"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner
As we fill out our volunteer sheets today, perhaps we can pray and ponder a bit on our calling and charisms.
What is a charism? Charism is the Greek word used in the New Testament for “gratuitous gift.” A charism is an ability, skill, or talent given by and through the activity of the Holy Spirit working in the life of each individual believer that enable him/her to be powerful channels of God’s love and transforming presence in the world. Charisms are not learned or inherited from our parents, but are given especially to each of us by the Holy Spirit. According to both the New Testament (Eph 4) and our own Catholic Tradition (CCC, 951), we are all given charisms to share. Charisms are always focused outward for the good of the community and are inspired and directed by God. Collectively, the spiritual gifts possessed by the members of a parish enable that parish as the body of Christ to perform the mission and ministry to which it has been called by God.
Are my charisms related to my “mission” in life? Every believer has a “mission” or vocation in life, a work of love for which each individual was created (Eph 4:7-16). Charisms are both tools given to us to accomplish our mission and important clues as to what that mission in life might be. All of us are called to follow Christ, by being Jesus’ compassionate and transforming presence in the world: the on-going incarnation.
If I have a charism, why don’t I know it? Charisms need to be discovered and developed just like our natural gifts.…Charisms must be discerned by taking action…we must experiment, that is, prayerfully try a specific activity and see what God does as a result.” - Sherry Weddell
What are some ways to authentically identify a charism?
· An unmistakable inner experience of peace, energy and joy when you’re using your gift.
· Unusually effective and successful results in what you’re trying to accomplish.
· Other people’s direct or indirect recognition of the gift’s presence in you.
Adapted from https://siena.org/charisms-faq
Visit www.crazycatholicquestions.blogspot.com to review past articles or send your question/comment to Lisa Brown at dre@ctredeemer.org.
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