Villa La Paz Newsletter March 2022
Charism: Christian Theol. a divinely inspired gift, grace, or talent, as for prophesying, healing, etc.
Webster’s New World Dictionary
Third College Edition
People who are in touch with their own gifts, who are grateful to God for them, and who nurture these talents are like oases for the poor, depressed, and oppressed of the world.
Robert J. Wicks
Father, you created me and put me on earth for a purpose. Jesus, you died for me and call me to complete your work. Holy Spirit, you help me to carry out the work for which I was called. In your presence and name-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit- I begin my reflection. May all my thoughts and inspirations have their origin in you and be directed to your glory.
Introductory Prayer for Daily Reflections
Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality
The little boy went to the seashore every day to see if God would be walking there. He enjoyed his walks with God since he would ask God about things that puzzled him. One day he spied God walking on the seashore and joined Him.
“Hello, God,” the little boy said and God answered,
“Hello. How are you?”
“I am OK,” said the little boy. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, “God replied.
“The priest at Sunday mass talked about charisms but I did not understand what he meant,” said the little boy.
“Charisms,” God answered, “are gifts I give to my children to help them through life. The gifts help them to be what they really are, their true self and not their false self,” said God.
“I do not understand what a true self or a false self is,” said the little boy.
God replied, “A true self is what I made you to be, what you carry in your heart: compassion, love, justice and in this way you can help those that I put in your way. The false self is what the world judges you to be and so you want to be noticed, rich, successful, known and acclaimed. When you are concerned about your false self it is impossible to help others since you are only concerned about yourself. It is only with your true self that you can love and have compassion for others.”
“Wow, “said the little boy, “if you freely give these gifts to us why is there injustice, poverty, war, and people who hate and harm each other?”
“I have explained to you before that I love my children so much that I will never force them to love me or accept my gifts. I have given them free will to accept or reject the love and gifts that I send them, “replied God.
The little boy asked,” So you are the source of all charisms, but a giver cannot give what he does not have. Which gift, which charism do you have that you consider the greatest?” “Love,” God replied. “From love all the other charisms flow.”
The charisms we have received from God enable us to navigate the vicissitudes of life. The charisms given to children enable them to be children and respond to their parents with love. The charisms given to parents enable them to be parents and guide and help their children with loving concern. Every organization, every religious order has a charism, a goal, a direction to make the world a better place. Each of us has been given charisms, which we may be unaware of, to devote our lives to better the world in some way. The problem we face is that we are seduced by the false self, what we want the world to see: success, position, wealth, and acknowledgement. These attributes snuff out our concern for others, our compassion, since they are centered on ourselves and not on others. How do we keep on the straight and narrow? How do we adhere to and fortify the charisms God has given each one of us? The answers are two: prayer to deflect the lure of the world and to see the indwelling God in everyone; and spiritual poverty, the knowledge that all we have is pure gift, that we are totally dependent on God for our existence and all that we have. Spiritual poverty enjoins us to return to God, in the guise of His children, the gifts He has given us, be they wealth, knowledge, organizational abilities or other talents. They have been given to us in stewardship, to help others and make the world more compassionate.
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever I am I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.
John Henry Cardinal Newman
During my long life, I have learned one lesson: that the most important thing is to realize why one is alive-and I think it is not only to build bridges or tall buildings or make money, but to do something truly important, to do something for humanity. To bring joy, hope, to make life richer for the spirit because you have been alive. That is the most important thing.
Arthur Rubinstein
In the end, nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another.
Daphne Rose Kingma
Which charisms do our children have? Echoing what God said to the little boy, besides joy in adversity, compassion for their companions, gratitude for benefits received, their most important charism is a love that is unconditional. They come into this world created by Eternal Love, and being created in the image of the Eternal Love, they, like the rays of the sun, radiate the love they have received. It is our duty to foster and grow this love by our examples and life and not let it be extinguished by the world and its lures.
We thank you for supporting our children. We love you and wish you God’s peace.
