What Is an RSVP? The term “RSVP” comes from the French expression répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning “please respond.” If RSVP is written on an invitation, it means the host has requested that the guest respond to say if they plan to attend the gathering. For the fourth year in a row, we look to a group of letters often referred to as the “Prison Epistles.” These letters were sent from Paul while he was in prison to a handful of churches. To the church in Colossae, he sent them a letter that was an RSVP. It was his invitation to “please respond” to the transformative work of Jesus. The same invite given to the Colossians is now given to us. It’s up to us to say “yes” and accept the offer of a life change in Christ.