This week, the questions for discussion are:
In your own faith:
•How would you describe what your spiritual gifts are (or might be)?
•In what ways could you evangelize or disciple others using those gifts?
For parishioners:
•Think for a moment about the other members of your parish. Who do you know who seems to have a very evident gift for some type of ministry, but perhaps is not aware of it?
For pastoral leaders:
•Think for a moment about the lay leaders of your parish. Which would you describe as “disciples”? As not yet disciples? [Or: Don’t really know.]
•Over the next six months, what steps can you take to help the disciples learn to evangelize? To help disciples-to-be grow in their faith?
I think all these questions hinge first on knowing “Who’s the Boss?”
The answer, of course, is God. Before any of these questions can be answered or even considered, we have to recognize that. Because sometimes I think we as Catholics get ‘very heady.’ Yes, we’ve been given gifts–each of us, distinct gifts–but many don’t know what our gifts are because we haven’t truthfully surrendered ourselves to the only one who’ll give us that knowledge.
Tomorrow is the Feast of The Assumption. Of all people, Mary knew surrender. So, I’m re-posting the following:
Mary, the mother of Jesus, surrendered. If she hadn’t, there would be no Jesus Christ. If she hadn’t, there would be no Christianity. If she hadn’t, we’d never have heard the words, “eternal life.” In fact, we would have no idea how to attain it.
Mary allowed God to use her; and yes, she could have said no. She had free will just like the rest of us. Almighty God would never have forced her to bear His son.
For a moment, put yourself in her position. When Mary was asked to be that vessel by a messenger from God, what would she have thought–“Am I going crazy? Do I really see an angel? Am I dreaming?”
She was engaged to be married. How would Joseph react if she turned up pregnant? He had the right to have her stoned. But there was something in her, a grace given by God that allowed her to trust that the angel was His messenger. She didn’t ask for proof that she would become the mother of the Redeemer. Her only question was, “How?” She trusted that nothing is impossible for God, and then she surrendered.
“I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to thy will.” Luke 1:38
Why do we feel we have to be in complete charge of every aspect of our lives? Why are we so afraid to give up control and surrender ourselves and our problems totally to the will of God? Is it that we don’t believe that He loves us—-really and personally loves each one of us? Because if we don’t first believe that He loves us, then there’s no way we’ll trust Him. 
Stop a minute and think about it. The person I trust most in the world is the person who loves me, who wants only the best for me, and would lay down his life for me if he had to.
If I believe that Almighty God loves me—-and he does–then why shouldn’t I trust Him enough to surrender all?
Translating a World on the Edge 