Your Talents: Gifts From God and A Call To Action
By Jason E. Thompson
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 It is a certainty that God has put us here for a
purpose. Jesus Christ sets the perfect example for us to follow. Realizing our
gifts and our purpose is not always a quick process, but it can be realized if
you keep your eyes on the Lord and your heart open to His wisdom.
Growing up in my parish I started out very
introverted and shy. As youth sometimes we feel like we don't have a place in
our religion. We have the "sitting at the kids" table syndrome. In my parish,
St. Alphonsus 'Rock' Liguori in Saint Louis, Missouri, I was greeted with a
different perspective. At the age of 12 I was asked to read on Sunday as a
lector and was taken aback by this invitation. I thought to myself, why would
anyone ask me to read in front of the congregation? Did I do anything to make
myself stand out? I knew the answer to that question, because I was doing a
pretty good job trying to blend in and not be noticed. It was in fact God that
was speaking to the leadership of my parish that day. God had a plan to develop
my talent for public speaking at a very early age. I answered God's call and
accepted the invitation to read that Sunday morning. Today, nearly 15 years
later, I continue in the ministry of Lector and Commentator at my parish. Since
then other youth and young adults have joined the ministry.
 That experience has been a revelation to me that we
are all called to ministry. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians
2:10) God has given us gifts of talent to share with one another. Through our
talents we are able to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ in
limitless ways. I have continually been inspired by the Christ like examples
that surrounded me as a youth and now as a young adult in my parish, family and
in my community. This is why I try my best to use all that I've been blessed
with to give back. I've had the blessing to serve my church in many ways, Parish
Council, Teen Youth Group, Grant writing for parish community programs,
volunteer work and Kujenga, an African American Youth Leadership Conference
organized by the St.Charles Lwanga Center
(http://www.archstl.org/lwangacenter/). Kujenga is one of the most influential
experiences I've had in my ministry with youth and young adults. The environment
and teachings at the conference have inspired me to be a contributing part of
the Catholic Church. I started many years ago as a participant hearing about
God's power and how I am called to be a leader and a strong Christian. Being
surrounded by other young people who realized their talents as gifts from God
and were using them to share with other youth that may not have discovered their
gifts is what Kujenga is all about. I served as facilitator of this year's
conference embodying the purpose of Kujenga, to bring out the leadership in the
young people of our Church. I state all this not in my own celebration but in
celebration of Gods grace and magnificence in using me as a vessel to spread the
good news. The theme 'The Fire IS Within Us' was very appropriate for this year.
I did not know that as a child being asked to serve his church as a lector over
12 years ago that the fire, the Holy Spirit fire, within me would lead me to the
things I've been blessed to do in His name.
One would be surprised to see how far your talents
reach and how many hearts your talents touch. Go and set claim to your right as
a child of God! Remember that you too have talents to build the God's Kingdom.
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the
same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace
given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly (Romans 12:6)
As young adults it's easy for us to get tied up in
our careers, relationships, and tribulations. Let's not forget to focus on our
true victory, our salvation! My young brothers and sisters may we recognize our
gifts, our talents and answer Christ's call to action!
Jason is an Information Technology professional and
a graduate of Saint Louis University. He has over 10 years experience with
Christian youth and young adult ministry. Jason has experience in organizing
youth and young adult leadership development and civil rights reflection with
the Human Rights Office and Saint Charles Lwanga Center of the Archdiocese of
Saint Louis.
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