HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C)

Jan 20, 2013

4643

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (62:1-5)

For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new name pronounced by the mouth of the Lord. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you "Forsaken." Or your land "Desolate," but you shall be called "My Delight," and your land "Espoused." For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10)

(R) Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. Sing to the Lord; bless his name. (R)

Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. (R)

Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord glory and praise; give to the Lord the glory due his name. (R)

Worship the Lord in holy attire. Tremble before him, all the earth; say among the nations: The Lord is king. He governs the peoples with equity. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (12:4-11)

Brothers and sisters: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to another, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

Gospel Acclamation

(R) Alleluia, alleluia!

God has called us through the Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (R)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (2:1-11)

There was wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him. "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from, although the servers who had drawn the water knew, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then, when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now."

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

One year, a harried husband bought his mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift. The next year, he didn't buy her a gift. When she asked him why, he replied, "Well, you still haven't used the gift I bought you last year!"

I wonder how many of us would hear a similar reply from God when asking Him for new gifts. How many of us truly use God-given gifts for God's plan and purpose? Today, Saint Paul addresses the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. Before we study the passage let us look at the background. From the writings of the apostle Paul we learn that Paul was a travelling missionary. He first shared the gospel, established the churches and then he gave them many instructions concerning faith before going to other places. However, he was so concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of all the baptized that he constantly wrote letters (14 in all) to clarify his teachings and to encourage them in their faith; to inform and respond to events that he had heard about; to rebuke and reprimand them for erroneous practices, and to instruct them in Christian living. Today's second reading is taken from the first of two letters he wrote to the Christians at Corinth.

At the time of Paul, Corinth was a busy, cosmopolitan and commercial city in central Greece. It was known for its wealth and luxury, drunkenness and debauchery. Paul had preached to the people of Corinth for more than a year and a half, and brought many people to Christ. While he was in Ephesus, another ancient Greek city, he heard about confusion and conflicts within the church at Corinth concerning spiritual matters. What was the problem?

Believers who had been bestowed with special miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit began to feel that they were far more blessed by God than others who had no or fewer gifts. Some people considered their material wealth as a special gift, and they were deluding themselves into believing that the Lord had made them richer than others or superior to others. The material things and spiritual gifts were seen as the results of genuine spirituality. Moreover, they were utilizing the God-given gifts for self-promotion and self-glorification. Paul, therefore, wrote the letter to correct the misconceptions; to end the conflict and establish peace in the Corinthian church.

What does a spiritual gift mean? A spiritual gift is defined as the "supernatural ability" bestowed by God upon both believers and non-believers. But for believers the Holy Spirit works to act upon the gifts. Paul reminds them that each and every believer is given a spiritual gift, and having one gift or another really makes no difference, since they all come from the same God. Besides he reiterates that all the spiritual gifts are for the common good; they are to benefit everyone in the church. The New Testament lists very many gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Paul enumerates nine spiritual gifts in the letter to the Corinthians:

Gift of wisdom - a God-given insight into the mysterious purposes and workings of God;
Gift of knowledge - a God-given insight into what God is doing in the world;
Gift of faith - the ability to confidently believe in the power of God for changes;
Gift of healing - the ability to heal diseases and restore life;
Gift of working mighty deeds - the ability to call on God to perform miraculous acts;
Gift of prophecy - the ability to foretell God's plan for God's people;
Gift of discernment of spirits - the ability to identify and expose what is good and evil, truth and falsehood;
Gift of tongues - the ability to speak in an inspired language;
Gift of interpretation of tongues - the ability to interpret an inspired message.

What does the text convey to us today?

In many ways we are not much different from the community at Corinth. We have a lot of misconceptions about spiritual gifts and spirituality. We often tend to judge others and their spirituality on the basis of their spiritual gifts. In other words, we associate the spiritual gifts of persons with their spirituality. For instance, sometimes we would say that so and so is wealthy because of his/her piety and practice of faith or spirituality. One could be blessed with riches for one's piety and devotion to God. But we know that not every pious and faithful believer is bestowed with material wealth. However, they are given some other gifts for their faithfulness to God. We are also inclined to follow those who seem to possess the spiritual gifts believing that they are the results of genuine spirituality. One could be bestowed with the gift of prophecy or the gift of tongues for one's spirituality. But we know not everyone who is spiritual and faithful to God is given those gifts. We must correct these misconceptions among us or else, they could disrupt the unity of faith and also cause bitterness, anger, envy and hatred in the community.

Saint Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are not given because someone is spiritual but because of the One (God) who has given the gifts. They are freely given by God and they are workings of the Holy Spirit. And these gifts are not given to some chosen few but to every believer in Christ. Therefore all Christians are called by the Lord to minister to others with the gifts they have received. Some of us are given the gift of wisdom, knowledge or faith. Some are blessed with the gifts of mercy, kindness, compassion and healing, to care for the sick, the poor and the needy. Some are bestowed with material things. And some others are given the gift of leadership - to be a leader in a community, (to be) the head of a family, (to be) a Christian parent or godparent, (to be) a teacher, (to be) a manager of a company, (to be) a singer or a lector in the church. Whatever be the gifts we are reminded that they are to be used for the benefit of others. These gifts are bestowed on everyone so that no individual has the right to monopolize them. They are given to everyone so we would learn to depend on and appreciate one another.

Friends, what is/are your spiritual gift/gifts? It is important you know your spiritual gift/gifts. It is important you discover it/them. If you do not know, pay attention to what stirs your heart and pray specifically to God to reveal His gift to you. You can also ask others in the faith who know you, what strengths they see in you. A true believer in Christ would tell you the truth, who you are and what you can do with your God-given gift. If you know your gifts, then, nurture them by using them to benefit others. Remember, all of us are called to faithfulness in exercising our gifts in areas where Christ directs us.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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