In our reading today Paul addresses the gifts of the Spirit and answers the Corinthian question of the hierarchy of spiritual gifts. Paul had discerned an egocentric competitiveness that was detrimental to Church unity. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. Since all of the gifts have a common origin they should serve a common purpose. Since no one has the capacity to receive all spiritual gifts, but the grace of the Spirit is given proportionately to the faith of each, when one is living in community with others, the grace privately bestowed on each individual becomes the common possession of the others. . . .
Precise definitions are impossible and many of the meanings which have been assumed are arbitrary.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. One who possesses a gift and does not share it not only deprives themselves of its benefits, they deprive the entire community and the gift is lost. Our reading for today is the familiar wedding feast at Cana. This is Genesis imagery. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.