May 18, 2026 Written by 
Art'working

Pentecost

Pentecost

Pentecost (year A)

 

(1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13)

 

1 Corinthians 12:3 ...no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit;

1 Corinthians 12:5 there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord;

1 Corinthians 12:6 there are different kinds of working, but the same God works all things in all people.

1 Corinthians 12:7 And to each is given a special manifestation of the Spirit for the common good:

 

All those who are not under the guidance of the Holy Spirit can do nothing but allow themselves to be moved and carried away by their impulses. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, leads to the true confession of who Jesus is. Whoever is in the Spirit sees everything according to the truth. If they do not see according to the truth, they are not in the Spirit. Therefore, whoever is in the Holy Spirit cannot speak a lie about Christ. Likewise, no one can speak the truth about Christ unless under the working of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, any spirit that does not lead us to love Jesus is not a good spirit, whatever manifestation it may have. If it does not lead us to love Jesus, it is from the devil. Any spirit that does not lead to loving Christ leads to perdition.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who works all things in all” (vv. 4–6). There is mention three times of diversity and three times of unity. Unity is attributed to the Spirit, who is the Holy Spirit; to the Lord, who is Jesus; and to God, who is the Father. In essence, the Trinity forms the backdrop to our diversity and unity, for the Trinity is the primary source of diversity and unity. Diversity is necessary for relationship, for love. In love, diversity becomes unity. Since God is love, then love requires diversity; and diversity is the very place of union, whereas for us, generally, diversity is the place of conflict, because we do not accept diversity. Today, people seek to abolish diversity. There is unity in non-identity, in the destruction of the person.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.” Here we have the word charismatōn. It derives from the same root as the term “grace” – charis – meaning “manifestations of grace” and therefore “gifts”. The charism itself is a particular grace through which we can manifest God’s riches to the world. A charism is grace because it is given freely to man. No one can take personal pride in it, precisely because it is a charism, that is, a grace bestowed.

Having established this first truth, Paul immediately affirms another. Whilst there are many charisms, there is only one Author: the Holy Spirit of God. Why does Paul feel the need to emphasise this truth? The pagans believed that a person’s various gifts were to be attributed to different gods, one of whom gave wisdom, another strength, and so on. Lest the Christians should think that something similar applied to the various gifts bestowed upon them, the Apostle warns them that, although the gifts are diverse, there is but one Spirit from whom they proceed. Furthermore, by saying that the Spirit is the sole source of the grace within us, he wishes to invite the Corinthians to recognise the Lordship of God in every work He accomplishes through us.

“There are different kinds of ministry.” Ministry, diakoniōn, means: diaconies, services. Thus he introduces another concept: every charism, every gift we have, is a service to others.

“There is but one Lord.” All these services are established and governed by the supreme will of the one Head of the Church: the Lord Jesus. Thus, all our service finds its origin in Jesus, who made himself a servant to all; and every gift finds its model in Jesus.

“And there are various kinds of working.” The term “works” translates the term energēmātōn, which derives from the word normally used to denote “work”. Even the works we perform in the service of the Kingdom of God must be traced back to God the Almighty Father, who from on high strengthens our will and infuses energy and vigour into the body so that we may act in accordance with God. It is God who stirs up both the will and the action.

“But there is but one God.” For the third time, Paul asserts that there can be no divisions among men based on “gifts”, for it is the same God who bestows the gifts in all their diversity. And precisely because all gifts proceed from God, they can be directed only towards a purpose worthy of God. Every person is an instrument in God’s hands. If God uses one instrument for one thing and another instrument for another, can the instrument perhaps become jealous, act with envy, or ask the Lord why He uses me and not the other, or why He uses the other and not me?

If God has ordained that one person should exercise a ministry with a particular charism and another should act according to a different ministry and with an equally distinct charism, who is man to say to God: ‘Why have you made me this way and why have you made me different from others?’ If it is God who works in us, then it is right to pray to the Lord that he may act in us according to the gift with which he has enriched us, but also that he may strengthen the gift with which he has enriched others.

In these verses we find the profound framework of the structure of community life and also of married life, namely diversity and unity. These are not a threat to one another, but are necessary for one another; otherwise, it is impossible to live. This is a vast subject because it applies both on a strictly personal level and on a social level. These are fundamental values in which the destiny of humanity is at stake, that is, how we live out who we are.

“Now to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (v. 7). Any gift that does not lead to the common good is no longer a gift; it would be a gift, but we are using it in the opposite way. Everything I have and am serves to love God and my neighbour, and whatever does not lead in this direction we are misappropriating, and therefore using it in a diabolical way. All gifts are gifts from God, but we can make right or wrong use of them.

A ministry, a gift, a charism, a grace is not for the person who receives it; it is for the common good. Everyone must feel enriched by the charism of another. From this principle set out by Paul arises a serious problem of conscience for every Christian. If the charism of another is for my benefit, can I neglect it, can I refuse to make use of it if it is necessary for me?

