Lent 4: Ephesians and Paul

⁸For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— ⁹for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; ¹³but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

‘Sleeper, awake!
   Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’ (NRSV)

Sunday School this morning, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The Second Lesson is Ephesians 5:8-14. It’s taken out of context but that’s OK. Come, let us discuss Ephesians and Paul. Mary Stuart Poole Library, 9:15 a.m. to 10:15. If you are like me you’ll have more questions at 10:15 than you did at 9:15. But that's the whole idea.

Here’s another translation.

 8-10You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

 11-16Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

   Wake up from your sleep,
   Climb out of your coffins;
   Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! (The Message)

What darkness? What murk is the writer talking about?

TW+