“There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit ”(1 Cor 12:4, 7).
Eighteen years ago, Fred McFeely Rogers passed away at 74 from cancer. I am referring to Mister Rogers of children’s television hall of fame. His program, “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood,” aired five days a week on PBS, from 1968 to 2001. It was the longest run ever for a program on that network. At the beginning of each show, Mister Rogers would sing “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as he entered the house, put on a sweater and sneakers, and gently invited millions of young fans to be his neighbor.
Children were mesmerized by Mister Rogers. I can remember my young niece and nephew sitting on the floor not moving a muscle, with their eyes glued to the television as he spoke. He genuinely loved children and they could sense that. With his simple manner and soothing voice, he wanted to reach children with important information for life. He never shied away from hard topics like divorce, war or death. They were treated frankly but without alarm. His goal was to make his young audience feel secure and loved even in the midst of misfortune and to give them a firm foundation for a good life.
Mister Rogers had studied for the ministry as a young man, but the TV studio was to become his church. He once related an incident about attending a small country church with his wife while he was still in the seminary and they were on vacation. The old minister’s sermon, he said, was absolutely awful — long, rambling and boring. When he finished, Mister Rogers turned to his wife, intending to make a couple of harsh remarks. To his surprise, however, he saw a tear running down her cheek. “He said exactly what I needed to hear,” she said. What a revelation that was! He was severely judging while she was sorely needing, and it was an old, long-winded preacher who fulfilled her need.
On occasion, after Mass, it has happened to me that a parishioner remarks about something I said in my homily that had an impact on that person. It turns out to be, however, something that, for the life of me, I do not remember saying or even intending to say!
On Easter Sunday night, Jesus gave the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation to the Apostles through his breathing of the Holy Spirit upon them. On Pentecost, 50 days later, a whole array of gifts was poured out on them by the Holy Spirit. Not least among them were the gifts courage and communication.
As Catholics, Christians baptized and confirmed in the Spirit, we are truly a gifted people. We need to discern what those gifts are through prayer and reflection. Such discernment often includes the affirmation of others, so pay attention to what others tell you. We need to cherish and cultivate those gifts because they are not just for us, but for the whole church.
As Saint Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians, “There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”
What gift have you been given?
Father Edward Kolla is parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Vineland.
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