Reflection for June 24th, Feast of John The Baptist Birth

Living a Christ-like Life
A Reflection for Sunday June 24th, 2007 Feast of John the Baptist
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA, Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry


In preparing this reflection for the feast commemorating the birth of John the Baptist, I have chosen to base my reflection on Romans 12.
The passage speaks for itself, there is very little that I can add except to say: “If only all people would follow this guide as to how to live according to Christ, what a wonderful world this would be”
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, )contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation. ) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In a world where every day we read about the famine in Africa, the wars raging and taking innocent lives of our and their young people, where Religious denominations are being split apart over man made rules and forms of worshiping and how one praises Almighty God, and a world where wealth and fame seem to be more important than charity and compassion. In a world that is willing to overlook the needs of the elderly and poor and with medical costs preventing some people from having a decent quality of life and access to affordable health care, we need to look seriously at this direction found in Romans 12 and attempt to change our priorities in order to live our daily lives more closely to the guidelines of Romans 12.
On this feast honoring John the Baptist birth is a good time to reflect on the teachings of the man John called;
“One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
If everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ actually lived their life in accordance with this teaching we might be able to live in peace with one another, end poverty, injustice, discrimination, violence, and bring about a time when the prime commandments of Jesus Christ, “Love the lord, your God, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and Love your neighbor as yourself” “Love one another as I have Loved You” is actually realized and lived by all people.
When Christ was baptized by John we read the following in Matthew: 16-17 “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
I am certain that Almighty God would say the same of us if we actually began to life every day of our life doing and actively performing all that Romans 12 instructs. If we actually, each and every one who claims to be a Christian, did all that is found there, the world would be a place of peace and harmony and people who find violence and discrimination to be a thing of the past. I close this reflection with the following prayer.
Almighty and merciful God, in Your wisdom, grant unto each of us the ability to follow these directions found in Romans 12:1-21 each and every day of our lives working toward perfection of them in our daily lives and toward a time when ALL of Your children can live in peace and harmony with each other regardless of their race, creed, marital situation or sexual orientation.
I ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN