In Sunday's reflection, we noted that, inherent in Saint Paul's theology and spirituality, is the notion that every gift is a task, and every task is a gift. We see this doctrine clearly in the opening sentence of today's passage from Ephesians. Speaking of his mission, Paul says that God gave it to him. Perhaps we do not any longer consciously link the words "gift" and "give", yet they are linked as noun and verb. Whatever God gives is a gift, a grace necessary for our salvation or sanctification. Furthermore, what God gives us becomes our own possession. Appropriating God's gift and responding sincerely to it, we grow in fidelity and in gratitude and so cooperate with God in the work of our sanctification.

However, because we are members of the one body of Christ, the gifts which we receive for our own personal sanctification normally have a community dimension. Any gift or grace that sanctifies us also makes us more caring and compassionate towards others to help them grow in Christ. So Paul says that God gave him his mission "in your regard", that is, for the good of the people who would receive the Gospel through his ministry.