1 Corinthians 12:8 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
Priests and laypeople can have a variety of Gifts, as St Paul tells us. But the greatest gift is love. There is a wonderful example of this in a book of Stephen King's called, 'The Stand'. In this novel the entire world has been devastated by a Great Plague and the survivors divide into two camps. The good and the evil. Foremost of the good is a tiny, very little old black lady who lives by herself in a little cabin in the back of beyond. I love the account Stephen gives of visitors to her cabin being met by the wonderful sight and sound of pan fired chicken and sweetcorn being cooked for their arrival and a little home warmed to glory by the old lady's love. Love is the real gift. But an equally great gift is to have enough love in our own hearts to recognise it overflowing in the heart of others. Otherwise we walk on past without seeing. I love it that one of the visionaries asked the Blessed Mother how come she was so beautiful, to which she replied, 'I am beautiful because I love'. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
