And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists... for building up the body of Christ – Ephesians 4:11-12

       Before I became a renewed Catholic, I always thought that priests, pastors and elders of communities were the exclusive conduit to God. They were the experts of the Gospel. Admittedly, I got these wrong notions from traditionally closed Catholics.

       As I grew in faith and frequented activities of a Catholic community, I got the impression that prayer in tongues and full-time service were the ultimate way of serving the Lord.But I didn’t have the gift of tongues. I also couldn’t be full-time in the ministry because I was an entrepreneur and a graduate school professor.

       I struggled with these beliefs until I read 1 Corinthians 12:4: “There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit.”

       I realized that whatever gifts, roles or professions we are given, we should use them in proportion to our faith and in God’s service. Dean Pax Lapid (happyretiree40@gmail.com)

Reflection: Are you confused with how to use the gifts God has given you? Pray to God since you have a direct line to Him that is never busy.

Lord, You know what’s in my heart. Use me to bring honor and glory to Your name.

Paul teaches that unity can be achieved by using the gifts of the Spirit that we have received to serve the Church. We need to share our gifts with one another so that we have the fullness of the gifts at our disposal as a community of faith. Likewise, we should develop our gifts for the benefit of our faith community and not just our own.

7 Brothers and sisters: Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men. 9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming. 15 Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the Body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. (R) According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David. (R)

We need to nurture our faith just like a gardener nurtures the plants and trees in his care. This takes time and effort. We till the soil and plant the seed. We water what we have planted. We pull out the weeds and prune the plants. We fertilize and care for the fruits as they grow and ripen. We gather the harvest at the right time. Then we start the process over again.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live.

1 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2 He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? 3 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! 4 Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them. Do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? 5 By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” 6 And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, 7 he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ 8 He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; 9 it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” 

think: We should develop our gifts for the benefit of our faith community and not just our own.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  Zechariah 12-14

MISFORTUNE AND GUILT

Two weeks from now, it will be the second anniversary of the day Typhoon Haiyan wrecked havoc to our Filipino brethren on November 8, 2013. Many families lost their homes, properties and loved ones on that tragic day. I was a newly ordained deacon when my Bishop instructed me to assist our Diocesan Social Action Director in the relief operations. The need was overwhelming that the operation had to go nonstop despite the absence of electricity. Sleepless and tired, one could not help but think of what these people had done to deserve this horrific wrath of nature.

       When misfortunes strike, we readily associate it with the sins we committed. When we suffer, we also believe we have committed a big sin that merited a huge punishment. Sometimes, we have this flawed thinking that it is all right to sin a bit because the consequences won’t hurt that much. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that misfortune is not proportionate to guilt, and to discuss on what is proportionate or not is not the issue. He rather insists on repentance. Otherwise, He would have said, “You, too, will perish.”

       When confronted with a moral question between two evils, the greater evil will in no way make the lesser evil good. Regardless of the proportion, evil remains evil for it is the absence of good. God bestowed each of us His graces according to the measure of the gift of Christ. He measures out His gifts, and each receives according to His measure. This may vary because whatever one receives, he or she keeps it for the good of everyone.

       Brethren, we are not called to be hoarders. We are called to be stewards of God’s graces, and this stewardship finds its best expression in the Church. The Church of Christ is a fellowship, where everyone should be treated as family with each his or her own responsibility, while also bound to act accordingly. Fr. Sonny Cotiamco

REFLECTION QUESTION: Before going to bed tonight, do a short examination of conscience. How did you please and displease God today?

Dearest Lord, I need Your grace. Forgive me for the many times I displeased You through my habitual sins and for letting some time go without repenting of them. Amen.