To ignore another’s charism, to make no use of it, to refuse to allow this charism to bear abundant fruit is a sin that turns against me. If another’s charism is for me, by depriving myself of it, I deprive myself of the nourishment I need. Rejecting another’s charism—and above all, rejecting it out of a guilty conscience—places me in serious danger of failing in my Christian life, because I deprive myself of the support and nourishment that the Lord has placed at my side.

 

 

 Argentino Quintavalle, author of the books 

- Revelation – an exegetical commentary 

- The Apostle Paul and the Judaizers – Law or Gospel?

Jesus Christ, true God and true Man in the mystery of the Trinity

The prophetic discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24–25)

All generations will call me blessed

 Catholics and Protestants compared – In defence of the faith

 The Church and Israel according to St Paul – Romans 9–11

 

(Available on Amazon)

144 Last modified on Monday, 18 May 2026 19:41
Rate this item
(1 Vote)
Argentino Quintavalle

Argentino Quintavalle è studioso biblico ed esperto in Protestantesimo e Giudaismo. Autore del libro “Apocalisse - commento esegetico” (disponibile su Amazon) e specializzato in catechesi per protestanti che desiderano tornare nella Chiesa Cattolica.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Latest from Argentino Quintavalle

Previous
« Ascension of the Lord
Next
Most Holy Trinity »
back to top
St Augustine rightly commented: “Christ showed himself indifferent to her, not in order to refuse her his mercy but rather to inflame her desire for it” (Sermo 77, 1: PL 38, 483) [Pope Benedict]
Sant’Agostino commenta giustamente: “Cristo si mostrava indifferente verso di lei, non per rifiutarle la misericordia, ma per infiammarne il desiderio” (Sermo 77, 1: PL 38, 483) [Papa Benedetto]
In the divine attitude justice is pervaded with mercy, whereas the human attitude is limited to justice. Jesus exhorts us to open ourselves with courage to the strength of forgiveness, because in life not everything can be resolved with justice. We know this (Pope Francis)
Nell’atteggiamento divino la giustizia è pervasa dalla misericordia, mentre l’atteggiamento umano si limita alla giustizia. Gesù ci esorta ad aprirci con coraggio alla forza del perdono, perché nella vita non tutto si risolve con la giustizia; lo sappiamo (Papa Francesco)
The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy refers precisely to this Gospel passage to indicate one of the ways that Christ is present:  "He is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised "where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them' (Mt 18: 20)" [Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 7]
La Costituzione sulla Sacra Liturgia del Concilio Vaticano II si riferisce proprio a questo passo del Vangelo per indicare uno dei modi della presenza di Cristo: "Quando la Chiesa prega e canta i Salmi, è presente Lui che ha promesso: "Dove sono due o tre riuniti nel mio nome, io  sono in mezzo a loro" (Mt 18, 20)" [Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7]
For Jesus we are not a "mass", a "multitude"! We are individual "persons" with an eternal value, both as creatures and as re-deemed persons! He knows us! He knows me, and loves me and gave himself for me! (Gal 2:20) [John Paul II]
Non siamo “massa”, “moltitudine”, per Gesù! Siamo “persone” singole con un valore eterno, sia come creature sia come persone redente! lui ci conosce! lui mi conosce, e mi ama e ha dato se stesso per me! (Gal 2,20) [Giovanni Paolo II]
The grain of wheat that "falls to the ground and dies" becomes the promise of bread (Pope John Paul II)
Il chicco di grano che “cade in terra e muore” diventa la promessa del pane (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
The power of faith can move mountains (cf. Mt 17:20): the Lord can illuminate even the deepest darkness [Pope Benedict]
La forza della fede può spostare le montagne (cfr Mt 17,20): il Signore può illuminare anche la tenebra più profonda [Papa Benedetto]
By willingly accepting death, Jesus carries the cross of all human beings and becomes a source of salvation for the whole of humanity. St Cyril of Jerusalem commented: “The glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin and brought redemption to the whole world of mankind” (Catechesis Illuminandorum XIII, 1: de Christo crucifixo et sepulto: PG 33, 772 B) [Pope Benedict]
The dialogue of Jesus with the rich young man, related in the nineteenth chapter of Saint Matthew's Gospel, can serve as a useful guide for listening once more in a lively and direct way to his moral teaching [Veritatis Splendor n.6]
Il dialogo di Gesù con il giovane ricco, riferito nel capitolo 19 del Vangelo di san Matteo, può costituire un'utile traccia per riascoltare in modo vivo e incisivo il suo insegnamento morale [Veritatis Splendor n.6]

duevie.art

don Giuseppe Nespeca

Tel. 333-1329741


Disclaimer

Questo blog non rappresenta una testata giornalistica in quanto viene aggiornato senza alcuna periodicità. Non può pertanto considerarsi un prodotto editoriale ai sensi della legge N°62 del 07/03/2001.
Le immagini sono tratte da internet, ma se il loro uso violasse diritti d'autore, lo si comunichi all'autore del blog che provvederà alla loro pronta rimozione.
L'autore dichiara di non essere responsabile dei commenti lasciati nei post. Eventuali commenti dei lettori, lesivi dell'immagine o dell'onorabilità di persone terze, il cui contenuto fosse ritenuto non idoneo alla pubblicazione verranno insindacabilmente rimossi.