60. When Saint Thomas speaks of the “different gifts of grace” for the
service of one’s neighbor, he is referring to the various charismatic gifts
because, he notes, “as it is said (1 Cor 12:10), ‘to one is given
the gift of tongues, to another the gift of healing, etc.’” This aspect is
also present in the thought of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, who indicates that the
rivers of the Spirit’s water — transmitted through believers — are manifested
when “the Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to
prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils… shows another how to
help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of asceticism.”
61. Something similar can be said about the interpretation of John
14:12, which refers to believers accomplishing “greater works” (meizona)
than those Christ did during his earthly life. Believers share in Christ’s work
insofar as they also, in some way, enkindle the faith of others through the
proclamation of the Word, as John 17:20 explicitly states: “those who will
believe in me through their word.” The same idea is implied in John 14:6-11,
where Christ’s works reveal the Father (v. 8) and the works of believers —
focused on announcing the Gospel with their words — are placed alongside his.
Indeed, Jesus proclaims: “If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (Jn 15:20c),
and just as whoever hears Christ’s Word has eternal life (cf. Jn 5:24),
so also Jesus proclaims that others will come to believe through the word of
his believers (cf. Jn 17:20). However, this involves not only
their spoken words but also their eloquent witness. This is why Jesus asks the
Father that his believers may be united: so that “the world may believe” (Jn 17:21).
(Mater Populi Fidelis, November 11, 2025)
