NOTES for Eph 5:1-21
Very often we simply do not think about what we are doing. Everything happens by itself, automatically. We act as though asleep. In today’s reading, the apostle quotes an ancient Christian hymn: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.” It turns out that this familiar and peaceful state is actually death. We live with our eyes closed, in darkness. But Christ’s light is so bright that it is no longer possible to keep our eyes closed. If we decide to step into the light, we will have to look at our life and see what is happening. In Christ’s light we see what is not pleasing to God. We can no longer pretend that everything is all right, and so all our sins are made manifest. At first it becomes frightening, and we very much want to hide again where it was dark and we did not have to think... The light hurts our eyes. But if we risk remaining in the light a little longer, our eyes will begin to adjust and it will become clear that it is impossible to continue living as we did. Then the Holy Spirit will have the opportunity to act within us: by accepting the truth about ourselves, we will be able to begin living in God’s truth.