Catholic Scripture

JUSTIFICATION & SANCTIFICATION

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3,1-4

The passage from Colossians 3:1-4 presents a profound message about the Christian life and identity, especially within a Catholic context. It emphasizes the transition from earthly life to a higher spiritual existence, aligning closely with key Catholic doctrines regarding resurrection, eternal life, and the importance of focusing on God.

The phrase “If then you were raised with Christ” highlights the reality of baptism in Catholic teaching. Through baptism, believers are united with Christ’s death and resurrection, signifying a new identity as children of God. This transformation requires a conscious effort to embody this new identity.

The call to “seek those things which are above” encourages Catholics to orient their lives toward spiritual goals, virtues, and the teachings of the Church. This pursuit is not solely about ethereal or abstract ideals but involves engaging in a relationship with God and living according to His will.

The exhortation to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and material possessions. In Catholicism, this aligns with the belief in detachment from worldly distractions and a focus on loving God and neighbor. It invites believers to live out their faith in daily actions, nurturing virtues such as charity and humility.

The notion that “your life is hidden with Christ in God” underscores the mystery of faith. It suggests an intimate and often unseen relationship with Jesus. This hidden aspect reflects the Catholic understanding of grace, which works within believers’ hearts even when it is not visible externally.

The final statement, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory,” encapsulates the Catholic hope in resurrection and eternal life. It reminds the faithful that their ultimate destiny is in union with Christ in heaven. This hope fuels a commitment to live a life aligned with Gospel values, encouraging perseverance through trials and a focus on eternal joy.

In his Letter to the Colossians 3:1-17, St. Paul presents a powerful message regarding the concept of putting on the new self for baptized Christians. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on spiritual matters, encouraging believers to set their minds on “things above,” where Christ resides at the right hand of God, rather than being preoccupied with earthly concerns. This transformative process involves a spiritual death to worldly desires and a new life in Christ, where believers’ identities are found in Him.

Paul teaches that only by relinquishing self-centeredness can Christ’s glory be fully revealed to individuals after their earthly existence. To escape God’s justice, it is necessary to shed the old self by collaborating with the Holy Spirit and utilizing His gifts of grace. This renunciation of the old self entails rejecting sinful behaviors and eliminating worldly influences, including “fornication, impurity, passion, and greed,” which is described as “idolatry.” Paul urges believers to dismantle any idols that hinder their relationship with God by letting go of “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language.”

The concept of exchanging old habits for new virtues is emphasized in clothing oneself with “compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” which are significant traits associated with being part of a chosen community. Practicing “mutual support and forgiveness” is crucial, as is showing “patience and mercy” towards one another. This notion draws on the principle that, just as individuals have received forgiveness from the Lord, they, too, should extend forgiveness to others.

Paul highlights love as the most important virtue to embrace. The peace of Christ is regarded as essential for guiding interpersonal relationships. Adopting this new self involves allowing the teachings of Christ to dwell within and influence one’s actions. Ultimately, expressing gratitude and praise to God the Father for the abundant gifts of grace is crucial, as these blessings reveal one’s alignment with Christ in both spiritual and earthly existence.

“All His saints, also, imitate Christ in the pursuit of righteousness; whence the same apostle, whom we have already quoted, says: ‘Be ye imitators of me, as I am also of Christ.’ But besides this imitation, His grace works within us our illumination and justification, by that operation concerning which the same preacher of His [name] says: ‘Neither is he that planteth anything, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.’ For by this grace He engrafts into His body even baptized infants, who certainly have not yet become able to imitate any one. As therefore He, in whom all are made alive, besides offering Himself as an example of righteousness to those who imitate Him, gives also to those who believe on Him the hidden grace of His Spirit, which He secretly infuses even into infants…”
St. Augustine, On the Spirit and the Letter, 26:45
(A.D. 412)

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