Wake Up, Sleeper. Let Christ’s Light Shine.

One benefit of using the Daily Lectionary is reading Scripture that we don’t often hear or we’ve forgotten. Today’s readings from 2 Samuel 19 and Ephesians 5 are good examples. We remember David’s story mostly from his triumphs, but here we learn of his suffering, a parent whose much-loved son and most of his people have turned against him. Even facing personal danger, he shows his concern for others, including the foreigners who had sought asylum in his country and the people in the countryside who weep over his retreat.
 
We also see David coming humbly before God, covering his head and weeping.  David’s meekness in prayer before God, his willingness to acknowledge his sins, is remarkable in a man of such great power and reputation. What will become of him after this sad chapter of his life? The readings for the coming days will tell us.
 
Ephesians 5:1-14 is more familiar, but looking around us, we are struck by how our culture has dismissed this guidance. Early Christians were told to live with “Not even a hint of sexual immorality, or impurity, or greed.”  No “obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking.” The media today seem mesmerized with all of the above. How can we respect people in prominent positions whose crude behavior and greed are notorious? We know that in Paul’s time the apostles were especially concerned that Christians not call attention to themselves in any way that would bring down more persecution or be an excuse for non-Christians to dismiss their way of life. But what about our own time? Don’t we have the same calling to “live as children of light,” to reject “deeds of the darkness”? “Wake up, sleeper,” so the world can see that “Christ will shine on you!”

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