Saint Paul talks about a very powerful concept that we Christians should be very aware about, if we want to live as true disciples of Christ our Lord. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul the Apostle tells us what true worship of the Triune God is supposed to be. Earlier in his epistle, he talked about how man's failure to obey and worship God led to death reigning in the world, Romans 1:20-25. But now because Christ has redeemed us and restored us who have faith in him, now true worship as Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, is how we are renewed into truly bearing the image of God.

Firstly, Paul writes that we need to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy to the Lord, and acceptable by him. Remember that in the beginning God created everything that is very good. He that formed the stars and the earth and called it good also created the body. If then God, who is all-good, created the human body also, how good must the human body be then! So then, it is suitable that we present our physical bodies to worship God. We must take care of our bodies, for they are temples of the Holy Spirit, and so are therefore Holy to the Lord as well. We must bring our entire human nature to worship the One who created it, for this is good and right. It composes us and it keeps us centered on the truth, which sets us free. Therefore, true worship of God has a physical aspect, that we bring our human nature in general to worship God our Creator.

Secondly, Paul does say that our bodies must also be a living sacrifice for the Lord. This is contrasting the old covenant and the old ways, in which for the atonement for sins to be achieved, animals needed to be sacrificed and so put to death. But now under the New Covenant inaugurated by the Once and for all Sacrifice by Jesus our Lord, we live under God's Grace. This Grace is real, dynamic, and living, and it is never dead. We receive God's wonderful Grace by having living faith in Christ our Lord. Therefore, true worship of God has a living aspect to it, for true worship is a living, dynamic expression of the Christian's faith and the Church's faith in Christ.

Thirdly, Paul says that it is Holy and acceptable to God. True worship of God is set apart from the world, set apart from all worldliness, and it is truly apart from the world in form and in expression. This is why Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches are very liturgically rich in tradition, for their Liturgies, whether it is a Roman Mass or a Divine Liturgy, each and every rite performed in the Liturgy has a deep meaning and deep connection to the Holiness of God, and many in those Liturgies say that in that place, where the Liturgy is held, is where heaven and earth meet. Worship that is acceptable to God is patterned after the Kingdom of Heaven, which our Lord Jesus Christ constantly preached about. This worship which is Holy and acceptable to God is so filled with Christian virtue that it transcends earthly existence. Thus, true Worship of God is indeed Holy.

Lastly, Saint Paul says true worship is Reasonable. The Greek for the word reasonable literally means logical. However, this term does not simply mean a mental understanding, but it means more than "logical". Jesus Chrisy is the Logos (Word) of God, and so thus true worship of God is to be Logos-like, in other words Christ-like. So, what this means is that true worship must be in Christ and according to Jesus Christ. True worship is filled with the wisdom and truth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Word of God that became flesh for our sake. To reasonably worship God means to live according to Christ and to worship according to Christ. Hence, true worship of God is Reasonable.

So why does all of this matter? It is because by true worship of God, we are renewed to conform the image of the Son. By truly worshipping the right way for God, physically, reasonably, in a living way, and in a Holy way, we are transformed by God's Grace, so that we are not conformed to the ways of this world, but be transformed by God's Grace renewing our hearts and minds to become more Christ-like. God's mercy to us and his gift of faith to us allows this wonderful reality to occur, and all Christians should partake in this wonderful and living reality, that by the renewing of our minds and hearts, we can see and comprehend God in all of his glory.

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, have a blessed Lent, have a blessed week, and keep being steadfast in the faith. Remain in God's Love as he remains in you, and remember that Christ will come again. Most of what was spoken here was taken from footnotes in the Orthodox Study Bible. Keep being conformed into the image of Christ, and remember that God is always merciful. That is the wonderful reality we live in, and we must be grateful for it. Peace be with you all.