It is 18th September 2018. The readings are from 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31; and the Gospel from Luke 7:11-17. The gifts and talents must not make us proud and individualistic rather to be charitable and at the service of the other. By the virtue of the Sacrament of Baptism, we are all spiritually connected even if we do not seem to have felt it. We are all knitted together with Christ. We are endowed with gifts and talents for the welfare of common good. When individualism and selfishness dominate among us, we disconnect from the other and trying to establish our own kingdom, and livelihood which is not the intention of God. Whether we are called to be a follower, a teacher/preacher, a prophet, a miracle worker, we do not need to get rid of the other in order to show our talents and abilities. Cognizing and mobilizing to divide and dominate the others in thought, words and in action hurts the Body of Christ. Working together and building the communities with whatever talents and gifts we have is going to build the Body of Christ, the Church. We need to play our own part without persecuting the other or suffocating the other member. The part that is assigned to us has to be played by us for that period to the fullest of our abilities without comparing with the other’s contribution toward the unity of the Church. When we begin to replace the Head of the Church, the Christ, we begin to disintegrate and wish to destroy one another for the sake of taking over and to control the entire organism with our human wishful thinking. We begin fighting together to get rid of a group that animated. We have levelled complaints, found faults and we throw out the parts of the body just because we believe that it is our turn to take the leadership, the money power and the decision making in the Church and the community we belong. Having got rid of the common enemy, we begin to disintegrate and fight among ourselves to have control and dominance over each other. Our charisma must not infringe the freedom of the other in participating and building the Church. Gifts and talents are for holding the Church together not to divide. We cannot be at the service of others without love for Christ. Unless we go through a certain amount of inconvenience and even humiliation, we will not feel that we belong to the Church with one Spirit, one faith and one Lord. “Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it.” (1 Cor.12:27). The responsorial Psalm praises, “We are his people, the sheep of his flock.” (Ps.99:3). The Gospel presents us with the compassionate Jesus who feels and acts when one of the members suffers. Jesus being God gives life to the young man seeing the plight and pain of the mother. He does not remain silent when one member of the Body of Christ goes through pain, and grief. The restoration and resurrection are for those who put their trust in Jesus. Christ has the power over death and He is the Life and the Eternal Word of the Father. May we engage in activities that could unite and build us as one Church as we believe and profess in One God. May you have a good day. God bless you.