By Linda Casas
Called and Gifted
Lord, was it you calling me when I felt mercy for the man standing on the corner asking for help? Was it you calling me as I felt deep compassion for those mourning the loss of their loved one? Was it you reminding me that the first will be last and the last will be first? Was it you, my Lord, when I was moved to say, “God bless you” to a heartbroken woman passing by me as she left the store? The Lord answered my heart. Yes, he had called me, each time, to be an instrument of his love, his peace and serving as his provider for others.
Called and Gifted, a “powerful discernment process, helps Christians recognize the charisms — spiritual gifts — they’ve been given not just for their own sake, but to represent Christ and be channels of God’s goodness for others” (Catherine of Siena Institute). Called and Gifted helped me to see that God needs his children to be his disciples, to touch others with his love through the gifts with which he has blessed us at baptism and confirmation. These gifts help us answer the “Who am I” and “Why am I here?” questions.
It was not a coincidence that I felt the heavy heart of the woman who passed by me in the store. That day I felt moved spiritually to comfort her with God’s most tender compassion and mercy, charisms I possessed yet did not comprehend at the time. All I knew and felt was God working through me. To this day, I remember vividly her tear-filled eyes as she looked back and thanked me, saying that I could never imagine how much those three words — God bless you — touched her heart.
Fast-forward 30 years from that day. Our paths crossed just recently. We had bumped into each other several times throughout the years but I had not seen her for a good while. We were happy to see each other again. She told me she had just come from the doctor who told her that her cancer had returned. I felt helpless and immediately wanted to comfort her.
I asked God to intervene, to give me the right words to say — but she spoke up. She reminisced about the day we met, reminding me that I had asked God to bless her. She said there must be meaning to us encountering each other again, when she needed God’s strength so much. I held her, sharing God’s gifts of mercy and compassion.
It simply takes opening one’s heart to respond to God’s calling. God needs each of us to be his hands, voice and love. Our world desperately needs us to answer his call. We need to trust God, to be open to see what God wants us to see and hear. He calls us at different points in our lives.
The Called and Gifted discernment process opens our hearts to discover the gifts with which God has blessed us. They could be charisms of wisdom, encouragement, hospitality, pastoring, teaching, leadership, for example. We need to allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit to speak to us for the sake of others. Each time God calls me, I become more aware of my gifts and grow deeply closer to him.
(Linda Casas is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf.)
Sign up information
The next Called and Gifted nine-session workshop will start Sept. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf and conclude Dec. 1. The $50 cost covers all course materials and a personal gifts interview led by parishioners trained by Catherine of Siena Institute. Contact Maureen Conrad at iowaconrads@yahoo.com or call 563.940.5921 for more information.
