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Blog: January 19, 2025

Fr. Jeff and others share reflections on the Sunday readings.

January 19, 2025

A Reflection from Fr. JEff

“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.”


In today’s second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, immediately following the excerpt above, Paul writes of different gifts all given by the same Spirit: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, varieties of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Like many, perhaps the last time you asked for any gifts from the Holy Spirit was at your confirmation. You may remember learning about and asking for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, mostly from Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 11: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and piety. The Church, expanding on Paul’s further list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, traditionally recognizes twelve: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. Additionally, in just a few verses, Paul will list other forms of service designated by God (some of these overlap): apostles, prophets, teachers, mighty deeds, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. It’s just a hunch, but I doubt if any of these lists exhaust what the Holy Spirit has to give. The Holy Spirit is generous and creative. 


I was confirmed, like many, in the eighth grade. Despite Catholic school, the example of family and friends, and the formation of service and attending mass every week, I was like the disciples in today’s Gospel reading. I was beginning to believe. It would take many more experiences, relationships, studies, and prayers before I would come to more fully believe and trust in God (and I am still growing!). One of those opportunities came on an overnight prayer and fasting retreat in the mountains of Colorado. It was hardly 12 hours of fasting, but I ate no food and drank plenty of juice and hot cider. The group I was with also prayed, read the Bible, and had awesome conversations. As the evening progressed, we began a time of prayer where everyone would pray for each person in turn. Sometimes called the “hot seat” in charismatic groups, one person would be seated in the center with everyone else laying hands on them and praying. It was new to me. Some spoke in tongues (glossolalia is the official Latin term), but that was not completely new to me. While at a Boy Scout camp near Harlan, Kentucky, we had visited a small church, no more than 15 members, and some there also spoke in tongues. It was not totally new, but it also wasn’t familiar, and the whole experience was out of my comfort zone. Finally, it was my turn to sit in the center and be prayed over. The question was posed to me, “What do you want from God?” I had been growing in faith, beginning to believe and trust more, and answered, “Whatever the Holy Spirit wants to give.” I really tried to mean what I said. 


I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to give you his gifts, whatever he wants to give. Try to mean it when you ask. It may be out of your comfort zone or unfamiliar, but the Holy Spirit is generous and creative. Be ready for the surprise and the call to begin to believe more. In the Gospel reading, it is heartening to me that the disciples, who just witnessed the miracle of turning water into wine, only began to believe in Jesus. We are each taking our next best step on the journey of faith. Mary shows us the example and the goal. She totally believes in her son. She said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” And to the work of the Holy Spirit announced by the angel Gabriel, she replied, “May it be done to me according to your word.” As we grow in our belief, our trust, may our response to the gifts of the Holy Spirit be the same as Mary’s, whatever the Holy Spirit wants to give.