesus that we find the path to follow.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we are reminded that each of us is called to “do as already determined” and to perform these with a “cheerful” heart. We are not expected to do this on our own because God abundantly supplies every grace that we need for all of our good work. In the gospel, Jesus tells the disciples (and us) that in order to produce abundant life, we must follow Him in serving others through “losing our lives.” Once again, we do not do this alone, since Jesus tells us “where I am, there also will my servant be.”
Reflecting on these readings presents me with many questions- How do I know what gifts I have? How do I know that I am using these gifts to serve God (and others)? What does it mean to “lose my life” and follow Jesus? It seems much easier to look around and see the many gifts that others have than to recognize our own gifts. I sometimes wonder if this is because we see other’s gifts as being more desirable. Yet, God has given each of us talents to share that are vital to building the kingdom. Finding our gifts comes from an awareness of God in our lives- this starts with prayer. Fr. Richard Rohr writes, “From my place of prayer, I am able to understand more clearly what is mine to do and have the courage to do it."
God uniquely created us, and therefore God can reveal those gifts which will be blessings for others. With this revelation, we may find that the gifts we possess are sometimes simple, and yet still can have a great impact through our service to those around us. Being a good listener is an example of a gift that may seem insignificant, but can be a source of comfort and encouragement for others. Sometimes using gifts requires a dying to self. To be a compassionate listener requires the ability to step back and with an open heart, hear without judgment. We must set aside our need to be right and to be heard, and allow the other person the opportunity to share their thoughts. Listening with love is a gift that could have a great impact in this divisive world by bringing healing and renewing trust.
When you experience a situation that results in greater peace, greater respect, or greater love, you can believe that the gifts that are shared during this interaction are given by God. If you take time at the end each day and reflect on the experiences where love, compassion, trust and hope were shared, you will be able to identify some of the unique gifts which you have been given. We must actively seek and discern the gifts that we have, so we use them in our daily lives. Jesus’ call to “lose our lives” reminds us that these gifts are intended for the greater good, and therefore our service may not bring about our own personal gain and recognition. If we follow Jesus, we will recognize that “dying” to our self may be difficult, but the fruits of our labor will be great.
Loving God, You shower us with many gifts to do good work on this earth. Jesus shows us how we are called to serve others by using our gifts to bring love, peace and hope. Send Your Spirit down on us, so we may have the grace to continue to serve you and others in all that we do. We pray this Christ’s name. AMEN
-Marylynn Herchline