1st reading: 1Th 2:1-8
Gospel: Mt 23:23-26
To be endowed with some kind of spiritual gift can indeed make a person look very appealing and attractive.
In the sense that they will be sought after, and they also command a certain level of authority and power.
For eg, the gifts of healing or prophesy or spiritual vision can make a person very influential over the lives of others.
In the 1st reading, St Paul talks about another gift - the gift of preaching.
But he emphasizes it as a task and a responsibility.
He was also aware of the possibility of abuse in preaching the good news.
In fact as we see it nowadays, one can make a career as well as make some money out of preaching.
In fact, St Paul warned the missionaries of the early Church not to preach for money or honour, nor for power or authority.
Yet we also do not deny that each of us is endowed with a particular talent or gift.
Whatever these talents and gifts are, they are to be used to serve God by serving the Church community as well as to serve humanity.
The imagery St Paul used in talking about gifts is like that of a mother feeding and looking after her children.
As Jesus highlighted in the gospel, our gifts should be used in the work of justice, mercy and building up the faith.
What we are is God's gift to us, what we make of ourselves is our gift to God.