COMMENTARY

p ROMANS 12 : 1 ,2 IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION 28 May 2007

ROMANS 12 : 1 , 2 IN SPIRITUAL FORMATION All Christians were meant to be mirrors of Jesus Christ . The fact that the Master spent more than a month in contemplation and prayer (at the time that the devil tempted him ) is well-known . Thus , spiritual formation calls for contemplation in spirituality and spiritual education by means of the Word in for the average Christian to become one with the Master , who in turn is one with the Lord and Father of the heavens

and the earth

It is not enough for an individual to be born in a Christian family Every individual is responsible for his or her spirituality as well as deeds in the end . Hence , it is essential for all people to understand the fundamental truths taught by the Master , so as to be able to follow him correctly . St . Paul , when addressing the Romans , referred to the renewal of both mind and body as a necessity in spiritual formation and /or education ( New Testament ' 1998 , 463 . Remembering that Jesus had spent his time of contemplation in fasting , St . Paul advises potential believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice ' unto God Almighty . Thus , the great leader of spirituality informed the people that spiritual discipline and /or spiritual formation is not complete without the taming of the body with regard to its lusts . The body must be handed over to God , and all unnecessary bodily wants must be overlooked in for the individual to find his or her place in Christ . At the same time , the mind must be renewed with an emphasis on following the spirituality of Jesus rather than the world . The truth that Jesus imparted must remain supreme in our minds , replacing all other thoughts (taught by the world ) which may often attempt to contradict the truth by putting it in doubt

The Master had also said that it is not that which we consume , rather that which comes out of us that matters in `real ' terms . Moreover , he had once referred to himself (quoting some people 's opinion ) as a `glutton ' Hence , there must be something more to St . Paul 's exhortation . In other words , perhaps fasting and strict bodily discipline are not ends in themselves

In Ephesians 4 : 17-20 , St . Paul counsels us to pay no heed to the ignorant teachings and doings of the Gentiles , who submitted to their lusts and did not learn the ways of Christ ( New Testament ' 557 According to our guide , the Gentiles have their own ways of handling their bodies and their minds and these ways are contrary to the ways of the Lord . Yet , Christ had mentioned being `born again ' in his following . At the heart of this rebirth is spiritual formation , no doubt , which renews the man from head to toe and prepares him as a mirror of his Master

Instead of offering their bodies as a living sacrifice ' unto God Almighty , the Gentiles...