Trinity 12
Romans 12: 1-18
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Do not be conformed to this world – it’s in a whole lotta trouble
Be a transformer instead
Reflection
Cambridge dictionary definition: ‘Conform’ – to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society.
So what are the world’s standards of behaviour? Perhaps we should look to the current behaviour of our world and its leaders, and measure them against the will of God as illustrated and expected by the Commandments, summarised by Jesus as ‘Love God and Love your neighbour.’ If God sent a team of angels to do an audit on current world leadership, what would they find?
- Billionaires using social media to maximise profit by targeting children.
- Reckless destruction of the environment – fossil fuels, deforestation, overfishing.
- Ongoing economic and physical violence against any ‘tribes’ whose values/ traditions/ cultures/ religions differ.
- Fundamentalist and/or populist political leadership telling barefaced lies without shame.
- Deployment of technologies without assessing consequence – weaponised AI, ultra-processed food, uncontrollable Internet.
- Increasing domestic and gender-based violence exacerbated by childhood exposure to adult examples.
So in rejecting these, what would the angelic report offer as alternative non-conforming and positive transformations?
You.
Yes you, with all the baggage you brought and left at the foot of the cross, as you accepted forgiveness and resolved to start again with The Holy Spirit as your guide. All that is needed to put the Commandment to love God and Neighbour into daily practice is for you to commit to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Him in your life, and the Victory is sure.
Walking with you, He has overcome the World.
Open your eyes but don’t let go of His hand…
Praying Together 9th February 2025
We are all asked to have the faith to put out into deep water, but we must remember that we will never be on our own. Peter’s ministry was made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, as will ours.
Praying Together 2nd February 2025
We are all called to be the Body of Christ in His entirety – and we are to take the example of all ‘Saints’ who have gone before, both male and female, as models of our required behaviour.
Praying Together 26th January 2025
Most importantly, in the face of what appears to be a society built upon prejudice and hatred, we are sustained and strengthened by the knowledge that in the end, love will triumph, leaving the wordly values of the tyrant to be forgotten.
Praying Together 19th January 2025
Jesus has demonstrated His authority and power. He takes something ordinary, and it becomes extraordinary. He turns water to wine. He heals the past and offers a new future. He changes his followers from sinner to saint.
Meditations 5th January 2025
With the same eyes as the Magi, we look into the manger, see the light of the world – be it for the first time, after a dark time, or in our daily devotions – and every time we see something new.
Meditations 29th December 2024
In face of evil, we will not keep silent. We choose love; love in thought, love in prayer, love in action, in the sure and certain hope that the power of the cross will prevail. Therefore choose love.
Praying Together 15th December 2024
Be careful what you say in a restaurant – someone might overhear…
Praying Together 8th December 2024
You’ve a chance to start again, but it begins with you admitting that you need to repent, and then be ready – because your life is going to change forever.
An Advent Meditation
As He is always present with Mary, so He is present with me, and with you, too.
Praying Together 24th November 2024
Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.
Praying Together 17th November 2024
However we understand it, it is the Spirit-led recognition of His presence at the heart of our Eucharist that changes our lives and sets us free to be His Body on earth.
Praying Together 10th November 2024
Nowadays, my act of Remembrance is in working for a future for children, grandchildren and generations of every race and nation to come