Ignatian Spirituality helps us know that we are called to participate with God in building his Kingdom and that our participation is unique to our gifts and talents. This participation is our personal vocation, it is a discovery or the discerning of our calling. Jesus was able to identify his personal vocation,
aided by the gifts he received. He was able to live out of his personal vocation, ministering to others, especially by looking after the poor and outcast in society, curing diseases and teaching.
Jesus received special gifts that enabled him to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and when those who were sick came to him, he healed them from their different
ailments. As siblings of Jesus, we receive gifts too. These might not be to cure every disease, but they could be to care for sick people to welcome the stranger and those that society rejects. They could be to love as Jesus loves without any conditions, to visit the prisoner and to share resources with others who are not as privileged as ourselves.
Our identity as
followers of Christ compels us to be like Christ in all that we do. Our presence in suffering or sickness should gently encourage us to seek ways of alleviating the suffering. We must allow ourselves to be moved with compassion. This brings forth a desire in us to act, to use our gifts to better the situation or condition of our neighbour.
Spend a few
moments today in gratitude, reflecting on the many gifts you have received. Ask for the grace to be able to see more clearly gifts which you might have overlooked. How might you use these gifts more graciously to help others and build the Kingdom?
Reflections by Morongoa Selepe
