How serious is it to hide the Holy Spirit? We get some idea of the gravity of this from the parable of the sums of money (Luke 19:11-28). Jesus told this parable as He was nearing Jerusalem, where He would be rejected as legitimate King. Just as the man of noble birth in the parable, He would later assume His rightful place as King despite the objection of enemies. Ultimately He would win out, because of Who He is.

The noble in the parable claims kinship, and he gives responsibility to others. He expects them to take charge while he is gone. Most of them do. One does not, and the master is very upset with him. This man played it safe. Many Christians today try to play it safe. We don’t want to get on the wrong side of people, especially people who have authority and power. But this is not what our faith is about!

Some Christians like to keep a low profile. They keep their faith hidden. They don’t want to tell anybody they are a Christian. They don’t want them to know. This is a person who hides his gift. God will not be happy.

God invites the genuine Christian to take risks. He asks us to live our lives in ways that risk we will get hurt. Someone may take advantage of us. Someone may persecute us. Someone may judge us unjustly. But that is what faith is about! St. Ignatius said we should “be able to give without counting the cost.” Instead of evaluating what it will cost us, just do it—because it’s the right thing to do, because it’s what Christ would have done.

Jesus has given us something to share with others, even when they reject it. Jesus had little to show on the way to Jerusalem for the risk He had taken: not many followers or close friends. God did not deliver Him from his accusers. He was crucified.

He asked His accusers, “For what good deed are you convicting Me?” “You have made Yourself equal to God!” was their response. We fail to recognize that these people knew what Jesus claimed. They knew He was saying, “I am equal to God.” They refused to acknowledge Him. They were willing to crucify Him. He took the risk of revealing Himself, not hiding Who He was. Jesus did not bury His treasure, and it cost Him His life.

He asks us the same. “What are you willing to risk?” Or do we want only “safe” Christianity? To go to our prayer meetings; to live in nice homes; not to be disturbed. But God made an investment in us when He gave us the gift of faith. “To whom more is given, more is expected.” He expects a lot from us. Up to now, have we delivered? What do we have to show for what He has given us? What have we risked? We will be judged on our own words: “You are a hard man.” “If you understood this, they why did you hide it?”

Jesus has given us the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. We have received charisms, gifts, and fruits from the Holy Spirit. Have we done anything with them? Have we been willing to share them with others? Do we tell people? Do we live it? Are we willing to take the flak?

Many Catholics consider charismatics to be on the “fringe.” In our seminaries they never talk about the charismatic movement. They talk about all the other movements: small groups, Cursillo, the Sacred Heart League, Marian devotions, etc. It’s scary! They don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to see the power of the Holy Spirit moving in the Church. They don’t want to know people exist who believe God is at work. The American bishops recently put out a statement on the charismatic renewal. It is not being read by the mainstream Church. They don’t want to know! What about us? Are we burying it?

Jesus is passing judgment today. “Those who have will be given more—those without will lose what they have.” Use it, and it will grow. Hide it, and it will be lost. God does not take it away—it dies of inactivity.

We are accountable, not because we’re special or because of something we’ve done, but because God (for whatever reason) has chosen us. In the parable there is no explanation of why the noble chose who he gave his money to. There is no reason given why one failed to use it.

He expects us to reveal ourselves to the world just as He did. People may laugh at us or persecute us, but, what’s new? Being uncomfortable is fine, but hiding is not what our faith is about.

From a homily given by Father Rick Dressman at the Charismatic Mass held at St. Ignatius on November 19, 1997. Written by Joe Kindel.