Reshaping

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Reshaping

God's Image

Union   Participation   Conversion

Baptized into Christ Jesus

Sanctification

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Romans 6:3

Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Reflection

Have you ever thought about the people and events that have shaped your life?

It is amazing to reflect on all the people we have met, all the teachers we have encountered, the jobs we have held, and the good and bad times we have lived through. So much has shaped us into the persons we are today.

As we ponder that "shaping", we can sometimes contemplate the changes we would like to make. We do it in a physical sense when we undertake a program of exercise. We want to feel and look better.

We can also do reshaping in a spiritual sense. We can take a look at our relationship with God and see if there are actions we need to take to grow closer to God and to one another.

We know that we are shaped in the image of God. We have been created to reflect the glory of God. God has blessed us with a beautiful gift of creation. We are called to cherish it and enhance it by our stewardship.

We do that by our union with God and one another. We work together to make sure that our air, water, and soil are free from pollution and degradation. We work for peace and justice because we know that God wants us all to live together as sisters and brothers in one family.

We are called to do this through participation in the social and spiritual life of our community. We are not lone rangers. We join together to constantly reshape our world so that it conforms more completely with the vision of God for creation. God has given us a GIFT that we do not want to spoil or misuse.

Our reshaping of ourselves and our world involves a constant conversion on our part, a conversion that is open to listening to the voice of God in our community. We realize that God is present in each and every person and in the creation we have been given. We are called to open our eyes and our hearts so that we can truly see and feel God's presence all around us.

St. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans that we have been baptized into the death of Christ. That baptism involves a constant reshaping on our part to make sure that we are following the example of Jesus through serving and caring for others.

We are challenged in this baptism to die to our selfishness, our greed, desire for comfort, and indifference to those who are in need. We are reshaped through the sanctification that Jesus offers us. He calls us to live a life in communion with God as He did. He calls us to a deeper life of prayer. He calls us to care more about the most vulnerable in our world.

Our reshaping continues each day. 

It is our challenge and our joy.

When we are reshaped into the life and love of Jesus, our hearts overflow with compassion and kindness. We become fully alive with Love.

Enjoy your reshaping!

1. Have you ever thought about the many people and events that have shaped your life?

2. How do you try to reshape your life?

3. What are some obstacles that you have faced as you try to become more converted to Christ?

4. Do you feel that sanctification is important in reshaping your life?

5. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John McNamara)