Are we using our gifts for the building up of the body?
Fr. Steve talks about the Gospel in which Jesus presents the parable of the servants who were given talents to invest. The Lord will ask us what we did with what he gave us. A talent is worth 6,000 denarii, 20 years salary. It represents a lot of money, so even the one who was given only one talent was given a lot. And God does not micromanage what we do with the gifts he gives us, so we need to help each other to ensure sure we are using those gifts.
When it comes to the end of time we will be judged on whether we used our gifts to bring people closer to the Lord. We have been given everything we need even through our baptism, though we may doubt whether we have anything to offer.
God expects a return on his investment, and he will help us to employ our talents for his kingdom. God does not ration his Spirit. The only thing that limits us is our fear and our closedness of heart. But when we are open his Spirit can flow through us and be effective.
Eph 4:11-13. “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” God equips us until we come to full stature in him. We are fools if we don’t continue to learn more about our faith and bear fruit. When we come before the Lord, we may regret not having used our gifts more for the salvation of souls.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” It is God who decides which gifts each is given. But we need to risk trying to use the gifts to find out if we have them.
Finally, Fr. Steve exhorts us to be more and more open to receive and to give his love, by using our gifts for the building up of the body.
