What if I don't have any gifts?
To be Catholic is to be Charismatic! So, each baptized believer has been "gifted" charisms. Do you believe that within your own life?
In light of my latest post, which I have been told was feisty, I thought it would be good to continue with the charismatic theme because… who doesn’t love feistiness? (rhetorical question. Hopefully everyone does…)
I had the pleasure of co-leading a retreat on the New Testament gifts, or charisms, with Fred recently. If you are unfamiliar with this word “charism” or “New Testament gifts,” a charism is a supernatural gift given by God enabling Him to work through Christians in order to build up the Church. This idea of charisms or New Testament gifts is not something new that a particular organization made up. The Church has a rich tradition recognizing that special graces–charisms–have been given to the body of Christ!
“There are furthermore special graces, also called charisms after the Greek term used by St. Paul and meaning "favor," "gratuitous gift," "benefit." Whatever their character… charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church.”1
(For more on the root word St. Paul uses, read “It’s All One Boat.”)
Even while the Church recognizes these gifts and encourages discernment,2 before even teaching on the charisms, we had to lay the groundwork that the participants did, in fact, have gifts!! I see so many who grow discouraged because they do not believe they have charisms.
We even had someone share feedback after the retreat and said, “I really think we need this at my parish! There are a lot of people excited about the charismatic gifts, but I think we grow discouraged seeing how many gifts other people have and wonder, ‘do I even have any?’”
I assure you, you have gifts! But don’t just take my word for it. 🙂 We all receive these gifts by virtue of our Baptism, we become members of the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit living within us. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit.”3
“The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification… giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit…”4
If you are baptized, you have received the Spirit, therefore you are gifted! The book of Esther says that you were made for such a time as this (4:14), so we must trust that God has gifted us each uniquely for the purpose we were created for in this time. (Isn’t that amazing?! That he made you for a special mission and gave you all the gifts you would need for that mission in the world today!)
Furthermore, Scripture reveals that there will be gifts and signs given to all those who believe and have been baptized: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved… And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”5
It is not simply about being baptized, but “signs” will accompany all those who believe. While you have been given gifts as a member of the Body of Christ, do you believe you have gifts? When you believe… “signs will accompany” all you do.
(Stay tuned for more on the Charismatic Gifts. As we understand and discern our charisms, there is great freedom and fruit in our ministries!)
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2003
CCC 801
1 Cor 12:7
CCC 1266
Mk 16: 16-18