The power of the Holy Spirit is in fact inexhaustible and manifests itself in numerous ways. The word charisma from the Greek translates as gift of grace; and in a spiritual sense it refers to the divine gifts that enable us to accomplish our vocation within the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. Further we are to be “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10) in terms of our ministry in the life of our parish, St. Mary’s; for the gifts of the spirit are for building up the church and the spread of the gospel. Included among the gifts are the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Critically and of significant importance is the fact that certain gifts are associated with offices or ministries in the Church, including those given to apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, and those who speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). It is often overlooked or sometimes comes as a surprise that much of the orthodoxy, tenets, and history of our faith relies on the charisms of the spirit and the supernatural, particularly in our skeptical age. And as a result, our faith can be devalued and cheapened as opposed to enriched.

For example, we encounter the supernatural throughout the lectionary year with Holy Scripture presenting for us accounts of the Incarnation, Christ’s miracle at Cana, his feeding the 5,000, his walking on water, and raising Lazarus from the dead. Additionally, at Easter we celebrate his Resurrection from the dead and soon thereafter his Ascension. Among the apostles we read about tongues of fire over the heads of the apostles on the day of Pentecost; about St. Paul’s extraordinary conversion on the road to Damascus; and St. Peter raising Dorcas from the dead. The supernatural is at the heart of our liturgy with the consecrated bread and wine becoming the real presence of Christ. In the Nicene Creed we affirm Christ’s virgin birth. The Episcopal Church’s Book of Occasional Services even has section on exorcism for driving out demons (after all, Christ drove out demons!). And in a recent sermon Mtr. Tomei used the word demon(s) approximately a dozen times. The reality is we would be much poorer spiritually if we failed to fully embrace and celebrate the critical consequences of the supernatural beliefs of our faith.

As to the charisms of the spirit, they are alive and well at St. Mary’s parish, particularly in the area of the Order of St. Luke the Physician healing ministry. But there are also the following: teacher, service, giving, leading, mercy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, vision, helps, administration, hospitality, intercession, witnessing. All are divinely distributed for building up, strengthening, and growing the Church of Christ in general and St. Mary’s parish in particular. We are about to enter a new period of our parish history with the “calling” of a new rector; and it is a virtual certainty that he will search out the charisms of the spirit in each of us to help him in his ministry among us; so be ready and be willing. Do not bury your charism, as the parable teaches, but instead use it to “magnify the Lord”.