RBWords

  ST. BENEDICT, abbot

  

     What does the word "gift" mean to you?  Does it mean some kind of unsolicited good that comes your way?  What do we mean when we say that someone is "gifted?"  Does that mean they have certain talents that set them apart from their peers in a particular field?  An older translation of the quote from today's gospel in which Jesus gives a "charge" to his disciples before sending them out on mission says, "The gift you have received, give as a gift!"  How much have we received as a gift? 

 

     It can be an interesting experience to take an inventory of what we "have" that has come to us as a "gift!"  Have we ever thought of our faith as a gift?  Does the notion of "mine" get in the way of thinking about gifted-ness?  Does the notion of "rights" create a problem, as well?  (I have it so I must have a "right" to it?)  How does this impact our relationship to God?  Perhaps we could ponder St. Paul's line:  "What do you have that was not given to you?"  Or Job's line, "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return!"  In the case of Jesus' charge to the disciples, how does the idea of sharing the gift of faith appeal to us?  In short, how do we make the transition from being "gifted" to being a "giver" of that giftedness?  AMEN