True Worship that Pleases God Carlo Maria Martini Cardinal Archbishop of Milan Frequently, Saint Paul's letters

describe the Christian life as a concrete life of charity. It is interesting to note that Paul uses the words "offering" and "sacrifice" (the language of worship) to designate a life charity. Here are two examples: In the letter to the Romans (12: 12), Paul begins to describe the life as a response to God's initiative presented in the preceeding chapters of the letter. He writes: "Thuink of God's mercy, my brothers, and worship Him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your loving bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what is God wants, what is the perfect thing to do." Paul then continues by giving concrete indications on the way to exercise fraternal charity. In the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul dedicates the first three chapters to announce the central place of Christ in God's loving plan for humanity. With Chapter Four, the apostle presents the Christian life as sticking to Christ and God's plan: "I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you therefore to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in comlete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together" (Ep 4: 1-3). Paul then continues to describe the life of believers in Christ and the concrete forms of exercising charity. In the middle of this description he says: "Be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.Try, then, to imitate God, as children of His that He loves, and follow Christ by loving as He loved you, giving Himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice in God" (4: 32- 5:2). The conformed to Christ, spent in love and the life of the Christian, conformed to Christ are true and aggreeable worship. This means first that worship is a whole life's work: the concrete works of charity done in everyday life are important. But is is equally sognoficant that life is worship; the concrete works of charity are framed in an obedient pathway to God, by listening to His Word, seeking out His will, staying close to Christ Who revealed and fully accomplished the Father's will.