Published on 12/16/2004

For reasons I'll explain tomorrow, I'm answering a Friday question on Thursday. A reader writes: "With the recent news about Mother Teresa becoming a saint, I would appreciate a lesson about who was the first saint, how it came about, why we have saints, and anything you might add." The question is more appropriate for the Christmas season than meets the eye.

Commentary

First, a little biblical overview. The Hebrew word translated "saint" is qadosh, which means "to be set apart." From the Exodus forward, the Jewish people were God's "holy ones" because they had been set apart from the other nations for his special purpose (cf. Exodus 19:6). They were expected to live up to their status as God's holy people (Leviticus 19:2), but their "sainthood" was conferred by God's grace, not their merit.

In the New Testament, hagios is the typical word translated "saint." It is interesting that it is always found in the plural (except for Philippians 4:21, which says, "Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus," a plural context). No individual is ever called "Saint Matthew" or "Saint Paul" in the Bible. Every believer is "sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy" (1 Corinthians 1:2), for God has "called us to be saints" (Romans 1:7). Now Paul can write to "all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi," or wherever we happen to live. Again, our "sainthood" is conferred by God's grace, not our merit. We are to live in ways which express our status, but we cannot earn it.

How did some individuals become known as "saints"? During the early centuries of Christian history, believers began to venerate the martyrs as saints. The Nicene Creed (AD 325) calls all Christians the "communion of saints," but by the 10th century a process of individual canonization was initiated by Pope John XV. Eventually it was determined that a life of great moral purity and the performance of at least two miracles would be required for "sainthood." Traditions which recognize "saints" do not worship them--rather, they seek to follow their example of moral character and service.

Who was the first "saint? " The Baby in the manger. He is "the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24). He is the One who came from heaven to earth, so we could go from earth to heaven. So we could join God's "set apart" people. So we could be saints forever. We honor our status as saints best when we demonstrate such character to others. When our family and friends see something different about us. When they wonder why we celebrate Christmas with more tranquility than stress, more giving than getting, more joy than happiness. When we are the presence of Christ in a world in need of Christmas. God says you're a "saint." Would the next person you meet agree?