Called to be Saints (4th Sunday of Advent)

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The opening words of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans gives us the basic background of who he is and to whom he is writing. He describes himself as Apostle and a “servant” (or “slave” in some translations) of Christ Jesus, indicating by this title that his life belongs wholly to Him, and that he answers to Him alone.

In his greeting, Paul describes the Christians in Rome as “loved by God.” The theme of God’s love is central to the Gospel, as it is God’s love that led Him to open the path of salvation for us, before we ever even made the first steps towards Him. As St. John said:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

Paul also describes the Romans as “called to be saints.” Everyone who has confessed Christ as Lord has done so because God first called them to Himself (this is what theologians call “prevenient grace”). We respond to that call when we repent and believe in Christ, which we do by the aid of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).

By “saints,” Paul also points to the process of Sanctification which begins upon our conversion and baptism. Although Catholic tradition typically reserves the term “saint” for those who have already achieved glory in Heaven, Paul uses the term more broadly to describe all believers. Although we who are still in this world have not yet been fully sanctified yet, the process of sanctification is already ongoing in our lives. Thus, we may already be called “saints,” albeit in an imperfect and provisional sense.

As we prepare to enter into the Christmas season, let us take seriously God’s call to be His saints, by living lives of holiness in this life, that we too may be, like Paul, “servants of Christ Jesus.”

J. Luis Dizon