It is interesting how different translations of the Bible lend different insights. Take Romans 12:6-8 from today's readings in the Divine Liturgy.
King James Version "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989"We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
The NRSV is more direct in its language (notwithstanding the 'teacheth' bits), the meaning is the same in both editions, but the NSRV's directness shouts out a subtlety in the English language.
Where we might have read before that we are given gifts like prophecy and teaching, this version makes it clearer that we have such gifts 'in proportion to the grace given us'.
Thus, one's prophetic abilities are given in proportion to the faith of the prophet, the minister is enhanced in ministering, the teacher gets better the more she teaches. As the husband of a teacher, I know that the more a teacher actually teaches the better they get- they get to learn more themselves, about their subject, but also about what they don't know.
The flip-side also happens, in teaching, the teacher is taught. So, in ministering, the minister is ministered to- in propoertion to the ministry given. The more the generous the giver, the greater and more generous is the return. Thus we become not just creators of 'good things out there' by doing good things, but by participating in the grace of God, we get, in return, what we have given.
And so, the compassionate one, the one who enters into the worlds of pain and suffering of other people might be expected to be a solemn and burdened person. Certainly many people are burdened and solemn in their care for others, lacking the sense of being ministered to by those being helped.
When we participate in the free gift of Grace, we find, says Saint Paul, that we gain cheerfulness! In pain, suffering, hatred and grief, we find cheerfulness! How is that? Unless we are open to the thought that our ministries in Christ are for our good, as much as the people we are wokring for, we are lost. If we think that we are doing good things for the 'objects' of our ministry, they remain just that- objects- receiveing assistance from a rapidly drying well of care.
If we see that we too are receiving ministry in proportion to our ministering, then we will become channels for the unDying Love and we will never become dry and exhausted. In ministering to others, through prophecy, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion, we are minister to by those we help- by the God of Love in each of them- there is an equality of ministry.
We are not superior to those we help. We are as broken as they are, we have nothing to offer them- except the Offered- the Lamb. In offering ourselves, broken, to those who need us, we have the opportunity for wholeness.
