Sunday 21st December 2025
Murdo Macdonald
“… Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship …”
Romans 1:4b-5a
Called to share
In Advent (if we can stop ourselves from being distracted by all the tinsel, turkey and general tat that is thrown at us), we anticipate the wonderful coming of the Christ child. But sometimes we forget that the birth is only the beginning of the story.
When Mark came to write his account of the adult life and ministry of Jesus, the opening sentence of his gospel was “The BEGINNING of the good news of Jesus Christ”. He was signalling that this was the start, but that there was much more to come.
Luke wrote in the book of Acts of the years soon after Jesus’ death and Resurrection. He relates the happenings at Pentecost and beyond, and we see the formation of the early followers of Jesus into what would become the church – people focused on Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit, sometimes making mistakes, but learning and growing together.
Paul wrote the opening verses of his letter to the Christians in Rome perhaps 20 years after Jesus died, rose again and ascended. In the introduction to the letter, we see a group of people who are reaching out to those round about them (“Gentiles”). Here, Paul sets out to remind his readers of some of the things that, as Christians, they have been called to share.
He tells them that they are to share their call to obedience. And not just any obedience, but obedience that comes through faith in Jesus. He tells them that they have been called to belong – to belong to Jesus Christ. And he tells them that they have been called to be a holy people – people who are different to those round about them.
At the centre of all that is said is Jesus Christ, whose name is mentioned repeatedly in the passage. After all, it is not Paul – or even the church – that they are called to obey, but rather Christ. It is not to Paul that they belong, but rather to Christ. They are called be Christ’s holy people, not to be Paul’s holy people.
And the call is also to us. As followers of Jesus today, we are called to obedience, to belonging, and ultimately to holiness.
Shall we pray?
God of the Incarnation, help us to hear your call, and to respond in faith and in commitment. Amen.
Murdo Macdonald is a molecular biologist who is an elder in Tranent Parish Church.