Spiritual Reflections

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The Chrisms within CUSA

I suspect that we have all been on either side of jealousy at some time or another in our lives. Perhaps jealousy has reared its ugly head when we consider the lives of people who are not burdened with the cross of chronic illness and/or disability. Comparison is a natural enough activity in the human sphere and is not necessarily always bad. However, when it leads to the emotion of jealousy or envy, it can be downright dangerous to the spiritual life.

When we read the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, we find evidence that among other ugly emotions and feelings, jealousy was part of their lives as well. Members of that early Christian community had no doubt examined the make up of their collective and recognized the various gifts that existed within it. Those gifts could readily be divided up into three distinct groups. Using the language of our culture, we can break them down into gifts of communication (apostles, prophets, and teachers), social service (deacons, deaconesses, care givers, and alms givers), as well as executives or administrators (bishops, pastors, and elders). St. Paul makes the point that no matter what the gift, it is only a gift if it is used for others: To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. (I Corinthians 12:7) The gift is not a personal mark of prestige or of privilege. As we will point out later, the most excellent gift is love.

Consequently, he reminds the Corinthians that although each of them is blessed differently, each is blessed. Although each possesses some speciality, each is essential to the life of the community. As a matter of fact, since the gifts come from the Holy Spirit, they are distributed by the Spirit as they are needed.

The list of gifts that St. Paul cites in the first Letter to the Corinthians is not exhaustive. There are other gifts, other charisms present in the community. It is not necessary to list all of them because, as St. Paul reminds us, the gifts are not our own or even of our own devising. The gifts all come from the same source, given for service.

Each CUSAN is also blessed with a gift from the spirit. It goes without saying that I am perhaps more aware of this than the entire membership as I have the opportunity to read each CUSANS letters. I am sure that it will not come as a surprise to you that as I get to know the membership better through each person’s correspondence, I am able to marvel at how the Holy Spirit has blessed us as an apostolate.

May the Holy Spirit continue to bless us with the gifts we need.

 Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator