Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful to Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:1
St. Paul’s letters in the New Testament begin, almost routinely, by addressing his readers as “saints.” Routinely – and surprisingly! He often goes on in those same letters to take his readers to task for a lapse in faith or conduct or both. In other words, for distinctly un-saint-like behavior. Read his First Letter to the Corinthians as Exhibit A. These Christians, these “saints,” were significantly flawed: they squabbled to the point of suing each other, succumbed to spiritual pride, tolerated immoral behavior, allowed their worship to become chaotic, and denied central elements of the Christian faith. What’s going on here?
Jesus has claimed us; we belong to him. “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever” (Book of Common Prayer p308). In that sense, we are already saints – the word we translate as “saint” means “holy one.”
Something happened when Jesus died on the cross for us. Something happened when Jesus entered our lives, when we opened our hearts to him. Our relationship with God has been changed, and Jesus began the long, slow work of transforming us from the inside out. Before we knew him, he knew us. Before we said Yes to his call, he had said Yes to us.
Sometimes we catch glimmers of the real thing, when Christians reflect the holiness of Jesus himself. I think of my college roommate, Rick, who introduced me to Jesus. Or a priest named John, who showed me what it means to love people – even unlovable people – unconditionally. Or Ann, who suffered a long and painful illness and entrusted herself unwaveringly into the care of Jesus. Who are the saints in your life? Who are the people who modeled for you what it means to love Jesus?
This reflection is a bit of a “teaser” for my sermon this Sunday, when it will be my joy to worship with you at All Saints. We will think together about sainthood. How does Jesus actually transform us? How can we open ourselves to this work of transformation? As an old All Saints’ Day hymn puts it:
I sing a song of the saints of God
Patient and brave and true,
Who toiled and fought and lived and died
For the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen,
And one was a shepherdess on the green;
They were all of them saints of God – and I mean,
God helping, to be one too.
God bless you!
Bishop Little
