Recognizing Each Others Gifts

In Sunday's sermon, I mentioned that I was drawing upon Augustine's theology in my presentation of the Trinity. I was a bit surprised this week to discover that other parts of the sermon also have roots in Augustine's thought, especially the point that we are meant by God to celebrate each other's gifts -- something we often fail to do because of our pride, our competitiveness, and our dishonesty.

While reading a book on Christian history, I read a quotation from Augustine's Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love:

We love God now by faith; then we shall love him through sight. Now we love even our neighbor by faith....But in the future life, every man shall love and praise his neighbor the virtue that may not be hid. (Diana Butler Bass, A People's History of Christianity, p. 79, citing Enchiridion..., ed. Henry Paolucci, ch. 21)

In the future life, when our relationships are restored into their proper and intended forms, we will praise and love our neighbors' 'virtues' -- gifts. We will recognize the unique talents and interests with which God blessed each of us, honestly and openly.

In the meantime, as I mentioned Sunday, we should try to overcome our sinfulness and be more honest about our own gifts and those of the people around us, cherishing them as God intended.