Catholic Commentary on Romans 12

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)

The Living Sacrifice

Romans 12 is the great hinge of the letter, the turn from theology to ethics. Therefore, in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. The whole of chapters 1-11 is gathered into that therefore: in light of everything God has done, in light of justification, adoption, the Spirit, the olive tree, the unsearchable riches of his wisdom, here is the response: your body, your whole embodied life, offered as a sacrifice. Not dead but living. Not occasional but continuous. Not merely spiritual but bodily, because it is as physical creatures that we worship the God who became physical in Christ.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The two verbs are in the passive voice: stop being conformed, be transformed. The conforming happens to us if we are not vigilant; the transformation happens to us as we receive the renewing work of the Spirit. The Catechism identifies this renewal of the mind as the work of sanctification, the progressive transformation of the whole person by grace toward the likeness of Christ (CCC 1999). The result is discernment: the ability to test and approve what God's will is, what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

The Body and Its Gifts

Paul then describes the communal life that the living sacrifice produces: use your gifts according to the grace given, whether prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love, honour one another above yourselves. Never lack zeal, keep your spiritual fervour, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with people in need, practise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Live in harmony. Do not be proud. Do not repay evil with evil. As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge. Overcome evil with good.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, do not conform to the pattern of this world. The pattern of the world is everywhere and it is persistent: the pattern of self-interest, of status-seeking, of revenge, of anxiety about security. The transformation that Romans 12 describes is not achieved by willpower. It begins with the offering of the body as a living sacrifice, the daily act of surrendering yourself to God before the world has a chance to shape you for the day. Begin there, every morning.

Prayer

Lord God, in view of your mercies we offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Transform us by the renewing of our minds. Do not let the world press us into its mould. Give us sincere love, patient hope, prayerful faithfulness, and the peace that overcomes evil with good. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

12
Living Sacrifices
(1 Corinthians 3:16–23; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20)
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.* 12:1 Or your reasonable service 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
 
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
 
6 We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; 7 if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love, Zeal, Hope, Hospitality
(John 13:31–35; 1 John 3:11–24)
 
9 Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
 
11 Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
 
12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
 
13 Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Forgiveness
(Matthew 18:21–35)
 
14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.
 
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
 
19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”† 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX)
 
20 On the contrary,
 
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
For in so doing,
you will heap burning coals on his head.”‡ 12:20 Proverbs 25:21–22 (see also LXX)
 
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

*12:1 12:1 Or your reasonable service

†12:19 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX)

‡12:20 12:20 Proverbs 25:21–22 (see also LXX)

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