Proper 14: Epistle, Ephesians 4:17-5:2                                        

Ephesians 4:17-5:2

Our epistle reading last week pointed us to our ultimate objective: together becoming the very fullness of Christ. And this week has Paul giving more pragmatic ways to follow Jesus to that goal.

The Gentiles, says Paul “are darkened in their understanding” (3:18), ultimately due to the hardness of their hearts. In this process, and he points to the fact that it is a progression into further darkness and alienation, hearts grow harder, more callous and actually sense a greed for impurity. That is frightening when thought about for more than a moment. Especially when we recognize that all of us have that capacity and have probably entertained choices leading in that direction. And for some of us perhaps those choices are closer to the present moment than we would like to admit.

At the end of the day there is only one solution. A solution initiated on the cross of Jesus and continually worked by God through our holy baptism where we are given the garments that allow us to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Do you see the connection to last week? Fullness of Christ? Likeness of God? The solution is God Himself. He is our rescuer, our answer, and our cleansing.

We pray: Father, guide us out of darkness and into the light we have been given in baptism. That light allows us to be imitators of God as beloved children. It is only Your life upon and in us that grants us to Your likeness. And we give You thanks in Jesus’ name, Amen!