Powerful Epistle Reading for the Third Sunday of Lent

St. Paul told the Ephesians, “the days are evil.” The days are still evil as is evident by the wickedness found in the world all around us. Today’s reading comes from the same chapter in Ephesians, where St. Paul tells us how to behave in these evil days:

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints: Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks. For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For you were heretofore darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth.” (Eph. 5:1-9)

The Sunday reading ended here, but St. Paul continued…

“Proving what is well pleasing to God: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.” (Eph. 5:10-12)

 

How many of us are guilty of fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, obscenity, foolish talking, or scurrility? How many of us partake or delight in it in some way? How many of us don’t reprove the evil works or aren’t ashamed to speak of them? Not only do these things keep us from attaining Heaven, but they cause scandal and influence others to do evil. We become part of the world and enemy to Christ and His Church. 

 

Getting to Heaven should always be on our minds as our final end. We want as many as possible to follow us in this goal. That means we should despise everything that stands in the way! We must love what God loves and hate what God hates.

 

St. Paul also told us, “And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2)