Prayer:
God, lead us away from the broad paths of the world and dare us into the ways of your Son. Amen.
Bible Reading:
Romans 12:1-21
Silence:
One to two minutes
Reflection:
The world around us is interested ultimately in making of us a single homogenized body conformed to itself. It may sound a bit conspiratorial, but regardless, it is the agenda of the world. Diversity, variations, differences are all welcome (it provides relief and distraction), but the final goal of the world is to shape and mold all people into self-centered, self-concerned, shallow, live-for-the-moment, unconscious consumers that feed on the “products” of the world’s creation. Sounds pretty awful! But given the signs around us, the decay of virtue, the decline in civic mindedness, the emptiness of the soul, I suspect that “being conformed to the world” is winning. St. Paul’s appeal, then, is well aimed, “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God”. If you are unclear about what this looks like, reread the verses that follow this appeal – the life of the Christ, a life that runs contrary to the world. If you dare to step out in this transformed way, don’t be surprised that you get some “conforming” pressure. This world does not life non-conformers. If you want some support in such a life, check out your local Christian community, hopefully.
Action – Repentance and Creation:
Jot down the list of “transformative” actions and attitudes what St. Paul write about in Romans 12. Keep the list in mind as you live out your day today. Let it sink into your soul.