It is not necessarily a sign of God’s love or sanctity to have charisma. Why does the Lord grant charisms to unworthy people and not just to those persons who seek God and their sanctification? *** I cannot second-guess the wisdom of God, which is infinitely beyond me. In his divine liberty, he grants these gifts to whoever he wishes. Unfortunately, some do not use it to better love him. At the moment of baptism, we all receive ‘sanctifying’ gifts. These gifts are a sign of God’s friendship. If they are lost through mortal sin, they can be regained through a sincere confession of our sins, by our return to the friendship of God. We have all received ‘charismatic’ gifts. We received them from God to enable us to help our brothers and sisters and to build the Body of Christ, which is the Church. We can and we must help one another. But it does not necessarily mean that those who receive charisms are in a state of grace. One would assume that they would live in the faithfulness of God, but it isn’t always the case. Also, Jesus warns us to be on our guard: “Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?’ Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men!” (Mt 7: 22-23). These persons of iniquity had charisms, but acted sinfully. They prophesied, cast out demons, performed miracles, but they lived in sin. Let us ask the Lord to help us make proper use of our own charisms, no matter what they are. Let us ask especially to love the Lord and to be faithful to him. Charisma must always be practiced with humility, in the love of God and neighbor. The great pathway to God, is that of love (1 Co 13). |