Second Reading
A READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-11
Sermon By The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been preaching on the Gospel; however, today and next week, I feel compelled to turn our focus to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
As many of you know, before I arrived at Christ Church, I was completing my curacy in Edmonton. This period of training to become a priest was spent under the guidance of Richard King, then the Archdeacon for Mission and Discipleship. A significant part of our work involved traveling throughout the Diocese of Edmonton to encourage and empower laypeople for ministry.
Historically, the church has often focused heavily on clergy: clergy do the ministry, preach, teach, and are considered “special,” even revered. The term “reverend” stems from “reverence,” meaning deep respect or admiration. Clergy were set apart, and their ministry was often viewed as unique and sacred in a way that overshadowed the contributions of the laity.
This mindset had significant consequences on the church. By elevating clergy, the laity were diminished. The subtle (and sometimes not very subtle) message became, “You, the laypeople, don’t have gifts. You don’t have ministry. You are not revered…not special.” This message, whether explicit or implied, told laypeople to sit in the pews, listen to their clergy, and passively absorb knowledge…without thinking, questioning, or contributing.
This approach was…and remains…profoundly wrong. It has contributed to the decline of the church, as many laypeople began to question their place in a church that seemed to undervalue them. If you’re subtly told you’re not as special or important as clergy, why bother coming to church at all? Who would miss you if you weren’t there?
During my curacy, I learned that this imbalance is one reason why churches often struggle, especially in the absence of clergy. Laypeople have been conditioned to believe they lack the gifts and tools for ministry, assuming that only priests are equipped to lead.
Now, as a priest myself….and one blessed to have learned from Richard…I see my role differently. I feel like my calling is to undo this inherited mindset. My mission is to activate everyone in this parish, to remind you that you have gifts, skills, and talents. Your ministries are vital. There is nothing about my ordination or role that makes me any more special or revered than you. We are all revered; we all deserve deep respect. My role is to help you discover and use your gifts, creating opportunities for growth, such as our reintroduced children’s ministry.
While I have specific duties as an Anglican priest that I kinda have to do, the church and its ministry are not about me. They are about you. The robes I wear don’t make me more special; they are simply a part of my role. Each of you is deeply valued, gifted, and called to ministry in this church.
And, importantly, scripture affirms this truth. As Paul writes: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Notice how Paul emphasizes that God activates these gifts in everyone. Not just in the ordained, but in all of us. Every person, both clergy and lay, is given a manifestation of the Spirit. This Spirit, dwelling within us all, equips us all for one purpose: the common good.
Paul’s words remind us that every one of us has amazing gifts, given by God, and that we are called to use them for the common good. We are all called to build up the body of Christ and to live out God’s message of peace, love, grace, and hope. Don’t let my robes or title distract you. The Spirit of God is moving within you, activating your gifts and calling you to use them for the good of all.
Next week, I will return to this theme, which I hope might help you rediscover this truth. While there are specific tasks I must handle as a priest, never forget how blessed and gifted you are. God’s Spirit is alive in you, calling you to embrace your ministry, use your gifts, and work together for the common good. You are worthy of reverence and respect, because God’s Spirit dwells within you. When we join our gifts together, we build a church that reflects God’s love and grace to the world.
Amen.
تعليقات