Christ’s gift
Verse for the Day
‘But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift’ (Ephesians 4:7).
Additional Scripture Passages
- Jeremiah1:4-9
- Psalm 131
- Luke 4:17-19
Commentary
The Church and all its local expressions and communities are unique in their God-given diversity. This gift is granted by one God, for one purpose, with one hope. As the Church united, we can realise Christ’s gift of grace which empowers us to work as co-creators with God as we imagine and manifest God’s dream for all people: God’s Kingdom here on earth. It begins with us recognising our Maker’s richness and power in the midst of our diversity. It moves us to come together, centred in Christ and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, in unity and purpose glorifying God. As the Church, resolutely united and wonderfully diverse, we make the invisible God visible to the world as we share the gift of Christ unselfishly for all whom He calls kin.
Reflection
But I am just a little child,
how else would you expect me to act?
What else did you think I was going to do,
other than play and delight in who I was made to be,
to dance between the pillars of wisdom and hope,
to make up rhymes and sing at the top of my lungs?!
That God as my witness,
with words so profound anointed not just my lips,
but tenderly set alight in my very soul:
Oh Church,
hope in the Lord for ever
from this time on and ever more…
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
You have bestowed wonderful graces and multiple gifts upon us
for the sake of building up Your Body, the Church.
Help us to embrace and recognise our individuality,
so that we may be caught up in the childlike wonder of Your diverse making and creating.
Breathe in us with Your creative Spirit,
that we may respond and spread Your word, Your dream, Your grace and Your beauty,
to every place that we can reach,
as we play and pray in Your name.
Amen.
Questions
- Personal: What are Christ’s gifts to you?
- Local: Where do you recognise the richness of God’s Dream/Kingdom expressed in diverse ways in your local context?
- Global: How can we as the Church live out the ideals of diversity, inclusion and equality – in ways that uphold them in this time?
Go and Do
- Personal: Speak to some people you trust about what gifts they recognise in you and explore how you might invest in them and use them for God.
- Local: Seek out projects in your area that are good examples of diverse groups coming together, and volunteer.
- Global: Where do you notice examples of exclusion and weaponising of difference in society? Explore Christian Aid or CAFOD stories from around the world and try some of their suggestions about engagement.
Original source: WPCU 2026