You are called!
Three things that struck me about the first seven verses of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (1:1-7):
1. HE WAS CLEAR ABOUT WHO HE IS
– Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ (v1)
– an apostle, called and set apart for God’s Good News (v1); {he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus; in his time, gospel signifies good news which means victory; [Jesus’ victory]}
2. HE WAS CLEAR ABOUT THE ONE HE SERVES
– Jesus Christ (v1), the Son, born in the flesh, a descendant of David (v3), the Son of God (v4); {the Son of God, made man, to share our condition, who died and resurrected; through him, we received grace and mission for people to accept the faith}
– God [the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] (v1, v4, v7)
3. HE WAS CLEAR ABOUT THE NEWS HE AIMS TO SHARE
– (God’s Good News) the very promises he foretold through his prophets in the sacred Scriptures (v2)
– regarding his (God’s) son, who was born in the flesh a descendant of David (v3) and has been recognized as the Son of God, endowed with Power, upon rising from the dead, through the Holy Spirit. (v4)
– Through him, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and for the sake of his name, we received grace, and mission in all the nations, for them to accept the faith. (v5)
– You are elected of Christ, you are part of them [the nations, to accept the faith] (v6, 5)
– You are beloved of God, called to be holy (v6)
– May God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, give you grace and peace. (v7)
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Father God, help me.
to understand who I am
to understand who You are
and to understand what I need to do.
Fill me with Your grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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CHRIS DAO-ANIS 